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Monty Python Collaborator Neil Innes to Star in Frozen Pictures' Musical Documentary Film, "The Seventh Python"
Frozen Pictures produces star-studded musical documentary film about musician, satirist, Monty Python collaborator and "Rutle" Neil Innes.
HOLLYWOOD, CA (PRWEB) June 2, 2004 -- Frozen Pictures, which has completed production on the motion picture comedy, “Cloud Nine,” is shopping its musical documentary feature, “The Seventh Python,” and companion concert DVD to national and overseas distributors.
“The Seventh Python” focuses on the music and career of British musician, satirist and frequent Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes. Shot in the U.S., England and Australia, the film focuses on Innes’ rare foray to Los Angeles for a series of concerts with a band comprised of fans. Along with rehearsal and concert footage, the doco includes a first time “Rutles reunion” performance with former Python and Rutles creator Eric Idle, and appearances by Pythons John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Jones, as well as comedian Emo Philips, “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening and other celebrity fans.
The film is directed by Burt Kearns and produced by Brett Hudson. It features animated sequences by co-producer Bonnie Rose of Lone Guy Productions. A Hudson-produced soundtrack album and DVD, “Neil Innes in Hollywood,” is also available.
“Neil Innes is one of the most talented and influential performers in rock music and modern comedy,” said Kearns. “He’s also one of the most modest and that’s why his genius has remained under the radar. This film will unleash him on an unsuspecting and grateful public.”
Innes, who joined forces with Monty Python on television, albums, in concert and films like “The Holy Grail” and “Life of Brian,” was nominated for a Grammy for his Beatles parody, “The Rutles,” a soundtrack to Eric Idle’s pre-Spinal Tap mockumentary, “All You Need is Cash.” With a career that began with the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (whose hit, "I'm The Urban Spaceman" topped the UK charts in 1968), he’s written and starred in a wide variety of television series and acclaimed one-man shows.
The Bonzos appeared in the Beatles 1967 film, “Magical Mystery Tour.” Innes was featured in the 2003 feature, “The Concert for George,” the Albert Hall tribute to his friend and collaborator George Harrison. He is an acknowledged influence on performers as diverse as Mike Myers and Aimee Mann, and his worldwide popularity has soared in recent years through an exhaustive fan website, Neilinnes.org.
Says Hudson: “In light of renewed activity from the Monty Python camp, there’s tremendous mainstream appeal. The amount of exclusive multimedia footage we’ve assembled and created makes this a surefire DVD favorite.”
Included with the concert footage is a rare performance of Python and Rutles material with Eric Idle, who has wrapped a “Rutles” sequel and is prepping the Python-inspired Broadway show, “Spam-alot.”
Frozen Pictures has a long documentary track record, with acclaimed television series such as Bravo’s “All the Presidents’ Movies with Martin Sheen” and the Court TV mainstay, “Adult Only: The Secret History of The Other Hollywood.” Frozen also produced two seasons of the Showtime reality series, “My First Time,” now in first run on Canada’s W network.
Under the Frozen Pictures banner, Hudson and Kearns are producing the comedy feature, “Cloud 9,” with Academy Award-winner (“The Godfather”) Albert S. Ruddy of The Ruddy Morgan Oraganization. The film, written by the trio, stars Burt Reynolds, D.L. Hughley, Paul Rodriguez, Angie Everhart and Gabrielle Reece. It’s set for a 2005 release.
Background notes:
| | - Neil Innes will embark on his first solo American concert tour in fall 2004.
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| | - The 1978 Beatles parody, “The Rutles in All You Need Is Cash” was an NBC prime time special featuring John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Mick Jagger, Paul Simon-- and George Harrison. It was produced by Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels.
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| | - Innes’ music for “The Rutles” has won him a cult audience, and has made him a favorite at Beatlefests conventions.
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| | - Innes was close friends with Beatle George Harrison, and appeared in the music video for Harrison’s “Crackerbox Palace.”
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| | - In 1978 he began the first of three of his own BBC2 TV series entitled "The Innes Book of Records." The third series was completed in 1982, after he appeared with Monty Python at The Hollywood Bowl.
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| | - Innes has written and hosted a wide variety of children' television programs, including the award-winning “Book Tower,” “Puddle Lane,” and 120 episodes of “Raggy Dolls.”
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| | - His acclaimed one-man shows, renowned for their fun and silliness, feature a range of musical styles, audience participation and most of his “classic” songs.
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| | - The idea for the documentary was planted when Kearns met Innes in London while filming the 2000 documentary feature, “Death of A Beatle.”
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| | - Rehearsals for the Innes L.A. concerts took place in a church in Malibu, the location for Frozen Pictures’ movie, “Cloud 9.”
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| | - Co-producer and animator Bonnie Rose created the Neilinnes.org website with Laurie Stevens. She once ran fan clubs for Spinal Tap and The Monkees.
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| | - Brett Hudson was a member of the 1970s pop group, “The Hudson Brothers,” who starred in a CBS prime time variety series, a children’s show, and a UK comedy series, “Bonkers” with comedian Bob Monkhouse.”
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For further information and inquiries, contact Sam Peters at frozenpic@aol.com
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