Documentary Film as Journalism
I believe I’ve said this countless times before, but journalism comes in many different forms. One particular form that is especially near and dear to my heart is documentary journalism. Documentary films, arguably the most artistic style of long-form journalism, have the ability to completely draw viewers into a topic and immerse them in information pertaining to the topic being documented in an entertaining and visually interesting way. Documentaries can evoke a great deal of emotion from their enraptured viewers. The film “Sound City”, directed by Dave Grohl, gives viewers an in-depth look at the rock music industry in Los Angles throughout the past few decades. Moreover, the film unites diverse viewers and brings them together to appreciate a dying form of music—rock and roll.
The Review
When was the last time you hung out with Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, and Stevie Nicks for an hour and 48 minutes? Unless you happen to have some serious connections in the rock music world, the answer is probably never. Those who had the good sense to go out and see “Sound City”, however, would probably respond with something like this: “Oh, yeah. I just sat in on a jam session of theirs last weekend. Kick ass stuff.” And, yes, they would describe it as being kick ass, because that’s exactly what “Sound City” did, it kicked ass.
The crowd at the chic Hollywood theater I had the pleasure of viewing the film at (the only theater showing the film in Los Angeles) was chock-full of viewers of all ages, many of whom were clad in some breed of Converse sneakers, leather jackets, and vintage band shirts. By the end of the film, nearly everyone in the theater had collectively sighed, cried, or guffawed at one point or another. It appears as though the old adage rings true—music brings people together, even when the tune is in film form. In the words of singer/songwriter John Denver, “No matter what language we speak, what color we are, the form of our politics or the expression of our love and our faith, music proves: We are the same.” In the case of “Sound City”, one gets the feeling that this notion remains true, even today, in an age where everyone seems to belong to a particular musical niche. The picture’s ability to bring viewers together is ultimately achieved through brilliant editing techniques, stunning cinematography, and a never-ending soundtrack of some of the greatest rock and roll chart toppers of all time.
“Sound City” movie poster. Image obtained from Ace Show Biz.
One of the most useful tools the filmmakers behind “Sound City” had to work with is the element of nostalgia. The first half of the film is jam-packed with archived video of live performances, long-forgotten photos of everyone’s favorite rock stars, and all of their original music videos. The film essentially begins at the inception of Sound City, a recording studio in Van Nuys, California that served as the launch pad for the careers of numerous award-winning bands and musicians like Rick Springfield (“Jessie’s Girl”, “I’ve Done Everything for You”), Nirvana, (“Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Heart-Shaped Box”) and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (“I Won’t Back Down”, “Here Comes My Girl”). The historic recording studio’s claim to fame was a massive, 1970’s era soundboard. “Sound City” essentially uses the soundboard as the anchor for the multitude of stories relayed in the film; every musician and studio employee had some sort of memorable interaction with the soundboard during their career. As the film progresses, the viewer gets the sense that the soundboard is a metaphor for the overall well being of the rock music genre itself. The soundboard develops its own personality; it becomes the physical embodiment of decades of unforgettable rock music. And let me tell you, it takes a lot of personality to capture the essence of rock and roll. Ultimately, the soundboard serves as the primary tool for transitioning from the thriving rock music scene of yesteryear to the fading rock landscape of today. Though the soundboard serves as the centerpiece of the film, it’s what’s going on around the soundboard that makes the film truly magical.
Director David Grohl’s (lead vocalist of the Foo Fighters) involvement with the film gives viewers an unimaginable, unprecedented look into the musical development of incredible musicians like Tom Petty and Rick Springfield. It is this astonishing access to these outrageous personalities that gives the film an enchanting quality that ultimately ropes viewers in and ties their emotions to that iconic Sound City soundboard and all of the people whose lives it affected. Once the film captures the hearts of its viewers, it eagerly provides a new beat for their adoring hearts to thump along to: the deep, soulful melody of a bass drum. Truly, there is hardly a single moment in the film where music is absent. The constant presence of music throughout the film, combined with deeply revealing and stunningly honest close up interviews, gives viewers the sensation that they’re sitting in on a low-key jam session with some of the most iconic rock stars of the past few decades.
“Sound City” documents the musical process in a candid, profoundly fascinating way that all viewers, musically inclined or otherwise, can appreciate. In fact, I can nearly guarantee, regardless of your musical preferences, you’ll find yourself blasting Nirvana and Springfield the entire drive home from the theater. So, buy yourself a one-way ticket to “Sound City” and please, for the love of rock, enjoy the ride there.
Links of the Week:
These 25 quotes about rock music.
This article published in The Guardian in 2011 on the death of rock music.
And this hilarious collection of the 25 most ridiculous rock band names in history.
Jess Talks Journalism 