William Shatner will bring documentary to Nashville film fest Source:Tennessean.com February 11, 2009
By Dave Paulson • THE TENNESSEAN • February 11, 2009
The Nashville Film Festival has seen its share of stars over the years — Nicole Kidman, Keifer Sutherland and William H. Macy, to name a few — but this year, they're welcoming a guest who's familiar with stars of a different sort — William Shatner.
The TV icon known to the world as Capt. James T. Kirk will touch down in Music City this spring for the premiere of his new documentary at the 40th annual Nashville Film Festival, which takes place April 16-23 at Regal's Green Hills Cinema 16.
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Willam Shatner's Gonzo Ballet follows choreographer Margo Sappington's journey to create "Common People," a ballet based on Shatner's 2004 album, Has Been. That album was recorded in Nashville with local rock/pop artist Ben Folds, who will also attend the premiere.
Shatner told The Tennessean he was exalted that a project that was initially met with skepticism would be getting the red carpet, world premiere treatment.
"I think you'll be, if not astounded, then intrigued by the making of a ballet," he said, "and what the people concerned felt about it, and the employment of the creative ideas to make everything work."
For the ballet's premiere in Milwaukee, Shatner hired a camera crew to film the performance and conduct interviews with the principals involved.
"Before I knew how excellent it would be, I rolled the dice that it would be excellent. I'm absolutely delighted (with the results).
"I hope (the audience takes) away the idea that dance is as integral an artistic medium as music and paint and everything else," Shatner said. "I think we'll see here how artists who are dancers and choreographers interpret music, even when it's coming out of Nashville country."
Gonzo Ballet is just one of several films making their world premieres at this year's festival. They include Flying By, which stars Billy Ray Cyrus as a family man who decides to pursue his rock 'n'roll dreams, and The Other Side of the Lens, the documentary debut from TV anchor and reporter Reed Cowan.
Ticket information is not available. The festival's Web site is www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.
