Jonathan Demme Set to Film Neil Young on Stage at Nashville's Holy Place of Music for Upcoming Paramount Classics Release

Jonathan Demme Set to Film Neil Young on Stage at Nashville's Holy Place of Music for Upcoming Paramount Classics Release

PRAIRIE WIND

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Classics announces production on a Clinica Estetico and Playtone Production, PRAIRIE WIND, a feature length performance film highlighting one of the great musical visionaries of all-time, Neil Young, and directed and produced by Jonathan Demme. Ilona Herzberg will also produce; executive producers are Gary Goetzman, Elliot Rabinowitz and Bernard Shakey. The announcement was made today by Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein, Co-Presidents of Paramount Classics, and Thomas Lesinski, President Paramount Worldwide Home Entertainment.

Neil Young has made musical and visual innovation a constant during one of rock & roll's most exciting and unpredictable careers. This musical icon will take the stage for the production of the film during a two-night gig on August 18th - 19th at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, the original home to country music's Grand Ole Opry, and long known as America's holy place of music. The film will be directed by Jonathan Demme, whose distinguished career includes an Academy Award(R) for "The Silence of the Lambs," and the groundbreaking, critically acclaimed concert film "Stop Making Sense" with the Talking Heads, widely acknowledged as one of the best concert films of all time.

Young will surround himself with the finest of American musicians for the two-part performance, a premiere of his new songs from the album Prairie Wind, and a journey back through his most famous songs. The wide array of special guests will include Wayne Jackson of the Memphis Horns, the Fisk University Jubilee Singers and the 12-piece Nashville String Machine (featuring six Stradivarius violins). Among those musicians scheduled to appear with Young are: keyboardist Spooner Oldham, pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, drummers Chad Cromwell and Karl Himmel, bassist Rick Rosas, guitarist Grant Boatwright, Clinton Gregory on fiddle, horn players Tom McGinley and Jimmy Sharp, the vocal talent of Pegi Young, Diana DeWitt, Gary Pigg and Anthony Crawford, and special guest vocalist, Emmylou Harris.

The inspiration for the film was born out of the extraordinary and deeply personal music Neil Young has created for his upcoming album, Prairie Wind.

Says Jonathan Demme, "All my life I have been in love with film and music, and this feels like the best opportunity I have ever had to work with a fusion of the two artistic mediums. I am so excited to have the chance to collaborate with Neil Young on Prairie Wind; which I consider to be a real masterwork, and it is a joy to play a part in bringing Neil's music alive on film at this moment in time."

"We are so pleased to take part in what looks to be a one of a kind groundbreaking film with Neil Young, who is certainly one of the most phenomenal musicians of this or any time ... captured on film by one of the brilliant visionaries in the world of film, Jonathan Demme. This will wind up being a truly historic event," said Vitale and Dinerstein.

"From the time I first heard the album back in June, I was convinced it was one of Neil's best and would make for a great concert film," said Lesinksi. "As a life long fan of both Neil Young and Jonathan Demme, I am thrilled to be part of bringing this magical combination to fans worldwide."

Paramount Classics is the autonomous specialized division of Paramount Pictures. Recently released was the critic and festival favorite Mad Hot Ballroom, a documentary that has had audiences dancing and cheering in the aisles. Currently in release is Sundance winner and critically acclaimed Hustle & Flow, starring Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Ludacris and Isaac Hayes. Upcoming releases include Asylum, starring Natasha Richardson, Sir Ian McKellan and Marton Csokas, based on Patrick McGrath's celebrated novel of erotic obsession.

Paramount Home Entertainment is part of the Viacom Entertainment Group and is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing, and distribution of home entertainment for Viacom including: Paramount Pictures, CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. Viacom Entertainment Group is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies, and a leader in the production, promotion and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and music.

Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom, Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies and a leader in the production, promotion, and distribution of entertainment news, sports and music.

CONTACT: Robin Jonas

323.956.2340

Source: Paramount Classics

CONTACT: Robin Jonas of Paramount Classics, +1-323-956-2340

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