Hendrix Biopic in trouble?
As I mentioned previously in this story about the Hendrix movie being made by Tarantino, it was believed that all rights issue had been resolved. Well apparently not....
Tarantino Passes On Hendrix Biopic
According to New York's rumor mill, Page Six reported that Quentin Tarantino will not direct the upcoming, untitled Hendrix biopic. Last week it was reported in the Post and in other mainstream press that Tarantino loved the script and the idea of working on this film so he signed on to direct the picture. No news on why Tarantino has abandoned the project.
On top of that news, it seems they have run into more trouble....
WENN.com is reporting that the producers of a planned Jimi Hendrix biopic are refusing to let a British court decision halt pre-production on the project, insisting they're forging ahead with the venture. Last week, producers at Dragonslayer Films were banned from using the guitarist's music in their untitled new film by a British court.
The U.S. filmmakers were told they must seek permission from Experience Hendrix, the organisation run by the later rocker's sister Janie. But the film's executive producer Elle Von Lear insists the biopic will go on as planned as they appeal the ruling. She says, "The biopic is moving forward as planned, and it is not affected by the court's decision, which is being appealed."
The producers claim the ownership of the recordings they hope to use in the film belongs not to the Hendrix estate, but to Brit John Hillman — and they aim to prove it. Von Lear adds, "In the summer of 1966, Chas Chandler — the bass player in the rock group The Animals — called John Hillman to inform him of a remarkable young guitarist, Jimi Hendrix, he had found in New York, insisting that Hillman bring him to London. "A plane ticket was sent, and when Jimi arrived in London, he made a rapid succession of recordings for the Yameta record label, owned by Hillman... Yameta acquired the copyrights in the songs and in the recordings, in accordance with British law."
