Introduction to the Film
The Telluride film festival was filled with exciting panels and Q&A sessions, but one of the most anticipated events was the appearance of rock royalty, Bruce Springsteen. He made a non-remote appearance at a group discussion after the second screening of the dramatic film "Springsteen".
The Making of the Film
When asked why he agreed to this project, Springsteen took issue with the premise of the question. "I don’t know that I’ve been asked that many times to turn my life into a film," he chuckled. His manager, Jon Landau, who was sitting next to him, didn’t jump in to mention how many film pitches he thought had crossed his client’s desk. However, what brought Springsteen on board was that the film’s director, Scott Cooper, had a very specific idea of what he wanted to do. The film focuses on a few years in Springsteen’s life, particularly during the time he recorded his special album "Nebraska".
The Cast and Crew
Springsteen shared the stage at the Palm Theater in Telluride with Landau, Cooper, and the film’s lead actors, Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong. White, who plays Springsteen in the early 1980s, was asked about the challenge of reproducing Springsteen’s tone. He mentioned that when he and Cooper first discussed the possibility of him playing the role, he told Cooper that he didn’t know how to sing or play the guitar. However, after working on the film and recording parts of the album "Nebraska" in Nashville, he found confidence in his performances.
The Film’s Authenticity
Cooper praised White, saying that he has "an intensity of vulnerability and authenticity that I saw in Bruce’s work and in archive interviews with Bruce… Jeremy has two things that really make Bruce Springsteen for me, and that is humility and swagger." Springsteen jokingly responded, "That’s half right," to laughter and applause. White also spoke about the challenging task of replicating Springsteen’s loud and distinctive singing style, particularly in the song "Born in the USA".
Behind-the-Scenes Stories
One of the most memorable moments for White was when he recorded "Born in the USA" and then met Springsteen later that night. Springsteen asked him what he had done that day, and when White told him, Springsteen replied, "Sounds about right. You sound just like me." Springsteen was also asked about a scene in the film where his father asks him to sit on his lap backstage during a performance. He confirmed that this actually happened, and he had said to his father, "I’m 32 years old."
The Film’s Emotional Scenes
Another crucial scene in the film shows the Springsteen and Landau characters bonding over a Sam Cooke classic, "The Last Mile of the Way". Springsteen revealed that this scene was inspired by Jeremy Strong, who asked him about the songs that he and Landau would play for each other. The next day, they shot the scene, and it became one of Springsteen’s favorite moments in the film. Strong added that in the early days, Landau would listen to music with Springsteen in New Jersey, and music became a language that could express emotions that words couldn’t.
The Film’s Origins
Cooper spoke about how he came up with the idea for the film after reading Warren Zanes’ book about the creation of Springsteen’s album "Nebraska". He was fascinated by the story of Springsteen recording the album in his bedroom with a four-track recorder, struggling with unresolved trauma and mental illness. Cooper knew that this was a film he had to make, and he was grateful for the support of 20th Century Studios, despite the commercial risks.
Springsteen’s Reaction to the Film
Springsteen shared that he had seen the first screening of the film the night before with his sister Pamela, who is portrayed as a teenager in the film. He said that she held his hand throughout the film and turned to him at the end, saying, "Isn’t it wonderful, we have it?" Springsteen’s reaction to the film was emotional, and he appreciated the care and attention that Cooper and the cast and crew had brought to the project.
