AFI Festival kicked off at the historic Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA. That evening would be the premiere of Music by John Williams. This documentary showcases the story of iconic film composer John Williams whose work includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Superman, Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park and World, Schindler’s List, Fiddler on the Roof, Home Alone, Catch Me if You Can and many more. Williams career spans over 60 years and the film shows his beginnings as pianist in a Jazz group to playing piano and working with a few of the greatest film composers to come before him like Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith, and Alfred Newman. Williams would be part of the soundtracks to Peter Gunn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, West Side Story, and To Kill A Mockingbird. By the end of the 60’s Williams would begin composing films under the name John (Previously Johnny) and by 1971 won his first Oscar which was for Fiddler on the Roof. In the 80's, Williams became the conductor for the Boston Pops and over the past decade has been conducting his film scores at the Hollywood Bowl for three consecutive nights, however had to miss this year due to doctor's orders and conductor David Newman who conducts the first half of these shows took over for Williams' half.
The film directed by Laurent Bouzereau includes interviews with directors Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ron Howard, Frank Marshall, film editor Paul Hirsch, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, cellist Yo-Yo Man, Branford Marsalis and more. As Spielberg said in the film he wanted Williams to be the composer on his very first film as a director and from then on would use Williams on all his films. Williams' friendship with Spielberg would lead to being introduced to Lucas to create the music to Star Wars which Williams has done to each film as well as all the Indiana Jones films. Williams takes you through his incredible career discussing some of the scores he made and showing on a piano how we came up with iconic scores. There is also archival footage and photos showing Williams’s recording sessions over the years. Williams has won 26 Grammys and received 54 Academy Award nominations and at 92 is the oldest nominee. Before the film began Spielberg and Howard both spoke.
Attending the carpet was Spielberg, Howard, Marshall, Hirsch, Kennedy, director J.J. Abrams Jurassic World Star Bryce Dallas Howard, Back to the Future composer Alan Silvestri, L.A. Phil conductor Gustavo Dudamel, Bouzereau, and more. Considering how many movies Williams has made the scores for that premiere at the Chinese Theater it was very fitting his film would premiere there and as Spielberg said how great it is for a documentary to kick off AFI Fest.
On November 1st the film will be available for streaming on Disney+ and a limited theatrical release.
