Mick Fleetwood, founder and drummer of iconic band Fleetwood Mac, is co-star and executive producer of “This is Love,” a global award-winning documentary featuring Rudy Love, an obscure soul singer whose story is brought to life with words and his recognizable music. Fleetwood is including some of Love’s songs on his recently embarked US and European festival tours.
Also featuring Fox TV comedian Sinbad, ABC star Marsai Martin (“Blackish”), and king of funk George Clinton, the film includes interviews with British DJ Norman Jay MBE; legendary musicians Clayton Ivey, Bobby Messano and James Gadson; and sports icons Antoine Carr, Lynette Woodard and Gene Keady.
Director John Alexander told Paradise News, “The film made its Florida premiere on Veteran’s Day, where it got kudos at the Et Cultura Film Festival’s inaugural Listen Up Film Series in St. Pete.” Filmmakers JC Guest and Alexander were in attendance and participated in a Q&A after the film, moderated by Scott Elliot of WMNF Community Radio for his “Listen Up” show.
After winning the ‘Film of the Festival Spirit’ Award at its world premiere at Raindance Film Festival in London, “This is Love,” broke all-time records in ticket sales at the Tallgrass Film Festival, Oct. 17-21 in Wichita, KS, where the film played to a sold-out 1,200+ seat theater with a full standing ovation, a first for the festival. The movie also has just been announced Winner of the Best International Documentary competition at the Rome Independent Film Festival in Italy.
“This Is Love” is being released in selective cities and has begun announcing its February Black History Month screenings, including its Portugal premiere at the Capital Filmmakers Festival in Lisbon, and its New Mexico premiere at the Santa Fe Film Festival. Follow “This Is Love” on Facebook at… facebook.com/thelove storyfilm for updates on when it will be back in the Tampa Bay area in 2019.
In addition to Alexander as director, the film is produced by JC Guest and Robert Love, with executive producers Shawn & Gretchen Rhodes, Emily Bonavia, Ann Garvey and Susan Houston.
Mick Fleetwood Interview
As an editor with Billboard magazine – the music industry ‘Bible’ – from 1968 through 1979, this feature writer was fortunate to see, hear and review Mick Fleetwood and the original Fleetwood Mac. Mick was gracious enough to provide these answers to his involvement with the band, and “This is Love.”
PN: How, why and when did you get involved with the project as executive producer and co-star?
MF: “I became involved with the project through my friend and band mate, Gretchen Rhodes. She is the sister of the film’s producer, Shawn Rhodes. I saw the potential in the film as soon as they came to Maui to interview me. The content of the film is something that I have seen and somewhat experienced either personally or vicariously through other people throughout my years in the business.”
PN: How satisfied are you with the finished film and the very positive response with accolades at major festivals and from many critics?
MF: “I am extremely proud of how the film turned out. Shawn and John worked extremely hard to stay true to the narrative core of the Love family. This is a great story on so many levels. It is brilliant to see that ‘This Is Love’ is being recognized for the special film it is. It is well deserved for sure.”
PN: “On a professional note, how do you feel about the staying power of Fleetwood Mac after more than 50 years?
MF: “Fleetwood Mac has so many timeless songs written by amazingly talented individuals. Some might say it’s a ‘right time, right place’ sort of thing. That may be true, but it’s been the combination of people and personalities and passion over the years that has kept us going. We just hands down love what we do.”
Story Behind the Film
“This is Love” is a feature music documentary that follows obscure soul singer Rudy Love – an unsung hero of soul — whose experience in the music industry over the decades encapsulates a quintessential struggle of African American artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Rudy Love has been making music all of his life, even though it has all been taken away. From his first contract fraudulently signed when he was 17, Love has been losing his music to publishers and recording labels ever since. His voice has been woven into hits from every decade since the ‘60’s, yet he lives unknown in Wichita, Kansas. But that doesn’t concern him: all he wants to do is sing.
His name circles among musicians like a ghost, an unseen guru who’s been influencing listeners whether they know it or not. Artists from Jay Z to George Clinton herald him as an unsung hero of soul. Why haven’t you heard of him? Because the music business is vicious, and Rudy only cares about “Love.”
While his music seemingly had gotten buried into total obscurity, it has repeatedly resurfaced in far corners of the world overseas, particularly in places where soul music is experiencing a resurgence, such as in the UK.
Key Team Vignettes
Director John Alexander is a filmmaker from Los Angeles and “This is Love” is his debut feature documentary. Alexander interned with Sam Raimi on “Drag Me to Hell” (Cannes 2009) before graduating from Harvard University in 2011, where he was awarded the McCord Arts Prize.
He edited “One Way to Drown”, produced by Brett Ratner, and “Running Wild” with Alden Ehrenreich, and oversaw post-production of “Shut Up And Drive” (Tribeca 2015). His feature directorial debut “Bender” won Outstanding Cast at Tallgrass Film Festival 2016 and has gone on to cable distribution in the US as well as sales in China, South Africa, and Europe. He is currently in development on another feature narrative.
Mick Fleetwood is a British musician and actor best known for his role as drummer and co-founder of the rock band Fleetwood Mac in 1967. The movie crew filmed an original interview and performance with Fleetwood at his venue in Maui, Hawaii, which makes its debut in the film.
Sinbad is an American comedian and actor famous for his roles in Jingle All the Way and The Sinbad Show, and has performed alongside Rudy Love for many years. He is featured in the film in a new interview as well as never before seen archival performance footage. Sinbad is also starring in Rel, a new series for Fox this year.
George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic) is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who is largely credited with inventing funk music. He is featured in the film in an extensive never before seen interview and performances with Rudy Love. As 2018 is Clinton’s last year performing live before retiring, his role in the film is particularly timely. He lives in Tallahassee.
Norman Jay MBE is a British DJ who is renowned for his Good Times Sound System, and for coining the term “rare groove”. He is featured in a never before seen interview and will be re-releasing a mix of a Rudy Love track this year.
Summing up, Alexander told Paradise News, “ ’This is Love’ really has been the ultimate collaborative experience. We had always admired the work of Fleetwood, Clinton, and Sinbad, and the film brought us filmmakers together with these icons of their industries to actually make something original together from scratch. It is amazing how you can put rock stars, comedians and filmmakers together in the same room and really get things done, thanks to the incredible leadership of Executive Producer Shawn Rhodes and Co-Producer Gretchen Rhodes.
Appropriately, it is a film ultimately about collaboration and family love, and I think the result is visually and musically something very special.” – PN words and his recognizable music. Fleetwood is including some of Love’s songs on his recently embarked US and European festival tours.
STORY by STEVE TRAIMAN
Photos courtesy of The Love Story LLC
[Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Director John Alexander and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac for their exclusive input and interview.] [ Steve Traiman is President of Creative Copy by Steve Traiman in St. Pete Beach, offering freelance business writing services. He can be reached via email at traimancreativecopy@gmail.com }