It was just about a year ago we started filming Blue Like Jazz the movie, and since then we’ve been feverishly editing the film, adding a soundtrack and test screening the film.
At first, the movie ran for nearly two hours, but not we’ve got it down to 97 minutes and the movie, in my “objective” opinion, is singing. Seriously, it’s getting great reviews, and this is without color correction or sound editing, two factors that take a movie over the top.
So far, we are getting about 45% of the audiences saying the movie was excellent, about 49% saying it’s “very good” and the rest liked it a little less. Out of the thousands who have screened it so far, only 6 people rated the movie as “poor.” Of course, that’s going to happen no matter what we do, but we are still making the movie even stronger and by the time it hits theaters I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised.
The number one comment we get when we screen the film is “finally.” And by that they mean “finally a film that talks about faith that feels normal, not preachy, not heavy on agenda but heavy on meaning, cinematically beautiful and disarmingly honest.” Those are all from the notes we’ve received on our surveys.
As many of you know, this movie was funded by nearly 4500 backers on a website called Kickstarter. Since then, other investors have joined us and are still joining us on a much larger scale to get this movie released in theaters. That said, amazingly, our director, Steve Taylor has called more than 3000 of the backers and thanked them personally, and intends to call each of you before the film hits theaters. I’ve called hundreds myself and every conversation gives me the same sense of gratitude that we had when we first started filming. This movie was truly made with passion and creativity and mostly love.
If all goes according to plan, the movie will release on April 13 of 2012.
Here’s an interview Steve did recently at a National Youth Workers Convention with Tic Long.
Finally!
Looking forward to this, big time!
Woohoo! I keep getting phone calls from Steve Tyler about all these private showings in Chicago, but we moved out of Chicago a couple months ago. So bummed–But looking forward to seeing it in April!
great update all good news….I normally do not go see movies in theatres preferring waiting until they come out on video but will definitely make an exception for this one…
I was in line for the pre-screening at Catalyst a few weeks ago, but was 6 people short of getting in. that’s ok, though, because Steve Taylor came by and gave me a bag of popcorn. so there’s that.
I loved the Book..I hope the movie comes to Canada!
I say this with great respect. My journey was all over the place till I started coming here. Falling in love with Jesus has been the best thing that has ever happen to me but when you feel like you can’t live up to His standards it puts this enormous pressure on you.. I know now more than ever it is about being One with Him and allowing Him to lead your life. What great freedom!
Thanks for writing.
So is this the planned date for the Portland premiere? My husband and I are so excited!! I wear my BLJ The Movie t-shirt way too much.
Same here – we are ready for our Portland movie screening!
Yes, when is the Portland premiere? I would love to know so I can plan my work schedule around it and be able to go.
Really pumped for this, might have to read the book again before it comes out!
that’s the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the release date!
So exciting!! Can’t wait to see this.
Love it! As one of the backers (albeit modest), I cannot wait to see it. Hope it makes it to San Antonio. Already planning to talk it up as much as I can and promote in every network I can get my hands on.
Reading this book was like drinking a tall glass of water in the desert of my undergrad experience. I can name scores of others who feel the same way. Thank you to everyone who made the book and film possible. Thank you Don Miller. I absolutely cannot wait to see it!
–
Tim Norton
An Artist’s Faith: When Arts Culture and Faith Collide
I got the call from Steve – in the UK! Very impressed, and a lovely guy with a great heart & a good laugh to talk to as well. Proud to be associated with this project, even in such a small way. Hope the film comes to the UK, really don’t want to miss seeing this film. Any idea if it will come over here?
Thanks for the update! So excited about this, and I was pumped to get my call from Steve Taylor. Very cool dude.
This is great news, Don. I’ve been listening to Muscle’n Flo (the song from the trailer) all day.
I’m really excited. I love indie movies and I love Blue Like Jazz. I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for keeping us update.
Cheers!
My best friend’s parents got this book for me for my high school graduation. I read it and was blown away! It was different from anything I had ever read on Christianity and I loved it! I am looking forward to seeing this movie! Can’t wait!!
Was privileged to see a screening of ‘Blue Like Jazz’ in Portland at Storyline months back and thought it was honest, heartfelt and refreshing. Can’t wait to see the finished product.
Great Don! Looking forward to it.. Steve Taylor is also so cool.
Cheers!
Super excited!! I love how real the book is and I am sure I will love the movie just as much.
I’m one of the 4,496! I can’t wait to see how it turned out. I didn’t get to talk to Steve when he called but he did leave a nice voice mail. The poster is hanging on the bookcase in my office. Let me know when to look for BLJ in San Jose!
And in Portugal we have to wait a little more to buy it…
I’ve seen the trailer 100 times!
I love, love, loved the book and I am looking forward to the movie!!!!
You guys should really screen it in Toronto. Think about it
is there going to be a nashville showing?
I had secretly feared that this project had somehow got swept under the rug. So glad to see that it’s almost here! And that it’s getting good response!
Great news, excited about the movie. Great work Don! Just reread Million Miles again, challenged to live a great story!
Possibly the worst interview ever… uh… Tic, if that is your real name, please let Steve talk. Yeah, yeah, yeah..
When is the premier in Portland? I think we got some tickets to that event when we backed the project through Kickstarter, but the date was TBD… We are really looking forward to this movie and have the signed movie posert hanging in our home office and the fun Associate Producer Tshirt too!
This is such welcome news ~ please allow Austin, TX to be one of the first cities to host its release! I can’t imagine anything better than sitting at the Alamo Drafthouse (as similar to the Bagdad as we can get here in ATX!) watching this love letter play out….just as I bought copies of the book to give to friends, so will I be purchasing loads of tix to make it an evening with friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Loved having the chance to back it, and have thoroughly enjoyed keeping up with the project over this last year. I do wish there was a screening in Texas…SAT to be exact, but I shall be patient to see it when it comes out in April.
I use my mug quite often, wear that very soft “t” regularly, and excited to have my name go by on the credits.
Good luck with the finishing touches!
I should have given so I could have talked to Steve. He was a hero of mine back in the ’80s. I’m excited for the movie.
What a great clip! So loking forward to the movie coming out -yea!
actually, I thought his questions were really great!
Hey,
Just wondering if there’s going to be a street team to help promote BLJTM when it is coming out. Cause that’d be cool! =]
Wahoo!! Hearing great stuff from people who have seen the screening. Hope it will be playing in the San Antonio/Austin area. Steve called me,too. I missed his call. The cool thing was, on the message, he did not just say, “hey thanks”. He made it personal. He said great stuff about my town. But then what bad is there to say about New Braunfels?! Thanks for all you do and….Go Rangers!!!!
I got to see a screening at Catalyst East earlier this month! Best movie watching experience. Ever. So cool to sit and watch it with the director and the kickstarter, starters
Loved the movie! Will plan to see it again! Keep on keeping on, Don!
Tears in my eyes!
Happy Birthday to me!
4/13/71
Cannot wait to receive my tickets!!
Don,
My brother David Bentley is the Publisher of the Portland Magazine About Face. I mentioned to him that your film was due out in Spring. He is planning that issue at the moment. He asked me to check and see if you were up for a Magazine shoot and story about the film. If you think the interview magazine platform in Portland would give a good bounce to the film.??? I think he would enjoy having the film story in that Spring issue.
This guy is a terrible interviewer! Let the guy speak. “uh huh. Yep. yeah. oh yes. I love that part. Oh good. Yes. Right. Ok. Mmmm. Oh! Yeah.”
Will it be showing in the uk?
can’t wait!
This is exciting! Blue Like Jazz is probably the #1 book I’ve given to people. I gave it as a Christmas gift to everyone in my apartment building years ago. Maybe the movie will become the #1 DVD I give to people. Looking forward to the release!
This is great news, Don. “truly made with passion, creativity and mostly love.” Not that many times this can be said of something. Beautiful. Can’t wait.
This was such an amazing book. I first heard Donald Miller speak at Christmas Conference in San Diego. When I first got there I was a very uptight Christian. As a result of what Donald said, I Ieft a changed man. I still remember that he said there are a lot of people in this world that know all the right answers about Jesus, but they don’t know God. There are also a lot of people that don’t know the right answers about Jesus, but they love people and they know God. When he sad this I was so mad at him, until I realized he was right. I don’t know if Donald will ever read this, but I want to thank him for changing my perspective on my faith for the better. God is using him in amazing ways, and I can’t wait to see what impact this movie has on people.