LatinoReview.com has a script review of THE LONG PLAY. The review contains some typos and the celebrities namedropped are likely "types" and will be given different names in the final film. Its an interesting blend of the music business from the executive side of the fence. You can see a number of Spector/Herb Albert/Ahmet Ertegun/Clive Davis/Walter Yetnikoff anecdotes have been combined for one story. This is NOT the story of the Stones by a longshot.

[www.latinoreview.com]



Over thirty years in the music business, a hungry, young hustler from Brooklyn grows into a megasuccessful multi-millionaire only to sadly lose the professional freedom he's always fought to retain.

THE SCRIPT IS HOT! A Masterpiece for sure. There is not much difference between the Cohen and Weiss draft except for name changes and minor plot points but I'm really excited to see what William Monahan does with the source material. What is cool is that you see the Scorsese touches and camera angles and moves written into the script so you know what visually Scorsese wants to do.

Like GOODFELLAS, the script is narrated in Voice Over by HERB ADLER and SAM KING – the two buddies of the piece.

If ya love GOODFELLAS, you're gonna love THE LONG PLAY! I see a lot of similarities between Henry Hill and Herb Adler. The rise of a hustler, only to be driven out of the very culture he loves so much.

DISCLAIMER:
This is still a work in progress so more work on the script is going to be done, so expect many changes. For the most part, the story beats remain the same so enjoy...

It's 1994 and, at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Ballroom, the MUSIC EXECUTIVES of mega-successful American-Century Music are meeting for their annual convention. As American-Century CEO DAVID WEINER and his SOMBER SUITED COMPANY MEN solemnly look on, rhinestone-and-denim wearing lost-rich-boy JIMMY VAN DER MEER orders seltzer at the bar. Nearby, old time executive BOBBY BLUE (70s) (aka ROBBIE BLUMENTHAL) holds court, while sharply dressed Head of the Music Division HERBIE ADLER (early 50s) tries to convince long time friend/adversary SAM KING (early 50s) - a fashionable black man - to sell Herbie his successful rap label.

As Herbie and Sam argue, they have one sticking point: Herbie wants to dump best-selling rap star DIRTY TEA who has a wild history of violence. After performing for the crowd, attitude-plus Dirty Tea leaves withhis POSSEE - only to be gunned down outside the hotel. Dirty Tea dead, the problem is solved, with Herbie and Sam quickly striking a deal for millions.

Back in 1964, 22-year-old Herbie was a hungry hustler from Brooklyn who idolized recording kingmaker LESTER JARVIS (60s). Holding court at a typical Broadway diner near the Brill Building, Lester metered out advice to Herbie and his cronies: CHICK MOSCOW, the owner of Bunker Hill Records; JULIE SILVER, a heavy gambler who cruises Harlem clubs in search of new talent; and Bobby Blue, a toughie in the juke box business who's connected to the Mob.

Dreaming of owning his own sporty convertible and being surrounded by beautiful women, Herbie's an eager protegee to mentor Julie. Hitting the road in search of talent, Herbie tells the group who, in New Orleans, he found raucous misadventure outside of New Orleans when trying to sign PROFESSOR LONGHAIR. Determined to prove himself, Herbie now bets that he can get the fictitious singer FINGERSNAPS WASHINGTON and fictitious song "Why Do Teardrops Fall?" on Billboard's charts.

The group impressed when Herbie gets the fictitious song listed as a hit, they know encourage Herbie to make this ruse a reality by creating a singer named Fingersnaps and recording the non-existent tune. To this end, Herbie checks out a group of BLACK MUSICIANS and chooses Alabama born Sam King. Anxious for a record deal, Sam agrees to become Fingersnaps.

Reborn as star Fingersnaps, Sam soon finds himself performing at Brooklyn's legendary Paramount Theater as a member of DICK CLARK's Rock and Roll Revue - an all star bill that's headlined by battling JERRY LEE LEWIS and CHUCK BARRY. The revue going on tour, Herbie joins Sam in New Orleans where Sam's furious to learn that - due to Chick's creative bookkeeping - his profits from the hit song are a pittance.

Getting drunk, Sam wakes in his "all black" hotel to find himself with a WHITE WOMAN. Scared of getting lynched, Sam calls Herbie for help - with Herbie helping Sam avoid disaster by quietly slipping the White Woman away.

Returning to New York, Herbie learns that, due to Julie's latest gambling debts, Bunker Hill has been taken over by GANGSTERS. Determined to be his own boss, Herbie
leaves Bunker Hill. But, try as Herbie might, the Gangsters won't let him take "talent" Sam along. Furious with Herbie regarding these business dealings, Sam's also personally disappointed in Herbie when he learns that Herbie's been living a double-life: with wild swinger Herbie constantly leaving wife RUTH and 5-year-old daughter SANDRA alone at their suburban Long Island home.

Come 1967, a divorced Herbie has moved to Los Angeles and formed his own Sugar Records. There, Herbie's joined by other former Bunker Hill staffers, including loyal secretary MELANIE HAYES and talent scout Julie. Proudly, a now LA-hip-dressing Herbie's built Lugar into a huge success, representing such artists as gun-toting WILSON PICKET; JAMES BROWN - who's going through his "black pride phase", and ARETHA FRANKLIN.

To Herbie's delight, he's reunited with Sam who's come West in search of artistic freedom. But, due to Sam's outstanding contract with Bunker Hill, Herbie won't sign him to a recording deal. Instead, Sam gets hired as an A&R man - with Sam's resentment towards Jewish Herbie growing as he spends time hanging out with James Brown and militant H. RAP BROWN. Excited when he discovers singing sensation EDITH LECLAIRE - a sexy black woman from Alabama - Sam's determined to make her a star.

The LA riots devastating the City, racial tensions grow. Insisting that he can't be around white people, James Brown leaves Herbie's label. His own resentment at Jews boiling over, Sam also quits and heads out on his own with client Edith. At a Miami music convention, racial tensions continue - with black hoodlum PERVIS WOODLEY forming a Fairplay Committee which blackmails the labels into paying Woodley huge kickbacks. When some of the music men resist, Woodley's THUGS turn violent - killing one RECORDING EXECUTIVE and holding Julie hostage. Luckily, old pal Bobby Blue is the one white member of Woodley's group and wins Julie's freedom; with cheap Julie refusing to reimburse Herbie the huge ransom fee. With Bobby's encouragement, Herbie agrees to sell Lugar to GEORGE GROSS, the CEO of huge Century Brothers music.

Come 1974, Herbie's label continues to prosper as the face of music changes and Herbie bets on British spandex-clad rockers SPUTNICK to become huge stars. While hanging with the wild, room-trashing Sputnick, Julie accidentally is dosed with LSD; with Herbie soon getting into the drug scene. On the road, Sputnick is so wild that Herbie sends tough, black TEDDY SYLVESTER to keep them in line - a goal that Teddy accomplishes by making sure that there are lots of GROUPIES to keep the Sputnick members sexually exhausted. At a wild Sputnick party, Teddy and Julie are embarrassed to see that Herbie's become a wild, cocaine addict.

Back in Los Angeles, Herbie continues to predict hitmakers with the help of now 14-year-old daughter Sandra. In New York City for a record industry gala, Herbie and Julie are happily reunited with old pals Bobby and Chick - with this successful quartet now overweight, middle-aged men. In New York, Herbie finds a protege in eager, young
photographer Jimmy Van Der Meer.

For his part, Sam's still toiling to turn girlfriend Edith into a star. Stealing Edith from Sam, Herbie becomes her lover and manager - with Edith finally finding stardom and even getting the chance to duet with her idol Aretha Franklin. Enraged, Sam battles with Herbie during a wild fistfight. Meanwhile, Jimmy's determined to prove himself - even if it means stealing audition tapes from Julie. Impressed by Jimmy's drive, Herbie allows him to sign Harness, a middling Alabama-like clone.

Angered by Herbie's betrayal, Jimmy quits and returns to NYC where he soon dies of a heart attack. Harness becoming stars, Herbie continues to try to push Edith's career - even if it means forcing Rolling Stone Magazine's JANN WENNER into giving her a cover story. From Bobby Blue, Herbie learns that George Gross is planning on selling Century Brothers to American Media - a magazine corporation run by CEO David Weiner who creates the huge American-Century Music.

In Los Angeles, Herbie finally marries Edith in an extravagant wedding that's modeled on Prince Charles' wedding to Princess Diana. But as a bickering Herbie and Edith honeymoon in Italy, disaster strikes as George dies of a heart attack. Learning that Jimmy's betrayed him to Weiner, Herbie fires Jimmy. But Herbie faces new problems as scheming Jimmy becomes American-Century's new head of the music division.

Infuriated, Herbie confronts Weiner who's so impressed by Herbie that he makes Herbie the music division's chief. Business forcing him to move back to New York, Herbie keeps Edith at home at their huge country house; while Herbie spends most of his time in NYC. But, come 1984, Herbie realizes that he's made a horrible deal: he's a figurehead who even Weiner ignores. Finally, Herbie's world comes collapsing in when, at the Grammy's, Edith blames her failure to win any awards on him. Even worse, after two decades in the music business, Herbie is summarily dismissed by Weiner in a press release which accuses Herbie of embezzling company funds to pay for his extravagant wedding. Forced to retire in disgrace, Herbie takes Weiner to court and is granted a $40 million pay off. Similarly, Sam is paid $30 million to also retire. Divorcing Herbie, Edith finally finds mega-success - and five Grammies - via her song about finding her freedom as a mermaid.

Although they're both mega-wealthy, Herbie and Sam are both barred from competing in the music business - with these two old cronies spending time together at a Broadway diner where they bemoan the fact that they've been edged out of their beloved music business.

So there ya have it...

Can't wait to see it...

When's this coming out?

JumpingKentFlash

It hasn't started shooting yet. Scorcese intends this to be his next film.

Interesting read Rocky, thanks. First time I've ever seen a detailed preview of a script. Sounds like it could easily have a Goodfellas or Mean Streets feel. I wonder who will be tapped to do the music?

I had read abput this. Jagger and films (from the production angle) is supposedly a serious venture.

"...no longer shall you trudge 'cross my peaceful mind."

Rocky Dijon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It hasn't started shooting yet. Scorcese intends
> this to be his next film.

You may be right but it still isn't listed on the internet movie data base website. There you can look up all the films a director has made and it also lists everything he has in post-production, pre-production and also movies that have simply been "announced".



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-04-25 21:52 by FrankM.

Right, Scorsese's next two projects are THE RISE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT and SILENCE so THE LONG PLAY is a ways off if Scorsese himself is going to direct it.

[www.imdb.com]

You may be right about what's next for Scorsese, but IMDB is like Wikipedia in that anyone can edit content and create entries. I based my statement on Variety's article from February this year:

Posted: Mon., Feb. 26, 2007
Scorsese, Monahan ready to 'Play'
'Departed' duo rock on at Paramount

By MICHAEL FLEMING, PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Paramount Pictures is tuning up "The Long Play," a rock 'n' roll epic that will be developed as a directing vehicle for Martin Scorsese. William Monahan is set to rewrite the script, reteaming the dual Oscar winners from "The Departed."
Par has also put Scorsese back in business with Mick Jagger and his Jagged Films partner Victoria Pearman, who'll produce "The Long Play" with Scorsese.

Scorsese directed Jagger and his Rolling Stones bandmates in a feature documentary shot last fall at the Beacon Theater. Paramount is planning a fall release for the docu, which Pearman produced with Steve Bing.

Jagger and Pearman are producing animated pic "Ruby Tuesday," as well as the Diane English-directed "The Women." They are exec producers of "Knights of Prosperity" on ABC.

"The Long Play" follows two friends through 40 years in the music business, from the early days of R&B to contemporary hip-hop.Jagged originated the project at Disney based on Jagger's idea. Scorsese sparked to it, and they brought in Rich Cohen, a Rolling Stones mag writer who did exhaustive research and wrote several drafts. Matthew Weiss also wrote drafts.

The project didn't fit Disney's family-film mode. Paramount, which just made a first-look deal with Scorsese to direct and produce pics, has completed a turnaround deal and set Monahan to write the script. "The Long Play" becomes the second deal Paramount has made for Scorsese, after Par and Misher Films optioned the Eric Jager book "Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal and Trial by Combat in Medieval France."

While Scorsese and Monahan have discussed continuing the storyline of best picture winner "The Departed," Monahan will pen "The Long Play" as his next assignment.

He's completed the script "Penetration" for Ridley Scott to direct, and his "Marco Polo" script is being developed as a star vehicle for Matt Damon.

Scorsese is repped by Endeavor and the Firm, Monahan by Endeavor and Jagged Films by ICM.