Steve Tatone walked the white sands of Siesta Key just as he had done countless times since childhood.
An old favorite, Neil Diamond’s 1976 semi-autobiographical album “Beautiful Noise,” played in his head
Inspiration hit.
Tatone, who has lived in Sarasota full-time for the past two decades, followed the first rule of screen-writing.
The concert promoter wrote what he knew.
Tatone’s stroll on the familiar, famous beach resulted in a movie also titled “Beautiful Noise.”
It was shot entirely in Sarasota
Tatone re-imagined Diamond as Noah Kaminsky, a character who suffered a motorcycle accident at the height of his fame.
Injuries and a concept album rejected by the artist’s label crippled his career.
Turned him into a reclusive curmudgeon, portrayed with nuanced grit and pathos by Jay White (“Frost/Nixon”; the world’s top real-life Diamond impersonator).
Former Bradenton resident Danielle White (“American Juniors”) plays the young, mystical muse Dez with charming aplomb.
She drags Noah out of his Myakka City hideaway.
Dez simultaneously helps launch the career of Candy (Kimber Cleveland), a singer in her mid-30s who thinks fate has forgotten her.
“I’ve had several muses in my life -- my mom, my dad, a couple really amazing teachers at Booker High and a lot of peers,” the 19-year-old Danielle said by phone from her new home in Santa Monica, Calif. “But I think the message of the story is there’s not one muse, but they’re all around you, and you just have to open yourself up to inspiration.”
“Beautiful Noise” enjoyed an unprecedented six, sold-out screenings at the Sarasota Film Festival earlier this month.
“I was able to sit in the audience and see the tears and hear the cheers,” Tatone said. “I had never seen anything like that before in a theater.”
Local investors took notice and have lined up for a piece of the action.
Due to popular demand, Tatone and his Midnight Pass Productions team are offering a final screening before taking the movie on the international festival circuit in search of major distribution.
“Beautiful Noise” will be shown Friday at the Riverview Performing Arts Center in Sarasota. Tickets are $10 with all proceeds going to Riverview High School.
The movie has been called a musical but don’t think Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Producer/writer/director Tatone judiciously chose original songs that propel the plot and are used organically.
For instance, a musical number comes when the fictional band Dez fronts rehearses.
Noah Kaminsky -- aka Bobby Drake -- sings on stage.
Or Dez and Noah duet in his a living room on the ballad “Lonely Heart.”
The song and scene are the film’s most poignant.
It’s the one that caused the waterworks among audience members at the festival screening -- and on set.
“For me, that’s the pivotal point in the story, how she goes about bringing him back to life and communicating to him through his own song, making it real again,” Danielle said. “I love that moment.
“I remember filming and it was so emotional for the crew, everyone, particularly Jay’s performance. On one of the takes, Jay broke down and started crying. It was heartbreaking.”
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Kimber Cleveland (Candy) wrote the bulk of the songs for the superb “Beautiful Noise” soundtrack, available at http://beautifulnoisethemovie.com.
Her husband, Doug Frasure, who plays her boyfriend/drummer on screen, penned “Lonely Heart.”
“We did that scene where they sing the duet on the third day of shooting,” Tatone said. “At that point, we knew we’d be OK.”
Plans are already set for a “Beautiful Noise” prequel (“Serenade”) and sequel (“Heartlight”) to be shot in September and October.
Jay will play the “same character in different stages in his life,” Tatone said.
As for Danielle?
“I won’t do either two movies without her,” the filmmaker said. “She might not know it, but she’s going to be a big star soon and that’s why I want to get the prequel and sequel shot before she does -- and I can’t afford her!”
Wade Tatangelo, features writer/columnist, can be reached at (941) 745-7057. Visit his blog at Bradenton.com/blogs.
