Category Archives: Rodriguez
Free Basin’ Fridays – RODRIGUEZ! « Light in the Attic Records
It’s been a crazy year for Rodriguez. The documentary Searching For Sugar Man was one of the first films to be purchased (by Sony Pictures Classics) at Sundance and picked up two awards on the way (World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary and World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Prize for its Celebration of the Artistic Spirit). Be sure there is some cool Rodriguez news in the coming months! After being out of print for the last year, Rodriguez Cold Fact (LITA 036) is finally available again on vinyl and to celebrate, we’re giving away a copy of Cold Fact for this week’s Free Basin’ Fridays. - Light In The Attic
via Free Basin’ Fridays – RODRIGUEZ! « Light in the Attic Records.
Rodriguez Cold Fact Vinyl Re-issue
Sixto Rodriguez at SXSW Film 2012 – Searching for Sugar Man Q & A at the Paramount Theater
Joseph Poirier wrote:
I was at SXSW Film where they screened Searching for Sugar Man last night (Wednesday night). I took a video of the Q&A after the movie with Sixto Rodriguez and director Malik Bendjelloul.
Rodriguez at SXSW 2012 | Light In The Attic
Searching for Sugar Man
Searching For Sugar Man (film screening)
Wednesday, March 14 @ 9:30 PM – 10:55 PM
@ Paramount Theatre – 713 Congress
Tix are $10 at the theater unless you have a FILM BADGE
Rodriguez (live solo performance) – this is sure to be packed so get there early
Wednesday, March 14 @ 12 AM (yup, MIDNIGHT!)
@ Mohawk – 912 Red River
From Light In The Attic
‘Searching For Sugar Man’ Wins Two Awards At Sundance Film Festival | PT Music
Press release for PT Music
Searching For Sugarman
In 2006 Swedish film producer Malik Bendjelloul visited Cape Town, South Africa as part of a world-spanning journey searching for inspiration for a new film. What he found was a story that was so unbelievable that if a scriptwriter had written it as a piece of fiction, it would have been rejected as being too far-fetched.
‘Searching For Sugar Man’ took three years to complete and was filmed in Cape Town and Detroit, and other South African and US locations. The film had its international premiere on Thursday 19th January 2012, at the Sundance Film Festival held in Park City, Utah, USA as a representative of the World Documentary section.
Synopsis from Sundance Filmguide:
“Rodriguez was the greatest ’70s U.S. rock icon who never was. His albums [Cold Fact and Coming From Reality] were critically well-received, but sales bombed, and he faded away into obscurity among rumors of a gruesome death. However, as fate would have it, a bootleg copy of his record made its way to South Africa, where his music became a phenomenal success. In a country suppressed by apartheid, his anti-establishment message connected with the people.
When his second album finally gets released on CD in South Africa, two fans take it as a sign, deciding to look into the mystery of how Rodriguez died and what happened to all of the profits from his album sales. Since very little information about the singer exists, they meet many obstacles until they uncover a shocking revelation that sets off a wild chain of events that has to be seen to be believed. ‘Searching For Sugar Man’ is a story of hope, inspiration, and the resonating power of music”.
After the initial screening, Chris Lee from the Daily Beast wrote: “Following the rise, seeming demise, and re-emergence of an obscure but influential Mexican-American folk singer named Rodriguez, the movie premiered Thursday to tears, cheers, and a standing ovation from festival attendees”.
‘Searching For Sugar Man’ garnered two awards, The ‘World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary’ and ‘World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Prize for its Celebration of the Artistic Spirit’. To receive both an audience award and a critics award is a very rare occurrence indeed and had only happened once before since Sundance was founded in 1981 by Robert Redford. It was also one the first films sold at the Festival, being snapped up by Sony Pictures Classics.
Rodriguez (who turns 70 this year in July) attended the festival and appeared with Malik Bendjelloul and Sugarman.org’s Stephen “Sugar” Segerman, after every screening. He also performed at the packed-out Sundance ASCAP Music Café. (see video below)
The Sundance Film Festival success of ‘Searching For Sugarman’ is another milestone in the strange and wonderful story of the man known, to his ever increasing fan base around the world, simply as Rodriguez.
Brian Currin
Sugarman.org
Sundance Press Release
http://press.sundance.org/38362?format=pdf&press=1
Sundance Filmguide
http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/120073/searching_for_sugar_man
Sundance ASCAP Music Café
Rodriguez In Weekend Argus, 26 February 2012
The Man Who Was Big In SA by Bianca Coleman, Weekend Argus, 26 February 2012
Rodriguez: The Man Who Was Big In SA
Two Awards at Sundance for Searching For Sugarman
From 2012 Sundance Film Festival Announces Awards
The World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary was presented by Edward James Olmos to:
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN / Sweden, United Kingdom (Director: Malik Bendjelloul) — Rodriguez was the greatest ‘70s US rock icon who never was. Hailed as the greatest recording artist of his generation he disappeared into oblivion – rising again from the ashes in a completely different context many miles away.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Prize for its Celebration of the Artistic Spirit was presented by Richard Pena to:
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN / Sweden, United Kingdom (Director: Malik Bendjelloul) — Rodriguez was the greatest ‘70s US rock icon who never was. Hailed as the greatest recording artist of his generation he disappeared into oblivion – rising again from the ashes in a completely different context many miles away.
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Rodriguez Does Sundance – Day 1 – Part II
I soon realize this is feeling more like a Rodriguez convention, gathering some familiar and unfamiliar faces from Rodriguez’s life and career. Seeing Rodriguez for the first time in over a year is an immediate high. He looks great in a black suit and scarf, calm and classy as always. You can see the smile on his face when we chat about the film and the people surrounding us. It felt a little too good to be true. I quickly meet my heroes, Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman and Craig Bartholomew, the two South Africans who started all this madness. – Matt Sullivan
via Rodriguez Does Sundance – Day 1 – Part II « Light in the Attic Records.
Craig Bartholomew and Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman
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‘Searching for Sugar Man’ Sold at Sundance
Sony Pictures Classics struck first blood, buying North American rights to Searching for Sugar Man, Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul’s directorial debut. Following the rise, seeming demise, and reemergence of an obscure but influential Mexican-American folk singer named Rodriguez, the movie premiered Thursday to tears, cheers, and a standing ovation from festival attendees. – Chris Lee
Interview with filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul
Extract from an interview with filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul, whose “Searching For Sugarman’ opens this week at the Sundance Film Festival.
What have you learned over the course of making the film?
I learned that it’s possible to live your life on your own terms. Even if it means huge sacrifice, it’s your life and you will regret it if you don’t try. Rodriguez didn’t want to conform to any format or rules. He said what he wanted to say, and then he waited for people to embrace his music and his ethos, and not the other way around. I think that’s something we can all learn a lot from. Maybe more success or more money could come by compromising your dreams, but don’t go there! Rodriguez used to repeat the adage “you shouldn’t take candy from strangers.” That could apply to filmmaking. Filmmakers might go to a film institute for financing and think that all problems will be solved, but it comes with sacrifices. Maybe you’ll get the money, but maybe it’ll be a year too late and you’ve lost your inspiration and passion. If you want to be true to yourself you need to set your own rules – use your own money, and if you don’t have much then make a cheap film. This is much easier with cheap digital technology. If it turns out to be a good film, you can sell it and from the surplus you can make the next film. Times have changed – filmmaking just isn’t that expensive anymore. My cinematographer Camilla Skagerstrom won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes last year for a short film she made using $3000 of her own money. She didn’t compromise. If you want to make a film, it needs to be your film, made on your terms and with the energy you only can get from the possible misconception that all is possible and all your dreams can come true. Don’t wait for the money until you’ve lost the spark – just do it anyway.
In the same way, Rodriguez eventually found his audience his own way. Why: because he stayed true to his ideals. So much so that it seemed like he was almost purposely hiding his talent and avoiding success. But in the end, it turned out to be the other way around. His creativity was uncompromised and therefore flawless. I think this is really something any artist needs to consider carefully. Their true treasure is their own integrity, dignity, inspiration and passion. Protect this at all costs.
Full interview at http://martinmyers.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/searching-for-sugar-man-movie-about-rodriguez/
‘Searching For Sugar Man’ To Open 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
‘Searching For Sugar Man’, a new documentary about Rodriguez by Swedish film director, Malik Bendjelloul, will be one of the three opening films at next week’s 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
The film will have its international premiere next Thursday 19th January, at the Sundance Festival as a representative of the World Documentary section of the Festival.
‘Searching For Sugar Man’ was completed over the past three years and was filmed in Cape Town and Detroit, and other South African and US locations.
More Info:
http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/120073/searching_for_sugar_man
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118047898
http://collider.com/sundance-2012-film-competition-line-up/129488/#more-129488 – Searching for Sugar Man / Denmark, United Kingdom (Director: Malik Bendjelloul) — Rodriguez was the greatest ‘70s US rock icon who never was. Hailed as the greatest recording artist of his generation he disappeared into oblivion – rising again from the ashes in a completely different context many miles away. World Premiere. Day One Film.
For more info, please contact:
Sugar
Email: sugar@sugarmusic.co.za
Rodriguez Documentary to be shown at Sundance in January 2012
Searching for Sugar Man » (Denmark/United Kingdom) A portrait of the ‘70s rock star Rodriguez, “the Latin Bob Dylan,” who went from fame to obscurity — only to rise again in a different context many miles away. Directed by Malik Bendjelloul.
From Sundance.org
Searching for Sugar Man / Denmark, United Kingdom (Director: Malik Bendjelloul) — Rodriguez was the greatest ‘70s US rock icon who never was. Hailed as the greatest recording artist of his generation he disappeared into oblivion – rising again from the ashes in a completely different context many miles away. World Premiere. DAY ONE FILM
Rodriguez website: http://sugarman.org
Rodriguez Documentary to be shown at Sundance in January 2012
Rodriguez: New York City Trip
This week Rodriguez will be traveling to New York City for two awesome events…
Interview + Live Solo Performance on internet radio station EAST VILLAGE RADIO. Rodriguez is scheduled to play a couple songs and be interviewed.
Friday, December 2nd, 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM EST
LISTEN LIVE ONLINE: www.eastvillageradio.com
Rodriguez is playing a special solo show opening for Charles Bradley at the Bowery Ballroom. The show is sold out.
Saturday, December 3rd, 8 PM EST
MORE INFO: http://www.boweryballroom.com/event/60545/
Matt Sullivan, Light In The Attic
Rodriguez performs in Detroit, this Saturday 1/29
Cass Cafe – No Cover
Solo performance
7:30pm
Donovan’s Pub – No Cover
Solo performance
9pm
The Park Bar – $5 Cover
with Dave Shettler, Brad Hales and Matt Smith
11pm
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Rodriguez performance, Detroit 6/23
From Regan Rodriguez
Just an update – Hot on the heels of a sold out tour in Australia – Rodriguez will be performing at the Magic Stick in Detroit on Wednesday, June 23rd at 10pm. This performance was requested by the opening act Sleepy Sun, who worked with Rodriguez on his west coast tour last year, in their hometown of San Francisco. Backing Rodriguez for this performance are three musicians from Detroit who together form the band Cannon. This will be their first time performing with Rodriguez and the night will surely be one to remember, as everyone is excited about this.
Thanks,
Regan
