As a filmmaker who has had the privilege of capturing Elton John’s journey, I can confidently say that it’s been an extraordinary experience to witness his unparalleled passion for music and life. The camaraderie we share in our shared interests, from culture and film to photography and our work with the AIDS Foundation, has made this project a truly unique collaboration.
David Furnish, Elton John’s husband, acknowledges that the boundaries often get mixed up when creating a movie together, especially one centered around him.
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Furnish and co-director R.J. Cutler discussed their work on the Disney+ documentary titled “Elton John: Never Too Late,” which had its premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
On December 13th, I’m thrilled to share that the movie will be streaming, offering a treasure trove of historical footage chronicling the meteoric rise of this iconic British figure in the ’70s and ’80s. It highlights crucial milestones in his career, including his groundbreaking interview with Rolling Stone about coming out, and his poignant collaboration with John Lennon just before the latter’s passing.
Looking back on my extraordinary journey, this film captures the ups and downs of my relationships, battling addiction, and cherishing family moments with our sons Zachary and Elijah. This documentary was produced as I prepared for my retirement from touring, a decision that brought me to Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium during the final leg of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in July 2023.
In the conversation below, Furnish and Cutler discuss locating the influential Rolling Stone interview, which they found hidden in the New York Public Library’s archives. They explain why this was an opportune moment to create the film, and if given more time, what aspect of Furnish they would have preferred to reveal: “I captured so much footage, but there were no outbursts. … He’s simply a wonderful father who adores those boys dearly.
Kudos on the fantastic movie! To begin, here’s a more conversational approach to your query: What made you decide to create this particular movie?
The conversation between Elton and me marked the beginning of our discussion on the profound impact of his life-long touring career reaching its conclusion, something he’s always been involved with. He typically performs 90 to 100 shows annually, but was making a conscious decision to scale back in order to spend more quality time with our family. This was the initial spark. However, I also recognized that with my various other duties and my experience as a filmmaker up until then, it would be beneficial to partner with someone who could offer valuable lessons, as well as abundant support, insight, and resources for the entire project. It just so happened that R.J. and I were connected, and we shared a meal in Los Angeles right before lockdown. During our meeting, R.J. presented his own unique perspective on the project.
Cutler expressed, “We had the L.A. Dodgers as our main event. People frequently ask me, if I could create any film, what would it be? For quite some time, my answer was a film centered around Elton John, focusing on the initial five years of his career. This era was not just significant in pop music history but also in Elton John’s life – he released 13 albums within five years, with seven of them reaching number one. His music significantly shaped the direction of pop music following the Beatles. Additionally, this was a challenging period in Elton’s personal life, culminating in his public coming out to Rolling Stone at a time when it could have jeopardized his career. I’ve always believed that this would make for an intriguing movie.
In our initial encounter, David shared his enthusiasm for capturing the final stages of Elton’s touring career, another significant life phase marked by a momentous choice. On the other hand, I proposed focusing on the early years, spanning the first five, and it was during this conversation that the idea for the film took shape.
This movie contains numerous essential structural and narrative aspects, such as the Rolling Stone interview and the concert with John Lennon. Given Elton’s extensive career, it’s intriguing to know why you focused on highlighting those specific moments instead of others.
Cutler: They both lead to huge decisions on Elton’s part.
Furnish: And Lennon’s, too.
Cutler: Indeed, the Lennon segment truly echoes all the major motifs of the film. It encompasses topics like mortality, family, friendship, drugs, humor, music, links to the past, and predictions for the future. Essentially, it covers every aspect. And it’s an engaging tale.
It’s equally crucial for us to innovatively pioneer new territory in our work. Remarkably, an interview featuring Cliff Jahr, previously unheard by anyone except Cliff himself, was unearthed by R.J. and his team within the archives of the New York Public Library. In addition to this discovery, we stumbled upon raw photographs and fragmented footage from the Dodgers [concert] at Madison Square Garden in our own archive. We had a complete audio recording of the Lennon concert, which, combined with all the photos we could gather and an exceptionally skilled editor, allowed us to reconstruct one of the most pivotal evenings in music history that had never been showcased before.
It’s significant to note that R.J., who shared with me over lunch our first time together, was truly present at John Lennon’s concert when he was 13 years old. This revelation reminded me of a divine sign, because Elton John often speaks mythically about the concert – its grandeur, the unprecedented applause, and the way the entire venue seemed to quake for several minutes. As filmmakers, we found it thrilling to recreate this moment in our work, giving it the authenticity and importance that it truly holds.
Cutler: We’re delving into a core aspect of Elton’s personality, which reveals that his life is an outcome of decisions he’s made, many of them risky, yet they all seem to lead him towards expressing himself authentically.
Describe: I find the contrast between Lennon and Elton quite heartwarming. Both men, in different ways, seemed to find contentment and healing within their families. Lennon overcame his struggles with substance abuse, reconnected with Yoko, and together they welcomed Sean into the world. Despite the tragic ending, I believe he experienced the purest happiness of his life during that time. Similarly, Elton has found joy in stepping away from touring and spending more time with his family. It’s a beautiful parallel, showing how they both found solace and happiness within their families.
I’d like to discuss that point since you are both a filmmaker among us and Elton’s spouse. Could you share some insights about how these roles intertwine in your life?
As a gaming enthusiast, I find our bond transcends the digital realm. While there are areas where our interests may differ slightly – like sports, for instance, I’m not as engrossed as Elton is – we share an intense passion for music, culture, movies, photography, and our joint endeavors with the AIDS Foundation. It’s a beautiful symbiosis, really. Elton isn’t one to hover or dictate every move; instead, he trusts his collaborators, gets to know us, grasps our vision, and then gives us the freedom to work independently. This approach is refreshingly healthy, as constant oversight might have added an unnecessary layer of stress that I believe wouldn’t have benefited us at all.
Moreover, I must be straightforward with you. The film, dealing significantly with mortality and life’s finality, became emotionally overwhelming at times for me. You see, Elton has always been a road warrior, and I’ve only glimpsed him off the stage during brief holidays or downtime between shows. Yet, his tours have shaped an essential part of who he is. To watch this chapter close is something we all anticipate. Although you can analyze it logically, nothing fully prepares you for the emotional resonance that comes with such an ending. It signifies the farewell to something truly unique and special.
Are you curious if there was a less-explored aspect of Elton John’s personality that wasn’t fully portrayed in the movie, should more time have been available for its depiction?
Due to the documentary titled “Tantrums and Tiaras” that I made in 1995, some viewers commented: “There weren’t any tantrums.” However, I filmed a great deal of material, yet there were no tantrums to be found. At this specific point in Elton’s life and during his touring period, he was incredibly content and full of joy. Each performance served as a testament to the value of his work, and he received an overwhelming amount of affection from the audience. Moreover, it was during the COVID-19 lockdown, so Elton essentially lived in isolation, leading a somewhat monastic life, and rarely interacted with his band. Consequently, there’s a significant amount of footage that shows him alone, enjoying sports or other activities – though these moments didn’t align with the narrative of this film, they do demonstrate that there were no tantrums involved.
That’s great to know. I hope the Elton John fans love this film.
Appreciate your kind words. It’s heartwarming to know it resonated emotionally with you. I’m also glad to share his personal joy as a father from your viewpoint. However, we had to maintain privacy regarding our children since they are not in the public eye. They are essential to the story, as they were the source of his happiness and the reason for his decision to step away from touring. The FaceTime call was unexpected, it just so happened that we were filming at the time because he was in the studio. He’s truly a wonderful father, and his affection for his sons is evident in his actions, which made the scene even more touching.
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2024-10-16 21:25