Broke*

Broke* is a feature-length documentary film written and directed by Will Gray. The film is an autobiographical account of Gray's attempt to break into the music business. Broke* features appearances by Kelly Clarkson, Seth Godin, John Legend, Buddy Miller, Isaac Slade of The Fray, and Don Was.

Synopsis

Broke* begins two years in the past, at the beginnings of Gray’s independent journey, recording demos in the basement of his friend's home. The demos come to the attention of producer T Bone Burnett who asks to meet and listen to more of Gray’s music.

Despite these auspicious beginnings, frustrating meetings with a New York record executive fail to produce an acceptable deal, so Gray decides to set out on his own as an independent artist. The film follows his struggles to establish a fanbase, manage bookings and cancellations, and all of the other exhilarations and frustrations of independent music making. Broke* features interviews with recording industry insiders about new paradigms for the music business.

Cast

• Will Gray, himself

Remainder of cast listed in alphabetical order

• Lee Bailey, owner, EURweb
• Bobby Bare Jr. of the record label 30 Tigers
• Lonny Bereal, HitClub Entertainment
• The Candles
• Chopmaster J
• Kelly Clarkson
• Trent Dabbs
• Will Dailey
• Jim “Rocky” Del Balzo, Jim Del Balzo Management
• Bob Donnelly, Attorney
• The Fieros
• Seth Godin
• Mike Grimes, co-owner of The Basement
• Ali Harnell, Sr. Vice President of AEG Live
• Damien Horne
• Hymns, Independent Artist
• Joonie, HitClub Entertainment
• Steven Ivory, music journalist
• Nathan Johnson
• Nathan Lee, independent artist
• John Legend, Columbia Records
• Nicholas “Aqua” McCarrell
• Ian McEvily, Manager, Rebel One Management
• Buddy Miller of New West Records
• Catherine Moore, Director of the Music Business Graduate Program at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
• Danara (Schurch) Moore, Columbia Records
• Emily Hope Price, Independent Artist
• Ian Quay, A&R and Label Manager, StarTime International
• Justin Roddick, owner, 12th & Porter (a Nashville night club)
• Audrey Ryan of Folkwit Records
• Isaac Slade, Epic Records
• Andy Smith of the band Paper Route
• Beka Tischker, Manager, Advanced Alternative Media
• Don Was

Reception

Newsday called Broke* "a pretty accurate, sometimes wrenching, portrayal of what up-and-coming artists go through to advance their career."^[1] It was selected for presentation at the PhilFM (Philadelphia Film and Music) Festival,^[2] and at the Nashville Film Festival, where it was awarded the "Special Jury Prize for Most Original Vision" in the Gibson Music Films/Music City Competition.^[3]

References

External links

• Official website
• Broke* at IMDb