The stars and director of the new Rolling Stones concert documentary Shine a Light talk about their collaboration to Helen Barlow
In recent years, Martin Scorsese has been relentlessly documenting his favourite music on celluloid. He was the prime mover behind the stunning series The Blues and he directed No Direction Home, an incisive documentary about Bob Dylan, who had appeared in his seminal 1978 movie, The Last Waltz, which focused on the last concert by The Band.Now in Shine a Light, he takes on filming a concert by the Rolling Stones, the band whose music underscores so many of his movies, ever since Jumpin' Jack Flash heralded Robert De Niro's entrance in Mean Streets. Scorsese has long enjoyed a close relationship with the Stones, particularly with Mick Jagger. And the world's most lively sexagenarian frontman has wanted success as a movie star as much as Scorsese has been in awe of musicians. In Shine A Light they feed off each other's talents."Over the years, Mick and I have been talking about working on some projects together and every time we meet I go and see the show," Scorsese explains.
"Whenever I see a show I always get excited and want to get a camera up there."Originally Jagger suggested filming a huge Rio beach concert in 3D, yet Scorsese favoured creating a gig in the smaller surrounds of New York's ornately tiered Beacon Theatre, so he could show the band up close and exert more control."The thing about the theatre in the movie," says Jagger, "is it gives you an intimate look into the relationships that are going on on stage, which I've never really seen in a concert movie before, apart from maybe in The Last Waltz."When talking about the film, Scorsese is like a big kid and admits to having been a Stones fan long before he met them."Making the film was so enjoyable, because every time we started shooting it or editing it, it was a constant renewal of a kind passion and inspiration for me. In a way it rejuvenated me and helped keep my creative energy going."Longevity is one of Shine A Light's themes. In the 20 minutes leading up to the concert, Scorsese takes us backstage to introduce us to the band, cleverly weaving in old footage. Jagger, filmed in the first two years of the band's existence, says how they might last a while longer, yet only a few years later tells an interviewer, somewhat prophetically, that they could well be around for another 20 years.A crusty-looking Keith Richards, 64 years of age like Jagger, proves surprisingly articulate in interviews, and during the concert emits a cheeky grin. However, Scorsese's astounding 18 cameras mostly focus on Jagger gyrating and strutting from one side of the stage to the other.
