Filmmakers Partner With Maynard James Keenan For Wine Doc
Posted on Nov 30th 2009 3:00PM by Amy Sciarretto
Comments
Directors Ryan Page and Christopher Pomerenke knew they wanted to make a documentary involving enigmatic Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan, and his vineyards and winemaking endeavors, after they encountered the singer via 'The Heart is a Drum Machine,' the documentary they made that featured interviews with Keenan and other hard rock/metal luminaries like Enslaved's Ivar Bjornnsen and Gene Hoglan! Their dream came true, and the result is 'Blood Into Wine' documentary.
"We're both from Arizona and ten years ago, we heard that Maynard had moved to Arizona and to a ghost town called Jerome," Page recalled to Noisecreep. "I was working with Crispin Glover, David Lynch and Christopher was in a band, and we had been friends for a year and we knew we'd end up working with Maynard. We never told him this, either! The film about his vineyard grew organically. We interviewed him at his vineyard. We thought, 'This is a good story, that he is making this wine in this hot area.' They make great wines. We wouldn't have made this if Maynard wasn't actively involved in winemaking. He's not a celebrity who would lend his name to wine if his hands wasn't in the dirt. Naturally, nothing has been ever done with him like this."
But getting the elusive Keenan to commit to the project and the process was naturally not simple! Page said, "First he didn't respond. He did a cover of 'Rocket Man' for the movie we had done and we were dealing with him on that and kept pestering him, ending every email with, 'Let's get together and talk,' but he would answer about everything but that. At a dinner, we told him we needed to do this and he agreed."
The prospect of making wine in a hot region like Arizona makes an interesting topic. "We went to Napa to interview winemakers about making wine in Arizona and none of the wine writers or makers consider Arizona on the map. It's like making wine on the moon. This is the perception of the region. There is no one who has done it, so he must be a pioneer."
Working this closely to Keenan had its interesting moments, as well. "I asked him the other day," Page said. "We shot for a year and we were wrapping up. I asked him if there were any aspect he likes, and of course, he said 'No.' He's so passionate about wine and we see winemaking as part of his creative trajectory, but Puscifer is a big part of the film, too. We have the music stuff, too. Our last shoot was Puscifer in Las Vegas. That's the last thing in film."
The film is on track for an early 2010 release.
"We're both from Arizona and ten years ago, we heard that Maynard had moved to Arizona and to a ghost town called Jerome," Page recalled to Noisecreep. "I was working with Crispin Glover, David Lynch and Christopher was in a band, and we had been friends for a year and we knew we'd end up working with Maynard. We never told him this, either! The film about his vineyard grew organically. We interviewed him at his vineyard. We thought, 'This is a good story, that he is making this wine in this hot area.' They make great wines. We wouldn't have made this if Maynard wasn't actively involved in winemaking. He's not a celebrity who would lend his name to wine if his hands wasn't in the dirt. Naturally, nothing has been ever done with him like this."
But getting the elusive Keenan to commit to the project and the process was naturally not simple! Page said, "First he didn't respond. He did a cover of 'Rocket Man' for the movie we had done and we were dealing with him on that and kept pestering him, ending every email with, 'Let's get together and talk,' but he would answer about everything but that. At a dinner, we told him we needed to do this and he agreed."
The prospect of making wine in a hot region like Arizona makes an interesting topic. "We went to Napa to interview winemakers about making wine in Arizona and none of the wine writers or makers consider Arizona on the map. It's like making wine on the moon. This is the perception of the region. There is no one who has done it, so he must be a pioneer."
Working this closely to Keenan had its interesting moments, as well. "I asked him the other day," Page said. "We shot for a year and we were wrapping up. I asked him if there were any aspect he likes, and of course, he said 'No.' He's so passionate about wine and we see winemaking as part of his creative trajectory, but Puscifer is a big part of the film, too. We have the music stuff, too. Our last shoot was Puscifer in Las Vegas. That's the last thing in film."
The film is on track for an early 2010 release.
All the AOL Music info you want to know
Mario Announces Nicki Minaj…
The BoomboxFacebook R&B crooner Mario has been relatively quiet on the music front for…
Fat Joe Loves the Dough in 'Ballin''…
The BoomboxYouTube Cash rules everything around Fat Joe, Wiz Khalifa and Teyana Taylor in…
Tim McGraw Stops Atlanta Show to Help…
The BootFrederick Breedon IV, Getty Images Sunday night's stop on the Two Lanes of…
Kellie Pickler Advances to 'Dancing With the Stars' Finals
Taylor Swift Admired George Jones' Passion for Performing
Rock the Bells 2013 Lineup Includes Ol' Dirty Bastard & Eazy-E Holograms
Jennifer Hudson Performs 'Inseparable' With 'American Idol' Winner Candice Glover
Carrie Underwood Says She's 'Queen of Awkward' in Marie Claire Interview
Victim's Sister To Arias: 'Our Minds Are Permanently Stained'
Man Arrested After Midnight Swim Near Taylor Swift's Rhode Island Home
Waitress Surprised With HUGE Tip On Tiny Bill
Nine Inch Nails Lose Bassist Eric Avery
LOOK: There's Something Wrong With This Picture
Tim McGraw Stops Atlanta Show to Help Ailing Fan
Former OJ Attorney Gives Shocking Testimony
Lil Wayne's Emmett Till Lyric Was Never Meant for Public Consumption
These American Companies Refused To Sign The Bangladesh Safety Accord
Kree Harrison Debuts Potential Single 'All Cried Out' During 'American Idol' Finale
New Leads In Case Of Missing British Girl
Guess Which State Boasts The Most Million-Dollar Homes?
PREGNANT!
Student Shot Dead During Botched Home Invasion
And Your New 'American Idol' Is ...
The Afterlife Of Andy Kaufman
Pictures Showing Pregnant Teens' Bumps Banned From Yearbook
Jodi Arias' Lawyers Want Out
Will Smith, Jaden Smith Get Photobombed
LOOK: Khloe K Shows Curves In SKIN TIGHT Dress
Chef Allegedly Killed Over Noodle Dinner Gone Wrong
Hero Hitchhiker Arrested For Allegedly Beating Man To Death
Televangelist Claims It's The Wife's Job To Keep Men Faithful
LeAnn Rimes, Brandi Glanville Feud Reignites
LOOK: The Worst Twitter Responses To Angelina Jolie's Preventative Mastectomy
Victoria Lost 96 Pounds: 'It Was All Or Nothing'
LOOK: Mind-Blowing Optical Illusions
WATCH: How Moms Inadvertently Sabotage Their Sons
