If only: the Titantic and NIN!

Here’s one from the Docs That Almost Rocked Department. Our friends at The Playlist report that Trent Reznor, free from label constraints and releasing music like The Slip and Ghosts I-IV a la Radiohead, had a deal lined up for a 3D music film with James Cameron, of Titanic and Terminator fame. But Interscope Records, who maintains ownership of some of his biggest hits, refused permission.
On the Nine Inch Nails website, Reznor wrote:

I made two critical mistakes…One was to approach a certain record company that owns some of the song rights about producing/funding. The second was to allow said company to f— around as usual for months before saying ‘Um… no.’ We then achieved the impossible by finding alternate production/funding but the timetable is too rushed to get it filmed comfortably with the remaining time left on the tour.

The tour would have documented what Reznor claims was the best tour of the year, complete with a wild, interactrive lighting display by media-arts company Moment Factory. So in lieu of a 3D documentary, here is a video by the folks at the company explaining the technology and showing a few concert highlights.

Who Gets a Grammy Nod

Now our VH1 Rock Doc series can add a Grammy nod to its list of accomplishments. Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who which had its world premiere last November on both VH1 and VH1 Classic was nominated in the Best Long Form Music Video category (the 110th category – they give out LOTS of Grammys) which basically is a catch all for concert films, DVD features and rock docs. The Who will battle the other nominees most notably the four hour Bogdanovich epic Runnin’ Down A Dream about Tom Petty. Other contenders include Respect Yourself — The Stax Records Story; John Mayer’s Where The Light Is — Live In Los Angeles; and Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad Live. The Grammys are February 8 in L.A.

As for the Who doc, buy it here and see the trailer below.

Sundance Music Docs

Few notable things from the just-announced list of docs at the upcoming 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Culled from the press release:

When You’re Strange (Director and Screenwriter: Tom DiCillo) – The first feature documentary about The Doors, When You’re Strange enters the dark and dangerous world of one of America’s most influential bands using only footage shot between 1966 and 1971. World Premiere. Tom keeps a pretty cool director’s blog and talks about the Doors acceptance to Sundance (and Berlin Film Festival) here, writing about Morrison and the film: “There is no figure in the history of American Rock and Roll who inspired so many myths; and continues to. The title also touches all those who have ever felt the cool chill of isolation and oddness themselves. Which, in a way, is all of us.”

Afghan Star/Afghanistan/UK (Director: Havana Marking) – After 30 years of war and Taliban rule, Pop Idol has come to television in Afghanistan: millions are watching and voting for their favorite singer. This film follows the dramatic stories of four contestants as they risk their lives to sing. North American Premiere

Tibet in Song / USA (Director: Ngawang Choephel) – Through the story of Tibetan music, this film depicts the determined efforts of Tibetan people, both in Tibet and in exile, to preserve their unique cultural identity. Choephel served six years of an 18-year prison sentence for filming in Tibet. World Premiere

Other related Rock Doc directors made Sundance with non-music docs: Ondi Timoner who directed the legendary DIG! returns with We Live in Public about crazy internet entrepreneur Josh Harris; Eric Daniel Metzgar who directed Life. Support. Music. about guitarist Jason Crigler is back with Reporter about the African journey New York Times columist Nicholas D. Kristof; and Dana Perry, who co-created our VH1 Rock Docs And You Don’t Stop, The Drug Years and Sex: The Revolution, will show Boy Interrupted about her son.