Last year legendary filmmaker Ron Howard set out to capture the experience of Jay-Z and Budweiser’s “Made in America” – a music festival in Philadelphia that showcases genres from the blues, punk fusion, rock, R&B, rap and everything in between.
But thanks to interesting narratives by Jay-Z, performers, promoters, staff and crew, the documentary highlights the making of the quintessential American Dream as much as it does the festival that has brought hundreds of thousands of music lovers and pumped millions of dollars into the Philadelphia economy Labor Day weekend since its inception in 2011.
Viewers will get a taste of music that both iconic and cutting edge as Pearl Jam, Run DMC, Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, Santigold, Odd Future and others share their stories framed around concert footage and the behind the scenes grind to bring the festival to fruition.
Monae shares intimate details of her life as a maid before her music career took off. Miike Snow lead singer Andrew Wyatt speaks of working at a hot dog stand – after extended stints in rehabs and mental institutions – as he contemplated whether he should abandon the idea of making a life for himself as a musician.
But it would be the meteoric rise of Jay-Z that was the focal point of illustrating the remixed American Dream that has inner city youth aching to be the voice of their generation’s interpretation of hip hop.
He speaks on his days in the dangerous Marcy Housing Projects of Brooklyn and his decision to hustle in the drug game before relying on his talent as a rapper – a gift that would subsequently promote him beyond the bars that he wrote at his kitchen table to become a business mogul and entertainment icon.
His dealing with the Brooklyn Nets, the building of the Barclays Center are also given some play. But his decision, efforts and intention as he created Made In America Music Festival are explored in the film.
The film is as much of an inspirational/motivational film as it is a music documentary as the subjects speak on the importance of applying sweat equity to their dreams and believing the impossible in the process.
Made In America debuts tonight (Fri., Oct. 11) at 8 p.m. CST. Check Local listings for channel and visit www.sho.com for more details.
