When it comes to television singing contests like The Voice or American Idol, audiences only get to see a portion of what really happens throughout the experience for the contestants. Yet in his delightful directorial debut, Max Minghella has offered audiences something quite special. TEEN SPIRIT is the story of a shy teenager looking to become a singer, and it isn’t your typical making of a star flick. Instead of a sappy, feel good feature, this is a grounded and satisfying story that still manages to keep the audience singing along. It also helps that Elle Fanning gives such a quiet and sublime performance, and she can sing beautifully. This is a cool flick with great songs and a surprisingly refreshing take on the search for stardom.
We recently sat down with Ms. Fanning, first time producer Jamie Bell and Mr. Minghella himself. For Elle, this was a chance to do something completely different. She has more than proven what a wonderfully talented actress she is, come to find out that she can vocalize with the best of them. During our discussion, she talked about having to really pursue this particular role. And frankly, while she seemed quite modest about it, she perfectly brought all the songs to life. As well, the fact that people will be listening to her on the soundtrack appeared to excite her in a genuine and charming way. It is always terrific to speak with Elle, she is kind and welcoming, just a real pleasure to chat with.
Next up, we spoke with both Max and Jamie. Not only is this the first feature for Max as a director, it was the first time Jamie had taken on an executive producer role. The two discussed the reasons they decided to take this particular story on, as well as how much the project had changed before finally becoming a reality. The respect Max and company show for the art of pop music is truly inspired, and they have crafted a rich feature film that reprensents that.. It also features a ton of great music. If you are looking for something truly unique and super entertaining, seek out TEEN SPIRIT this weekend. It’s a song you’ll happily jam to.
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