Opening in theaters on March 31 is the new film ‘Spinning Gold,’ which tells the story of Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart and is written and directed by his son, Timothy Scott Bogart.
What is the plot of ‘Ask for Gold?’
‘Spinning Gold’ chronicles the life and career of record producer and Casablanca Records founder, Neil Bogart, who is credited with discovering many iconic music acts such as Donna Summer, Kiss, and Village People. Together with a team of young music lovers, Neil and Casablanca Records will rewrite history and change the music industry forever. The film also deals with Bogart’s personal love triangle with wife Beth Bogart (Michelle Monaghan) and manager Joyce Biawitz (Lyndsy Fonseca).
“To make a hit record, Casablanca Records broke every rule”
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A biographical film of 1970s record producer Neil Bogart, co-founder of Casablanca Records. Read the Plot
Who is the cast of ‘Spinning Gold?’
‘Spinning Gold’ stars Jeremy Jordan (‘Supergirl’) as Neil Bogart, Michelle Monaghan (‘Mission: Impossible III’) as Beth Bogart, Jay Pharoah (‘Top Five’) as Cecil Holmes, Dan Fogler (‘The Offer’ ) as Buck Reingold, Jason Isaacs (‘Mass’) as Al Bogart, Lyndsy Fonseca (‘Kick-Ass’) as Joyce Biawitz, Chris Redd (‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’) as Frankie Crocker, and Sebastian Maniscalco (‘ The Irishman’) as Giorgio Moroder.
The film also stars musicians Wiz Khalifa as George Clinton, Jason Derulo as Ron Isley of the Isley Brothers, Pink Sweat$ as Bill Withers, Tayla Parx as Donna Summer, and Ledisi as Gladys Knight.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jeremy Jordan about his work on ‘Spinning Gold,’ playing Neil Bogart, directed by his son, who was discovered by artist Casablanca Records, and why Neil believes in them.
Jeremy Jordan as Neil Bogart in ‘Spinning Gold.’
You can read the full interview below or click the video player above to watch our interviews with Jordan, Jay Pharoah, Tayla Parx and director Timothy Scott Bogart.
Moviefone: First of all, how much did you know about Neil Bogart and the history of Casablanca Records before joining the project, and what did you learn about him that really helped you in this role?
Jeremy Jordan: I know absolutely nothing about it, to be honest with you. I know some of the music that came out of the recording studio they put together, and that’s about it. I really approached it from the point of view that I was working with this person’s family. Tim Bogart wrote and directed him, and he gave me so much great insight, and really allowed me to find my own way into my version of his father without trying to be a copy of this person. Which is good because she’s not a widely known figure, and there aren’t a lot of videos where people are like, “Oh, you didn’t do exactly that.” That said, though, we don’t focus on that much in the movies, even with the more well-known characters. We really have to find out who these people are and then get out of there. It was a truly liberating experience. I don’t feel like I have to do this perfect impression, you know what I’m saying?
(Left to Right) Jeremy Jordan as Neil Bogart and Michelle Monaghan as Beth Bogart in ‘Spinning Gold.’
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MF: Is it weird to be directed by the son of the person you’re playing?
JJ: It’s weird in my head, but in execution, it really isn’t, except for the occasional time Tim is like, “Hey daddy.” I was like, “That’s weird. Don’t do that.” But no, I actually felt one hundred percent supported all along. If there is guidance, it is done with a very loving hand. One of the things that I’ve been very lucky with is that Tim said one of the reasons he chose me to play the role was because I had a lot of his father’s essence, and he allowed me to find that version of it in him. I myself. So I never really felt like I was under a microscope or anything, so it was liberating in that way, and I didn’t have to be self-conscious.
(Left to Right) Tayla Parx as Donna Summer and Jeremy Jordan as Neil Bogart in ‘Spinning Gold.’
MF: Finally, can you talk about the relationship that Neil has with music artists like Donna Summer and Kiss, and the way he found them and actually believed them when no one else would?
JJ: He saw things before anyone else. So he looked at Kiss and saw Donna Summer as the amazing thing that would change music. He was so far ahead that everyone thought he was crazy and neither had made it in years with either of them. But he continues to believe in them, almost wrong. Just persistently throwing money away until some people finally figure it out, or he actually finds the best way to present it to the world. But he never gave up on them and he never wavered in his faith in them, or never truly second-guessed them. He knows that he is right, and he is right 99% of the time. It’s hard to find people like that, especially nowadays. Nothing like this story could happen today. I recently tried to get into the music business. I started a band and they were like, start your own TikTok, release your first couple album, then talk to us. There’s no need to send in your record or demo and someone says, “if I believe in you and I think I can make you something, let’s do it.” If there is, I don’t know. This is rare. It’s more cruel now.
(Left to Right) Casey Likes as Gene Simmons, Sam Harris as Paul Stanley and Alex Gaskarth as Peter Criss appear as Kiss in ‘Spinning Gold.’
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‘Spinning Gold’ is produced by Knightsbridge Entertainment, Boardwalk Films, and Foresight Unlimited, and is scheduled for release on March 31.