What we learned at the 'Miles Ahead' premiere
Is there going to be a Cincinnati sequel for Don Cheadle?
The star and director of "Miles Ahead" said Saturday he's working on a new project with that film's co-writer now.
"I promise you, I was driving around tonight thinking, 'Should we come back here again?" he said.
The Academy-Award nominee praised the city during Saturday's local premiere of "Miles Ahead," which was shot in some 25 location in the Queen City in summer 2014.
So did producer Pam Hirsch.
"Cincinnati allowed us to just focus on making our movie," Hirsch said. "There was financial support, emotional support. There was so much support from the city ... It helped us make the movie that we wanted to make in more ways than we ever imagined."
Set in New York City, the "Miles Ahead" focuses on the end of Miles Davis' five-year period away from the public eye in 1979 when the innovative jazz great and a Rolling Stone reporter (Ewan McGregor) work together to recover a stolen recording. The film also stars Emayatzy Corinealdi.
It's set for Cincinnati release April 15; it made its world premiere at the 53rd New York Film Festival.
Here's more of what we learned at Saturday's screening hosted by The Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Film Commission:
Why Cincinnati?
The historic architecture enabled the crew to produce "a period film that felt authentic," Cheadle said. He also credited the way the city is mapped out, as well as the Ohio film rebate, for the decision to film here.
"The city just opened our arms to us," he said.
He also noted that no one ever says New York City in "Miles Ahead." There is a reference to Columbia University. And Columbia Records (The historic Cincinnati Bell Building downtown plays the label headquarters.)
Listen for Cincinnati musicians:
And look closely for University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in the film credits. Cheadle said "a ton of musicians here in the city fleshed" out the story's many music-based scenes. "Instead of hiring actors, who looked like they could play, I wanted musicians," he said.
He noted that Cincinnati musicians are the core of the recording session scene.
Bearcat behind the scenes:
Production designer Hannah Beachler is a Dayton native and a University of Cincinnati graduate. She also recently worked on recent Oscar nominee, "Creed."
Props to 'Carol':
"Miles Ahead" filmed in Cincinnati months after "Carol" wrapped in the area. The production team took notice. Cheadle called it an opportunity to "come into a place that was getting its legs under it as far as being a city that could support film." The romantic drama opened last fall and went on to receive five Academy Award nominations.
Not a biopic:
Cheadle says "Miles Ahead" is not a documentary or traditional biopic. Instead, "it's an experience that feels like Miles Davis," Cheadle said.
There is a jazz-like, free-form, improvisational quality to the storytelling. It's the type of movie "Miles Davis would want to be the star of," he said.
Is Cheadle still playing trumpet?
Cheadle learned to play for "Miles Ahead." And he still does. But don't call him a trumpet player.
"There's a very big difference between those two things," he said. "It's a very challenging instrument, very unforgiving. And if you don't play if for a week, it feels like you never knew how to play it at all. It's something that I enjoy doing."
