Larry Norman movie is now out

[Danny]

David Di Sabatino, the guy who made the excellent Lonnie Frisbee documentary (http://www.lonniefrisbee.com/) has just announced the completion and release of a documentary about Larry Norman.

Here's the announcement:
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Dear friends,

For the last little while I have been putting together a documentary on the life of Larry Norman. We are pleased to announce that the movie is finished and presently playing the film festival circuit.

The movie is entitled FALLEN ANGEL: The OUTLAW LARRY NORMAN, and includes interviews from many of the people with whom Larry worked with at the height of his success, many of whom are breaking their silence for the first time in more than 20 years.

Interviewees include Randy Stonehill, Pamela Newman (ex-wife), Philip Mangano (manager), Tom Howard (musician), Ray Ware (manager), Holly Benyousky (Street Level Artists Agency), Denny Fridkin (People!), Geoff Levin (People!), Robbie Levin (People!), Terry Taylor (Daniel Amos), Ed McTaggart (Daniel Amos), Jerry Chamberlain (Daniel Amos) and others.

On March 1, 2009 we were pleased to premiere the film at the Cinequest Film Festival in Larry Norman's hometown of San Jose. It was well attended, and the film spawned a long and heated discussion after it ended in the hallway.

Right after we came home, we received a "cease and desist" letter on behalf of the Norman family stating that we would be sued for 84 copyright violations. In answering this challenge, we filed a declaratory motion in a Los Angeles court to ask a judge to clear the movie based on our parsing of "Fair use" law. "Fair use" says that, just like the nightly news, a documentary filmmaker can use copyrighted materials in their movie in order to tell their story as long as it follows certain guidelines.

A few days ago we were pleased to find out that we had won the legal challenge and were free to use all the materials we wished.

It also came to our attention that there were people behind the scenes that were trying to derail the movie. Media outlets from CNN to The Tennessean to the OC Weekly are preparing stories about the goings on. You wouldn't believe it if I told you. So I will wait and let them do it.

Fallen Angel is being represented for an upcoming tour by Street Level Artists Agency (http://www.streetlevelagency.com), a company started by Larry Norman back in the early 1970s. We are planning a tour of venues for nights of film & music where Randy Stonehill will appear to play a short set, followed by the playing of the movie and then both Randy and myself will take Q&A. If you have any interest in sponsoring a showing, please contact me at pvall@socal.rr.com .

To read more about the movie, please go to http ://www fallenangeldoc com . [editor: this link is to a malware page -- url should be confirmed by author of post and edited -- otherwise, use your discretion in visiting link, modified here so not to allow clicking and linking -- must be pasted in browser and dots added]

Sincerely,

David Di Sabatino
http ://www fallenangeldoc com .
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[anochria]

did you watch it yet?

[Danny]

Not yet. The DVD is now available for purchase for $12.00 at http://www.fallenangeldoc.com/store.html. I should order one.

[anochria]

I've seen it.

Are you a Larry Norman fan?

[Danny]

Are you a Larry Norman fan?

Not really, although I've liked what I've heard of his music. It's a little bit before my time. But as a recovering Contemporary Christian musician I know the pioneering role he played.

So, do tell, what were your impressions of the documentary?

[anochria]

It was tough, as one who was really into Larry (I even attended his funeral here in Oregon). Lots of thoughts re-swirling around in my brain after viewing it.

Some thoughts I posted on my forums:

Luke 4:23b-24

"Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' "

"I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”

These verses sum up some of my feelings, though not in the same sense that Jesus originally stated them.
Larry ministered comfort to so many but wrestled his demons to the end and seems to have held on to many things that only further wounded him. It seems he struggled his whole life to find acceptance, but often chose alienation instead.

The video is really well done (for the most part). Great interviews with a host of musicians I really appreciate and respect (Randy Stonehill, Mike Roe, Terry Taylor, etc.)