Editor and director John Ottman will direct Billy and Me, a feature film chronicling the formative years of superstar singer and pianist Billy Joel.
“Billy and Me” tells Joel’s origin story, before he achieved fame, before he was a hit, and importantly before the 1973 song and album “Piano Man” that catapulted him to stardom. The film is told through the eyes of Joel’s first manager, Erwin Mazur. He discovered Joel in 1966, signed him in 1970, and oversaw his career until 1972, when he signed his breakthrough contract with Columbia Records.
Casting is currently underway and production is scheduled for this fall in Winnipeg, Canada, and New York. The film follows the 2025 HBO two-part documentary about the singer, “And So It Goes.”
The production also secures exclusive lifetime rights for Mazur and Joel’s longtime friend, drummer and video director John Small, who also serves as consultant, co-executive producer and second unit director. Small was the drummer in Joel’s early band, The Hustles, and he and Joel were part of the little-known acid rock duo Attila, which released an album in 1970. The album was completely at odds with the singer’s other work, with Joel describing it in no uncertain terms as “psychedelic bullshit.”
However, this project does not have Joel’s approval, the rights to his music, or the rights to life that give individuals and companies the right to purchase and develop an individual’s life story into a media format. In a statement to Variety, Joel’s rep said: “As of 2021, the parties involved have been formally informed that they will no longer have a right to live in Billy Joel and will not be able to secure the necessary musical rights for this project. Billy Joel has not endorsed or supported this project in any capacity and any attempt to proceed without it will be legally and professionally misguided.” Perhaps this is why the story is told from Mazur and Small’s point of view.
It’s also unclear how or if Joel’s first wife, Elizabeth Webber, the subject of hit songs such as “She’s Always a Woman,” “Just the Way You Are” and many others, will be portrayed in the film. She married Small and dumped him for Joel, which led to Attila’s breakup before the couple themselves broke up, a factor he said in “And So It Goes” that contributed to the singer’s descent into severe depression and a suicide attempt. Mr. Small found Joel and rushed him to the hospital after a second attempt. The two reconciled, as did Joel and Weber, who later became his manager.
Most recently, Ottman served as lead editor on the biopic Michael, where he oversaw all creative aspects of post-production, including shaping the performances, overseeing ADR, and overseeing the final mix. Filmmaker Adam Ripp will write the script and produce the film under his Artfil Pictures banner.
Small said: “This is the most honest, heartfelt and truest portrayal of Billy’s childhood and rise to become one of the greatest music singers of our time. ‘Billy & Me’ is grounded in truth, carefully shaped and “As someone who was there from the beginning, I can say that this script captures not just the music, but the friendships, struggles, humor and creative brilliance that defined the era.”
He continued, “Too often stories about artists get lost in exaggeration and myth. Billy & Me is an honest and respectful reflection of true history. I first met Billy when he was 16 years old. After reading the script, I felt that the filmmakers truly understood who he was before the world knew his name.”
Ottman says, “I’m really proud of the development work that Adam Ripp and I did to make ‘Billy and Me’ into a deeply emotional and entertaining story. This is Billy’s formative period, and Billy’s amazing story begins before Billy becomes himself.” Certainly, the long hair, cigarette smoke, and authentic appearance of the period intrigued me as a filmmaker, but what really drew me to the material was the humanity of the material.” core. ” Ottman added, “It’s funny, heartbreaking, and ultimately very moving.”
The financing is being organized by Jay Cohen, former partner and head of film finance and distribution at the Gersh Agency, who also serves as head of domestic distribution. The film’s executive music producer is Grammy-nominated music executive Mitchell Reeve, who served as president of Walt Disney Studios’ music and soundtrack division for nearly 30 years.
Mr. Ottman is represented by David Gersh and Abram Nalibotsky of the Gersh Agency. Rip is represented by Trevor Engelson of Underground.
