A remarkable coincidence fell upon upon this young director looking to save money in his 'low-budget' film
He tried getting a band to cover a Springsteen song, then something "Heartbreaking" happened
In August of 1996, Eddie’s second feature film was released. The 27-year-old director’s first film, an independent film that he self-financed by cobbling together a $28,000 budget from friends and family had grossed over $10 million at the box office the year before.
For his sophomore effort, Fox Searchlight Pictures granted him a tidy sum of $3 million to make the film with. That number is considered “low-budget” by the studio.
Nevertheless he rounded up a cast of future Hollywood stars and a couple superstars-to-be.
Eddie was the writer, director, and the star of both movies. For the second screenplay, he came up with the title while listening to Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run album.
As for the film itself, “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do for music,” Eddie said.
With his newfound fame, he thought he may be able to convince Springsteen to perform a track on his new film but figured getting The Boss was still a longshot and thought that a band such as The Wallflowers—coming off the hit single, 6th Avenue Heartache—might be able to do adequate service to the title track.
After Eddie finished the initial rough-cut for the movie, he inserted temp music and still had not developed a soundtrack or a score. Since he was a hot director, the movie was getting passed around Hollywood, even in its pupal stage.
The president of Fox Music called up Eddie. “Tom Petty has seen the movie and wants a meeting.”
“Jesus, yeah, of course,” said Eddie, a big Petty fan. “What’s the deal?”
“You’ll have to fly back out to L.A. and meet with him.”
“Sure. Just say when.”
Petty was between albums and had wanted to do a soundtrack for a long time. Tom played Eddie some stuff he was working on. Eddie was intrigued.
Tom spoke with his manager and two weeks later Eddie was back in Los Angeles in a meeting with Petty, producer Rick Rubin, and the rest of the Heartbreakers. The day after that, the band was in the studio, recording music.
Originally, the plan was to use one song, then it was three songs plus the score to the film. Petty added two more songs and ended up releasing a 15-track soundtrack album.
“Growing up a Tom Petty fan, that may have been … my coolest moment … in my short movie career,” said Eddie.
The film?
“Mickey Fitzpatrick drives a cab. His brother Francis is a Wall Street hotshot. About all these two have in common is the advice of their loving father.”
The writer/director/actor?
Burns writes about all of it and more in Independent Ed: Inside a Career of Big Dreams, Little Movies, and the Twelve Best Days of My Life.
Burns says one regret he had about the script is making his character a 27-year-old white cab driver in New York City. He didn’t think that was so realistic.
He should have talked to me before he did the “director’s commentary” for the DVD. I started driving a cab at age 34 and did it for 5 years. Not in New York City, granted, but I loved that job, totally realistic—until the “rideshare” companies killed any business I had. For several months until I finally couldn’t take it any more, I went to work every day and lost money most of the time…but I listened to a ton of audiobooks and podcasts!
The soundtrack?
Songs and Music from She’s the One by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Good film. Very good soundtrack. Great part of the career of a terrific filmmaker.
You can also find the film as part of the “The Long Island Trilogy” of Edward Burns:
Stories From Long Island: 3 Films By Edward Burns
THE BROTHERS McMULLEN (1995), winner of the award for Best Film at the Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of three brothers and their problems with life and relationships after the death of their father.
SHE'S THE ONE (1996) is about two brothers, a successful Wall Street yuppie and a drifting cabdriver, and their search for happiness and love.
NO LOOKING BACK (1998) Charlie Ryan (Burns) returns to his hometown after failed attempts at unmentioned endeavors in California.
Other Edward Burns films that most people have probably not seen, but are really good:
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (2012)
Nice Guy Johnny (2010)
Have a great weekend.
Brian O’Leary