MYFOXNY.COM -
A film chronicling the story of a struggling New Jersey band was shown at the Hamptons Film Festival before a star-studded audience.
The showing of "Not Fade Away" featured a soundtrack by Bruce Springsteen's E-Street band member Steven Van Zant.
David Chase has come a long way from "The Sopranos."
In his first feature film, "Not Fade Away," Chase documents the journey of a fictional 1960's garage band that never quite makes it past their front lawn. The film has been compared to coming of age band movies like almost famous but chase says the focus is different.
"It's really about the musicians it's not about fandom social issues politics, it's really about learning to play drums, guitar those sorts of things," said Chase.
And learning how to play those instruments was a challenge for the cast who had no musical experience.
"We had a three- month crash course of everything music theory music history ... we basically spent six hours a day playing, rehearsing," said Chase.
And it paid off. The band learned 21 songs and rocked out in the movie. Lead actor John Magaro says the music was his co-star.
"David (Chase) picks the music and builds the story around it out; it's kind of an extra character," said Magaro.
And who better to oversee the music than Tony Sopranos right hand man and E-Street band member Steven Van Zant. He said the Hamptons Film Festival was a long way from Jersey.
"I'm not a Hamptons in the summer guy this is foreign territory for me, it might as well be the south of France!" said Van Zant.
"Not Fade Away" is the closing night film but there are still more films that are going to play tomorrow.
