Sasha Weiss

And the kind of painstaking, long gestating project like Ezra's is not the currency anymore. I mean, they still make some really good things, but they're able to make a lot more things that aren't that good, but that a lot of people watch. And meanwhile, Ezra's film is all tied up in this complex legal battle.

That's my sense. I mean, I interviewed one person familiar with the company who said, you know, why would they want to be tied up with this legal fight when they could just go make 10 more movies? you know, reality shows about real estate, and they can make 10 more celebrity documentaries where they're partnering with the estate.

That's my sense. I mean, I interviewed one person familiar with the company who said, you know, why would they want to be tied up with this legal fight when they could just go make 10 more movies? you know, reality shows about real estate, and they can make 10 more celebrity documentaries where they're partnering with the estate.

So I think for them, the great art versus making a whole bunch of stuff more readily, cost-benefit analysis, you know, my sense is that ultimately they didn't stand by the film.

So I think for them, the great art versus making a whole bunch of stuff more readily, cost-benefit analysis, you know, my sense is that ultimately they didn't stand by the film.

Yeah. I mean, I think it's possible that that's their calculation, that they're making a kind of pure, you know, look at the numbers business decision. I think that's possible. We'll never know because the film just isn't being given a chance to be put in front of an audience. But I think Ezra would totally disagree with that idea.

Yeah. I mean, I think it's possible that that's their calculation, that they're making a kind of pure, you know, look at the numbers business decision. I think that's possible. We'll never know because the film just isn't being given a chance to be put in front of an audience. But I think Ezra would totally disagree with that idea.

So, you know, one argument that was aired when I was talking to people who had seen the film, talking to some people who hadn't seen the film, about even the idea of the film. You know, one thing that was said was essentially an argument about black genius left to stand as celebrated. You know, like white rock stars of similar stature are not...

So, you know, one argument that was aired when I was talking to people who had seen the film, talking to some people who hadn't seen the film, about even the idea of the film. You know, one thing that was said was essentially an argument about black genius left to stand as celebrated. You know, like white rock stars of similar stature are not...

I think Ezra believes that for audiences to be given this like rich, chewy thing to engage with about this major icon would be satisfying for them.

I think Ezra believes that for audiences to be given this like rich, chewy thing to engage with about this major icon would be satisfying for them.

Yeah, I mean, I did often feel reporting this piece haunted by the presiding spirit of Prince and feeling like he was messing with all of us. So I think, yes, there's a kind of, you know, cruel poetry to it all. On the other hand, you know, Prince, at the end of his life, was opening up a little bit more. And the last hours of the film actually are about this.

Yeah, I mean, I did often feel reporting this piece haunted by the presiding spirit of Prince and feeling like he was messing with all of us. So I think, yes, there's a kind of, you know, cruel poetry to it all. On the other hand, you know, Prince, at the end of his life, was opening up a little bit more. And the last hours of the film actually are about this.

They're about a series of concerts that he gave, lo-fi, piano and a microphone, natural hair, where he was singing and talking and starting to talk about some of his pain, his childhood, his regrets, his loves. And it's still kind of veiled and perfumed, but it's more raw. And the style of performance is more raw. And he also was undertaking the writing of an autobiography.

They're about a series of concerts that he gave, lo-fi, piano and a microphone, natural hair, where he was singing and talking and starting to talk about some of his pain, his childhood, his regrets, his loves. And it's still kind of veiled and perfumed, but it's more raw. And the style of performance is more raw. And he also was undertaking the writing of an autobiography.

And there was something happening. I think he was changing.

And there was something happening. I think he was changing.

I think in some sense. I mean, look, probably on his own terms. But there's the question of what Prince would have wanted. And then there's also the question of like what's good for the culture in some way and what's good for the legacy of a person like Prince.

I think in some sense. I mean, look, probably on his own terms. But there's the question of what Prince would have wanted. And then there's also the question of like what's good for the culture in some way and what's good for the legacy of a person like Prince.

And actually, after the news of the film being finally killed broke, Jill Jones, who's the girlfriend that I was talking about before, who was one of the people who appears in the film talking about Prince's abuse of her was a lot of pain. Right. posted something that I thought was incredibly moving about what's wrong with this film not coming out. She was very in favor of the film coming out.