Overview
- Variety reported Tuesday that editor-director John Ottman will helm Billy & Me, a feature focused on Billy Joel before his commercial breakthrough.
- The story is told through first manager Irwin Mazur and spans Joel's discovery in 1966 through a Columbia Records deal in 1972.
- The project is in pre-production with casting underway and filming planned for the fall in Winnipeg and New York.
- Producers secured life rights from Mazur and Jon Small, who joins as consultant, co-executive producer and second-unit director, with Adam Ripp writing and producing under ArtPhyl Pictures.
- Financing is being assembled by Jay Cohen with domestic distribution representation, and music veteran Mitchell Leib will serve as executive music producer, while Joel has not publicly authorized the film.