“I was interested in doing a non-biographical portrait of an artist,” says “Moonage Daydream” director Brett Morgen. The documentary streaming on Max is a cinematic odyssey exploring David Bowie‘s creative and musical journey. “Once I started getting into the research and reflecting back on my meeting with him in 2007, one of the things that is entirely unique about David is…he was always present. I associate that with his appreciation for life. David understood that from a very young age.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.

Morgen’s goal was to showcase Bowie’s appreciation and zest for life. “It was an opportunity to do a film that was not a music bio-doc as we think of it, but a film that’s really a celebration of life and art and creativity. A sort of roadmap on how to lead a very fulfilling and creatively successful life.” “Moonage Daydream” is the first Bowie film the late music legend’s estate authorized, which Morgen credits to them knowing, “David had told his executors that he wasn’t really a fan of talking head documentaries, where experts who weren’t part of the experience end up owning the history.”

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In addition to directing, Morgen acted as the producer, writer and editor of the feature. “When I was in 11th grade, Mel Brooks came to talk to our 20 film students,” he reveals. “Before he was a comedian he was a drummer. And comedy is all about rhythm. That really stuck with me. I think the editorial approach to this film was jazz. It was improvisation, it was organic, it was about intuition and feel.”

Morgen is an Academy Award nominee for his 2000 documentary “On the Ropes.” The filmmaker discusses his experience at the Oscars during that “controversial” year and how things have changed since then. Morgen is also known for his critically acclaimed films “Jane” (2017), “Cobain: Montage of Heck” (2015) and “The Kid Stays in the Picture” (2002).

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