Clark documentary world premieres at SXSW
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Clark documentary world premieres at SXSW

Tuesday, February 11, 2020 – "Without Getting Killed or Caught," a documentary film about the complicated relationship between legendary songwriters Guy Clark, Susanna Clark, and Townes Van Zandt, and the art it inspired will make its virtual world premiere at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival March 16-20.

The film was produced and directed by longtime Americana music producer and executive Tamara Saviano and filmmaker Paul Whitfield. Plans were to release the film at SXSW in 2020, but Covid shuttered the festival.

Clark, who penned such songs as "L.A. Freeway" and "Desperados Waiting for a Train") had a complicated marriage with wife Susanna, and a deep friendship with Van Zandt, on whom Susanna forged a passionate dependence. Clark, who died in 2016, was considered one of the greatest songwriters to come out of Texas.

Narrated by Academy-Award winner Sissy Spacek, "Without Getting Killed or Caught" follows the Clarks and Van Zandt on their journey from obscurity to reverence: Guy, the Pancho to Van Zandt's Lefty, struggling to establish himself as the Dylan Thomas of American music, while Susanna wrote hit songs and paints album covers for top artists and Van Zandt spirals in self-destruction after writing some of Americana music's most enduring and influential ballads. Based on the diaries of Susanna Clark,the film tells the saga from Susanna's point of view and Saviano's 2016 book "Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark."

Saviano wrote the film with Bart Knaggs. She had the complete cooperation of Clark, who sat for numerous interviews on and off-camera. "Without Getting Killed or Caught" (the title comes from "L.A. Freeway") also offers poignant reflections from Clark's closest friends and musical allies, includingRodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Vince Gill, Verlon Thompson, and Terry and Jo Harvey Allen, as well as record executive Barry Poss.

The film makes use of Clark's songs, family photographs and archives, vintage film footage, and radio talk shows on which Clark appeared solo and in tandem with Van Zandt. Susanna's remembrances, culled from her private journals and secret audio diaries, as well as taped conversations that she made of the trio and of the "salon" that regularly gathered around them also are included.


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CD reviews for Guy Clark

CD review - The King of the Texas Troubadours "The Best Of The Dualtone Years," a collection of Guy Clark's later recordings, finds the late respected singer/songwriter aging particularly well. He sings these songs with that familiar gruff voice of his and keeps arrangements relatively simple. However, never let such apparent simplicity fool you into believing this is also simple music. The way he digs deeply into the one woman's complicated motives during "Rain in Durango" quickly puts that notion to rest. ...
CD review - My Favorite Picture of You. Guy Clark has already written a lifetime of songs - Desperadoes Waiting for a Train, L.A. Freeway, Homegrown Tomatoes, A Nickel for the Fiddler - that have been recorded by folks from Rita Coolidge and Ricky Skaggs to Rodney Crowell. On his first studio album in four years, Clark, with his consummate artistry, paints more vivid word pictures on a broad canvas. Joined by his long-time guitarist Verlon Thompson, as well as Bryn Davies on bass and cello, Shawn Camp on guitar, mandolin and banjo, ...
CD review - This One's For Him A Tribute to Guy Clark A notable gathering of alt. country dignitaries celebrate Texas singer/songwriter Guy Clark's recent 70th birthday with this 2-disc collection. Willie Nelson takes a turn on one of Clark's best known tunes with the often covered Desperados Waiting For A Train, which Nelson himself recorded with The Highwaymen. Fellow Highwayman Kris Kristofferson contributes Hemingways' Whiskey, which serves as the title track with the lines "Sail away, sail away, as the day grows dim/ Live ...


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