Clark documentary world premieres at SXSW
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.
More news for Guy Clark
- 01/15/20: Doc on Van Zandt, Clarks debuts at SXSW 2020
- 05/17/16: Guy Clark dies at 74
- 07/23/13: Clark, Tillis, Morgan dish out new discs
- 04/17/13: Clark sings of his favorite picture
- 06/21/11: Guy Clark goes live
- 09/02/09: Guy Clark sets tour dates
- 03/27/06: Guy Clark inks deal with Dualtone
CD reviews for Guy Clark



©Country Standard Time • Jeffrey B. Remz, editor & publisher • countrystandardtime@gmail.com
About • Copyright • Newsletter • Our sister publication Standard Time