Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in p | dG1fQmMxQVhSaDZZZ0E
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Most filmmakers have probably had some dream at some point
00:03where they're standing on stage at the Academy Awards getting an Oscar.
00:07When you're actually doing it, it's just as surreal.
00:15And the Oscar goes to...
00:17When they called my name, honestly, you kind of black out for a second.
00:2120 feet from stardom, Morgan Neville, Gil Friesen, and Katrine Rogers.
00:25Because I remember thinking, for instance, that I should button my jacket
00:29in case I have to get up on stage.
00:31I was sitting in my chair with my jacket buttoned.
00:33And somehow, when I got on stage, my jacket wasn't buttoned.
00:36I have no idea when or how that happened.
00:39I remember thinking, I just have to get through my talking
00:43and that if we do it quickly, the orchestra is not going to play us off.
00:46I first want to thank, along with my producer, Kate,
00:49our other producer, Gil Friesen.
00:51Gil passed away just weeks before we premiered the film at Sundance.
00:54And tonight, I know he's celebrating with us.
00:57This was his idea and it was his baby.
00:59And when I first met with him, I remember he said,
01:02I want to win an Oscar.
01:03I remember thinking, you're crazy.
01:05That will never happen.
01:08I had this idea that Darlene Love,
01:11who is one of our primary characters in 20 feet from stardom,
01:14that she would also sing something.
01:16Part of me was still thinking, I hope the orchestra doesn't come in.
01:20But the other thing is, I knew Darlene could out-sing the orchestra.
01:23If anybody could, she could.
01:25And then I threw it to Darlene.
01:28Lord God, I praise you.
01:30And I am so happy to be here representing the ladies of 20 feet from stardom.
01:36I sing because I'm happy.
01:43I sing.
01:44I mean, the whole film was about giving voice to these women who had voices,
01:49but they were anonymous.
01:50Having Darlene have her moment,
01:52going from somebody who had struggled to entertain people for 60 years
01:56to being on the stage at the Oscars,
01:58you know, that was just as good as it gets.
02:08About a month later, I met the conductor of the orchestra.
02:11He said, when you guys won,
02:13all the musicians in the orchestra started tapping their bows or clapping
02:18because they're all backup singers in their own world.
02:21And there was no way we were going to play you off.
02:23And that just meant everything.