Broke

2011 American film

Broke*

Directed by| Will Gray
Written by| Will Gray
Produced by| Will Gray
Starring| Will Gray
Narrated by| Will Gray
Cinematography| Stacey Schroeder
Edited by| Stacey Schroeder
Music by| Will Gray
Ben Kesler

Release date

* April 15, 2011 (2011-04-15) (Nashville)

Country| United States

Broke* is a feature-length documentary film written and directed by Will Gray. The film is an autobiographical account of Gray's attempt to break into the music business. Broke* features appearances by Kelly Clarkson, Seth Godin, John Legend, Buddy Miller, Isaac Slade of The Fray, and Don Was.

## Synopsis[edit]

Broke* begins two years in the past, at the beginnings of Gray’s independent journey, recording demos in the basement of his friend's home. The demos come to the attention of producer T Bone Burnett who asks to meet and listen to more of Gray’s music.

Despite these auspicious beginnings, frustrating meetings with a New York record executive fail to produce an acceptable deal, so Gray decides to set out on his own as an independent artist. The film follows his struggles to establish a fanbase, manage bookings and cancellations, and all of the other exhilarations and frustrations of independent music making. Broke* features interviews with recording industry insiders about new paradigms for the music business.

## Cast[edit]

* Will Gray, himself

Remainder of cast listed in alphabetical order

* Lee Bailey, owner, EURweb
* Bobby Bare Jr. of the record label 30 Tigers
* Lonny Bereal, HitClub Entertainment
* The Candles
* Chopmaster J
* Kelly Clarkson
* Trent Dabbs
* Will Dailey
* Jim “Rocky” Del Balzo, Jim Del Balzo Management
* Bob Donnelly, Attorney
* The Fieros
* Seth Godin
* Mike Grimes, co-owner of The Basement
* Ali Harnell, Sr. Vice President of AEG Live
* Damien Horne
* Hymns, Independent Artist
* Joonie, HitClub Entertainment
* Steven Ivory, music journalist
* Nathan Johnson
* Nathan Lee, independent artist
* John Legend, Columbia Records
* Nicholas “Aqua” McCarrell
* Ian McEvily, Manager, Rebel One Management
* Buddy Miller of New West Records
* Catherine Moore, Director of the Music Business Graduate Program at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
* Danara (Schurch) Moore, Columbia Records
* Emily Hope Price, Independent Artist
* Ian Quay, A&R and Label Manager, StarTime International
* Justin Roddick, owner, 12th & Porter (a Nashville night club)
* Audrey Ryan of Folkwit Records
* Isaac Slade, Epic Records
* Andy Smith of the band Paper Route
* Beka Tischker, Manager, Advanced Alternative Media
* Don Was

## Reception[edit]

Newsday called Broke* "a pretty accurate, sometimes wrenching, portrayal of what up-and-coming artists go through to advance their career."[1] It was selected for presentation at the PhilFM (Philadelphia Film and Music) Festival,[2] and at the Nashville Film Festival, where it was awarded the "Special Jury Prize for Most Original Vision" in the Gibson Music Films/Music City Competition.[3]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Gamboa, Glenn (20 October 2011). "CMJ recap: 'Broke*' documentary, DOM". Newsday.
2. ^ "Broke*". PhilFM. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
3. ^ "2011 Festival Award Winners". Nashville Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07.

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* Broke* at IMDb