Denny Tedesco
Documentary Filmmaker, Film Director, Lecturer, Speaker
An Intimate Evening with Denny Tedesco
Presented in Association with The Wrecking Crew Company
Denny Tedesco was born on 11 March 1961 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He is a producer, known for Immediate Family (2022), The Wrecking Crew! (2008) and Snuff Garrett. He has been married to Suzie Tedesco since 4 August 1990. They have two children.
In An Intimate Evening, this 17-time Award Winner and 3-time Nominated producer, Denny Tedesco, shares his stories of a 40-year career in Hollywood. He covers all topics, from producing to the meaning of “family,” while showing how adoptive and biological families can work out differences and still be happy, PLUS. the artistry of creating the universal languages of music and entertainment.
Denny also gives his audiences a rare glimpse into the creative process and musical experiences, via video clips, of some of the greatest headline entertainers in the past 50 years including James Taylor, Carole King, Phil Collins, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt, Lyle Lovett, Don Henley, Steve Jordan, Neil Young, the late David Crosby, and featuring: Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, and Waddy Wachtel.
Denny will:
- Delve into the History of Music Docs, shedding light on their evolution and the challenges they faced in gaining recognition from distributors.
- Answer the question why are music documents challenging to make? They involve navigating the complex world of licensing music, securing rights to photos and stock footage, or just getting an interview and getting past the gatekeeper, all of which will surely intrigue you.
- Explain how he raised over $500,000 to pay off the finishing funds for the Wrecking Crew by barnstorming not only in America but also in Israel and Great Britain.
How he envisions the future of documentaries, emphasizing the crucial role of storytelling, a factor that will surely engage you.
Denny Tedesco – Interview
About Denny Tedesco
Denny grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Loyola Marymount University. His first break in the film business came in 1982 as a set decorator on a dark comedy called "Eating Raoul." Over the years, he tried to figure out what he really wanted to do. Denny worked as a lighting technician in the heyday of MTV videos and then later traveled the world as a grip and location producer for IMAX films. He filmed under the most challenging conditions, from shark-infested waters of Australia to the plains of Africa. Denny was sent to cover the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1993 and later covered the catastrophic earthquake in Kobe, Japan.
But nothing was more challenging than making his first film. In 1996, Mr. Tedesco embarked on the documentary 'The Wrecking Crew'. It was the story of the Session players of the 1960s in Los Angeles. This was not just a film for Denny but a deeply personal journey. One of those musicians, Tommy Tedesco and guitarist, was Denny’s Dad, who was passing away at the time when we started filming. The younger Tedesco had always wanted to tell the story of his father and his friends, who later became known as the 'Wrecking Crew,' but time was of the essence. They gave his father 11 months to live.
Denny’s biggest fear was that he would later regret not going for it. “I didn't want this project to have to be over my head. So, I swiftly assembled a small film crew to start filming my father before he passed. My father passed away in November 1997 without seeing a frame of film. In 1998, I only had a 10-minute teaser to try to raise the money to make a film. I knew this story's beginning, middle, and end, and I was determined to raise the interest and money to continue filming,” remembers the younger Tedesco.
There was always interest but with a caveat, explains Denny, “This is great, but you'll never be able to release a film like this for many reasons, mainly because the music licensing will cost more than the film will ever make."
From 1998 to 2006, Denny slowly continued filming the various musicians and artists for the documentary when his wife and producer said, “Did we make the most expensive home movie ever?” We had gone into debt with our credit cards.
CROSSING 1st Line in Sand
The small team needed to make this a movie. Denny describes it as “owning a property overlooking the ocean. You have the property and the house's plans, appliances, and fixtures, but you can only sell it once you build it. So, we went further into debt, cutting the feature doc for the film festivals in 2008. This was a risky move, but it was a testament to our unwavering belief in the project and our determination to see it through, no matter the cost.”
In 2008/2009, the film won over a dozen awards, sold-out audiences, and amazing reviews. But there were no takers. To release this film to the public, the team would need to license the music, photos, and stock footage ahead of time, which cost over $500,000.
CROSSING 2nd Line in Sand
If the film had come out in festivals with mixed reviews and no awards, Denny would have packed it up, but he knew he gave it his best effort. But it was the opposite. So, what does he do with a dozen Audience Awards and $100K in debt?
Mr. Tedesco had to figure out how to raise $500,000 to pay off the licensing, a daunting task. Denny explored various avenues, from seeking sponsorships to organizing fundraising events. It was challenging and time-consuming, but he was determined to clear any licensing issues and ensure the film's release.
Barnstorming around the country, he created events to share the film. “We showed the movie in theaters, churches, synagogues, schools, recording studios, music stores, and even homes. If I raised $10.00 or $10,000 for a screening, I took that money and paid off songs. This grassroots approach to promotion and engagement was not just a necessity due to our limited budget; it also gave us a chance to reach as many people as possible with these stories and build a fan base,” said Tedesco.
“I found sponsors from hotels and restaurants, car dealerships, and dog groomers. I would put their name on the pre-show and give them tickets in return for their donations. After 5 years of donations from $5.00 to $50,000, we made our goal,” continues Tedesco.
In 2015, Magnolia Films released the 'Wrecking Crew' in theaters worldwide and on Netflix. It took 19 years, but it worked.
Denny had been hesitant to make a follow-up to "The Wrecking Crew," but in 2019, he was approached with the idea of "The Immediate Family." Mr. Tedesco didn't think twice. "The Immediate Family consists of Danny 'Kootch' Kortchmar on Guitar, Leland Sklar on Bass, Russ Kunkel on Drums, Waddy Wachtel, and Steve Postel on Guitars. They were at the 'Singer-Songwriter Era' genesis in the 1970s.
The opening line in The Wrecking Crew states, "This is the story of my father and his extended family, The Wrecking Crew."
Well, Immediate Family proved that very point. The musicians in these films have achieved a success that only many of us could dream of. But what they have with all musicians is their brotherhood and sisterhood -- a bond that can only be united over 50 years. They become family.
There is a similarity between the generations of musicians. However, where they differ is why the Immediate Family story must be told. These guys in their mid-70s are recording, playing, and loving it like they were in their 20s.
In many documentaries, interviews take time to be booked, as the artists and management can decide if they want to participate in this project. Within five days of taking the project, we had booked Carole King, James Taylor, Linda Rondstadt, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, and David Crosby.
Each one of these legends felt the same way as the band. They were all family on a musical journey that continues today.
With the success of the 'Wrecking Crew,' Immediate Family was produced with the help of investors and picked up by Magnolia Films. It can now be seen on HULU TV.
Denny Tedesco continues to produce content for other directors but continues to explore other stories he would like to share with others.
Tedesco is currently working on the story of Wolfman Jack. Due out in 2025.
Additional Credits:
In 1982 Denny commenced his Hollywood career working in the Art Department alongside actress Tanya Roberts in “The Beastmaster.”
Upcoming:
- Impulses (Short), Executive Producer
- You Don't Own Me: Lesley Gore and the Song That Said It All, Segment Producer
Completed:
- Immediate Family (2022), Executive Producer
- Hanging with Dr. Z (2021) TV Mini Series, Producer (18 episodes)
- Kareasia Lynn Jones, Albamarina Nahar, and Lisa Kersten Webb in Ad Council: PSA Brunch (2021), Producer
- Biography: Under 21 and Filthy Rich TV Movie (2011), Associate Producer
- The Wrecking Crew! (2008), Executive Producer
PLUS:
- Comedy Central, Producer and Line Producer for various TV Movies and Specials
And
- The 72nd Annual Academy Awards (2000) TV Special, Producer
Rider Requirements to include:
- Roundtrip transportation generally from Los Angeles, CA
- Hotel accommodations
- Podium with microphone on gooseneck and chilled bottle of spring water
- Wireless microphone
- Large screen video with professional sound quality
- PC computer with live internet and equipped with Microsoft PowerPoint 365
Note: A full Rider will be sent to you upon booking.
