LA Dierks Bentley: Riser Screening Shown in Silent Movie Theater

Nicole Birmingham is a 10-year Dierks Bentley fan.  Needless to say, she was excited to win tickets to his February 21st LA screening of his deeply personal documentary, Dierks Bentley: Riser. Interesting that it was held in a "silent" movie theater!  Here's Nicole:


I got to the theater in Hollywood about an hour early. I was surprised there wasn't a line. The theater is a very small place with a hallway type lobby. As we walked in, I saw a couple of people come down the stairs. Following behind them was none other than Dierks himself. He must have seen the deer in the head lights look on my face and knew what I was there for. He said that he was glad I was there and gave me a hug. We took a picture and he left to go do an interview with Larry King.

We waited for a short time and then we were allowed to walk into the actual theater, where Dierks was doing the interview. We walked through the theater into a small patio area in the back, where they were serving complimentary drinks. 

 

The people who were arriving at the theater all seemed to be in the music business, in one way or another. There were a few girls who looked like they may have won tickets as fans. We waited a short time and then Dierks came out there with us. It was truly like a dream being in such an awesome intimate setting. Dierks' music was playing in the background as I stood there just watching him mingle with the small group of us.

Someone told us that the documentary would be starting shortly, so we went and sat down right in front of the stage. A reporter from the E! Channel, Kristina Guerrero, hosted the show. She spoke briefly as a nervous Dierks stood onstage with her. He then spoke for a bit and introduced the documentary.  He said that this time around watching it, he only had 1 1/2 beers compared to the 6 whiskeys he had at the previous screening, saying how it makes him uncomfortable watching it. He also told us that his band mates were in Mexico sending him photos of them relaxing and what not while he's doing his album release week. 

I loved seeing the part of the film of him at home with his family, since that is a side that we don't normally see. The most touching part, as I'm sure many will agree, is when he is speaking about his father. The way he described him and the adjectives he used reminded me so much of my own father. I was there when my dad passed and watched him pass on and take that last breath as Dierks described. I held his hand as he was passing on. So, that moment of the documentary was really something that I could relate to. I am sure I wasn't the only one in tears at that point.

The funny parts to me were hearing Evie and Jordan speak to their daddy and his reactions to it. Evie has the cutest little raspy voice!   

The whole experience was one that I am so grateful for and will never forget! Dierks loves his fans and he shows it by doing things like this. He is unequivocally the most humble artist you will ever meet. I'm so proud to be a fan!

 

Nicole Birmingham
DB Congress Rep (CA)

If you have not seen the full one-hour version, Dierks is hosting a Facebook live stream of the film and chat on Monday night, February 24.

 



Dierks Bentley: Touring Musician and Family Man in "RISER", a one-hour documentary film on CMT Feb. 22

02/03/2014

DIERKS DOCUMENTS MOST INTIMATE MOMENTS IN UPCOMING FILM DIERKS BENTLEY: RISER

Over the course of his career, Capitol Records’ award-winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has given fans behind-the-scenes access on the road, in the studio and even at home. But never before have fans seen him like they will in DIERKS BENTLEY: RISER, a film documenting the ups and downs following the death of his father through the birth of his first son - the story that inspired his upcoming seventh studio album RISER.  Fans can preview a special edit of the film exclusively on CMT on Feb. 22 at 1:00P CT, and the full length will premiere the same day on Palladia at 8:00P CT.  The project will also be available for purchase in the coming weeks.

“The two phrases ‘touring musician’ and ‘family man’ were never meant to go hand-in-hand…it’s just hard. It really hurts your heart to walk out the door on your kids. It’s like the two loves of your life pulling at you – your family and your love of music,” said Bentley. “I wanted this album to be that deeper look at who I am and who I try to be, and so I guess it's the same with this film too.   The first time I watched the rough edit, I actually got physically uncomfortable because it's all in there…my whole life right there on the screen for the whole world to see."

Director Wes Edwards and multiple film crews shadowed Bentley over the course of the last two years, logging thousands of hours of tape, which were edited down by The Moving Pictures Boys (Nashville Docujournal, The Country Club Film) to the most pivotal moments.  The film covers everything from the most quiet, pensive moments from Bentley's bunk on the tour bus to the rush of excitement in the delivery room for the birth of his son Knox, and it's all set to the soundtrack of the album that these events inspired.

"I knew Dierks was a dynamic performer and charismatic guy," said director Wes Edwards.  "But, as a filmmaker it was a challenge to try and capture a portrait of a guy with so many different aspects to his life.  He’s a guy who can bring an audience of twenty thousand to their feet and a guy you can have a beer with in a dive bar.  He’s a guy that flies his own plane but uses a kitchen trash bag for luggage.  I hope this documentary accurately captures the Dierks I’ve had the honor to get to know personally - a guy with serious work ethic, love for his family and genuine respect for the people around him.  But most of all, I hope we are able to convey a true artist at work."

People has the first look of the film and fans can watch the trailer here:

 

Bentley will release his seventh studio album RISER on Feb. 25. To celebrate both the new album and film, he will host screenings over the course of the next few weeks in London, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York and Toronto.

See more here.