How director Joe Pearlman helped Robbie Williams confront his past in his Netflix doc

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I recently had a conversation with Robbie Williams, who apparently has a whopping 30,000 hours of never-before-seen footage. It was a surprising piece of information that caught the attention of filmmaker Joe Pearlman. Imagine, three decades of capturing the life of one of Britain's most well-known individuals, including behind-the-scenes moments. For Pearlman, who has spent the last few years delving into the lives of musicians, such an opportunity was too intriguing to pass up. Upon viewing some of the archive, the director was impressed by the vast array of footage - from concerts and performances to Williams' personal life, including drug use and experiences with abuse.

The collection of film was a great chance, according to Pearlman. Once he completed his editing project for Capaldi, he immediately took the opportunity to meet Rob. We are having a conversation on Zoom just before their joint effort, a four-part series that recounts Williams' life in a painful yet informative manner, becomes available on Netflix. Pearlman is welcoming and enjoyable, which makes it easy for his interviewees to discuss their lives with him candidly. He emphasizes that he doesn't aim to create a documentary “about” his subjects, rather he aims to create one “with” them. This approach allows him and his interviewees to develop a connection, and they frequently end up knowing personal information about him. Pearlman adds, "This job is not merely a job. It's a significant responsibility put on your shoulder."

During his first meeting with Williams, Pearlman noticed the singer's Gucci suit and lack of shirt, which made him realize he was in the presence of a true pop star. Williams expressed his desire to create a unique music documentary that went beyond traditional formulas. They held an initial interview to understand Williams' perspective on his own life and memories, as he lived a life full of excess and grandeur. However, Pearlman found that much of what Williams said had been heard before, but this was not surprising given the countless interviews Williams had done throughout his career.

Pearlman and his team wanted to explore Williams' story in depth, beyond the typical media soundbites. They delved into a vast collection of behind-the-scenes footage, personal video diaries, and intimate recordings, collected over a period of 30 years. This footage was mostly too raw and candid to be used in regular promotional material, so Williams had not revisited it before. After selecting around 10 hours of this footage, the team presented it to Williams to watch and react to on camera. The result is a unique one-man show, featuring Williams' reactions to his own past. Williams describes this process as a way to confront and overcome his personal demons.

In his work history, Williams has consistently been honest about his mental health issues. He has spoken about his addictions, depression, and relapses openly, even discussing the negative effects of having his personal problems examined in tabloids. However, this series seems to reveal even more about his innermost self, almost like removing a layer of skin, as he did in his “Rock DJ” music video from 2000. Pearlman believes that Williams never expected to be truthful and open on camera and thought he still had to maintain his public persona. In his natural state, Williams comes across as less confident and more emotionally exposed.

The leader and his crew occupied a portion of Williams's Los Angeles residence for roughly a month, recording for 7 to 9 hours per day. Williams is shown moving around the kitchen wearing a Gucci cardigan and spending time with his spouse Ayda Field, who is an actor and presenter, as well as their four children (their eldest, Teddy, appears inquiringly and asks Williams candidly, "Who did you dislike the most?" while he reviews old Take That footage). However, the majority of the shoot occurred in the singer's bedroom.

Recently, Joe Pearlman had the opportunity to interview the well-known pop singer Robbie Williams. Joe Pearlman is a talented journalist who specializes in interviewing celebrities. He had a great time chatting with Robbie Williams and learning more about his life and experiences in the music industry. Robbie Williams is an incredibly successful musician who has sold millions of records and won countless awards. His fans love his catchy songs and dynamic stage performances. During the interview, Joe asked Robbie about his creative process and upcoming projects. Robbie shared some interesting insights about his approach to songwriting and how his music has evolved over time. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience for Joe and he was thrilled to have the chance to connect with one of his favorite musicians.

A new section in the blog has been added featuring a photo taken by StillMoving.Net for Netflix.

Pearlman shared that Rob would often call her via Zoom or FaceTime while lying in bed. When she inquired about it, he revealed that being in bed gives him a sense of comfort and safety. Instead of coming up with a traditional interview approach, Pearlman opted to showcase Rob in his most natural state- in bed and wearing only pants and a black vest. While this may seem unusual, it pays homage to the person Rob is known for- someone who's comfortable being in his pants. On the first day of the shoot, Rob walked in and immediately started undressing, but Pearlman didn't mind as she wanted him to be as relaxed as possible.

If you think you know everything there is to know about Robbie Williams, think again. Watching the documentary will give you a fresh perspective on his life. The story starts in 1990 when a 16-year-old Williams joined Take That right after completing school. In an old TV clip from the show Cool Cube, the singer reminisces with host Michaela Strachan, saying he only did some local disco dancing before the band. However, he managed to keep up with his older and more serious bandmates. One amusing scene involves Gary Barlow proudly showing off his book of lyrics with all successful tracks marked with gold stars, reminiscent of the character Alan Partridge.

He had to watch active addiction again, and we were aware that it would be extremely difficult.

The team is getting ready to perform at much fancier venues than the Granada car park, but Williams is getting annoyed. He doesn't like that Barlow is the one in charge and making all the creative decisions. Because of this, he begins to drink lots of alcohol and use cocaine. After he quits Take That, the show becomes less nostalgic and more focused on Williams' mental health. It's hard to watch as he talks about his struggles, especially when we think about how we're all part of the audience listening to his story.

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According to Pearlman, rewatching active addiction was always going to be a tough challenge that could potentially trigger the person. So they had to take extra care during those moments. As they were filming, Field informed him that her husband would come back to their room and just stare at the ceiling after work. Pearlman said he could understand how that could happen to a person because this type of thing could really wear someone down. There were times when they had to stop filming, and that was perfectly okay.

The blog section talks about a show that features Robbie Williams. Although there are some fun tidbits, such as his brief romance with Geri Halliwell and his humorous one-liners, the most poignant parts of the series focus on Williams's mental health. According to Pearlman, the show has moments that are so intense that it's hard to believe someone could survive them. Nonetheless, Williams not only made it through these tough times but is also brave enough to talk about them and relive them.

Williams reflects on the positives and negatives that come with living in the public eye.

For those who have experienced the dark depths of depression, one particular scene in the movie will hit particularly hard. The interviewer on camera asks Williams about his excitement for an upcoming performance, to which he replies with a deadpan, emotionless response. However, moments later, Williams transforms into his public persona, "Robbie," and delivers the energetic, pumped up response the interviewer was looking for. According to director Pearlman, there are many instances like this where Williams' true self shines through before he quickly switches to his public persona. It is a heartbreaking glimpse into his struggle with depression.

It's also incredibly sad to see how Williams' early honesty about his problems was often met with indifference or even ridicule. As Pearlman explains, Williams was mostly ignored or laughed at, which is really shocking to think about. People at the time seemed to think, "Why should he complain? He's rich, he has houses all over the world, he can fly on private jets. What does he have to complain about?"

It's intriguing to me that a task you're meant to complete can also be so debilitating.

According to the director, Williams exemplifies the negative effects of being famous. Despite the rewards of wealth and success, there are drawbacks such as being constantly harassed and controlled by others. The experience is described as something supernatural and even devilish. The director cannot comprehend why society feels the need to tear down celebrities who have contributed meaningful things to our lives, such as Williams' song "Angels" that has become a staple at weddings. It's strange that our cultural response is to seek their downfall.

Pearlman, who is 34 years old, started off his professional journey by creating sports documentaries at Fulwell 73 - the production company that has James Corden as one of its co-partners. He then transitioned into the music industry with the Bros documentary, which quickly gained popularity through word-of-mouth when it was released on BBC iPlayer during the Christmas season of 2018. Recently, he directed the Return to Hogwarts program which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter film franchise. Through his close involvement with the world of fame, Pearlman has learned that being a celebrity can come at a great cost. He describes it as a "poisoned chalice" – something tempting but potentially harmful. Despite this, he finds it fascinating that something you are destined to do can also be a source of pain. This is why he is drawn to creating shows like this – to delve into the complex and captivating sides of fame and the human experience.

According to the author, Williams is anxious about the documentary's public launch as it could bring back unpleasant memories and may cause pain. Nonetheless, Williams is also thrilled about it. Recently, he reached out to the author and expressed that this is his first chance to be viewed as a human being. It's extraordinary to be able to portray someone who's been seen as dehumanized for a long time. The author believes that this is a new, diverse version of Robbie that the world must acknowledge.

You can catch the iconic performer, Robbie Williams, on Netflix starting from November 8th!

In case you or someone you're acquainted with is going through an alcohol dependency, there are options you can explore without fear of disclosure. Simply dial the Drinkline helpline on 0300 123 1110 or access the NHS website for details on the support structures you can access.

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If you need assistance regarding substance abuse and mental health in the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration contact number is 1-800-662-HELP.

In case you are encountering emotions of sadness and loneliness, or are finding it difficult to manage, The Samaritans can provide assistance. You have the option to speak to someone without any charges over the phone, in a private manner, by dialing 116 123 (UK and ROI), send an email to [email protected], or explore the Samaritans webpage to locate the closest branch to you.

If you are situated in the United States and require immediate mental health support for yourself or a loved one, do not hesitate to reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This hotline offers free and confidential crisis support to individuals throughout the day, every day of the week.

In case you are residing in a foreign land, you may head towards www.befrienders.org to explore different helplines that are situationally close to your location.