Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted,” a documentary about singer, songwriter and record producer Jerry Williams, aka Swamp Dogg, following the film’s world premiere at SXSW. The movie, which examines one of the major cult figures of 20th-century American music, was directed by Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson. It will be released in theaters on May 2.
Swamp Dogg’s voice and ideas had a profound influence on soul music, country, hip-hop and a dozen other genres. The film follows Swamp Dogg and his “bachelor pad of aging musicians”, a group that includes the disarming Guitar Shorty and the quirky Moogstar, as they navigate the music industry, transform their home into an artistic playground and invite fellow musicians like Jenny Lewis and John Prine and superfans Mike Judge, Johnny Knoxville and Tom Kenny to play in their unique musical sandbox. The group, as the film’s title suggests, also paints Swamp Dogg’s pool.
“Swamp Dogg is a stone-cold genius,” said Magnolia Pictures co-CEO’s Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley. “His almost 70-year career has produced so much incredible music by himself and other artists that it’s almost overwhelming. Directors Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson have done the man justice in this inspired, wildly entertaining film.”
“The natural state of the world seems to be cruel and unforgiving, yet somehow, Swamp Dogg has kept on going – singing, laughing, and refusing to play by the rules,” said Gale and Olson. “That’s exactly why this film exists, and why we’re so glad Magnolia saw the vision. It’s truly a dream scenario for us that they are unleashing this psychedelic comedy about real people into theaters, exactly the kind of movie the world could use right now.”
Music may be Swamp Dogg’s first love, but he also has a passion for food. In conjunction with Magnolia’s theatrical release, Pioneer Works Press will publish Swamp Dogg’s cookbook, “If You Can Kill It, I Can Cook It,” on May 20. It’s described as a “biographical artifact and a journey into the mind of a chef,” one that teaches you how to make “Baked Beans Bo Diddley”, “James Brown in Flight Chicken” and “Willie Nelson Potatoes Platter”. It is illustrated with photos of family, food, music, and business. Swamp Dogg describes it as, “This is the book that Hemingway wanted to write, Agatha Christie couldn’t, and Alex Haley didn’t have enough soul for.”
Swamp Dogg also has a new album, “Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St.,” that was praised by NPR as “one of the best country albums of the year.” It features bluegrass staple musicians Noam Pikelny, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas, Chris Scruggs, Billy Contreras, and Kenny Vaughan, with special guests Margo Price, Vernon Reid, Jenny Lewis, Justin Vernon, and The Cactus Blossoms.
“Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” is co-directed by David McMurry, produced by Gale, Olson, McMurry, Paul Lovelace, and Ben Wu. It was executive produced by Molly Menard.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, with Matt Burke of Submarine representing the filmmakers.
