Film Music Reporter

Mitchell Leib, president of music and soundtracks at The Walt Disney Studios, will serve as the executive music producer on the upcoming biographical drama Billy and Me. The film is directed by composer/editor John Ottman (Bohemian Rhaposdy, X2, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Usual Suspects, Superman Returns, Fantastic Four) who previously made his feature directorial debut on 2000’s Urban Legends: Final Cut and tells the origin story of Billy Joel before before Piano Man, the 1973 song and album that lofted him to stardom. The movie is told through the eyes of Joel’s first manager, Irwin Mazur, who discovered the singer in 1966, signed him four years later and oversaw his career up to his breakthrough deal with Columbia Records in 1972. Adam Ripp (Gambit, Everly) is writing the screenplay and will also produce the project for ArtPhyl Pictures. Ottman has recently served as lead editor on Antoine Fuqua’s Michael and also co-produced by the underscore for the film. Billy and Me is set to shoot this fall in Winnipeg, Canada and New York. (Variety)