Crafting the finest points in art and expression can often times demand unrelenting dedication, but the heightened emotions that are the driving force behind the job aren’t always recognized. That’s certainly the case for the talented Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, who was a highly skilled composer of over 200 Hollywood films in the 1940’s and 1950’s, but only received official credit for seven of his scores. He also went on to mentor some of Hollywood’s greatest film composers throughout his career, including John Williams, Randy Newman, Henry Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith and Andre Previn. But the songwriter is now finally receiving the credit he deserves in the new music biopic, ‘The Maestro.’
Freestyle Digital Media is distributing the film in theaters today, and then On Demand and DVD this Tuesday, February 19. In honor of ‘The Maestro’s new release, ShockYa is premiering an exclusive clip from the drama.
‘The Maestro’ stars Xander Berkeley as Tedesco, as well as Leo Marks (‘The Last Tycoon’), Sarah Clarke (‘Twilight,’ ’24’), the late Jon Polito (in his last movie role), Mackenzie Astin (‘The Magicians’), Joelle Sechaud (‘Milky Way’), William Russ (‘American History X’), Jonathan Cherry (‘Final Destination 2’), Michael Johnston (‘Teen Wolf’), David J. Phillips (‘Amateur Night‘), Christopher Redman (‘God Friended Me’), Raul S. Julia (‘The Hoax’), Kim Bubbs (‘The Thing’), Lucas Elliot Eberl (‘Letters from Iwo Jima’), Bobby Campo (‘The Final Destination’), Kristin Gutoskie (‘The Vampire Diaries’) and Alex Essoe (‘Starry Eyes’). The movie was directed by Adam Cushman and written by C.V. Herst.
The biopic is based on letters that examine Tedesco’s teachings. Its story focuses on the composer’s relationship with one of his students, Jerry Herst (Marks), as well as the finer points of art and expression, and realities of post-war Hollywood.
ShockYa is premiering an exclusive clip from director Adam Cushman's music biopic, 'The Maestro,' which stars Xander Berkeley as composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco.