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Spinning Gold tells the almost impossible-to-believe story of Neil Bogart and the creation of Casablanca Records. Bogart worked with and discovered some of the biggest names in music, including Donna Summer, Bill Withers, Gladys Knight, and KISS. Bogart had a tumultuous personal and professional life, making big bets that often caused him trouble but would eventually pay off with the creation of one of the most successful independent record labels.
The film is written and directed by Tim Bogart, the son of Neil Bogart. Spinning Gold stars Jeremy Jordan, Jay Pharoah, Michelle Monaghan, Dan Fogler, Lyndsy Fonseca, and Peyton List. Spinning Gold also features a star-studded list of musical appearances with Jason Derulo as Ron Isley, Ledisi as Gladys Knight, Pink Sweats as Bill Withers, Casey Likes as Gene Simmons, Alex Gaskarth as Peter Criss, Sam Harris as Paul Stanley, and Tayla Parx as Donna Summer.
Screen Rant spoke with Jeremy Jordan about playing Neil Bogart in Spinning Gold. Jordan discussed his research process and how he incorporated elements of Neil’s son Tim, Spinning Gold’s writer and director, into his performance. He also revealed his favorite musical performances in the movie, and which album everyone should have in their vinyl collection.
Jeremy Jordan on Spinning Gold
Screen Rant: Jeremy, fantastic job on this movie. What was it like working with Neil Bogart’s family and telling the more challenging side of him as well?
Jeremy Jordan: It was really great. I was really lucky to have the accessibility of having people that knew him so well. And there [were] pages and pages of interviews that they had done with other people back in the industry. And so I read those, and we had interviews and all sorts of things to delve from. But what was really great, especially working with Tim [Bogart], who I worked with closely, he’s the writer director, is that as we started working together, I could feel all the little things that his father impressed upon him.
And I started to put a little bit of Tim into my interpretation of his father, because it was like, “Oh, I get this now, I can see I can see him in you.” And so it was really fun to kind of get to find that little perfect mixture of who he was, through his drew getting to work with his family.
Can you talk to me about your approach to playing a real person, and how that differs from playing a fictional character?
Jeremy Jordan: This one was a little bit different, because I’ve played real people before this guy died back in the 80s. Not a lot of people knew him and the people that knew him are either gone, or they’re much older. And there’s not a lot of video footage. So what I could find I delved into and really dug into, but the thing that that Tim really impressed upon me was that I had some of his qualities innately within me, as a performer.
And he really encouraged me to kind of go with my gut and go with my instinct. And often just let me roll with it. And it was really exciting, because I felt like I was creating a character at the same time as honoring the essence of who this guy was.
What was it about the story of Neil Bogart that spoke to you both as an actor and singer?
Jeremy Jordan: Neil really wanted to be a performer. That was his passion and just never really made it and found his way behind the scenes and became incredibly successful in that regard. The fact that we kind of bookend his journey, with his dream of getting to be in the spotlight, while he never quite made it there, I think is really beautiful. And in terms of getting to play this iconic character it was really interesting to delve into the gritty things, but also, the fact that he could just charm anyone at any moment into essentially anything.
He just had this tenacious personality that that attracted people. Often, it didn’t work out and pissed a lot of people off which was kind of interesting. I’ve talked with people in real life that knew him and he was that kind of person that you were you just kind of love to hate him because he was indelible, but he gambled too big. He drank too much. He smoked too much. He did too many drugs.
There are so many amazing musical performances in this. Which one stood out to you as your favorite?
Jeremy Jordan: Give me Ledisi all day every. I am a sucker for an incredible insane gospel vocal. Jason singing “It’s Your Thing” was actually pretty cool because he just walked into the room and did it all live. There was supposed to be a big concert performance that they were going to cut to have him, and they didn’t because what he did in the little recording studio scene was so magnetic and great that they just left that.
Incredible! What is one record everyone should have in their vinyl collection?
Jeremy Jordan: First thing that comes to mind has nothing to do with the movie is Carole King. It’s my favorite record that I have. Her first solo record that she put out.
More About Spinning Gold
Spinning Gold tells the story of Neil Bogart through his rocky personal and professional life leading to the founding of Casablanca Records. Bogart helped some of the biggest names in music including KISS, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight, and the Isley Brothers rise to even greater heights.
Check back soon for our other Spinning Gold interviews:
- Tim Bogart
- Tayla Parx
- Jay Pharoah
Spinning Gold is now playing in theaters.
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