Share and Follow
Cameron Crowe, an acclaimed Oscar-winning filmmaker and author, has just unveiled his memoir titled “The Uncool.”
This Saturday finds Crowe in Chicago, reminiscing about his early years when he traveled with legendary bands as a young journalist.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
In a recent discussion, Crowe shared insights into how his life intertwined with movie stars and rock legends.
“Rock music was like a friend to me, especially during my school years, where I skipped three grades due to my mom being a teacher. That made it hard to fit in,” Crowe explained. “Music provided a refuge, a world where I felt understood. It’s a feeling of disappearing into something inspiring, a sentiment that movies also evoked for me. With ‘The Uncool,’ I aimed to create an experience much like an album or a personal letter—a story to revisit and connect with. The greatest reward is when readers say, ‘I felt like you were speaking directly to me.'”
Crowe made his directorial debut with the film “Say Anything.”
He came to Chicago and met with a bunch of other actors including John Cusack, who he said he “really appreciated.”
SEE ALSO: ‘Windy City Weekend’ dresses up in costumes for Halloween, shares favorite scary movies
And the movie got great reviews.
“I admire ‘Say Anything’ very, very much,” Gene Siskel said.
“It’s a movie about values, about how you want to live your life and what your standards are, and that’s pretty rare,” Roger Ebert said.
Crowe said the studio lost excitement about the film until Ebert and Siskel reviewed it.
“Before that happened, it was a desert of a lack of enthusiasm. So once again, Chicago comes to wave the flag for my first movie,” Crowe said. “If you can wear the uncool like a badge of honor, you might find other people like you. And in your own quiet way, that’s kind of cool.”
See Cameron Crowe at the Athenaeum Center in Lakeview at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The moderator is Cusack, who the director convinced to be his leading man in his first movie.
Visit athenaeumcenter.org for more information.
