STILL BILL
by Damani Baker and Alex Vlack USA 2009 HDCAM 78 min. OV
Eight years ago, the filmmakers had what seemed like a simple idea: make a film about Bill Withers. Little was known about Withers since he’d left the business of music behind, and his music, which includes the classics "Ain’t No Sunhine", "Lean On Me", and "Just the Two of Us", had left its mark on the world in general and these two filmmakers in particular. But they soon found that access to Withers was not freely granted, and that many doors would open, only to slam back shut.
With such limited access, their attentions shifted to trying to produce a concert of his music, which would provide a narrative thread for a discussion of his influence. For while his songs are part of the American fabric, his name is not well known.
Filmed over two years STILL BILL is a personal journey into the life of a complex, fascinating, and profound man.
