Billy Preston: That's The Way God Planned It

With his signature gospel sound on the Hammond B3, Billy Preston doublehandedly elevated the greatest artists of his time – from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones, from Aretha Franklin to Eric Clapton, from Ray Charles to Barbra Streisand to Sly and the Family Stone. In our film, we explore Billy's career and influence on generations of musicians, as he scored several number one hits of his own and became one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. He did all of this as a soul divided -- by his deep roots in the church, in constant conflict with his identity as a gay Black man, searching for a family of his own that would accept him for who he was.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

photo of Paris Barclay

Film Screenings

Credits

Director:

Paris Barclay

Executive Producer:

Paris Barclay, Nicholas Ferrall, Cassidy Hartmann, Olivia Harrison, Jonathan Clyde, Dave Knott, Regina K. Scully, Daniel Shaw, G Marq Roswell, Ben J. Murphy, Caryn Capotosto, Scott Pascucci, Sophia Dilley, Charles Hopkins, Jenny Raskin, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Lauren & John Driscoll, Meadow Fund, Ian Darling, Jeffrey Lurie, Marie Therese Guirgis, Steve Cohen, Paula Froehle, John Keller, Brad & Debbie Buss, Andrew Trapani, Bruce Resnikoff, Jody Gerson

Producer:

Stephanie Allain, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Nigel Sinclair, Cheo Hodari Coker

Screenwriter:

Cheo Hodari Coker, Paris Barclay

Cinematographer:

Ernesto Lomeli, Carmen Delaney

Editor:

Scott D. Hanson, ACE

Sound Designer:

Chris Jenkins

Music:

Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge

Principal Cast:

Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Merry Clayton, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison, Suzanne de Passe, Tony Jones, Cory Henry, Gloria Jones

Additional Credits:

Co-Executive Producer: Bob Valentine, Wesley Adams, Lauren Haber, Kelsey Koenig, Jane Solomon, David Peck, Alan Abrahams, Co-Producer: Gabrielle Ebron, Supervising Producer: Michael Tamburrino, Producer on Cultural Awareness: Gamal J. Palmer, Associate Producer: K. Nicole Mills, Ashley Q. Lynch

Contact

Distributor:

N/A
N/A@gmail.com

Public Film Contact:

Nigel Sinclair / Rena Ronson
White Horse Pictures / UTA
nsexecutive@whitehorsepics.com
(424) 228-8000 / (310) 776-8138

Publicity Contact:

Cassandra Butcher
cassandra.obutcher@gmail.com
+1 (310) 266-5254

Sales Agent:

Nigel Sinclair / Rena Ronson
White Horse Pictures / UTA

Primary Access
Platinum Badge
Film & TV Badge
Secondary Access
Music Badge
Interactive Badge
Film & TV Festival Wristband
About
Year:
2024
Premiere Status:
Screening Section:
Screening Category:
Language:
Runtime:
105 mins