One-hit Wonders its a very common tale.
The movie about them, however, is something truly special.
Ive worked with a lot of first-time directors.
Credit: Everett Collection
And Tom was a veteran.
He created this really incredible world that kind of only an actor could create, says Tyler.
He just took great care of us, because he really understands how the actor works, Schaech adds.
20th Century Fox/Everett Collection
We really got to be actors at a very young age.
We got to make some strong choices that were supported.
It was an acting class.
20th Century Fox/Everett Collection
It was a clinic, and I got to be his pupil.
The value of that education is priceless.
Anything he dreamed up, they could expertly create, Embry corroborates.
Me and Guy were at the same place.
He added so many great details to the movie.
The movie is Toms imagination.
Tyler, daughter of Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, also saw herself in her character.
I grew up around the band too, so to speak, she says.
I fought very hard for Jimmy to be that guy, he explains.
I had to play that part, you know, of the artist.
And [so many people have told me], I was that guy.
I was that guy with my band; they had to put up with me.
And then theres Embrys bass player.
Embry says of the character.
Being that enthusiastic sort of seeps into you and everything is good.
Its kind of messed up.
I just said my name was Tobias, because hessucha Tobias.
You just take the vowels out [and its T.B.
], Embry says.
His nickname was Toby, but his mom calls him Tobias.
And his last name actually was Player, because he was a player, dude!
That carousel ride with the Chantrellines?
Just loud and obscene was sort of my bag of tricks.
My fingers were bleeding, Schaech says.
Thank God, says Scott.
Because if you really listened to us play, wed probably sound horrible.
Wed definitely sound horrible.
The added benefit of weeks of band practice was the genuine chemistry the actors developed with each other.
And then I just found out that thats super rare.
I remember it reached that point of, like, I cant play this song one more time.
It had to be right.
We all bought little skinny ties and matching vests, and it was really fun, Scott says.
Embry remembers it slightly differently: They did it on Halloween!
So I wore a dress.
But all the other guys wore their super-nice 60s suits, he recalls.
Fake as their performances might have been, the thrill of being rock stars was real.
I loved being with those guys.
We were a band at that moment, Schaech says.
And we kind of were, you know?
We could play, we totally could.
It was one of the biggest thrills of my life, Schaech says.
I can understand why rock stars have such a good time.
Because it is maybe one of the coolest moments in the movie.
Its a great scene, Zahn agrees.
Liv is so great in it!
I didnt really know what was going to happen; I didnt really plan anything, Tyler recalls.
Liv just went for it, man!
She just totally went for it in that moment.
She captured it so much.
You cant get more euphoric than skipping and holding hands, right?
It was so sweet!
It was the best, just to share in that joy and to be that excited.
Twenty years later, the films still relevant.
Holy crap, look at this place, this is amazing.
And I looked at him and I said, Yeah, I get it, Scott remembers.
So that was also kind of a beautiful thing, that parallel.
It was happening as it was happening.
The production, expertly coordinated by Hanks team, only made it feel more real.
It was as if we were really living it ourselves.
It was an eerie, awesome, haunting place, according to Zahn.
Thats kind of the way it felt on set.
He was printing out these pictures and we were like, Oh my god, dude.
Embry also looks back on the bands long rehearsal process as a relic of the past.
Now, you get the movie, and two days later, youre on location, he says.
Its always in hindsight that we talk about a movie as being great.
When youre shooting it, you dont know.
Its a gig, Zahn says.
I knew this was a big deal when I got it.
I knew that it was special.
And when you know that, you take extra care, and you document it in a different way.
He still has the pictures from the still photographers digital camera of the future.
I mean, how can you not like that movie?
Its really impossible, right?
We just were always laughing and smiling, and everyone was wonderful, she says.
I dont think Ive ever smiled so much in my whole life.
