The Soloist - Featurette.

From watching the featurette on The Soloist DVD a number of important points have arisen that need to be taken note of when considering the reasons behind the film failing to succeed at the box office.

• The film was based on facts which came from a number of newspaper articles (written by Downey, Jr‘s character), these were also made into a book and then finally into a film.
• The director (British born Joe Wright) spent a long time establishing himself and relationships in America with some of the actors before the filming process began.
• The director made a point in saying that the more time the director spent in America, the less the director knew about the country, making him feel like an outsider (perhaps, acquiring the knowledge as to how Foxx‘s character would be portrayed).
• People from the “Skid Row” community were used in the film; whereas, hundreds of extras from the streets/poorer communities were also used within the process of creating the film.
• This process, in return helped to change the lives of some of the people because jobs and opportunities were created and skills were gained throughout.
• People creating the film described it as "a massive trust exercise", due to the fact that hard hitting issues were raised within the storyline of the piece.
• Foxx’s learnt to play the Chello with the help of a expert called Ben Hong; Nathaniel (the person Foxx was playing in the film) was bought in to witness that orchestra rehearsals.
• The films message is deep; the director was quoted as saying "I don't like to prescribe how an audience feels at the end of the film", and as the film was open ended, an “honest end” of the film is needed.
• The use of an “honest ending” was probably one of factors as to why the film was not successful.
• Another reason that the film was not as successful could be that the audience have to think more when they are watching the film; as opposed to the normality of a films normally watched to induce escapism.
• A further reason as to why the piece was not successful could be the content of the film as it might not have appealed to many people, and the film may have been thought as offensive or vulgar to people that could have been effected.

02032010; The Soloist - Featurette