As a longtime music enthusiast and someone who grew up attending countless live shows, I can’t help but be captivated by the enigmatic figure that is Tobias Forge and his band, Ghost. Having read this article about their recent concert film “Rite Here Rite Now,” my fascination with them has only grown deeper.
Almost two decades have passed since the arrival of Ghost, the theatrically inclined Swedish metal band with a hint of satanic overtones. Originating from the modest town of Linköping, frontman and primary composer Tobias Forge laid the foundation for this band’s music. Now, they boast an impressive discography including five studio albums, numerous EPs, a Grammy Award, and enough intriguing backstory to fill a whole shelf in an occult library.
Although they had made great strides, filming a concert for Forge and their band was something they hadn’t been willing to pursue.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I’ve deliberately avoided producing recordings of my live shows. Every time a festival proposes the idea, “May we film your performance?” or “Can we broadcast it?”, I politely decline with a firm “No.” It’s not that I dislike the thought, but I prefer the authenticity and exclusivity of a live experience untouched by recordings.
As a dedicated cinephile, I can tell you this: The longer the production process of a film dragged on, the more certain I became that the end result would be an experience truly worthy of my time and attention.
An unexpected encounter between Forge and indie film director Alex Ross Perry led to the production of “Rite Here Rite Now” (releasing in theaters Thursday). This is surprising since Perry, a 39-year-old director, is known for his character-driven dramas featuring neurotic New Yorkers (“Listen Up Philip,” “Golden Exits”), rather than large-scale events at venues like the Kia Forum.
But, crucially, he also happened to be an admirer.
“Before our collaboration even crossed my mind, I was already a devoted fan,” Perry shares over Zoom from New York, with occasional interruptions from his little girl. “I’m still a fan, enamored by the visuals, the merchandise line, the narrative development, and the tunes.”
In 2017, he had the opportunity to see Ghost perform as their opening act for Iron Maiden at the Barclays Center. From what he had heard beforehand about their exceptional talent, he was thoroughly impressed and left feeling enamored with their performance.
Perry expresses her fondness for the show’s dramatic flair and Forge’s habit of making bold statements, which has been a part of him since childhood.
As a film enthusiast, I found myself with some free time between movie projects. Intrigued by the music of Ghost, I reached out to their record label, Loma Vista. Excited about potential collaborations, I put my hat in the ring for any upcoming ventures. The first opportunity came in the form of an April Fool’s Day film in 2022 titled “Metal Myths: Ghost Pt. 2.” Following that, I organized a free pop-up exhibit at the iconic Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles.
In the final stages of Ghost’s global tour for their groundbreaking album “Impera,” which lasted for around 16 months until 2023, the moment was ripe for recording their live performances on film. For frontman Perry, this was an opportunity he had been eagerly anticipating. The Kia Forum, filled to capacity with a crowd of 10,000 enthusiastic fans, provided the perfect setting for the occasion.
As a movie enthusiast, I can tell you from experience that when we, as filmmakers, announce the creation of a concert movie, there’s an excitement in the air that’s been building up among fans for quite some time. So, it’s our responsibility to deliver a high-quality production that truly satisfies their anticipation and makes this long-awaited experience worth the wait.
As I sat in the dimly lit concert hall, Ghost’s enigmatic presence took me by storm. The lead singer, Forge, emerged with a chilling white face paint, exuding an alluring menace in his dapper attire. The band members, known as Nameless Ghouls, concealed their identities behind masks, adding to the intrigue that surrounds this Swedish rock sensation.
At times, Ghost’s act is met with disapproval. In September 2023, a group of protestors assembled outside a Woodlands, Texas, performance, carrying signs stating “Defamation isn’t free speech” and “I’m Catholic – respect my faith.” The dissenters made their displeasure known to all.
“In my opinion, it’s unfortunate when such events occur.” Forge commented. “Our intention isn’t to stir up disputes. Instead, we aim to amuse and bring joy to the audience. It wasn’t our goal for children to upset their parents.”
As a movie buff, I’ve come across Forge, who’s known for being tight-lipped about his work. Back in 2010 when they dropped “Opus Eponymous” and gained momentum, I noticed that Forge was hesitant to share too much with the world, unlike other bands who flooded fans with endless social media updates.
“According to Forge, he had no desire to converse at all. He prefers to stimulate people’s imaginations instead of explicitly sharing information.”
In this scenario, Perry was assigned to work on refining the existing creative vision of Forge for their upcoming project. This involved shaping their ideas about the mythos and developing a screenplay from their brainstorms. The term “story surgery” was used to describe this process. During the actual filming, there was consensus between Perry and Forge regarding an efficient approach. Since L.A. held a special significance for Forge as it was where they had planned multiple shows in September, it made practical sense to conduct all on-site filming there. With two shows scheduled, they anticipated encountering unexpected issues during one of the performances. It was also convenient that Jim Parsons, a renowned live concert director and producer for artists like Coldplay, Genesis, and Ed Sheeran, would be handling the filming.
At Perry’s insistence, postproduction for the film took place in New York City, his hometown, to keep costs under control.
As a film enthusiast, I’d express it like this: “If we need to produce the film in L.A., forget it, the budget just won’t cut it. If we go with Stockholm, it’s a no-go for me since I don’t have any connections there. But if we manage to make this happen in New York, I believe we can deliver exactly what you’re looking for at your desired budget.”
The forum served as the location for filming not only the on-stage scenes but also the behind-the-scenes ones, as Tobias constructed a fitting backdrop there. He desired an extravagant, red-velvet-draped, chandelier-adorned set reminiscent of Phantom of the Opera for this area. In contrast, Perry describes the real backstage as simple with only gear cases, a couch, and some folding chairs.
Those scenes play a crucial role in the film, adding breaks to the nearly two hours of performance.
In one scene, Forge transforms his outfit backstage and reappears in a glitters and rhinestones boxing robe. The audience watches as the camera tracks him through the crowd, recording footage that is later edited to mimic a UFC or WBA fighter’s entrance. Although this moment doesn’t significantly impact the overall film, it highlights Forge and Perry’s playful demeanor on set, eager to incorporate unconventional yet fitting elements into Ghost’s persona.
“Perry praises [Forge’s] ability to create beloved albums filled with captivating songs that echo through arenas. At the same time, he produces hilarious comedy sketches. Remarkably, Forge has merged these contrasting elements into one extraordinary venture.”
Perry and Forge, despite hailing from distinct backgrounds, have successfully created a movie that encompasses the magnificent scope of “Ghost” while maintaining a lighthearted tone. According to Perry, editor Robert Kolodny played a pivotal role in this achievement. He refers to Kolodny as a magician, stating, “He worked with me for two months to produce the most intricate and humorous ‘Ghost’ documentary-mockumentary.”
Although Ghost may not boast fanbases as massive as Beyoncé or Taylor Swift, they can still count on a devoted following that consistently turns out for their concerts. For instance, the crowd at “Rite Here Rite Now” is filled with fans dressed from head to toe as nuns. Others paint their faces black and white in homage to their idols, creating an electrifying atmosphere through their passionate headbanging.
Is there a possibility of another partnership between Ghost and Perry? According to Forge, why rule it out? Nevertheless, it’s likely to take several years before such an event occurs.
In the interim, supporters of the director are in luck. He’s currently producing another film with a music focus. Despite his lengthy collaboration with Ghost, which dates back almost a decade, Perry’s connection to the influential alt-rock band Pavement extends further back to 1999. They enlisted him to helm the music video for their popular track “Harness Your Hopes,” and most recently, he directed their musical production “Slanted! Enchanted! A Pavement Musical” in 2022.
He is now finishing a full-fledged Pavement biopic, “Pavements.”
“For me, it’s been quite a challenge, Perry quipped. “It’s as distinct from [‘Rite Here Rite Now’] as they come, but both are expressions of the same musical narrative in my mind,” Perry confirmed to The Times. The edit for this project has now been finalized.”
Meanwhile, Ghost continues to thrill crowds with their powerful performances, stirring up controversy among Sunday churchgoers. They remain a top-tier act in the music industry, and now they can add a successful film to their impressive resume.
“Realizing it was essential to set the scene, Forge shares, “I decided to narrate the concert movie.” The production, filled with thunderous moments, conveys themes of unity and compassion. “Since an audience is present, it’s worthwhile to share a significant message.”
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2024-07-18 21:26