Filmmaker's 'New York Doll' is more than a 'rockumentary'

Gary Rubin, First Independent's chief, clearly "got the movie." Whiteley said: "He understood that this wasn't just a rockumentary. There was a lot more to it than that. It's about Arthur's spiritual journey."

Securing the necessary musical clearances for songs and performances seen in the film has taken several months, which Rubin and First Independent have used to find innovative ways to market the movie to audiences. And the film has special interest in Utah, because of its strong LDS thematic material. So First Independent has joined forces with Vineyard Distribution on local marketing.

"I hope I'm not jinxing it, but I think it will do well there," said Whiteley, who said he is aware that there have been criticisms of other LDS films for being too "warm and fuzzy." "Mine outdoes all of them for being warm and fuzzy — and it's a documentary," he said with a laugh.

While Whiteley is busy touring the country with the film, he said he is mulling over a few future projects, though he added that he has been so close to the film for so long that it "feels like cheating." Not that it's stopped him from having discussions with producers and studios about a possible follow-up — though "mostly they just want to tell me that they loved the movie."

One of the more intriguing possibilities Whiteley is entertaining is a feature film based on Kane's life (Kane passed away before "New York Doll" was completed). But rather than a traditional feature, Whiteley is envisioning something along the lines of "American Splendor," which combined documentary footage with actors doing scenes from the subject's life.

But he adds, "I really don't believe that I — or anyone — could make a strictly fictional film about Arthur that would be any better than this one turned out."

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