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By Stephen Saito

In a festival that's boasted such fine music docs as "Lou Reed's Berlin" and "Playing for Change: Peace Through Music," along with an appearance from Madonna to promote the non-musical Malawi doc "I Am Because We Are," Tribeca has also turned out to be a place where musicians put down their instruments and pick up scripts. Though acting is nothing particularly new for either Mariah Carey or Dave Matthews, the two have taken on supporting roles in the low-budget films "Tennessee" and "Lake City," respectively, both in this year's line-up. Here's a look at how they measured up.

December 31st, 2007

By Helen Herimbi

Hollywood film releases are not something you'd associate with Dave Matthews. The 40-year-old South African native is rather better known for his musical exploits - enjoying the not-to-be-sniffed-at status of being the lead singer of America's biggest touring act.

Yes, that's right. More people attend his Grammy Award-winning band's concerts every year than say, a slick Justin Timberlake, rap mogul Jay Z, or even, heaven forbid, the newly reformed Spice Girls.

Together with Jonathan Dorfman and a few friends, his latest exploit is as a movie producer for the psychological thriller Joshua. Matthews was in Joburg last week to promote the film.

Joshua, which according to Matthews "was the first film where all the pieces just fell together", follows the life of a precocious 9-year-old whose world is shattered when a new child enters the household. His jealousy takes sibling rivalry to a new level as a series of fatal events raise unanswered questions and leave a dark cloud over the family. On top of being one of the producers, Matthews contributed a poignant ditty to the film.

In high spirits, Matthews - who was born and attended St Stithians High School in Johannesburg - explains that in the original script there was meant to be a song in the final scene where the boy would reveal that he is he puppet master of the whole thing.

"The scriptwriters hadn't written the song. So they asked if I knew anyone who would do it . So I said 'well, give me a chance'.

July 5th, 2007 

NEW YORK: Although Dave Matthews' face is never seen in the new movie "Joshua," he plays a crucial role in the spooky film, writing the song the demented child character croons as the film draws to a close.

"I wanted it to be delivered in a sweet way by the boy, but I also wanted it to be really horrifying," the singer told The Associated Press.

"Joshua," which opens in limited release Friday and expands to wider release later this month, is about a musical child whose family life dramatically alters once his baby sister is born. Quickly, the family starts to fall apart, and Joshua seems to be at the center of its downfall.

The leader of the Dave Matthews Band is part of the company, ATO Pictures, that produced "Joshua," starring Sam Rockwell. Matthews says he was involved in finding the film project, but was not very involved in the production (one exception — urging that Rockwell be one of the actors).

However, he always knew he wanted to try to write the song planned for the crucial final scene.  

February 1st, 2007

By DAVE MCNAIR DAVE@READTHEHOOK.COM

In yet another Dave Matthews/Coran Capshaw success story, the duo's ATO Pictures wowed audiences and studio fat-cats at the Sundance Film Festival Saturday, January 27 with their feature film, Joshua, staring Sam Rockwell and Vera Farmiga. In fact, by Monday, ATO had inked a deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures for $4 million.

"We found out we got into Sundance the Tuesday before Thanksgiving," says ATO executive producer Temple Fennell. "Then we found out we got the 8:30 Saturday night screening... which was the perfect time."

Joshua, an original script by novelist David Gilbert and director George Ratliff, tells the story of a brilliant, precocious nine-year old, played by Jacob Kogan, who wreaks psychological havoc on his family, especially his father (Rockwell) and mother (Farmiga), after the birth of a new sister. As one reviewer explains, "It's a total horror film in the vein of The Omen, but without the supernatural elements. It's all very realistic and plausible.

January 30th, 2007

In yet another Dave Matthews/Coran Capshaw success story, the duo’s ATO Pictures wowed the audiences and the studio fat-cats at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, January 27 with their feature film Joshua, staring Sam Rockwell and Vera Farmiga. In fact, by Monday, ATO had inked a deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures for $4 million.

“We found out we got into Sundance the Tuesday before Thanksgiving,” says ATO executive producer Temple Fennell. “Then we found out we got the 8:30 Saturday night screening…which was the perfect time.”

Joshua, an original script by novelist David Gilbert and director George Ratliff, tells the story of a brilliant and precocious 9-year old, played by Jacob Kogan, who wreaks psychological havoc on his family, especially his father (Sam Rockwell) and mother (Vera Farmiga), after the the birth of a new sister. As one online reviewer describes it, “it’s a total horror film in the vein of The Omen, but without the supernatural elements, it’s all very realistic and plausible.