SXSW: Magnolia Buys Music Documentary ‘Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Magnolia Pictures has obtained the rights for North America to screen “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted,” a documentary about Jerry Williams (also known as Swamp Dogg), a renowned singer, songwriter, and record producer. This film had its world premiere at SXSW and is directed by Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson. The movie delves into one of the significant cultural icons from 20th-century American music. It will hit theaters on May 2.

The film showcases Swamp Dogg, a musical trailblazer whose impact is felt across soul, country, hip-hop, and numerous other genres. It delves into the lives of Swamp Dogg and his collective of aging musicians, a dynamic duo known as Guitar Shorty and Moogstar. This band navigates the intricacies of the music industry, turning their residence into an artistic haven while inviting musical luminaries like Jenny Lewis, John Prine, and celebrities such as Mike Judge, Johnny Knoxville, and Tom Kenny to join them in this one-of-a-kind musical playground. The film’s title refers not only to the group but also to Swamp Dogg’s pool, which they collectively paint.

Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley from Magnolia Pictures praised Swamp Dogg, calling him a “stone-cold genius.” With nearly seven decades of music under his belt, both self-composed and for other artists, the output is almost too much to process. Directors Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson have successfully captured the essence of this musical legend in their inspiring and entertaining film.

In spite of the harsh and unyielding nature of the world we live in, Swamp Dogg has managed to carry on – serenading, chuckling, and defying conventions,” I (Gale or Olson) might say. “It’s because of this inspiring resilience that we created this film, and we’re overjoyed that Magnolia recognized its potential. It feels like a dream come true for us that they’re releasing this trippy comedy based on real lives into cinemas. With the world needing a dose of positivity more than ever, this is precisely the kind of movie audiences need right now.

Music might be Swamp Dogg’s primary affection, but he harbors a deep enthusiasm for culinary arts as well. In line with the premiere of Magnolia, Pioneer Works Press is set to publish Swamp Dogg’s cookbook titled “If You Can Kill It, I Can Cook It” on May 20th. This book is portrayed as both a biographical artifact and an exploration into the mind of a chef, offering recipes for dishes like “Baked Beans Bo Diddley”, “James Brown in Flight Chicken”, and “Willie Nelson Potatoes Platter”. It’s adorned with images of family, food, music, and business. Swamp Dogg himself has declared it as, “This is the book Hemingway wished to write, Agatha Christie couldn’t, and Alex Haley lacked the soul for.

I’m utterly captivated by the latest album from Swamp Dogg, titled “Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St.” This masterpiece has garnered high praise from NPR, being hailed as one of the standout country albums of the year. The album boasts a stellar lineup of bluegrass veterans like Noam Pikelny, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas, Chris Scruggs, Billy Contreras, and Kenny Vaughan, with notable guests such as Margo Price, Vernon Reid, Jenny Lewis, Justin Vernon, and The Cactus Blossoms adding their unique talents to the mix. It’s a truly remarkable collaboration that I can’t wait to delve into!

The film ‘Swamp Dogg’s Pool Painted’, directed by David McMurry, is a joint production of Gale, Olson, McMurry, Paul Lovelace, and Ben Wu. The project has been overseen by Executive Producer Molly Menard.

The acquisition agreement was handled by John Von Thaden, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at Magnolia, and Matt Burke from Submarine, who acted on behalf of the filmmakers during the negotiations.

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2025-03-13 17:16