Miley Cyrus’ ‘Something Beautiful’ Film Producers on Bringing Her Ambitious Vision to Life: It Was ‘All From Her Mind’

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Initially, XYZ Films was invited to collaborate on Miley Cyrus’ visual album “Something Beautiful.” At that point, Cyrus had already conceived a specific vision for the film. Being an independent production studio known for projects like Flying Lotus’ second feature “Ash” and RZA’s “Cut Throat City,” XYZ was eager to expand its presence in the music industry. When Cyrus’ management company, Crush Music, proposed a meeting to discuss her latest project, XYZ eagerly accepted.

According to Nate Bolotin, the co-founder of XYZ, the objective was quite distinct: “She envisioned it as more than just visual accompaniment,” he explained to EbMaster. “Rather than being ‘cinematic’ in the traditional sense, like having a cinematic aesthetic, she wanted it to be a standalone entity – something that wouldn’t be labeled as a music video or an accompanying piece for an album, but could thrive independently.

Bolotin, together with co-founders Aram Tertzakian and Nick Spicer (who also holds the CEO position), agreed to take on a significant role in the production of “Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus,” a film accompanying her ninth studio album which was released on May 30. Established in 2008, XYZ has made its mark in the independent film industry, producing numerous films and licensing hundreds more. This leap into the music sector, however, represented a fresh exploration for XYZ.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but express my eagerness for our company to be the preferred partner for endeavors similar to this one. What truly ignites our passion is collaborating with artists and multitalented individuals, particularly those who have established careers in music and are eager to venture into such projects. It’s been a long-standing desire of ours to explore this creative avenue, and finally, we get the chance!

The movie titled “Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus” premieres at Tribeca Film Festival on June 6. This cinematic journey delves into her album, a creative endeavor that morphs through different eras, taking inspiration from artists who influenced her. Each track is brought to life visually, with unique images designed for a particular mood and atmosphere. For instance, “Walk of Fame” has an ’80s-inspired backlight in blue, while “Reborn” employs a ’90s camcorder aesthetic. Collaborating on this project are Cyrus, XYZ, and Panos Cosmatos, the director-writer behind “Beyond the Black Rainbow” and “Mandy.” Interestingly, Cyrus also co-directed with Jacob Bixenman and Brendan Walter.

Before starting the filming process, Cyrus had already compiled a lookbook filled with thematic elements. Her excitement for “Mandy,” the 2018 surrealist horror film produced by XYZ, inspired the company to invite director Cosmatos as a kind of guide for the project, according to Tertzakian. With a team assembled, they refined the initial concept for “Something Beautiful” over several months until reaching a creative agreement. They then began the process of filming.

Bolotin explains that the project gradually formed into its final shape due to a crucial combination of ideas,” she said. “All originating from her thoughts. She undeniably led the way in shaping what the project eventually became, while we assisted in making it a reality.

Cyrus, Bixenman, and Walter meticulously planned every shot ahead of time before filming began, which primarily took place at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, with a few scenes filmed in New York City. In contrast to other projects, they invited department heads for choreography and costume design early on, and completed the filming over a span of three weeks.

The creative team at XYZ notes that Cyrus, being a versatile artist (multihyphenate), enabled them to make changes in the moment. Essentially, Miley would call unexpected plays or Jacob and Brendan would alter things as they went along, deviating from the initial storyboards. This process was more about adapting than strictly following the script, becoming flexible once we arrived on set.

In the process of creating their album, XYZ used various time periods as inspiration. They brought this concept to life in the film by using 35mm, 16mm, and 8mm cameras, which lent a distinct appearance to each song. Lighting was crucial in setting the visual tone, from the crimson glow surrounding Cyrus on her motorcycle for “Golden Burning Sun” to the quick, electric-like flashes of “Pretend You’re God.”

When crafting their album, XYZ drew inspiration from different time periods. They translated this idea into film by using 35mm, 16mm, and 8mm cameras for each song, resulting in unique visuals. The lighting played a vital role in establishing the overall aesthetic, with a red glow enveloping Cyrus on her motorcycle during “Golden Burning Sun” and lightning-like white flashes in “Pretend You’re God.

According to Spicer, she made it very clear from the start about the color scheme she desired for the project. She spent considerable time discussing this with her production designer and cinematographer, Benoît Debie, right from the beginning. To emphasize its significance, we allocated more resources than usual to the lighting department for this feature film.

The movie doesn’t adhere to a traditional storyline; instead, it uses title cards to connect scenes. However, Tertzakian claims this is a testament to the unique film they were trying to create. In his words, “It was more of a dialogue about taking us on a journey, and each stage of that journey would be visually distinct so that each song could stand independently in its inspiration.” Since it’s a short film lasting less than an hour, this style, with its daring transitions from one style to another, doesn’t feel repetitive or overbearing. Indeed, she managed to pull it off successfully.

After its premiere at Tribeca, “Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus” will be shown in theaters for one-night-only screenings throughout North America on June 12 and internationally on June 27. For XYZ, this represents a fresh start, an opportunity to dive into a new avenue to narrate a unique type of tale.

According to Bolotin, it’s not about mimicking what Miley did or repeating the same thing over and over again. Instead, they are eager to collaborate with musicians and provide assistance when possible. They view each collaboration as an opportunity to utilize their resources and the diverse filmmakers they work with. In essence, this is just the beginning for them, a chance to explore more.

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2025-06-04 19:17