Rudderless, a film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2014.
"Rudderless" is the musical drama about the power of a parent's love where Crudup plays a grieving father who discovers the unknown musical talent of his recently deceased son. Upon this shocking discovery, he forms a band with Quentin in the hopes that it will help him cope with his loss.
Story follows as Billy Crudup, who plays Sam (lead character), a former high-profile advertising executive whose life is torn apart by the unexpected death of his son. Off the grid, living on a docked sailboat, he wastes away his days while drowning his pain in alcohol. When Sam discovers a box filled with his son's demo tapes and lyrics, his own child's musical talent is a surprise for him, a grieving father who felt he'd been absent from his son's life. Communing with his deceased son's dashed dreams, Sam learns each song and eventually musters the will to perform one at a local bar. When Quentin, a young musician in the audience, is captivated by the song, the unlikely duo forms a rock band that becomes surprisingly popular and revitalizes both of their lives.
The film is produced by Keith Kjarval and Brad Greiner with the help of the two writers, Jeff Robinson and Casey Twenter. Starring Billy Crudup as Sam, Felicity Huffman as Emily, Anton Yelchin as Quentin, Selena Gomez as Kate Ann Lucas, and Laurence Fishburne as Del.
William H. Macy's first directorial debut 'Rudderless'; a poignant story that explores finding happiness in the midst of loss and pain, is closing a seven-figure deal with Paramount Pictures, according to Deadline reports on March 31, 2014.
The film; an ambitious and strong first start for Macy's filmmaking career, will be released in theaters and through video-on-demand beginning October 17, 2014.
