few films have had as much cultural
impact and few films have done so well
at capturing the passion and spirit of
rock and roll here's everything you need
to know about school of rock
screenwriter Mike White became inspired
by the Langley schools music project a
series of recordings of children
choruses singing Beach Boys and David
Bowie's songs recorded in the 1970s
those recordings ended up becoming a
cult classic White was also waiting to
write a film for his friend Jack Black
sure he had already written a film that
starred black called Orange County but
white later revealed that the part
really didn't fit him that well so based
on both the Langley schools music
project and Jack black white wrote a
screenplay about a substitute teacher
who secretly starts a band with his
students producer Scott Rudin and
director Richard Linklater decided to
take the film on Linklater originally
turned it down but changed his mind
Rudin and Linklater one of the film to
be as authentic as possible and they
spent a considerable amount of time
casting Jack Black was obviously playing
the lead role since white wrote the
script literally for him you write
something for a specific actor you you
know you're really pulling your hair out
going if he doesn't like it but I've
wasted the last six months of my life
but it was a challenge finding a cast of
mostly kids oh and kids who could
actually play instruments ultimately
finding kids who could play instruments
and sing proved to be more important
white even ended up getting a role as
the jack black characters roommate
according to multiple accounts Jack
Black ended up becoming a NVP on set his
charisma and energy were contagious and
he helped the young actors several
acting for the first time in their lives
feel comfortable on set even playing
games with them between scenes that said
some of their parents were a bit nervous
that black might be a negative influence
on their children many of the songs you
hear in the film that black and the kids
came up with yeah they came up with him
on set filming took place in late 2002
in various locations throughout the
New York City metropolitan area this
school itself was filmed at both Wagner
College and the Buckley Country Day
School the film got a pg-13 rating due
to literally one reference to drugs
paramount made what would become known
as school of rock for less than 35
million dollars opening on October 3rd
2003 the film went on to make over 131
million dollars at the box office it was
one of the most critically acclaimed
films of 2003 which is pretty impressive
for a comedy most comedies don't get
critic love it currently is certified
91% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and was
notably nominated for a Golden Globe
I'd call that a success here is the
basic storyline without any spoilers the
film begins with the main character
Dewey Finn played by the aforementioned
Jack Black rockin out a bit too much
with his bands no vacancy the crowd is
kind of man as demonstrated by this
epically failed stage dive by Finn the
next morning Dewey's roommates ned
schneebly and snidely's girlfriend patty
wake him up to ask him for his half of
the month's rent
Mike white the aforementioned
screenwriter of the film played the role
of schneebly what a great name choice
that was by the way and Sarah Silverman
played the role of his controlling
girlfriend how controlling she was the
reason why she bleep as for the rent to
begin with anyway Finn doesn't have the
money but promises to get it soon and is
about to hit it big time we're gonna win
battle of the bands and when I'm rolling
in the Benjamins I will throw you and
your dog a bone good night however Finn
would not be getting that money because
he soon finds out he is kicked out of
his own band later back at the apartment
he answers the phone and speaks to Roz
Mullins the principal of Horace green
prep school she is looking for a
substitute teacher and is calling to see
if ned schneebly can substitute
realizing this could be an opportunity
to get rent money Finn lies and says he
is
snidely and will be there soon to start
working Finn shows up impersonating his
roommates though he really struggles as
demonstrated by
him not even being able to spell his
last name you know what why don't y'all
just call me mr. s mr. s has never
taught here at Horace green so I want
you all to be on your best behavior
after a rough first day where he rushes
out the door ahead of his students he
returns the next day to students who are
confused and even angry as to why he is
not teaching them anything
later in the day Finn overhears his
students and music class playing really
well he immediately goes back to the
classroom to begin plans to turn his
class into a rock band that will be
auditioning for the Battle of the Bands
contest he wanted to enter with his old
man when the students returned from
music class he tells them they will be
working on a quote secret project for
the next few weeks they can't tell
anyone especially their parents and
other teachers he haphazardly casts
students for instruments and of course
make sure he has the role as lead
vocalist and lead guitarist for the
other students he finds various other
roles including a quote security staff
to make sure no one finds out about what
they are up to in the classroom for the
rest of the film the class turns into a
real rock band as Finn guides them while
simultaneously struggling to not get
caught for fraud the whole thing does
turn into a meaningful transformative
experience for both the students and
Finn
[Music]
School of Rock is first and foremost a
comedy but it does have its tender
moments it is totally driven by its star
Jack Black rarely is a role so perfect
for an actor Mike White later said if
black would have turned down the role he
would have thrown the script away and
while black shines in every scene of
this film his chemistry with his
students comes across as incredibly
authentic the film does follow a
familiar formula of the selfish
protagonist slowly gaining empathy and
more self understanding by the ends but
I have been touched by your kids and I'm
pretty sure I've touched them
however the light-hearted style and
genuine chemistry of the characters is
refreshing at the beginning of the film
one might assume that the lives of the
students might be ruined
once Dewey Finn enters that classroom by
the end of the film that same person is
certain that him entering the classroom
was what was best for these kids two
themes come up in School of Rock and
both are cliche leadership and teamwork
yep those two boring themes which are
actually values your teachers and
coaches and parents try to instill in
you growing up but we have very
different characters with diverse roles
all coming together for a common purpose
and ending up better off in the end
because of it you'd think it was a
sports film but nope it kind of proves
you don't need sports to teach teamwork
and it's one of the few films out there
that's not a musical but celebrates
music if you're not a fan of rock and
roll before watching there's a good
chance you will be after the film
reminds us that rock and roll was
supposed to be rebellious pretty where
are your sleeves and what have you done
to your hair it's called Punk well it's
not school uniform
miss Mullens you're the man Thank You
Frankie and that nonconformity was in
fact a virtue necessary for society to
progress
school of rock went on to become a TV
show on Nickelodeon and a Broadway
musical created by the Andrew Lloyd
Webber perhaps more importantly it
helped fuel the growth of Paul Green's
School of Rock program a school design
to get kids playing rock music together
with the goal of playing before a paying
live audience the program skyrocketed in
popularity after the film's release
and now franchises all around the world
serving more than 17,000 students most
of the child actors in the film went
back into obscurity after their brief
stardom
although miranda cosgrove went on to
have a long career and is still acting
rumors of a sequel have been around for
almost as long as the film has been out
but it doesn't appear that will be
happening anytime soon
in 2013 the cast reunited to play a
concert as sort of a 10-year reunion
that's right they were all still active
musicians pretty cool stuff 15 years
later the film continues to inspire any
kid no matter where that kid comes from
to pick up an instrument and start a
band and it's not just the kids who can
someday become rock stars it's also the
teachers
[Music]
[Applause]
October 3rd is the 15th anniversary of
school of rock I remember seeing this
one on opening night while I was in
college so what did you think about this
film also what other film would you like
to see explained in a similar fashion
let me know in the comments thanks for
watching everybody