Seasoned actor, Ethan Hawke, steps behind the camera to direct Blaze, a film about little-known country music star, Blaze Foley. In the film, real-life musician, Ben Dickey, stars as the titular unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw music movement.
Dickey, in his first acting role, is simply magnetic as the soft-spoken Foley. We caught up with him at The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas and got an exclusive interview. During our talk, we discussed his prep-work for the role, the dream-like structure of this uncommon biopic, and working with Foley’s wife, Sybil Rosen.
Shot in his hotel room, Dickey was open to talking about all aspects of the film. Additionally, an extra special plus, he performed a song for us – his abridged cover of a song from the film – Foley’s heart-felt “For Anything Less“. Enjoy the insights and music from Ben Dickey.
**FYI: You may have to turn the sound up on your speakers or headphones…thanks, hotel room air-conditioning.
Co-written by Ethan Hawke and Sybil Rosen, Blaze is based on Rosen’s memoir “Living in the Woods in a Tree: Remembering Blaze Foley”. It stars Ben Dickey, Alia Shawkat, Josh Hamilton, and Charlie Sexton. The film is being distributed by Sundance Selects, and will open in Austin, Texas on August 17.
Blaze is inspired by the life of Blaze Foley, the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw music movement that spawned the likes of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
