Toronto-born Matt Austin gained celebrity for playing the Green Ranger in Power Rangers S.P.D.
He's also an artist, musician, writer, director, and huge fan of '80s
teen comedy king John Hughes. Three years ago, Matt started production
on a documentary about Hughes who had turned into a recluse since directing
the 1991 film Curly Sue. The documentary, appropriately titled after the Simple Minds song Don't You Forget About Me,
wrapped in November of 2008. With no money left, Matt and his producers
sat on it trying to figure out the best method to release it. Then, on
August 6, 2009, news broke that Hughes had passed away unexpectedly (he
was 59). It was a sad day for the legion of Hughes' fans, including
Matt and his team.
The next day, while still mourning the loss of the man who made Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science and, of course, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Matt
started receiving phone calls about the documentary -- which overnight
went from a fan's love letter to a relevant tribute. One thing led to another
and Alliance Films signed a deal to distribute it in Canada on DVD and
Blu-ray.
Don't You Forget About Me is a fun walk down
memory lane for anyone who grew up watching Hughes' work. You can feel
the love that Matt and the people behind it have for Hughes, and the
interview subjects (which include stars of Hughes' films like Judd
Nelson and Alan Ruck, along with Roger Ebert, Kevin Smith and Jason
Reitman) genuinely admire this man and his work.
I chatted with Matt recently about what makes Hughes' films
work, how the doc came to be, and his feelings on Hughes' passing.
Watch the full interview below.
Don't You Forget About Me is available on DVD and Blu-ray November 3, 2009. More info can be found on the official site for the film.
brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com
Top image: Director Matt Austin and producer Kari Hollend in a scene from Don't You Forget About Me. Courtesy Alliance Films.