New Documentary Focuses on Guy Clark

Guy Clark and friends celebrating his 73rd birthday. Front row: Robert Earl Keen, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Guy Clark and Maude the dog. Back row: Steve Earle, Jerry Jeff Walker, Rodney Crowell, Joe Ely and Terry Allen.

A full-length documentary about songwriter Guy Clark is in the works, thanks to producer/writer/director Tamara Saviano. 

Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark is being crafted to feel like a feature film, from the opening scene set in 1971 when Guy and soon-to-be wife Susanna Talley pull into Nashville in a Volkswagen bus loaded with everything they own. It was the beginning of a journey that would help shape the outlaw songwriter culture.

The film will include exclusive interviews, and never-before-seen photos from Clark’s private collection. Other segments will be shot next year in Texas. Without Getting Killed or Caught will close with a scene from Clark’s 73rd birthday, an intimate in-the-round of stories and songs featuring Guy and his Texas compadres Terry Allen, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen and Jerry Jeff Walker. 

Saviano has spent countless hours over the past five years collaborating with Clark on his definitive biography. She plans to debut the film in 2016 in time for his 75th birthday. 

Working with her on the project are co-producer and director of photography Paul Whitfield, associate producers Connie Nelson and Stacy Dean Campbell, art director Wendy Thessen, finance manager Kurt Vitolo and legal counsel John Beiter.

Saviano’s other projects include the Grammy-winning Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster and the 2012 Americana Album of the Year, This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark, which was also nominated for a Grammy.