Behind the Scenes of 'The Runaways'
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Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie, Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett
"Kristen, you are so hot!"
In the appropriately rank alley behind a small Los Angeles club called the Smell, Cherie Currie, former lead singer of the '70s all-girl band the Runaways, yells out to ingénue-of-the-moment Kristen Stewart, standing a few feet away.
Currie could easily be referring to the actress' body temperature: The midday July weather is sweltering, and Stewart, dressed head-to-toe in black leather for the role of Currie's onetime bandmate Joan Jett in The Runaways, is wiping sweat from her forehead. Stewart is on a smoke break; beside her, Dakota Fanning, who plays Currie in the movie, munches on a veggie doodle. While two Twilight fans linger near a Dumpster down the block, hoping to glimpse the franchise's stars, the paparazzi -- who have hounded the production all month, much to writer-director Floria Sigismondi's frustration -- are absent on this, the second-to-last day of the shoot.
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Currie is actually talking about how good Stewart looks as Jett, and indeed she does. Minutes before, Jett, also an executive producer, chatted privately with Stewart, their heads bowed, each with a raised hand grasping a chainlink fence, looking almost identical in all but age. (Also, the 51-year-old Jett's 'do is shorter than her 19-year-old doppelgänger's era-accurate shag.) As Stewart gets ready to go back inside, she smiles awkwardly and says simply, "So was Joan."
Millions of people probably know that Stewart cut and dyed her hair black last year, which is far more than can name a single Runaways song. (Neither Stewart nor Fanning had even heard of the band before being cast.) The Runaways were five teenage girls writing and performing aggressive, sexually defiant rock music during a time when all of their peers were older and few were female.
Yet the band's importance remains canonical rather than commercial. Though the self-proclaimed "queens of noise" could "actually play," as reviews at the time noted with surprise and more than a trace of skepticism, the Runaways never sold the records here (their biggest album, their self-titled debut, moved 25,000 copies) that they did in Japan. They recorded four albums in four years and yielded only one enduring single, the teasing, debutante-debasing "Cherry Bomb," on which a 15-year-old Currie promises, "I'll give ya something to live for / Have ya, grab ya, till you're sore."
Figuring the Runaways were ripe for rediscovery, seven years ago Jett's manager, Kenny Laguna, began shopping around an idea for a script based on a revised, more explicit edition of Currie's 1989 autobiography, Neon Angel (out this month to coincide with the film), at one point tapping an as-yet-unmasked JT LeRoy to write it. "I thought it was important to define history," says Laguna. "If they did a movie about the Go-Go's or the Bangles, then they would be remembered as the band that broke down the barriers."
20 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By Anonymous
04.23.10 4:05 PM
i read these comments and am astounded at them. The Runaways, regardless of your oppinion, were in fact very influential, and still are. it wasnt just, oh, 5 girls playing some intruments blah blah blah, they were the first GIRLS to ever go international with a rock n roll band. they were all 15-16 when they started, thats a hell of a way to grow up. the movie, as you can find on many dif sites and said by Joan Jett herself, is NOT a biopic of the band, its more about the relationship between Jett, Currie, and even Fowley, based on the memoir by Curie. im not gonna throw insults around, because music effects everyone differently, but to me, The Runaways were the ultimate performers, they killed it. Joan Jett i think is a wonderful role model to look up to, do what you want to, and dont let anything get in your way. just a side note, as for the actors chosen for the movie, Jett and Currie both said they could not have chosen anyone better, and that both Stewart and Fanning were amazing on film. Both musicians were on set, Jett co-producing, so dont let the twilight series cloud your judgement on the performances, this movie was being planned and in motion before New Moon was even recorded. before you start flaming actors, muscians, and fans alike, try getting to know the facts a bit better.
- Posted By Anonymous
03.25.10 7:39 PM
Oh come on the Runaways weren't that bad. No need to tell people to F--- O--. Jeez. I think the Ramones were barely passable musicians. I'll still listen to them, and I'd watch a movie about them too. Because they're interesting. Other people find the Runaways interesting too. You don't. It's OK. Calm down.
- Posted By Anonymous
03.22.10 1:14 PM
Hey, not liking the Runaways does *not* mean you're a sexist, you f---ing d---head.
That's as IGNORANT as the Republicans claiming that if you want universal healthcare you *must* be a so****t.
Disliking s--- music is important, regardless of the context. By way of example- I think Old Skull and Silverchair are both pieces of s---.
If I have to explain that to you, you're f---ing hopeless.
- Posted By Anonymous
03.21.10 11:34 AM
I read these comments and am astounded that THREE DECADES LATER, people are just as sexist as they were in the seventies. Shame.
No one is saying that The Runaways were the best band ever. No one says that about The Ramones either. They were an interesting, hard-rocking band. Period.
I hadn't listened to The Runaways in several years and made a point of spinning the music yesterday in preparation for seeing the film and was once again amazed at how good they actually were. Name a 16 year-old girl today that rocks as hard on a musical instrument as The Runaways did! Honestly...
- Posted By Lynn Hirschberg
03.19.10 3:15 PM
No we're not idiots because we don't like the Runaways. It just means we have ears.
No we're not sexist because we don't like the Runaways. Blondie, Siousie Sioux, Chrissie Hynde were all part of the late 70s, and they all blew the Runaways away. I'm not threatened by strong women. I wish we had more of them. Maybe the world wouldn't be such a mess.
I can still listen to Blondie and the Pretenders and enjoy it.
Anyone who likes the Runaways should be cursed to an eternity of listening to them in a trailer park outside Orange County. Oh, and by the way, F--- O---.
- Posted By Em
03.16.10 12:31 PM
Looks like a cool flick...it will be interesting to see these mainstream actresses pull off some edgy roles without bringing a hint of there former gigs.
Joan Jett has always been cool no matter what. No she wasn't a big commercial star, but she has talent and a relentless and purley honest pursuit of music that she has hung onto her whole life. When people are genuinely cool, they lay low and follow what makes them happy, not focusing on other's views, opinions or alterior motives. For her, it was about the music and her invovlement in that. Whether she and the band "broke down barriers" or not, they were relevant and that's something we would all like to be able to say about ourselves in the end. I congratulate the band on there success and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all went down.
- Posted By Anonymous
03.16.10 4:37 AM
Saw this movie at a screening tonite, and I loved it. It is fast paced, artsy, as honest as it can be. Kristen and Dakota rock (learning the instruments/ providing vocals). They are funny, sexy, hard-core, edgy, and vulnerable. My biggest dissapointment in this movie is that it was TOO SHORT and I wanted more!
- Posted By Anonymous
03.14.10 9:58 PM
the music is trash. recycled punk rock and glam with a twist, oh my god their girls. there are plenty of other female artists that girls "nowadays" should be listening to before they warp their brains with the runaways. don't make assumptions like "you probably enjoy that pop-rock, easy listening garbage" just because someone doesn't like the runaways. no self-respecting punk fan owns an album by this poor excuse of a band. maybe lay off the coke and open your ears.
- Posted By Kendra
03.13.10 10:57 PM
The Runaways is one of my favorite bands, and not just *girl bands* but bands, in general. They were some really tough girls who could definitely beat the **** out of all these stupid all singers today, who could hardly sing, and don't even play instruments. I mean seriously, they are super underrated, being that they were the first all-girl band who played heavy rock,and I'm so happy they made this movie [with two very great actresses] and hopefully teach some girls nowadays about actual good music.
:)
- Posted By Anonymous
03.13.10 5:43 PM
You people who dislike The Runaways or the actresses portraying them in the movie are the idiots. You must have the worst taste in music then. They did change music for women, of course they were others but they brought out that young agressive, provocative punk music. Music now a days has no soul or passion, you probably enjoy that pop-rock, easy listening garbage. These girls had passion, Joan and Cherie were amazing. You are just intimidated by strong willed women who aren't afraid to push the boundaries. So please save you worthless comments for people who give a damn.
- Posted By Anonymous
03.12.10 10:26 AM
This is amusing. Nothing changes. L.A. will continue to be its own weird fantasyland. The Runaways and the Germs will continue to be overrated ****e.
Breaking down barriers? We already had Debbie Harry, Patty Smith and Joni Mitchell by 1977. You know those things like talent, and real music? Music you can actually listen to?
The Runaways will continue to titillate some and annoy others, but the bottom line is nobody cared because they sucked.
- Posted By Anonymous
03.11.10 8:21 PM
"okay this band sucks and they picked the worst actresses for this movie what ms. twilight stutter butter with anoying blinking problems and Dakota now shes the person that will never gorw up no matter what she does in her role it worked for dicaprio but not for this ugly piece of **** u know they put these two together bc they will attract a big audience of annoying fat or skinny ugly brace face twilight fags. Dont even think that this will have sucess. Just saying the movie would be good if they didnt have those two ****ing bad actresses in it if u wanna see a real movie wacth the crazies the best movie of the year the deputy in it was awesome not the main on the other one so thats all"
You're an idiot. And learn to spell.
- Posted By Anonymous
03.11.10 6:09 PM
The runaways were a Fun band-i was in LA in early 1979-I got to meet and party with them -times were tough and we were all young and dumb,,
Joan - Thank You!
I still have the album you gave me! it was a promo cut corner, no autograph ....but the memories are all i need!
- Posted By Anonymous
03.11.10 5:15 PM
You seem to be over-exaggerating the band's significance. They certainly broke boundaries, but the actual music is far from groundbreaking. I'm sure it will be a great film though. Kristen Stewart is a good actress, despite David's remarks. She plays the role of an angst filled teen very convincingly.
- Posted By david
03.11.10 4:14 PM
okay this band sucks and they picked the worst actresses for this movie what ms. twilight stutter butter with anoying blinking problems and Dakota now shes the person that will never gorw up no matter what she does in her role it worked for dicaprio but not for this ugly piece of **** u know they put these two together bc they will attract a big audience of annoying fat or skinny ugly brace face twilight fags. Dont even think that this will have sucess. Just saying the movie would be good if they didnt have those two ****ing bad actresses in it if u wanna see a real movie wacth the crazies the best movie of the year the deputy in it was awesome not the main on the other one so thats all
- Posted By Ace Steele
03.11.10 2:19 PM
As someone who was there "day one" of the original band, I will be there "day one" of the movie. I'm proud of Joan & Cherie {and Jackie, Lita & Sandy R.I.P.} and am thrilled they are getting some kind of validation as to just how important the Runaways really were to the history of rock n' roll. You go girls! 35 years late, it's now time for your coronation at the Queens of Noise, the Queens of Rock n' Roll! Much respect to you, Ladies!
07.27.10 1:09 AM
wow....so you dont like kristen stewart...well shes making 25 million for those ****ty twilight films,which may i add she hates, while your on your computer writing **** about people over the computer. name one film besides twilight, that kristen has been bad in...apparently she might even get an oscar for her new film "welcome to the rileys"...so you dont like dakota? shes one of the most successful actors in hollywood and shes only 15...most of you are like 40....you dont like joan jett? shes been having one of the most succeful careers in rock history for 30 years.....you dont like the runaways? well we are allowed to like what we want..i mean even a hard rock fan like me can like lady gaga,who cares? you dont have to listen to the runaways if you think they suck, but the fact is they were the first all girl rock band...NOT the first girl rockers,there is a difference...so while you rip on these people they are making more money then you will ever see in your life...ps THE RUNAWAYS ROCK