“‘No’ Song Remains Forever in the Film”

Marc Beckman, producer of the documentary “Melania,” addressed the recent request from Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood regarding music from the film “Phantom Thread.” Earlier in the month, both Greenwood and filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson asked for the removal of their score from the documentary. This request was rooted in an alleged breach of their composer agreement. The film chronicles the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2021.

‘No’ Song Remains Forever in the Film

The use of music from “Phantom Thread,” directed by Anderson, was initially met with resistance from Greenwood and Anderson. They claimed that Universal Pictures failed to properly consult Greenwood before reusing the score, which they argue constitutes a breach of their agreement.

Beckman responded to these claims, asserting them to be “ridiculous” and “a blatant lie.” He reaffirmed the decision to keep the music in the documentary. He emphasized that they aimed to create a unique story that hasn’t been told before. “Regardless of the nonsense back and forth in the media and the politics, we’re thrilled to have the music included,” he stated.

Reactions and Context

Beckman, who has a legal background, insists that the use of the music is legally sound. “We worked with top lawyers; this is Melania Trump,” he noted. However, he expressed disappointment at Greenwood’s public distancing from the film. “It’s unfortunate that political reasons may influence this situation,” he added.

Documentary Release and Financials

• Streaming rights for “Melania” were heavily contested, with Amazon winning a $40 million bid.
• The documentary earned approximately $9.5 million globally against a budget of $40 million.
• Despite a strong opening, the film ranked at Number 29 in the UK, earning just under £33,000 in its first week.
• Some reports suggested there were accusations of “fake ticket sales” to enhance its box office performance.

Moreover, audience demographics revealed that 49% of the opening day viewers identified as Republicans and only 2% as Democrats, with a notable 72% being female. Currently, the film holds an 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.