Filmmaker and photographer Antony Crook, on bringing his debut feature film to life against the odds

I didn't want the film to be like anything else out there. Mogwai have always done their own thing, their way, and this film had to be consistent with that

What began as a commission for a tour documentary turned into Antony Crook’s debut feature film, and all because of a global pandemic! In this very special episode, we caught up with Antony amidst the madness of SXSW, where he premiered If the Stars Had a Sound, celebrating legendary Scottish band Mogwai.

Originally from Manchester and now based in Upstate New York with his family, Antony started out as a photographer, and has shot icons from David Hockney to Snoop Dogg. He then made the leap into filmmaking with a music video for his friend’s band, Mogwai, which went viral on Nowness over a decade ago. Now he’s come full circle with this film that reflects the personal relationships, integrity and creativity that went into the making of it, and it’s been perfectly summarised by The Austin Chronicle as “A true underdog story and a breathtaking look at community-building”.

From throwing out the rulebook to being given Mogwai’s music stems, from sifting through days of GoPro footage to sourcing funding, to inviting fans to be part of the journey...Antony reveals the depth, detail and devotion it takes to get a project of this scale and ambition off the ground and into the world.

If the Stars Had a Sound is a must-watch and screens later this month at various festivals, including Sheffield DocFest and Raindance Film Festival. Follow @AntonyCrook and @Mogwaiband for the latest!

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