Early Years of Billy Joel: 'Billy & Me' Directed by John Ottman

John Ottman, noted editor and director, is set to direct "Billy & Me", a cinematic depiction of the early career of iconic singer-pianist Billy Joel. The film explores Joel's life before reaching stardom and producing hits, notably ahead of the release of "Piano Man," his breakthrough 1973 song and album. The narrative is relayed from the perspective of Joel's first manager, Irwin Mazur, who discovered and signed Joel in 1966 and guided him until his career-defining contract with Columbia Records in 1972.

The casting process is currently in progress with filming scheduled to commence this fall in Winnipeg, Canada, and New York. The movie is an extension to the two-part 2025 HBO documentary about Joel titled "And So It Goes".

Exclusive life rights for the film have been obtained from Mazur and Jon Small, Joel's drummer in their band 'The Hassles' and collaborator in the duo Attila, an acid-rock formation that produced an album in 1970. The film production has also included Small as a consultant, co-executive producer, and second unit director. Questions remain as to the portrayal of Elizabeth Weber, Joel's first wife, a major figure in his life, driving the narrative of many of his famous songs.

Joel, who hasn't publicly consented to the film, has not yet commented on it. Ottman recently acted as chief editor on the "Michael" biopic, overseeing every step of post-production. Adam Ripp is set to write the script and produce the film.

Jon Small commends "Billy & Me" as an accurate, intimate, and truthful portrayal of Billy Joel's life before fame. According to Small, the script successfully captures the music, friendships, personal battles, humor, and creativity of those years. He adds that it's a sincere reflection of the past, viewed by those who knew and loved Billy before he became a household name. Ottman has also expressed pride in the film saying it's emotional, fun, and ultimately inspiring, with a strong focus on the relationship between Billy and Mazur.

Jay Cohen, former Partner and Head of Film Finance and Distribution at the Gersh Agency, is organising the funding and also advocating for domestic distribution. Grammy Award nominee Mitchell Leib, ex-President of Music and Soundtracks at The Walt Disney Studios, is the film's executive music producer.

Ottman is represented by David Gersh and Abram Nalibotsky at the Gersh Agency while Trevor Engelson at Underground represents Ripp.