artifact film artifact american documentary film directed pseudonym produced artifact chronicles modern music business charts legal dispute rock band mars record label emi filed million breach contract lawsuit band tried exit contract royalties dispute thirty seconds mars shown working producer flood create album war meeting lawyers recording sessions artifact world premiere toronto international film festival received critics praised examination state modern music industry focus relationship artists record companies film received limited theatrical release beginning november released digitally december synopsis film follows rock band mars learn begin fight million lawsuit brought record label emi time writing songs preparation follow album bulk film band consisting brother shown working producers flood create eventually war recording sessions meet lawyers negotiate band survival band specific legal issues insight making new album film examines state modern music industry focusing complex relationships major labels artists musicians hand accounts experiences business logistics economics record company works explained music industry including emi employees music producers music journalists trace impact growing american economic recession industry companies taken larger groups thought save instance sought rescue emi despite having little experience music management thirty seconds mars shown struggling larger questions art money integrity vein include people talking love art war state music industry world participants include founder music streaming service musicians author popular science book brain music appears brothers mother family friend background despite selling millions albums thirty seconds mars found million dollars debt emi parent label band signed time band said profit album sales reaction august band attempted sign new label completing beautiful lie tour turn prompted emi file lawsuit stating band failed produce records deliver contract thirty seconds mars responded suit stating california law group based originally signed deal virgin entered defunct bound contract seven years band contracted years decided exercise legal right terminate old date contract according law void statement emi spokesperson maintained label forced procedural legal steps order protect investment rights contract initiated band management thirty seconds mars expressed dissatisfaction recent takeover emi employees band worked fired result major restructuring chairman band label artists unhappy transition quickly tried terminate contracts list included rolling_stones paul_mccartney emi executives gave interviews describing sale resulted massive staff cuts nearly year legal battles thirty seconds mars announced april suit settled suit resolved following defence based contract case involving actress decades explained ruled service contract california valid seven years known law contract thirty seconds mars signed new contract emi said band resolved differences emi decision willingness enthusiasm emi address major concerns issues opportunity return work team committed passionate thirty seconds mars suit resolution president labels north_america united_kingdom stated thrilled set aside differences signed new agreement thirty seconds mars relationship extremely rewarding successful eager forward global team work production artifact limited budget provided producing partner production company shot digitally filmed parts los_angeles california beginning advent mars legal struggles august camera operators taped hours raw footage involving band ending lawsuit resolution subsequent release new album footage included real life recording sessions legal meetings final film produced directorial debut longtime pseudonym served supervising editor film soundtrack features songs thirty seconds mars additional music provided given band successful use law contacted actress declined participate camera agree meet film initially planned documentary thirty seconds mars creative process recording album advent lawsuit documentary making album face legal battle prevent released described film special project explained shared lives shared screen intimate personal lives inside studio hearts minds share difficult point lives battling massive corporation fighting believe film release told rolling_stone hope artists audiences watch film greater understanding things work record industry understanding beginning change release artifact premiered toronto international film festival september later screened november opening night new_york_city documentary festival november announced picked international sales film november artifact received 22nd independent film awards march film screened south southwest appeared august thirty seconds mars held special screening artifact august online platform film released dvd september received worldwide theatrical release beginning november released film digital retailers video demand services december end artifact included itunes movies indie hits february picked international television rights distribute film reception premiere toronto international film festival artifact favorably received critics audiences look inside state modern recording industry received standing ovation won writing described artifact interesting film asking number important questions commerce art engaging way film critic awarded artifact stars called greatest music documentaries important documentary times felt film gives honest frank inside look system bands faced attached major label filmmaker wrote fine job editors weaving lawsuit interviews rock journalists emi executives felt artifact honest pieces work industry real credit involved shared opinions views insights ann washington_post praised film describing engaging commented film highlights creative challenges making art way documentaries rarely achieve praised direction film critic awarded film half stars wrote artifact fascinating documentary pulls curtain music business said film works accounting good band making album bad time indictment business practice screws people actually product forbes stated film breaks considers grave showing label contracts result bands accumulating debt release thanks promotional costs recording bills advances record labels criticize gave film stars called super size music industry
Artifact (film)