Heartworn Highways Revisited – Answers from the Filmmakers
On Sunday (2-10-13) the original filmmakers of the legendary Outlaw country documentary Heartworn Highways participated in an online chat where they answered questions from fans of the cult film originally released in 1981. After being out-of-print since a short run of DVD’s with bonus footage were sold in 2005, the film was finally made available for download and on-demand viewing on Christmas Day, 2012. Heartworn Highways editor Phillip Schopper and producer Graham Leader answered fan’s questions and let some interesting tidbits fly, including that a sequel of the film is currently in the works.
Will There Be a Heartworn Highways Sequel?
There is a new film that’s been made that’s inspired by Heartworn Highways called Heartworn Highways Revisited. It’s about a community of musicians inspired by the musicians in the original film. Three musicians will be in the sequel: David Allan Coe, Guy Clark and Steve Young.
Most of the film is in the can and is currently being assembled. We’d like to keep the musicians as a surprise. The film should be completed sometime this summer. –Graham Leader
What about the extra scenes that were on the 2005 DVD?
We are trying to figure an appropriate way and format to get the extras to you. I agree they are pretty incredible and make a movie almost all by themselves. However, we’ve always believed the film has to work as a film, which is to say it has to have a rhythm and be of a reasonable length. It was originally fairly heartbreaking to drop some of that material in order to make a film that would be commercially viable. We were very pleased to be able to make the DVD which allowed us to include some of our favorite moments.
Any plans for a new DVD or Blu-Ray release? Netflix?
We’ve only just released the film online and we’ll release the remastered DVD along with the bonus material when I find the right distributor. The reason it hasn’t been released online until now is because the system of distribution is still going through growing pains and does not necessarily make sense financially for the filmmakers. -Graham Leader
There are lots of reasons to have Netflix! Lots, I love it. But, alas, Heartworn is no longer available there. We hope it will be in the relatively near future in Blu-ray, with the extras –Phillip Schopper
What was the inspiration behind the film?
Jim’s (James Szalapski, director and photographer) friend from Minneapolis, Skinny Dennis Sanchez, who was a bass player who moved to LA and had become good friends with fellow musicians, including Guy Clark who was living there. Skinny turned Jim onto this music. And Jim loved the music and met with Guy and subsequently Townes and the rest of the people in the film. –Phillip Schopper
It grew out of the music of Guy, Townes and David. Everything else happened on the fly after we got there. -Graham Leader
How was it to work with Townes Van Zandt?
To be around Townes was to be seduced by him. Jim had to stay on his toes to capture Townes mercurial whit and genius. Filming was difficult because it was always so crazy around him. To know him was to love him. I saw him several times after the film in New York and London, but I never saw him back in Texas. There were times when Townes was utterly on top of his game and other times when it wasn’t so. – Graham Leader
Where is director James Szalapski now? And when did the film become popular?
Jim tragically passed away before Heartworn Highways was really discovered and before the notion of a DVD or before a DVD market existed. Nobody had any interest in the film until the DVD was released – it was completely underground until the release of the DVD.
How long did it take to film Heartworn Highways?
Once we decided to make the film, filming started the next month. Total of 5 weeks production and a little over a year in post-production.
Was it a difficult choice to allow footage from Heartworn Highways to be used in the Townes Van Zandt documentary Be Here To Love Me?
The footage Margret Brown (Be Here To Love Me director) used far exceeded and abused the understanding we had with her. To add insult to injury, neither Jim (Heartworn director) nor Heartworn Highways were properly credited. -Graham Leader
Where did the title “Heartworn Highways” come from?
Actually, while we were shooting the film the working title was New Country. But then when we were editing a yogurt came out that was called New Country. So we needed a new title. I actually invented the word “heartworn.” We felt the highways, trucks, etc were a real leitmotif and part of the heart of the film. The word just kind of sprang into my head as a combination of careworn and shopworn, a heart that has been well used or even over-used. A few years ago I heard from the Oxford English Dictionary that they were intending to include it in an upcoming edition. –Phillip Schopper
February 12, 2013 @ 12:41 pm
I love this film. I’m excited to see what they will do with the new movie they are working on. Netflix could really help spread the movie to a wider audience. The extra’s that are on the DVD are worth the price of the DVD alone,
February 12, 2013 @ 1:02 pm
I’ve owned this on DVD since it was released the first time. I’d love to see a re-release of Buckstone County Prison on dvd. DAC is in the movie and did the soundtrack. I’ve searched high and low, but haven’t seen it…
February 12, 2013 @ 1:38 pm
Amazon has Buckstone County Prison on VHS in the $198.99 – 200 range. Heck you could probably burn it to DVD, bootleg it and make your money back inna heartbeat.
February 12, 2013 @ 1:46 pm
This site “http://www.reddragonkenpokarate.com/Dvds.html” claims to have it on DVD however it was renamed Seabo shortly after its release. Here the dope, “Buckstone county aka Seabo New (DVD)
Warden Coley (1930s B-movie cowboy star Don “Red” Barry) and his savage assistant Jimbo (karate legend Ed Parker) run the most insanely brutal prison in 1957 America: North Carolina’s dreaded Buckstone County Prison. Circumstances behind bars move from intolerable torture to desperate hysteria when one of the prisoners gets wind of a plot by the warden to radically step up the vicious killing of the inmates. Earl Owensby portrays lead character Seabo; the film was shot at his studio in Shelby, North Carolina. Country singer David Allan Coe plays Reb Stock, a local bounty hunter, and also recorded the soundtrack (releasing it separately on an album under the film’s title). Sunset Carson, another popular B-movie cowboy from three decades earlier, appears as Sheriff Deese.” Via con dios amigo…
February 12, 2013 @ 6:09 pm
no mention of the soundtrack?
February 12, 2013 @ 6:34 pm
never mind. the seems to be plenty copies available.
February 13, 2013 @ 4:48 am
I have the DVD and cd. I love both of them!! I had no idea the DVD was such a collectors piece. Looking forward to #II
February 14, 2013 @ 3:52 pm
Hey! Now I know who “Skinny Dennis, the only one I think will miss” is. Awesome.
May 16, 2013 @ 6:59 am
Actually Heartworn is available on Netflix although not in Blu-ray
July 13, 2013 @ 3:14 am
Does anyone know who the girl is washing up in Townes’ trailer / lighting Seymour’s cigarette, holding his hand etc?
August 26, 2013 @ 10:52 am
Late response here – but I have heard (from someone who worked on the film) is that it was a local friend of Townes and his wife in Texas, where those scenes were shot. A lot of people argue it is Susanna Clark, but she was back in Nashville.
November 23, 2015 @ 11:31 pm
That girl is Guy Clarks wife Susanna Clark. She was born in 1939. They were married in 1972 until her death in 2012. Guy released his latest album “My Favorite Picture Of You” about a year later 2013 and the cover of the album is a picture taken of Susanna when she closed the door as she was leaving the house a little angry at Guy and Townes who were drinking inside.
February 10, 2017 @ 2:31 pm
No, that is not Susanna Clark. Her name is Phyllis Ivy. They are in Seymour Washington’s house in the Clarksville, a neighborhood off of Enfield Rd in Austin
March 22, 2021 @ 12:55 pm
Yes, you are right…her name is Phyllis Ivy. It is in the book, “A Deeper Blue, the life & music of Townes Van Zandt”. (Pg. 144). By Robert Earl Hardy
January 18, 2014 @ 5:09 pm
Anyone know who the studio session players are in the studio scene with Larry Jon Wilson ?
I figured out its Brent Maher doing the sound.
Also, anyone have any more info on Big Mac McGowan or Glenn Stagner ? Any idea where I might find tab or music for The ‘Doctors Blues’ or any more on Glenn or Big Macs barman who helps out on guitar with Peggy & also seen playing fiddle somewhere in there.
Interesting characters!
Heartworn Highways Revisited - Listening Through The Lens
June 6, 2018 @ 4:45 am
[…] is a link to a Q and A with the original film makers which touches on the new […]