Daniel Johns and David Helfgott in The Musical Mind…A Portrait In Process.

The Musical Mind… A Portrait In Process is a vivid glimpse into the private worlds and elite musical processes of four superstar musicians, brought together through their connection with the Academy Award-nominated movie Shine and its director Scott Hicks.

We meet international rock star Daniel Johns, one of Australia’s greatest musical talents. Accessing his subconscious, he escapes the chaos of existence in his musical discoveries.

American rock maestro Ben Folds finds inspiration in everyday fragments, weaving complex arrangements with a symphony orchestra, while classical pianist Simon Tedeschi surprises us with the athletic physicality that a nine-foot Steinway concert grand demands.

Threaded throughout is David Helfgott whose story inspired Shine, his love of water reflecting the fluidity of his playing that he shares with the next generation of emerging musicians.

These four enormous talents are interwoven by portraits, created on camera, by renowned artist Loribelle Spirovski. A celebration of the individuality of the creative brain, The Musical Mind explores the remarkable ability of four extraordinary musicians to channel their unique instincts and individual neurodiversity into sublime musical creations, unlocking profound emotion through the borderless language of music.

The Musical Mind is a Beyond May30 Entertainment Production by writer/director Scott Hicks, producer Kerry Heysen, writer and co-producer Jett Heysen-Hicks and executive producer David Chiem; produced with the support of the South Australian Film Corporation and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, in association with Banijay Rights. Bonsai Films is releasing the film in Australia.

An Emmy, Peabody and multiple AACTA award-winning filmmaker, Scott Hicks has also been nominated for two Academy Awards as Director and Writer, and British Academy Awards for Directing and Best Film. His documentary on Philip Glass was short-listed for Oscar® nomination and nominated for an Emmy.

He was honoured as South Australian of the Year in 1999 and then as Australian of the Year for South Australia in 2008. Scott received a Doctorate of Letters and a Premier’s Lifetime achievement award.

Together with his close friend David Chiem, CEO of global company MindChamps, Scott formed MAY30 Entertainment to create quality entertainment for the international market. The Musical Mind and My Name’s Ben Folds…I Play Pianomark the first releases for MAY30.

Scott Hicks Q&A screenings:
November 18 Cinema Nova, Carlton Melbourne 7pm
November 19 Event Bondi, Sydney 4pm
November 20 Event Glendale, Newcastle 6pm
November 26 Palace Nova Eastend, Adelaide 3pm

The Musical Mind then opens in cinemas from November 23:

NSW
Palace Cinemas Central, Chauvel, Byron Bay, Norton St
Event Cinemas George St, Macquarie, Castle Hill, Bondi, Miranda, Tuggerah, Glendale
GUO Shellharbour
Riverside Parramatta
Murwillumbah

ACT
Palace Electric

VIC
Cinema Nova
Palace Cinema Pentridge, Balwyn, Como, Kino, Brighton Bay, Westgarth
Star Cinema Eaglehawk

QLD
Event Cinemas Chernside, Indooroopilly, Mt Gravatt, Loganholme, Pacific Fair, Myer Centre, Kawana
BCC Maroochydore
Palace Cinemas James St, Barracks
Gladstone Cinemas
Yeppoon Cinemas

SA
Event Cinemas Marion
Palace Nova Eastend
Palace Prospect

WA
Event Cinemas Innaloo, Whitford
Luna Leederville
Luna on SX Street
Palace Raine Square
Orana Busselton, Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie