November 10, 2021 was such a day forJon Batisteand his life partner,Suleika Jaouad.
The documentary project came about organically.
And so, before wed even started filming, the lens of the film had already shifted.
Jon Batiste performs at the 2022 Grammy Awards.Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Jaouad, a writer and visual artist, was not so enthusiastic.
Theyre simpatico, yet different in so many ways.
Jaouad articulates her feelings with well-chosen words, and through her guileless watercolor paintings of giraffes and elephants.
Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste in ‘American Symphony‘Netflix
Batiste is less verbal, expressing himself through music; his emotions sometimes taking refuge behind his mega-watt smile.
This is the person you see on theColbertshow this person who is laughing and funny and ebullient.
But theres a lot more to him, Heineman says.
We had 1,500 hours of footage.
It was a completely immersive experience into their lives.
There were two other cinematographers and myself shooting.
If I was shooting, I was often alone.
We were doing sound ourselves one-man band, really small footprint.
Its the only way to film in that intimate way in someones bedroom.
Heineman wasnt in the room when Batiste and Jaouad each screened the documentary for the first time.
It was terrifying, the filmmaker admits.
Suleika really wanted to watch the film alone.
She didnt remember large swaths of that period of time based on the painkillers she was on.
He obviously did remember all those moments.
Weve all become quite close through this process.
We were totally turned down by all the major distributors while we were making the film, says Heineman.
So we made the film independently, eventually with the support of Mercury Studios.
He was on the precipice of death many times.
So in a small way, this film is also paying homage to him.
