That person was Jason Isbell.
Three days later, the film screened again this time in Nashville, the town he calls home.
There are two different kinds of music documentaries, Isbell tellsDeadlinefrom his home in Tennessee.
Jason Isbell in studioCourtesy of Pell James/HBO
Theres the kind that the artist is comfortable with, and then theres the kind thats not boring.
When I was drunk and being a buffoon, I looked like an idiot, Isbell admits.
It was hard to watch it, Shires tellsDeadline.
Jason IsbellCourtesy of Sam Jones/HBO
Its a little bit tough to revisit places when you feel youve moved past them.
Like most relationships, their union remains a work in progress.
Jason isnt quick to open up with his man feelings.
Hes gotten better, Shires updates.
I have to take myself and my time seriously.
Jones, the filmmaker, recalls their individual reactions when he showed them an early cut of the documentary.
Amanda was working in a studio out of town, and Jason was home.
So I sent them a link simultaneously.
Amanda was live-texting me through the whole time she was watching.
And I was like, wow, they dont have any notes!
They are going to accept this thing exactly the way it is.
Isbell says he was never looking to exert editorial control over the film.
Yet Isbell admits there were times during the filming process when he needed a moment to himself.
I would leave the room, or unplug my microphone and get away from the camera.
Sometimes it was too much, he says.
Isbell plays the husband of an Osage woman.
Fellow musicians Jack White and Sturgill Simpson also appear in the picture.
And then I thought, Im going to look like me.
Embracing imperfection is just part of the job, it seems.
The older you get, the more broken you are.
Its why an old car is worth more if its got all the rust on it.
I think theres some sort of real beauty in all of those scars.
But Isbell hedges when asked if there are more films in his future documentary or otherwise.
I still havent gotten anywhere near the end of the challenges of making music, he says.
I think its sort of an infinite challenge for me.
But it all comes down to the story.
Otherwise, Ill just keep on playing guitar.
Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closedis currently playing on HBO and HBO Max.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Units upcoming album,Weathervanes, is out June 9.
Their U.S. tour kicks off April 28 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
