Somewhere You Feel Free - Tom Petty Documentary

A documentary film arriving today sets out to capture the making of Tom Petty's seminal album Wildflowers. 

Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free premiers in cinemas on the 20th October, marking what would have been his 71st birthday.

The spur for making the film was the discovery of a trove of 16mm archival film footage. The material was largely shot by Petty's long-time photographer Martyn Atkins. It covers the recording studio, behind-the-scenes on tour, and at home with Petty's family
 
Upon discovering the archive, Adria Petty, the elder daughter of Tom Petty, brought in veteran music doc director Mary Wharton, best known for Sam Cooke: Legend.

Somewhere You Feel Free focuses on 1993—95, the period surrounding the release of Wildflowers in late 1994. According to Wharton, 'It seemed important that his voice remain in that time and place where he felt free.' Wildflowers is beloved for its emotional weight and tonal warmth. 

Interspersed with the footage are new interviews with album co-producers Rick Rubin and Heartbreaker Mike Campbell, along with original Heartbreaker Benmont Tench. 

The documentary is inviting fans to spend some more time in the company of Petty at a pivotal moment in his artistic career, making it a kind of companion piece to Paul Zollo's Conversations With Tom Petty, the first authorised book on Tom Petty, and the only one in his words. Re-released in 2020, Conversations With Tom Petty involved Paul Zollo meeting with Tom for more than a year of Saturdays to compile a rich collection of conversations.