Three-time Oscar winner Peter Jackson added to his trophy collection on Saturday, taking home the Emmy for Outstanding Director of a Documentary/Nonfiction Program for his acclaimed Disney+ project, “The Beatles: Get Back.” As producer of the documentary, he also won for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
Accepting his second award of the night, Jackson recalled how old he was when the documentary footage was shot in 1969. “I was 8 years old in New Zealand, a Boy Scout who wore shorts. But being a small part of The Beatles’ story was a dream come true for that 8-year-old.”
The three-part, nearly eight-hour documentary chronicles The Beatles’ 22-day recording of their “Let It Be” album, previously understood to be a dark chapter in the band’s existence. Drawing from nearly 100 hours of footage shot in 1969 on a London sound stage and later at The Beatles’ Apple Corps recording studio, Jackson lovingly restored grainy visuals and deteriorating audio, creating a fleeting, vibrant look at the most of the 20th century. beloved band as they write and record songs that are now classics.
Unlike “Let It Be,” the 1970 film that used much of the same footage but featured an unhappy band on the brink of breaking up, “Get Back” shows the Fab Four enjoying the creative process and each other’s company. others, and yes. , working through unavoidable tensions. The film culminates in the famous London rooftop performance that was The Beatles’ last public show.
Among the film’s biggest fans is none other than Paul McCartney (who is also an executive producer). As Giles Martin, music supervisor and sound mixer for “Get Back” (and son of legendary producer and “fifth Beatle” George Martin), told TheWrap earlier this year, “Paul McCartney wanted to have a drink immediately after I was so happy to see it. And I guess if you do eight hours of something and people still want more, that’s the best compliment you can get.”
Jackson won the Directing Emmy for the documentary series’ finale, “Part 3: Days 17-22.” He shares his win for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series with executive producers McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, as well as producers Clare Olssen and Jonathan Clyde.
