Health Nut: Kino Lorber Grabs Levon Helm Docu

Music video accidental docu-helmer Jacob Hatley will get to see his debut film, Ain’t In It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm make the leap from the film fest circuit into theaters thanks to the folks at Kino Lorber. Originally assigned to make the music video for 2010’s Electric Dirt, Hatley ended up befriending the artist staying with the artist for the better part of three roller-coaster years. Here’s a SXSW interview with the filmmaker who describes just that process. An early/mid 2013 release is planned.

Gist: Hatley’s docu focuses on Helm, the founding member of The Band, after his 2007 resurgence following the release of his Grammy-winning “Dirt Farmer” folk album as he works on his new record at home in Woodstock, NY, amid financial and health problems. Helm died of cancer in April of 2012.

Worth Noting: Obviously his debut to the big screen began with The Last Waltz, but Helm took on a handful of acting gigs from Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Right Stuff and more recent items such as Shooter, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and In the Electric Mist.

Do We Care?: Fly-on-the-wall portrait features a charismatic figure in the late stages of his life. Clip below is enough to get us on board.