‘Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird,’ Doc About Mars Volta Musicians, Acquired by Autlook for Global Rights (EXCLUSIVE)

William Earl
·2 min read
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“Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird,” a documentary about the creative partnership between Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, has been acquired by Autlook for global rights.

The film, which is getting its U.S. premiere at this year’s South by Southwest festival, focuses on the duo behind the influential rock bands the Mars Volta and At the Drive-In. Nicolas Jack Davies directed the film, which was produced by Johann Scheerer of Clouds Hill Films in association with Pulse Films. Rodríguez-López also scores the doc.

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Per a press release, the film “shows the iconic duo’s journey from the hardcore scene in El Paso, Texas, to rock and roll acclaim; from growing up as minorities to their rise to success; from struggles with loss, addiction and Scientology to their blazing comeback. A depiction of love, death, and inspiration — with a soundtrack that has defined a generation.”

The documentary also has a unique format, as it is “whittled down from hundreds of hours of personal footage … from a span of over 20 years.”

At the Drive-In is an El Paso-based post-hardcore band that gained acclaim for the 2000 album “Relationship of Command,” as well as their explosive live shows. Since then, they’ve gone on hiatus and reunited twice. The Mars Volta is a proggy offshoot of At the Drive-In that focuses on unconventional song structure and Latin influence, as cemented on their 2003 debut album “De-Loused in the Comatorium.” The band reunited in 2019 after a seven-year hiatus and has been regularly touring their 2022 self-titled album.

Watch the trailer for “Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird” below.

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