Local Filmmaker Debuts Documentary on the Lives of Songwriters

Platinum Rush debuts tonight at the New Hope Film Festival

Grammy-winning songwriter and musician Scot Sax aims to show audiences the not-so-glamorous side of being a successful songwriter in his debut documentary, Platinum Rush, premiering tonight at the sixth annual New Hope Film Festival.

Sax has spent years as a renown songwriter for Warner Chappell, co-writing the Grammy-winning song “Like We Never Loved At All” by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw and writing catchy tunes for countless TV shows. Sax is also the frontman of power-pop band Wanderlust.

A resident of Nashville since 2014, Sax previously lived in Ardmore, Pennsylvania and was born and raised in Philly. He attended Plymouth Whitemarsh high school and taught a songwriting course at the University of the Arts moving South.

Sax started his music career at a young age, playing guitar, drums and writing songs as a child. “I started making up my own songs because it was easier for me than learning other people’s songs,” he says. As a teen, his parents would take him to open mics in places like New York’s Greenwich Village and even The Legendary Dobbs on South Street.

Sax never had any professional filmmaking experience before creating Platinum Rush, but decided he wanted to make a film that could act as a handbook for aspiring songwriters and show them they’re not alone.

“There’s something great about feeling less alone in the world,” says Sax, who spent three years filming and producing Platinum Rush. “The movie made me feel less alone and made me feel like I’m a part of something a lot of people are a part of, so I wanted young songwriters to feel that way, too.”

Platinum Rush gives audiences an inside perspective on songwriting and what it takes to make that perfect song, and what it takes out of its writers. To make the film, Sax set out to find answers to questions like, “What does it take to write a hit song?” and “What inspires a song?” He spoke to some of the most prominent songwriters in the world, including Lisa Loeb, Oliver Wood, Eric Bazilian, Ed Roland, Julie Gold, Ron Sexsmith, Steve Forbert, Diego Garcia, Anne McCue, Busbee and Louise Goffin.

What manifested is a ultra-humanizing look at the folks who have penned the soundtracks to our lives. “When I was a kid, I used to look at the album covers and listen to the songs, and think that everybody looks so great on their album cover,” Sax says. “It’s healthy for people to know that we don’t all know everything and have a great life. I want the film to insert a little bit of reality into a world that’s getting a little less real every day.”

The New Hope Film Festival takes place through August 2nd. For more information, including films and dates, go here