Midnight In America is a film about rock star John Sterling.
Every generation is fuelled and labeled by its music and its excesses. Classic lit grew in an era dominated by classic music and cognac, the golden era of the 20's had foxtrot and gin tubs, and the beats had jazz and a desire to explore the road one wine bottle at a time. Studio era Hollywood was paved with red carpets, glitz, glamour, and champagne. The X generation had grunge, drugs, and the birth of MTV. Is it any wonder that the World’s a mess today?
Midnight in America is the story of John Sterling, a rock and roll tragedy from the music scene of the early 90’s. John’s story is that of a lost suburban orphan who finds stardom without really looking for it and then loses it all in a maddened artistic frenzy, grabbing the world by the tail and then throwing it all away. The film chronicles his detached vision of the all consumptive world of 90’s rock from the back seat of a tour bus, which is lit only by the faint glow of fame and fortune’s spotlight. Feel the high of performing and the euphoria of success accompanied by the hangovers that they create in the real world.
John's story races like a two fisted train wreck. He attacks his slice of the American dream with a vengeance, becoming a rock star “overnight”, and enjoying all of the excess that fame brings like a wild child run amok in a high class candy shop. Just as he reaches the peak of fame, he meets the girl of his dreams and falls madly in love, at long last finding a real reason to live and not just exist. This leads to a savage fight with his deep seated inner demons, as well as vicious struggles to appease his chemical inspired muse without losing the love of his life. Eventually, John settles down and gets married, making an uneasy truce with a lifestyle that has led him from one crazed scene to the next, fuelling his artistic vision along the way. Without the all or nothing lifestyle, John struggles to create the music that has brought him everything, fame, fortune, even his wife. He fears losing it all. He secretly gives back in to the allure of drugs and alcohol. Ultimately John's wife dies in a tragic drunk driving accident, destroying his world while providing the long sought spark for his masterpiece, as well as the inspiration for his untimely demise.
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