School of Rock came to audiences in the early 2000s and quickly drew in fans with its warm story. Viewers might say it was a breakthrough for its star, and School of Rock gives Jack Black one of his highest-rated movies.
The careers of many of the film's players have grown since its release, and fans perhaps wonder how director Richard Linklater and actors like Sarah Silverman and Joan Cusack came together for what some now consider a modern classic. Behind-the-scenes facts about School of Rock might surprise its diehard fans.
The concept of School of Rock laid the foundation for what would become a stand-out comedy. It would take several talents coming together to make the film memorable, but the idea that started it all came from real life.
Jack Black told Jim DeRogatis that screenwriter Mike White was inspired by the Langley Schools Music Project. The project saw kids come together to play and record pop hits during the late 1970s, with the tracks being rereleased and heard on a wide scale years later in the early 2000s.
One of the more memorable sequences in the movie comes when Dewey first teaches the kids about rock n' roll. When he assigns students instruments, he gives School of Rock some of its best quotes. He later gives the kids homework in the form of CDs to study.
However, several of the actors who played the students were already very knowledgeable about rock n' roll before filming. Jack Black told DeRogatis that Joey Gaydos Jr., who plays Zack, had an "encyclopedic knowledge of rock," while drummer Kevin Clark was already "deep into Metallica."
Fans might remember one of the funnier gags in School of Rock when Jack Black's Dewey Finn stage dives and falls to the floor after the crowd parts in the audience. Viewers might be surprised to know Black witnessed such an event in real life.
Jack Black told Indie London that he once saw The Cult perform in L.A.'s notorious Viper Room. Lead singer Ian Astbury stage dove and wasn't caught, which Black thought was funny enough to put in the movie.
Led Zeppelin is known for the band's contribution to the history of rock and roll. However, they aren't known for allowing others to use their music in film and TV without serious scrutiny. However, Richard Linklater was determined to use one of their songs in his movie.
Jack Black told GQ that Linklater was tenacious about using "Immigrant Song" in the film. To get it, he had Jack Black film a "video plea" with a mob of extras to the band for the track. The action ended up working, giving School of Rock what some fans call one of its best songs.
There are several memorable students in the school's band. However, Robert Tsai's Lawrence, AKA Capricorn-like Mr. Cool in School of Rock, is one of the more modest members of the group. When Dewey begins putting the band together, Lawrence tries to back out because he doesn't think he's hip enough to rock.
Fans might be surprised to know that Robert Tsai had this same experience in acting in the film. Express reported that he tried to talk Linklater into dropping him from the film, but the director explained his hesitance made him perfect for the role.
During the final scene of the movie, several faces light up the crowd. Heavy metal fans might notice some familiar visages from some of their favorite groups.
If viewers look closely, they can see members of Candiria and Poison The Well in the audience during the final battle of the bands sequence.
It's hard to argue that School of Rock isn't all about the music. The students presented in the movie perform throughout, along with Jack Black, who many fans know has been playing in the rock group Tenacious D since the early 1990s.
Actors in the film like Joey Gaydos Jr., who plays Zack, continue to pursue music in their own groups. MammaMia reported that while this is true for some, others have moved on to different ventures, while actors like Robert Tsai studied music and performed concerts while at college.
School of Rock's climax comes with the rock show audiences have been waiting for as soon as the events of the film unfold. The plot leads up to the battle of the bands, and just as viewers are told the band might not get to perform, they play the song Zack comes up with during rehearsal.
Jack Black told GQ he was asked to come up with the final song, but he had writer's block. While attending a Strokes concert, he was impressed by the opening act The Mooney Suzuki and asked them to try to write the finale song. The next day, they sent him a rough copy, and Black said they "had the end of [their] movie."
