Co-songwriter Mike Stoller and Sony Music have enlisted award winning music and media producer, Spencer Proffer to produce the first authorized, cinematic narrative film in documentary form, on the iconic classic hit Ben E. King performed hit, "Stand by Me". The Proffer/Meteor 17 doc has the power to bring people together by showcasing all of the ways that people around the world are “standing by” their fellow humans to bridge divides, facilitate learning, and shine a light in the darkness. The song, originally a love song, has permeated all divisions of entertainment and is a symbol for unity, love, peace and friendship. Our film is a call - to all people in all nations, in all walks of life - to stand together - in this era of heightened divineness, war, anger and rage.

Acclaimed music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will serve as Executive Producers of this project. They will produce a new version with a current superstar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Jam_and_Terry_Lewis

The song is one of the biggest hit songs of all time. It has been recorded by over hundreds of artists across all genres of music and grown to be one of the most iconic songs in music history.

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote and produced some of the biggest rock & roll and R&B hits of the 1950s and ’60s and Ben E. King was the lead singer for the R&B vocal group, the Drifters. And in the fall of 1960, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and Ben E. King combined together to write “Stand By Me.”

Originally a love song, SBM has permeated all divisions of entertainment but more importantly has transcended its origins by becoming a symbol for unity, love, peace and friendship. And now more than ever, the song “Stand by Me” has become a call - to all people in all nations, in all walks of life - to stand together - in this era of heightened divineness, war, anger and rage.

Understanding not just the origins of the song and the meaning behind the lyrics, but the cinematic narrative doc "Stand by Me" has the power to bring people together by showcasing all of the unique and personal ways that people around the world are “standing by” their fellow human to bridge divides, facilitate learning and shine a light in the darkness.

Spencer and the team at Meteor 17 create cinematic narratives versus traditional documentaries. We take the best film making techniques from feature films, bio-pics and documentaries and mix them up to create an enhanced medium that allows viewers to escape into a world that is unlike anything they have experienced before…and it just happens to be true as well. Along with the cinematic narratives that M17 produces, the team collaborates with strategic partners to create media and product extension ancillary profit centers which produce additional revenue for all parties. Extensions include books, merchandise, brand partnerships, licensing, etc.

Additionally, all M17 projects include new music renditions, covers and takes on the music featured that are released around the same time as the doc for an additional promotional push. All M17 projects feature new and upcoming, well known artists with significant social media followings from various musical backgrounds, genres and countries. For “Stand by Me” we strongly believe that covers from both US and international artists is paramount to championing the message that the film is about. Territories in discussion include top music artists from Dubai, AbuDhabi { UAE} /South Korea /Japan, Germany, Latin America, India and Saudi Arabia amongst other top territories.

The M17 has planned to premiere the project at The United Nations NYC headquarters, fall of 2026 and then on to expanded exhibitions around the world. The film will first be shown on the big screen in theaters around the globe for a limited run; then followed by screenings at top film festivals and then on to one of the major streaming divisions of a major media enterprise.

Stand By Me ’26 is a cinematic, music documentary about a song that has captured people’s hearts for more than half a century.

The work is more than a song; it’s a deeply personal cultural touchstone. The 1961 R&B hit, sung by Ben E. King and recorded by hundreds of artists since, offers a unique chance to tell multiple interweaving stories with narratives which include and also transcend music.

This is the story of brotherhood and unity – of a song that has been so beloved and universal it’s been recorded in every style and by every kind of artist, icons, current superstars and emerging young talents with significant social media followings. We plan to highlight clips in the doc from music giants who have done versions of the song like Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Lady Gaga, Snoop, John Legend, Tracy Chapman, Sam Smith, Sting, Seal, many of whom we will also participate in our doc w/ interviews and commentaries on what the song and its’ ethos means to them and the world today. The song, originally a love song #1 hit by Drifters’ Ben E. King decades ago, has permeated all sectors of entertainment as well as transcended its origins becoming a symbol of unity, love, peace and friendship.

The narrative of our film will highlight many unique examples of all of these intersections in 90 minutes and potentially serve as a back door pilot to an ongoing mini series of all sectors of our world, standing together (Blacks/Gays/Nations/Military and politicians).

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Deadline article that broke the announcement (as an exclusive) years ago, while the project was being developed.

https://deadline.com/2023/11/stand-by-me-song-documentary-1235613465/

John Lennon Cover:

https://open.spotify.com/track/1dK9izwwmXv0NJf8jkny3v?si=55ef86c9440c43af

Playing for Change Version (220+M views to date):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM