Paul Shaffer at the 'You Had to be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution ...' premiere at TIFF on Sept. 6. Cindy Ord/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment A feature documentary about Paul Shaffer, best known David Letterman's longtime sidekick and Late Show bandleader, is in the works. The life rights to the story of the musician and TV personality from Thunder Bay, Ontario who got his start as the musical director of a 1972 Toronto stage production of Godspell have been acquired for a film to be titled Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer. The documentary will be produced by Ballinran Entertainment, Grace Street Media and White Pine Pictures, with a director still to be attached to the project. UTA Independent Film Group came on board to handle world sales after discussions this week at the Toronto Film Festival. Related Stories Business Navigating a Hollywood in Flux: Three Days at Toronto's Access Canada Summit Movies Toronto: High-Profile Doc 'The Road Between Us' Will Be in Theaters Within Weeks Also at TIFF this week, Shaffer appeared for the world premiere of the Nick Davis documentary, You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution... That film recounts Shaffer's first professional gig as part of the hippie musical Godspell alongside fellow breakout talent like Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas and Jayne Eastwood. That stage production with its improvisational comedy opened the way to classic TV series like SCTV and Saturday Night Live. Schaffer was hired as the musical director for Godspell after he made a positive impression on composer Stephen Schwartz when playing the piano for a girlfriend who was auditioning. Shaffer joined up with Letterman in 1982 for the launch of Late Night With David Letterman on NBC, leading the World's Most Dangerous Band. In 1993, he made the move with Letterman to CBS for The Late Show to lead the CBS Orchestra after NBC passed Letterman over for the Tonight Show hosting job in favor of Jay Leno. Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer will also recall the musician's rise with the original Saturday Night Live band (he played the piano when Bill Murray famously sang the Star Wars theme) and collaborations with musical icons like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Sly Stone and Ray Charles. "I've been the luckiest guy in showbiz. I've had a front-row seat to music history. This film isn't just about me. It's about the soundtrack of our lives, and how music connects, inspires and remembers us," Shaffer said in a statement. The project will be executive produced by Vern Freedlander (Grace Street Media), Craig Thompson (Ballinran Entertainment) and Peter Raymont and Stephen Paniccia (White Pine Pictures). The same execs negotiated the life rights signing deal with Shaffer. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Obituaries Salli Sachse, Actress in Beach Party Movies and 'The Trip,' Dies at 82 TIFF Toronto: High-Profile Doc 'The Road Between Us' Will Be in Theaters Within Weeks Toronto International Film Festival 'Hedda' Review: Tessa Thompson Brings Star Power to Nia DaCosta's Playful and Sexy Spin on the Ibsen Classic This Is Spinal Tap 'Spinal Tap' Director Rob Reiner on Controversial Sabrina Carpenter Album Cover: "It's Life Imitating Art" Roofman Derek Cianfrance and Laura Poitras Among Gotham Week Honorees (Exclusive) Tracey Ullman 'Steve' Review: Cillian Murphy Pours Damaged Heart and Soul Into a Bad Day in the Life of a Reform School Teacher Obituaries Salli Sachse, Actress in Beach Party Movies and 'The Trip,' Dies at 82 TIFF Toronto: High-Profile Doc 'The Road Between Us' Will Be in Theaters Within Weeks Toronto International Film Festival 'Hedda' Review: Tessa Thompson Brings Star Power to Nia DaCosta's Playful and Sexy Spin on the Ibsen Classic This Is Spinal Tap 'Spinal Tap' Director Rob Reiner on Controversial Sabrina Carpenter Album Cover: "It's Life Imitating Art" Roofman Derek Cianfrance and Laura Poitras Among Gotham Week Honorees (Exclusive) Tracey Ullman 'Steve' Review: Cillian Murphy Pours Damaged Heart and Soul Into a Bad Day in the Life of a Reform School Teacher