The upcoming indie film The Friend had a mere $10 million budget, which usually would not allow the usage of songs from bands such as Led Zeppelin.
However, according to Deadline, director Gabriela Cowpethwaite was undaunted by that and was able to include “Rumble On” and “Going to California” in the movie.
How did he managed to do it? It turns out Robert Plant himself has allowed the inclusion of the songs after he watched the movie.
Cowperthwaite and producer Ridley Scott wrote to the band members, inviting them to watch the movie and asking them to waiver their royalties.
Plant did just that and wrote them that while the film was a tough one to sit through, it was beautiful and strong. He wrote that he felt the positioning of the two songs was poignant, sensitive and beautiful.
The Friend is based on a real-life story, and it sees Dakota Johnson playing Nicole Teague, a woman who died from ovarian cancer at the age of 36. Her friend Dane (Jason Segal) moves in with her family prior to her death to help out. Teague was a big Led Zeppelin fan.
