Spring 2024

Kyle Eastwood created “Eastwood Symphonic,” a musical tribute to his father. Kyle rearranged movie themes from a variety of Clint’s films, performed with his jazz quintet and an orchestra. (Above) The 14th Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon, France. Photo: Abaca Press/Alamy Stock Photo Symphony. Since the album release, Kyle has toured throughout Europe performing the arrangements live with other acclaimed orches- tras. He hopes to bring the production to the U.S. soon, potentially to the Monterey Jazz Festival. “It’s an homage to my dad and his career, rep- resenting music from his first films up until the present,” he says. Kyle says his father and mother (actress Maggie Johnson) were both big music fans, par- ticularly jazz fans, and there were always records being played at home. A contributor to many of his father’s films, Kyle is most proud of his work on “Gran Torino” and “Letters from Iwo Jima.” “Sometimes coming up with a theme for a particular character or a theme for the spirit of a film is a tricky thing,” he shares. While he acted in some of his father’s movies, Kyle prefers being off screen, finding the process of making a film from beginning to end “fascinating.” “I would have been a director but [the call of] music was too strong to me. Scoring a film is a nice way to stay involved,” he says. When creating a movie soundtrack, some- times Clint will write a melody that Kyle incor- porates into the score and other times, Kyle says, “he lets me have at it.” “It’s a good balance,” Kyle says. “He gives me direction and creative freedom as well.” Francesca Eastwood Francesca Eastwood was probably destined to be on screen, with both parents, Clint Eastwood and Frances Fisher, accomplished actors. She has appeared in the movies “Jersey Boys,” “Final Girl,” “Outlaws and Angels,” along with taking roles in television, including playing different ages of the same character with her mother on an episode of the show “Fargo.” While she feels lucky to have acted since her childhood, Francesca, called “Franny” by her sib- lings, finds the behind-the-scenes process of filmmaking more joyful and exciting. “I spent a lot of time with both my parents on set,” she says. “They included me in a lot of dis- cussions about their work and their process…I owe that inspiration and passion to them.” While Clint may be known for his intimidat- ing presence on screen, Francesca says in per- 114 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 “He’s been an inspiration and he’s shown me what it’s like to have a passion and dedication and love for your work and a good work ethic . He has fun with what he does but he works hard. He grew as an actor, then into an accomplished director as well. It’s inspir ing to see someone who has had such a long and illustr ious career.” —Kyle Eastwood