The documentary was shot between late 2003 and August 2004 and includes interviews with Wilson and dozens of his associates, albeit none of his surviving bandmates from the Beach Boys, who declined to appear in the film. It also includes contributions from
Elvis Costello,
Burt Bacharach, and
Roger Daltrey. The title takes its name from the 19th century
Stephen Foster song "
Beautiful Dreamer"; its opening lyrics begin with the phrase "
beautiful dreamer wake", the same initials as the documentary's subject, Brian Douglas Wilson, who references this coincidence in the film. The film is divided in three segments: a history of the Beach Boys' original
Smile album, its rebirth as
Brian Wilson Presents Smile, and the album's 2004 live performances. It originally premiered on the network
Showtime before being bundled as an extra on the DVD for the 2005
concert film Brian Wilson Presents Smile. ==Cast==