On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone shows how dedicated director/producer Michael Rubenstone is when it comes to meeting the hard-to-find Sly Stone.

Rubenstone paves the road in 2001 when he finds himself unhappy in New York and moves to Los Angeles to find acting work, listening to Sly and the Family Stone on the road trip.  Rubenstone lands a few small acting roles in LA but turns to seek out the reclusive Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.  The documentary follows Michael’s search over the course of 12 years. He interviews friends, family, former band members, managers, and music industry titans as he seeks to find Stone.  It’s through these interviews that his search becomes a rock-and-roll documentary film.

It seems like a lost cause at times and Rubenstone comes close to meeting with Stone and interviewing him only to have the reclusive rocker back out at the last minute.  Not satisfied with the film’s cut and a satisfactory ending, an event out in Oakland catches Rubenstone’s eye: Sly & The Family Stone’s “Stand!”  Years of hard work finally pays off when Rubenstone gets to talk to Sly Stone.

Following its world debut at the 2017 Slamdance Film Festival, On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone has been playing the festival circuit including a recent stop in Chicago for a screening at the Black Harvest Film Festival.  No release date has been announced.