On a cool June afternoon in Ann Arbor Michigan, I arrived to yet another radio interview about the film. The film was set to preview at Ann Arbor’s historic Michigan Theater the same evening, so, the interview was a last minute effort to fill more seats. It’s what independent directors have to do to spread the word when there’s no commercials playing on t.v.

This interview was much different, because at the last minute, I realized I was walking into a Clear Channel station to promote a film that slammed Clear Channel. At first I just figured I’d talk about who’s in the film and not expand on the subject. However, the DJ admitted to seeing the film and was more than happy to spin it. Truth is, his market corner is called “triple A” and he informed me that the stations reach is so small, that the parent corp (CC) “doesn’t monitor” his airplay. So yes, there are a few small buyouts that the CC behemoth doesn’t bother to transform. What a relief. He actually took a request! Well sort of, I wasn’t around long enough to see if it was played. Normal Clear Channel stations don’t take requests, that would be too ahh, spontaneous. If you don’t believe me and have nothing better to do for a full day, try making one. I suggest a good book while you wait, maybe War and Peace.

For the most part, it was a original show. It’s just sad to see how rare it is for a DJ to play what’s hot locally or play something not designated from the suits above. Today shows are programmed using strict directions handed down from corporate headquarters. The days of a local band being played on the local pop or rock station are over, unless it’s college radio or an NPR affiliate. Maybe someday, it will return to the good ol’ days when the DJ programed each show spontaneously. How many stations in America still do that? Hmm, how many fingers do I have on my right hand ?

Andrew – Director

What a night it was. We screened the film for about 900 music fans in a downtown Austin park called Republic Square. The film was show in near perfect conditions after a very hot summer day. The day started with five different music acts bravely playing their sets to an ever growing crowd in the Texas heat. Starting with Dred Pirate Roberts & Black before Red, we then watched legendary songwriter John D. Graham play his soulful ballads. Following his brief performance, Go Nova revved up the day with their crowd pleasing hooks as the park began to fill. How lucky we were to have a performance duo of Guy Forsyth and Ephraim Owens play the last set just before sundown. By the time the film screened at 9:30pm, we were all so spoiled.

Austin, Texas can be a heavenly place at times. Thanks to the theatrical pioneers from the Alamo Drafthouse, watching films has become “an event” again. The concept of these outdoor screenings is not new, but it has been reborn. My parents always romanticized about the days they would go to the drive in and t me, it always seemed to be such a great concept. I remember wishing those days would come back again.

Somewhere along the way, theaters became big multiplex boxes attached to malls across the country. Single film theaters faded away with the drive in’s and now, even those big boxes are at risk of becoming obsolete in the dvd culture. I’m not worried as long as there are innovative venues such as Alamo Drafthouse around. Maybe we are coming back full circle to the smaller scale theaters again. I hope so. Some will have to be rebuilt, because, so many were torn down. Shame on you Ft. Worth Texas my birthplace) for allowing the classic 7th Street Theater to be torn down. What is it now? A grassy field. Why? Lord only knows.

Our US tour that starts this July and heads to 28 cities, will revisit the idea of movies as “an event”. If we come to your town, we won’t just play a movie, we’ll also entertain you with a music showcase. In as many cities as possible, we’ll aim to play our film in those classic theaters. If all goes well, in some stops, we’ll play outdoors again. Other times, we’ll turn a music venue into a theater in order to showcase the bands and the film in the same place. Whatever it may be, we’ll do whatever it takes to get the film to you and make “an event”.

Andrew – Director