Throw It Down DVD Cover Throw It Down, an 88-minute documentary from director John E. Maher, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the reality of marching in a top-ranked drum and bugle corps. The film follows the 2006 season of the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps from Canton, Ohio, and presents themes that are universal to anyone involved in the marching activity.

This is a film about perseverence and the ultimate rewards for those who manage to navigate the challenges of a summer spent living, breathing and dreaming drum corps. It’s important to watch Throw It Down all the way through. In the first 30 minutes, uninitiated viewers might wonder why anyone would want to join a corps and work so hard. But the answer becomes clear later in the film when the intensity and repetition start to pay off.

CREATIVE FILMMAKING
Maher and his crew have successfully created a film that is emotionally intense and visually sophisticated.

At times the cinematography is so good that it’s easy to forget this is a documentary and not a movie that had the luxury of a script and multiple retakes. The cameras did a great job finding the stories, capturing interesting angles and getting inside the action.

“My camera assistant kept me from being trampled when we were working close to the drill,” Maher says. “We collected some 60 hours of material. Part of the trick is getting the corps members comfortable with us and then just being there at the right time. There are no shortcuts in this type of filmmaking.”

Throw It Down Film Crew To develop the story line, Maher creatively weaves a series of dream sequences through the film. These segments take viewers into the lives of corps members and illustrate how immersed the performers have become in their tasks. The intensity of the dreams is balanced with doses of humor and an upbeat musical score.

Some of the most clever editing is found during the audition scene when the nervous tapping of prospective members sets the pulse for a music video. Another scene that works well is the food crew’s fast-paced shopping trip to buy groceries.

The visual aspects of the film are complemented by an effective soundtrack. Several original songs perfectly illustrate the mood and determination of corps members. A song titled “Push Through” delivers the key line, “I won’t give up, you won’t give in, we’ll take this thing to the end.”

OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE
One of the strengths of Throw It Down comes from the fact that the filmmakers were largely unfamiliar with the drum and bugle corps activity. Maher has worked as a professional filmmaker for more than 30 years and Throw It Down is his 14th film. This “outsider” view allowed him to bring an independent voice to tell the story based on what he observed.

Initially, the fact that Maher was not familiar with the operation and protocol of a marching unit was problematic.

“The corps was concerned about our disrupting their drill routine,” Maher says. “I needed to get close and they wanted me back so we danced around that sensitivity all summer. I was deathly afraid of spoiling anything for them but at the same time I had a responsibility to the producer to make a good honest film.”

A significant moment of bonding between the filmmakers and the corps occurred in early summer when Maher showed the Bluecoats a preview of footage that had been shot during the winter camps.

“Corps director Dave Glasgow told everyone then that we were part of the Bluecoats family. That was a very emotional moment for our crew,” Maher says. “We knew we needed to make a special effort to honor their concerns and make a good film.”

TIMELESS TOPIC
Throw It Down gets its title from the concept of performers “throwing down” the best performance they can possibly give. The film ends on a joyous note with the Bluecoats members showing ultimate satisfaction with their final performance. Yet the film is not just about a single season. Throw It Down gives viewers new appreciation for any quality performance, since they have peeked behind the scenes and witnessed the grueling effort that was required offstage.

The film has already won several awards on the film festival circuit and continues to be screened at special events across the country. Visit ThrowItDownTheMovie.com for a schedule of upcoming screenings. You can also order Throw It Down on DVD.

Youtube > Throw It Down – movie trailer

A new independent film delivers an emotional, insightful look into the student marching band experience. The documentary From The 50 Yard Line is currently touring film festivals and will hopefully obtain broader theatrical and DVD distribution in the future.

High school bands across the country are also hosting benefit screenings of the film to raise money for their band programs.

The movie is already an award winner. Its world premiere took place in August 2007 at the Rhode Island International Film Festival where it received the Grand Prize Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary. In September 2007 it was named Best Family Film at the Bluegrass Independent Film Festival.

Director Doug Lantz has been thrilled by the initial audience response and early critical acclaim.

“Many talented people have put their hearts and energy into putting this film together,” Lantz says. “We believe it expresses the marching experience in a way that hasn’t really been done before.”

Student experiences, budget cuts take center stage

The film’s story revolves primarily around the Centerville Jazz marching band from Centerville, Ohio, with additional segments featuring the Fairfax H.S. band from Los Angeles, California. The two bands provide a great contrast, with Centerville boasting a long tradition and Fairfax making a comeback after 18 years without a music program.

Filmmakers followed the Centerville band members for eight months, starting with spring auditions and continuing through the summer band camp and fall competition season. That extensive time with the students provided a bounty of quality footage.

Some of the best moments feature students sharing from-the-heart comments about how important band has become in their lives. The power of belonging is evident when students tell their fellow members that band has helped them overcome fears and deal with life issues.

The film also incorporates a broad range of perspectives from parents, judges, directors, school principals, academic professors, town mayors and more. The film is effective at bringing to light the benefits of music in education, and highlighting the budget woes that have wiped out music programs at some schools.

Lantz wants a wide audience to hear the film’s message about the importance of adequate funding for instrumental music programs.

“We want to help communities where band programs have been cut or are suffering due to cutbacks,” Lantz says. “This is something that we are passionate about.”

Film attracts talented production team

Lantz has an ideal background to bring this film to life. He was raised in Centerville and had first-hand experience as a member of the band. He is currently based in Los Angeles where his professional experience includes work at Miramax Films. His credits as a freelance journalist include ABC News, Good Morning America, Nightline, 20/20 and A&E Biography.

When he began working on From The 50 Yard Line, Lantz’s passion for the project spread quickly.

“As I shared the message of the film with friends and co-workers, people eagerly volunteered their time and talents,” Lantz says. “We soon had a production crew including a talented editor who now works for ESPN, camera ops, co-producers, a lawyer and even an animator from Disney. Everyone involved in this film was involved because they believed in the importance of instrumental music and the affect that it has on a young person’s life.”

The team’s experience is evident in the 103-minute film. This is a high-quality production, with sweeping camera shots and a perfectly synchronized score. The soundtrack incorporates both soaring orchestrations and indie rock tunes that would be worthy of a separate release on CD. The film is expertly paced, with highs and lows that will move you along an emotional rollercoaster. One moment you choke up during a kid’s speech, then you laugh out loud during on-the-street interviews where non-band folks try to define band terminology.

“Seeing the affect that the film has on the audience makes all of the hard work worth it,” Lantz says. “One common statement we hear after every screening is ‘I laughed, I cried and I learned something.’”

The humor and variety broaden the film’s appeal to make it entertaining for people outside of the band activity. The film takes fun, unexpected turns, such as the scene showing animals from the nearby zoo as they respond to the music. Another interesting segment is when drill designer Michael Gaines explains his craft. The corresponding video becomes a split screen showing Gaines’ original computerized drill formations along with high-camera video of the band performing the same drill.

The film’s fun approach continues into the closing credits. That’s where we learn the answer to the question, How many miles does a marching band performer march during one season? A trombone player wore a pedometer through all rehearsals and performances, and she reveals her answer at the end of the film. (We won’t spoil the answer here … view the film to find out!)

Help get the film to your area

From The 50 Yard Line continues to be showcased at film festivals and benefit screenings across the United States and around the world. Visit FromThe50YardLine.com for the latest news about upcoming screenings, and to sign up for email updates.

According to Lantz, they started with film festivals because that circuit can reach distributors in Hollywood.

“We are hoping Hollywood will take notice as we travel to film festivals and pack the theaters with the enthusiastic band family,” Lantz says.

The filmmakers encourage you to email and call the film festivals in your area to ask that they include From The 50 Yard Line in their festival.

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Cara menyimpan video yang ada di You Tube ke flash disk, laptop atau komputer anda :

Buka website www.keepvid. com atau www.stealvideo.com lalu copy paste alamat video tersebut ke kolom yg sudah disediakan. Lalu nanti dibagian bawah ada button Download Link untuk download file FLV dari youtube. Sewaktu anda save file FLV tersebut ke komputer anda, pastikan anda memakai nama ektension FLV, nama defaultnya get_video anda rubah saja menjadi misalnya: marching.flv sewaktu anda save file FLV tersebut ke komputer anda.

Untuk memutar file video flv dari youtube yang sudah anda download dapat menggunakan software FLV Player dan bisa didownload di sini. ]]> http://library.marchingband.web.id/2007/11/04/trend-video-marching-di-you-tube/feed/ 2