Look, Ken.
As I've said, I'm not a gigging Pro who's cynical about the project--all
'I' see is that every harmonica player IN that movie is getting huge
exposure
forever and FOR free. How could that be a 'bad' thing given the
discussions we're always having about the perceived lack of respect
usually given to
harmonica players?
Here are two guys who are showing huge respect not only for harmonica
players but the history of the harmonica in general and they get trounced
for it
and accused of being not only charlatans, but 'sleazy'? HIGHLY unfair.
Have you sat down with either of them to understand their pov? You might.
I'm
sure they'd be willing.
For the record--and I didn't even know this until I heard from Marc, but
they DID TAKE CARE OF THE 'RIGHTS ISSUE' AS SOON AS AS IT WAS BROUGHT TO
THEIR ATTENTION! So while you're still on your crusade to lambast them
about
this, perhaps it's time to tone down the public vitriol, get your facts
straight and give them a fair shake at this critical juncture of their
project!
I never saw either with 'trust me' smiles or 'sunnyhappy talk'. Far from
it--they were much too busy working to the point of exhaustion. I saw two
young guys nearly asleep on their feet and non-stop work on the movie.
From
day one they had a project they were struggling to bring to the screen
with
nothing remotely sleazy about either of them. They're nice, normal guys.
What you call 'odious behaviour' I saw as them being a bit naive
originally
and perhaps not fully cognizant of how to go about bringing a music
project
along. Perhaps they also got some questionable legal advice about the
copyrights--I don't know exactly-- but whatever happened, they FIXED IT
as soon
as they knew and that's what counts. I don't judge people quite as
harshly
as you do in matters like this perhaps, believing that eventually it
would
all iron itself out and this well-deserving project would lift off,
perceived missteps and all. I will always say good things about people I
find to
be extremely pleasant, and they are. Jftr, I'm a pretty good judge of
character.
You weren't at SPAH where the audiences (both harp players and
non-players
alike) were buzzing about the movie and coming out of the 3 showings with
huge grins. At our own relatively small showing beforehand in NY the
audience loved the film. I think we'd all have happily sat through a
second
run-through to catch what we missed the first time around since it's
fast-paced.
I just watched a video of the New Haven showing and theirs was even more
fun: with videotaping, a major harp lesson/audience involvement and a
heckuva
lot more people in attendance. It's pure FUN!
Now I DO know of a couple of disgruntled people who felt they were shunted
aside by other players who wanted to be interviewed first and who weren't
willing to wait for a later interview by Todd or Marc. If you saw them at
SPAH 2006 it was a zoo, with so many people vying for attention. I
wouldn't
doubt but many of them didn't make it into the film and perhaps you're
being
influenced by people who still have some resentments. I've read on the
website that there are 9 hours worth of 'extra' footage..they had to cut
out
even wonderful stuff they'd wanted to leave in.
Where you're seeing charlatanism, many others are seeing contributions for
a worthwhile cause which will stand the test of time. Look how harp
players
today devour old vids and movies from the 40's and 50's. Perhaps those
today are envisioning the same thing 50 years down the road? Possible?
I do respect and understand your perspective 'generally' but in this
aspect you've unfairly judged Marc and Todd. I didn't say they were
friends btw,
more 'friendly acquaintances' over the years otherwise I would have known
what actually transpired earlier than this. I've supported them all along
mainly because I know how it all began and watched them struggle for
years
on this project while I believed only good would come from the exposure
dozens of the harmonica players I DO know will get from being in their
film. (I
still find it humorous to hear Jason referred to as an 'up and coming
young player'--when today so many younger players think of him as their
mentor
or the one to emulate--that's how long PFOS has been in the works).
If they HAD any money, do you think for a second the film would have
taken
so long OR they'd now need a Kickstarter campaign? They've literally
spent
years of their lives on this...without help they might have to give up on
the project altogether and THAT would be a crying shame after making it
this far. Is that what you'd prefer? The film to sit fallow on a shelf so
the
public never gets to see it, or gets it on DVD? THINK about the
ramifications.
If I'm able to contribute in my own small way to bring those brilliant
harmonicists I know to the public consciousness it's more than worth it
for
the pleasure their music and friendship has brought me, AND it's entirely
my
choice to do this as it was SPAHs to host the movie. So I feel I'm in
good
company. Feel free not to support them but don't think you have the right
to perpetuate a falsehood so many years later when you really don't know
the details or to tell others they're wrong to support a project they
believe
in.
As for Michael Rubin, I agree. HIS kickstarter campaigns are worth funding
too and I already personally helped with the Kalu James project. Did you?
It's a tad narrowly-focused to declare we should choose one over the
other
and I'm going to continue to support the PFOS project since it will help
so
many deserving harmonica players.
Elizabeth
PS: Since you brought up musicians who won't work for free, what do you
say
about those gigging musicians who DO 'work for free' (or for the bare
minimum/crumbs) at Clubs/Restaurants all the time? I know quite a few of
them
who post right here - and they usually are 'older' musicians (those you
claim lead by example). Their typical reasoning is that there are dozens
of
other retired pros who don't need the money and who are willing to play
just
to keep their skills up/get the audience interaction they miss, so if
they
don't play for free they don't get to play. Clubs simply don't pay in
their
towns, or pay the bare minimum-they've certainly discussed it here enough.
Should they stop playing 'at all' then? I'd be interested in your
perspective about them.
"Message: 12
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 22:49:44 -0700
From: Ken Deifik <kenneth.d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Pocket full of Soul Kickstarter
appeal
To: Harp List Post <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Elizabeth wrote:
You have a different perspective as a Pro and I respect that, but I think
you're comparing apples to oranges withyour examples and mistaking these
guys for big-time movie producers when they're not.
I know these guys aren't big-time movie producers. From the first time I
read their request for free music I knew they were just amateurswith
"trust me" smiles." (snipped)