Since shooting ended and post began, one of my favorite elements of creating this film has been collaborating with Samuel Farrell and Kevin Oldfield on creating an original score. I had always imagined giving Allegany County a voice through music instead of a using a traditional narrator.  Combining the visual landscapes of western New York with their music and the oh-so-familiar banter from local radio stations, we’ve created a soundscape that brings the subtle emotional narratives to the forefront of the film.

Here is a little sample from the Main Theme:

I’ve asked Samuel to guest post on this one and fill you in on whats been happening in the recording studio. Here is what he has to say…

Spending so much time with our subjects, as well as living in Allegany County during the shoot, I already had some ideas about the feelings that I wanted to express through the music for Twelve Ways to Sunday. Kevin Oldfield (co-composer) watched the rough cut a few times and immediately we both connected on a similar style and organic composition process. We had previously played music together, but not for such an intimate project. We wanted the score to sound folky but not traditional, so we used traditional instruments, tuned them a little differently and processed them electronically. We wanted each song to convey a mood that the viewer could relate to a certain character, or event and would bring a specific emotion to their mind. So, with an individual or a feeling in mind, we hit the record button and started writing. This isn’t your standard film composition. We didn’t sit down with the film on a screen in front of us and write to the picture, we wrote these songs blindly and from the heart. Keeping with the homemade, DIY tone that the film carries, the initial recordings were created in our home studio (as Anna was editing in the room next door!) Kevin and I would take turns layering new melodies and sounds on top of that original recording until we were satisfied. We needed just the right amount of energy to effectively draw in the viewer and help weave together the final product, but not so much as to take away from the dialogue and visuals of the film.

Last week, I jumped into the front seat of a mini van and headed downtown for a late night mixing session with Cory Gray at Scenic Burrows Studios in Portland, Oregon. We spent the night re-amping the individual tracks that were recorded with one microphone in my old bedroom on the south side of town through some nice quality and vintage outboard gear. UREI-1176LN, UREI-1178, Manley Elop, Distressor and some classic Neve EQ’s, to name a few. Our main goal was to mix all of the sound elements into what we call “stems” which are production ready individual tracks that are ready to drop into the final cut of the film. These are used to ease the viewer into the music cues and add a little more atmosphere and ambiance to the film. Cory is a great engineer, musician and collaborator. While in the studio I asked if he would record some trumpet to make our “theme” song a little more triumphant. We are incredibly grateful to Cory and Scenic Burrows for coming on board to help us finalize the score!

]]> http://twelvewaystosunday.com/news/?feed=rss2&p=173 0 http://twelvewaystosunday.com/news/?p=147 http://twelvewaystosunday.com/news/?p=147#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:19:22 +0000 arf.farrell http://twelvewaystosunday.com/news/?p=147

A few days into filming we discovered the S.T.A.R.S. “flying field” on the south side of Cuba Lake and knew right away we wanted to capture this hobby for the documentary. We were able to film a few flying days outside before the weather turned wintry and we were confined to the local gymnasium.

As my the film slowly finds its final form, its drifting more towards Stud’s Terkel’s Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do than Errol Morris’ Vernon, Florida. This shift in tone is achieved through the delicate task of deciding what to include and what to trim away. It pains me to cut scenes or subjects from the film, so I must constantly remind myself that my allegiance no longer lies with the collected material, but with the constructed whole.

Please enjoy another clip from the bins. We are so thankful to have your support!

TWTS S.T.A.R.S. from Anna Farrell on Vimeo.

S.T.A.R.S. on Vimeo

TWTS Superfast from Anna Farrell on Vimeo.

"Outbuildings, Demopolis, Marengo County Alabama 4-8-03" ©2003/09 Cynthia Connolly

I spent last Saturday evening showcasing a few scenes from the rough cut to a dozen people in a living room of a dear friend in D.C.

The intimate screening was followed by a discussion about the subjects portrayed, the 5-month process of shooting the documentary, and my hopes for taking the finished film on the road for an alternative screening venue tour. As a filmmaker, it was a rare chance to connect with audience members and to get feedback on the film before it is finalized. I met such an inspiring crowd, including photographer Cynthia Connolly, who is known for her documentation of the punk-DIY scene in D.C. during the early 80’s. After exploring her body of images, I was particularly drawn in by her work from Alabama. Cynthia states, “I photographed a world filled with drastic contrasts: poverty and excess, desperation and love, and the lush, raped, rugged landscape that is the backdrop for many Alabaman lives.” (see photo above) In the final weeks of editing, I too am seeking a sense of place, to give the audience a feel for Western New York as a landscape, a backdrop, for it is it another character to get to know and attempt to understand.

After such a successful screening, I am eager to bring Twelve Ways to Sunday to a larger audience. The film has been made possible by the generous support of many individuals who have donated their time, money, equipment, and expertise. We are currently seeking finishing funds to help cover the costs of post-production, sound mixing, scoring, and eventually a final mastering of the film. If you would like to contribute, a tax-deductible donation can be made through IFP to our finishing fund. Just click here to donate online. If you would like to read more about our fiscal sponsor, or pay by check, visit the donate page on the Twelve Ways to Sunday webpage.

Thank you to everyone who has and continues to contribute to this story.

A great article by Anthony Kaufman @ IFC.com on the “precarious state” of independent film. PLUS a great quote about Twelve Ways to Sunday at Independent Film Week!
http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/09/no-one-knows-anything.php?page=1

There is a beautiful scene in the Twelve Ways to Sunday where Mary, a traveling teacher and master food preserver, is making apple-cinnamon jelly. As she narrates her own story, one arm tucked in a sling, she scrapes the bottom of the pot for the last of the bright red jelly and pours it into the final mason jar. She and her husband Jerry could live for months off the variety of fruits, vegetables, stocks, sauces, and pickles she has stockpiled on her cellar shelves.

Besides getting to know her as filmmaker-subject, I learned a great deal about living simply and sustainably from Mary as her student. As I am prepping for Independent Film Week, everyone keeps mentioning alternative marketing and thinking outside of the box. As a tribute to Mary, I decide to make some homemade blackberry jam (as its the end of berry season) and jar it myself. I attach a business card for good measure and the jam becomes my clever idea for IFW swag! I used both 4 oz. and 6 oz jars for the samples and made sure all the industry reps I met with (HBO, PBS, etc.) got to take home a jar for themselves.

Overall, it was great fun and a great success. Got a great blog shoutout from fellow Lab Filmmaker, Rebecca Richman Cohen, as well as on the Independent Film Week Blog. And lets hope tomorrow morning, some industry rep wakes up and has my jam on an english muffin for breakfast and decides to give Twelve Ways to Sunday a second look.

(If you are looking to make your own jelly or jam, but don’t have a Mary in your life to show you how, this site covers all of the basics and leaves room for customizing)

I had the privilege of viewing the Twelve Ways to Sunday trailer last night on the bigscreen. Rooftop Films and IFP teamed up to present a free outdoor screening of the Independent Filmmaker Labs Sneak Preview Showcase. “A sneak peek at trailers and scenes from narrative and documentary films from the 2009 Labs—next year’s hot festival and indie releases.”
To see my small town movie set against the most iconic city skyline in the world (even if my trailer only ran for 1 min and 45 seconds) was definitely the highlight of the week. In addition, I was greatly inspired by Rooftop Films, a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and inspire diverse communities by showing movies in outdoor locations, producing new films, teaching filmmaking to young people, and renting low-cost equipment to artists and non-profits. Although their summer series won’t resume again until May, this October and November, they will be hosting  intimate fundraisers as part of “40/40 Vision,” a series of cocktail events in support of Rooftop Films. Each of the parties will feature the best of Rooftop Films’ programming, dinner, and drinks. An eventful way to celebrate an important organization! Check out the 40/40 schedule here.

From the hayfields in Friendship, to the main street in Bolivar, we were seeking to capture the mood and beauty of Allegany county.

The footage from these shoots will be used to create a strong sense of place as we weave together our separate narratives.

TWTS is one of the 75 films to be featured as part of the Spotlight on Documentaries section at the 31st annual Independent Filmweek! Originally conceived by a group of filmmakers, Independent Film Week remains the oldest and largest forum in the U.S. for the discovery of new projects in development and new voices on the independent film scene. It is considered one of the best opportunities for an independent filmmaker to connect with industry professionals – including producers, funders, distributors, broadcasters, sales agents and festival programmers. In addition, TWTS will be highlighted as one of the 10 films selected to be part of the IFP’s Documentary Independent Filmmaker Lab. To kick off the week, Rooftop Films will be hosting an outdoor public showcase screening of 2-3 minute excerpts from the alumni projects that participated in the 2009 Documentary and Narrative Independent Filmmaker Labs. This event will be free and open to the public – check back here in September for details!

About a month ago, I began a discussing a design campaign for TWTS with my friend Julienne of Wardrobe Ink. After a few meetings over strong coffee, we found ourselves hand-stitching details for the site.  Although what you see here is just a sampler, the process of learning a new craft, and the joy of creating something by hand felt consistent with the story I tell in the film.

Anyone interested in showing off their needlework? I would love to post all TWTS inspired stitching/patchwork/applique/etc. Send along your images to info@twelvewaystosunday.com and I will post them here!