Campaign Confusion

Posted on January 20, 2012 by admin

Just so there is no confusion out there among our followers, please note that no matter what the final tally of contributions from our IndieGoGo campaign (which ends in just TWO DAYS!), please note that the production of SCOUTS HONOR will carry on as scheduled. The IndieGoGo campaign is only one facet of our fundraising efforts, which will continue on after the weekend.

The higher the total ends up from this IndieGoGo campaign the easier it will be for us to secure other funding.

We’ll give you all more details on ways that you, your friends, and your families can help out soon. In the meantime, PLEASE help us in the final push on our IndieGoGo campaign by reposting to your Facebook wall, tweet, text, pick up the phone and continue spreading the word about SCOUTS HONOR!

Mac & Tom

Full Show Performance from 2011

Posted on January 19, 2012 by admin

When we went out last summer on our “test” shoot for this documentary, one of the challenges that laid ahead of us was to capture a complete show properly. We intended to record both video and sound at three shows that week. Due to various circumstances we ended up with only one opportunity to get a full performance from the Madison Scouts. It was on our last day in Summerville, SC in a very small stadium.

The 2011 show was called “New York Morning” and was a very classy tribute to what happened in New York City on September 11th, 2001. From the normal hustle and bustle of a typical workday, to the catastrophic attack, the confusion and eventually coming out on the other side with hope and conviction, the Madison Scouts did an amazing job with this show.

Our secret weapon in this project isn’t the cameras or the editing software, it’s my friend, John “JT” Torrijos who has been recording live drum corps in Northern California for the last few years. He has been able to capture what it’s like to be right there in the first few rows of the stands better than I’ve ever heard it done before. This is not an easy task when you think about it. The stage is 100 yards wide, and it’s some of the most dynamic, live music you’ll ever hear. With his 5.1 microphone setup his sound will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Wait until you hear it in 5.1 in a movie theater. It’ll knock your socks off!

I’ve heard the opening music of the 2012 show and it’s incredible. I can’t wait to capture performances this coming summer. It’s going to sound amazing! Please help us with our campaign so we can go on tour with the Scouts and do this again. Our IndieGoGo campaign is almost over. Donate a few dollars, tell your friends to donate, and get them to tell their friends to donate. You won’t regret it.

A Talk with the Directors of the Madison Scouts

Posted on January 18, 2012 by admin

Dann Petersen (corps director) and Chris Komnick (executive director) took a few minutes out of one of their busy days during the January camp in Dallas, Texas to talk to me about the documentary film “Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood”. These two gentlemen have been tremendously supportive of our efforts to get this project rolling. Tom Tollefsen (co-director) and I both marched with Dann during the mid-90′s in the Madison Scouts and Chris was a marching member of the Scouts in the 80′s.

This film has the potential of giving this organization and the drum corps activity much needed exposure. Take a look at what Chris and Dann have to say about the documentary film (currently in the early phases of production), “Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood”, and visit our IndieGoGo campaign.

Success at January Camp

Posted on January 17, 2012 by admin

Mac captures footage of contracted and auditioning members of the snare line in Grapevine, TX (photo by Garrick Gonzalez)

Our trip to the Madison Scouts January camp rehearsal in Grapevine, TX was a success. The drumline and hornline converged for three and half days to rehearse the first few minutes of the 2012 show, and the corps continued to audition members for this season. Not only were we able to capture some of the first moments of the hornline, and the full ensemble playing the show music, but there were some nice surprises as well. It’s terrific to see some of the footage that we captured for our documentary film “Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood”. We are one step closer to finding the characters who will help carry the story of our film.

This trip to Texas wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for your donations. Now we are in the last week of our IndieGoGo campaign, and need your help more than ever. Any dollar amount will get us closer to our goal. Please consider a donation, and encourage others to contribute as well. Thanks for your support!

First Glimpses of the 2012 Show

Posted on January 14, 2012 by admin

I’m currently in Grapevine, Texas at the January camp of the Madison Scouts. We are getting to hear the first bits of the 2012 show called Reframed. It’s based on the music Pictures at an Exhibition. Of course it’s not just Pictures…there are some exciting twists most if which I dont know about, but I got to hear one while shooting footage of the baritone section for our documentary, Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood. I can’t reveal any of these secrets quite yet, but fans of Madison will not be disappointed.

I’m very happy that we are capturing these early moments in the season. They will be a terrific contrast to rehearsal and show footage from the end of the 2012 season for our film. We wont get there if we dont raise the necessary funds to go on your this summer with the Scouts. Please help fund our film on indiegogo.com/scouts-honor. We have 8 days left and need help getting closer to our goal. Thanks!

Where do the contributions go?

Posted on January 14, 2012 by admin

There’s only about a week and a half left with our IndieGoGo campaign. I’m off to shoot weekend rehearsal footage in Texas for “SCOUTS HONOR”. We’ve received donations from dozens of individuals…alumni from the corps, friends, co-workers, strangers, and even current marching members. I feel a major responsibility when it comes to managing these contributions. I’m flying on a cheap ticket, my production assistant Garrick is picking me up at the airport so I don’t need to rent a car, and we are sleeping at the school (on the floor…like the members and staff do) so there are no hotel costs. We only have one additional crew member who is working for a low rate. That’s our model for this production: small crew, minimal gear, low costs and great footage.

I’ll try to post another update from camp. Meanwhile, please consider a contribution to our campaign. We need the funds to go on the road with the Madison Scouts this Summer. Share the information about our film and campaign with your friends, classmates, co-workers, neighbors. This is the time to get the word out! Thank you!

January Camp

Posted on January 14, 2012 by admin

Today, I’m traveling from Northern California to Texas for the Madison Scouts rehearsal camp. This is the pre-season for drum corps. Groups tend to meet up once a month during this time of year to start learning parts of the show music and drill. Some members have contracts, others have been invited for a call back, and a few are showing up for a first audition. Veteran members are jumping back into the routine like it never stopped and rookie members are often nervous and cautious both socially and in rehearsal.

Our goal is to capture footage of these early rehearsals, the show music being played in groups for the first time, the vibe of the Winter camp, and I’m sure we’ll get a surprise or two. Also we are still meeting members and working to hone in on our characters for the film. It’s a lot to do in less than two days, but I’m looking forward to it.

Brandon MacConnell talks about the SCOUTS

Posted on January 11, 2012 by admin

Snare drummer, Brandon MacConnell talks about the Madison Scouts in the latest member testimonial for “Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood.” He talks about how people think he’s crazy for what he does over the Summer. For more information, please visit our IndieGoGo campaign for our documentary film.

The Hard Sell

Posted on January 11, 2012 by admin

Ty Lyles and John Lee have a talk during a hot day in Louisiana

While I’m not a sales person, I did sell things door to door in my neighborhood when I was a kid. It was usually raising money for the junior high, or high school band. I sold frozen pizzas, candy bars and who knows what. I did pretty well, and got excited about every sale that I came home with.

Being a freelancer in the film industry is kind of like sales too. Always looking and landing that next gig. A little over two years ago I also rallied folks to donate to a charity called “Mustaches VS Cancer”. We grew mustaches over a two month period and raised a bunch of money between myself and a small group of my co-workers.

Well now I’m fundraising (doing sales) for my first film, and it is certainly a challenge….a bit more challenging than expected. I’m thrilled with the donations we’ve received (we got our first $500 donation last night). The word isn’t quite getting out like I had hoped. I’m utilizing Facebook, Twitter (@ScoutsHonorDoc), LinkedIn, Empire Avenue, Stage32. Just about everything I can think of. Not just finding ways to connect to drum corps fans, alumni, friends, music educators, but how to get them to really step up and help has been an uphill battle.

The only way that we are going to come close to our ambitious goal is to get EVERYONE to share and spread the word. Please…we need your help to do this. Find a short, persuasive sales pitch to get people to visit our IndieGoGo campaign. Tell them why you think this film is important, why you like the Madison Scouts so much, or what kind of effect this film can have on the drum corps activity. Sure, only a small percentage of people will actually donate, but we have to get them to the site first. If you’ve been doing your part, thank you! Keep it up! We have 12 days left! If you haven’t gotten the word out, please start today!

Tee Richardson talks about SCOUTS HONOR

Posted on January 8, 2012 by admin

Third year member of the Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps, Tee Richardson talks about “Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood” a documentary film in the early stages of production. Tee, a tuba player in the Scouts, discusses the potential of this film and says, “this documentary will show you how much love for music 150 guys have on a field”. He encourages you to help get this movie made.

You’ll also get a brief clip of the 2011 horn line during brass rehearsal in Natchitoches, Louisiana last summer. The music that brings the clip to a close are the Scouts performing their show closer and crowd pleaser “Empire State of Mind”.

“Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood”, is a feature length documentary film that follows the Madison Scouts drum corps (Madison, Wisconsin) through their 2012 season, and explores what makes and sustains a tight knit brotherhood between not only the current members, but the alumni as well.

Please visit our campaign page on IndieGoGo for “Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood”. http://www.indiegogo.com/scouts-honor