THROW IT DOWN AT JACKSON, NJ DCI SHOW

DCI SHOW - JACKSON, NJ

SRO CROWD












NOTES ON JACKSON, NJ DCI SHOW
LINEUP:
RAIDERS
TEAL SOUND
JERSEY SURF
CROSSMEN (Marching into stadium)
CRUSADERS
CROWN
CADETS

Went deep into Jersey on Monday expecting a small crowd at a small High School Field. Wrong ...
The Jackson Liberty High School facility is huge and the football stadium was overflowing, (SRO) with fans. The show was grrreat. The Raiders and Surf, (great uniforms), continue to improve and the Teal Sound had a skillful pit drummer and entertaining show although the velvet ropes caused a little trouble. I love the Crossmen's capes and their show is always underrated. The Crossmen's color guard is still waiting on uni's but were very sharp and precise. A lot of the Corps are starting their performace as soon as they step onto the field, in one way or another. Personally, I like this and think this is very entertaining, since I have the crazy idea that the performance should start the second the Corps marches through the gate and ends when they march out. Crusaders drill is very unique and fun while the Crown has the most pleasant sound I've heard this year. They carry themselves like a championship contender. As always, the Cadets are right there. Great setting, Great crowd, Great show. Oh yeah, it did not rain.

DRUM CORPS SHOW - BRISTOL, R.I.

DCI Show – Bristol Rhode Island

We took a trip up to the DCI show in Bristol Rhode Island the other day.

Arriving early we saw the flags whipping in the wind while the PA Speakers played John Philip Sousa. About an hour before the show the lightning kicked up and the rain poured down. Like many other fans, I took refuge under the stands where we received an extra few gallons of rain funneled from the seats above. Everybody was soaked and happy.

Paul, the MC for the show was very likable as he introduced the show.
It was amazing to see that all the corps were able to hold their footing in the wet grass. I think this is a real testament to their marching skills.

Later in the evening as a band of mist gathered up by the stadium lights, the Carolina Crown put on an amazing performance. Their green plumes stood out as they marched and played with precision. Because their routine required some contact with the ground, their uniforms were quite muddy as they left the field.

The capacity crowd was quite lively even with the rain and everyone was treated to a fireworks show as they left the stadium.

We had a pizza feast on the way home. All in all a nice night of drum corps.

THROW IT DOWN AT BRISTOL, RHODY TONIGHT

The THROW IT DOWN Director, John Maher will be at the BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND Drum Corps Show Tonight, Friday, July 3rd. We will blog with impressions of the show.

DRUM CORPS SHOW

The Throw It Down staff, ok two of us, were at the Bridgemen Drum Corps show in Bayonne, New Jersey on June 13th. Because of the rain the show was almost exclusively concert style. The music selection was very eclectic. It was great to hear the excellence of all the corps up close and personal, (the Drum Majors were right in the stands and often interacted with the crowd). The overall atmosphere was very warm and friendly and made for a great evening. Congratulations to those responsible. Thank you to Steve Vickers of Drum Corps World for sharing his vast drum corps knowledge and to John Yurkin of the Bridgemen for his hospitality.
A great evening of drum corps. Highly recommended for improved mental health.

THROW IT DOWN - PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE:

THROW IT DOWN, the extraordinary feature length movie about Drum Corps is having a big impact on the Film Festival circuit this summer. The movie has already been shown to a packed audience at the Connecticut Film Festival. THROW IT DOWN had been shown earlier at the New York Independent Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Music Documentary. It also won the Silver Remi Award at Worldfest Houston.

THROW IT DOWN will next be shown at the INDIANAPOLIS FILM FESTIVAL on Friday, July 17th at 1:00 PM at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
http://indyiff.bside.com/2009/films/throwitdown_indyiff2009

On Sunday July 26th at 5:00 PM, THROW IT DOWN will be shown at the OXFORD, OHIO FILM FESTIVAL at the Savannah Center in West Chester, Ohio.
http://oxfordinternational.bside.com/2009/films/throwitdown_oxfordinternational2009


The DVD of THROW IT DOWN is available Through the THROW IT DOWN WEBSITE – http://www.throwitdownthemovie.com/
AMAZON OR EBAY

THROW IT DOWN IS FINALLY HERE!

It's here!! It's here!!

THROW IT DOWN THE MOVIE IS FINALLY OUT.
DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO BE THE FIRST TO GRAB IT.

BUY THE MOVIE NOW!

After you watch it, please come back and review.
We'd love to know what you think.

Drum Corp World and Throw It Down The Movie

I recently had the opportunity to view see an advance screener of “Throw It Down,” a feature-length documentary will give audiences a very intimate, inside look into what it takes to produce a world class drum and bugle corps.

Three years in the making, this movie covers many aspects within the Canton Bluecoats organization during the 2006 season, portraying what is involved in putting together a corps, from countless rehearsals to long bus rides. All the logistics, planning, fund-raising, endless rehearsals, experiences, desires, pains, joys and stories are covered.

Much of the film takes viewers behind the scene as the corps travels cross-country and endures grueling practices in brutally hot temperatures. The daily grind, from the initial stages of learning the drill through a complex grid system or dots, to perfecting the musical and visual show are captured. All aspects of being a member are touched on such as injuries, exhaustion, exhilaration, determination, unity, teamwork and the love of performance.

Along the way, there are interviews and selected features with a variety of corps members and staff like Drum Major Joe Beitman, Corps Director David Glassgow, brass arranger Doug Thrower, program coordinator Drew Shanefield and trumpet player Rumi Tamura from Japan. The viewer is also given a close-up and intimate look at the corps as they huddle-up after a contest and sing the corps song, Autumn Leaves -- a touching moment.

As Ed and John Maher of JEM Films explained, “We could have chosen any corps to tell this story. We were attracted to the Bluecoats as a group that was in the middle of the pack, working their way up. After shooting over 60 hours of High Definition images and spending a year editing, we have a portrait of what producer John Kelly calls, ‘A new American Family.’ From the beginning, this film was intended for a wide audience beyond drum corps. As outsiders, we were able to see the whole phenomena from a different perspective.”

Having seen several corps tour videos and DVDs, along with various documentaries on the drum and bugle corps activity over the years, I must say that “Throw it Down” is the most comprehensive, honest and professionally made of the lot. I thoroughly enjoyed this film!

JEM Films hopes to have this documentary available by the holidays. Here is a link for more information http://www.throwitdownthemovie.com/.

Steve Vickers, Publisher
Drum Corps World
http://www.drumcorpsworld.com/