VIA PRESS RELEASE | Where It Begins: 1977-2000, a feature-length independent music documentary that tells the story of the growth of American independent music through the lens of a midwestern college town, is slated to hit the festival circuit in 2018. In advance of this release the producers have launched a fundraising campaign via Indiegogo. The campaign kicked off February 21 and will be used for post-production, sound design, editing, licensing archival material, and music clearances. The production has been paid for out-of-pocket for the past year and they are looking for funds to cover the final stages of the film’s process. The producers are looking to raise 50k for the finishing funds for the film.
This film looks at the “almost famous.”The bands who almost made it, never made it, played crappy gigs, went on the road with their friends to play music, had their van break down on the road, worked in record stores, booked a show, played to the bartender, put out a 7”, stayed up late listening to records with friends, and had their life changed by a song and by a band. From the beginnings of punk to the first Napster download, Where It Begins: 1977-2000 shows the bonds of community and music, and the love that stays with you long after the band is done.
Interviews with Steve Albini, Joe Shanahan, Kim Deal of The Pixies, Mike Watt of The Minutemen, Ian Mackaye of Fugazi, Jody Stephens of Big Star, Mike Skill of The Romantics, Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick, Peter Katsis (former manager of Ministry, Jane’s Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins), Jon Ginoli, Adrian Belew (David Bowie, Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, King Crimson), Jon Fine (author of Your Band Sucks and in Bitch Magnet) as well as interviews from members of Screams, The Elvis Brothers, The Martyrs, Combo Audio, Champaign, The Didjits, B Lovers, The Vertebrats, Last Gentlemen, Poster Children, Hum, The Bears, Braid, The Blackouts, Sarge, Corndolly, Menthol, and other Champaign-Urbana bands, Matt Lunsford, and more. Where It Begins: 1977-2000 gives an in-depth look at the culture, the town, the people in the scene and behind the scene, on the road and in the clubs.
The film score is being written by Jeff Schroeder of The Smashing Pumpkins and Lassie Foundation with sound design by Eric R. Fischer (also did sound design for Cameron Crowe’s Pearl Jam Twenty feature documentary).
“It’s very much in the spirit of, to me what this film is about, of friends, people living in a community, different musicians who have been around coming together,” Jeff Schroeder of the Smashing Pumpkins commenting on the inspiration for the film score.
“Through the process of filming the documentary, I’ve gotten to know the rich history of Champaign-Urbana’s music scene, the connections with the national scene and got to meet some pretty influential musicians in the process. At its heart is a simple story about the love of being in a band, writing and performing music with friends. It’s changed my life, brought some great people into my life, and has allowed me to see how similar we all are, how much we have in common through music,” John Isberg on the process of shooting the documentary.
It’s like Jody Stephens of Big Star said, “Focus on the song and the rest will take care of itself.”
