Spring is definitely in the air and I am springing forward this year with new ideas, inspiration from the past presents itself and springs us forward to new concepts and ideas creating openings, blooms, and blossoms. I just completed a project with IDOM (It Donned On Me) for the International Documentary Competion. “Stick & Pound” is a finalist! Of over 100 films eligible for judging, we made the top 14. I will be flying out to Toronto for the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival on April 26th, where our film will be screened. Things heat up as Stick & Pound is being considered for yet another award, the P.O.V. PBS’ premiere showcase for independent, non-fiction film.
The film features Melanie DeMore, Singer, Composer, Songwriter, and Master Stick Pounder.
What is Stick Pounding? Creating rhythmic sounds with sticks of course.
Its origins are from the Gullah tradition. What is Gullah?
The Gullah people are the different African tribes brought to the Georgia Sea Islands during slavery. These different tribes created an entire culture and language for the purpose of communicating with each other. Out of this culture, comes stick pounding. When the drums were taken away, stick pounding became the rhythmic language of the Gullah people.
As an Oakland, CA resident, Melanie DeMore performs with "The Linda Tillery Cultural Heritage Choir. She also teaches stick pounding in the bay area. Her energy is HUGE, the Director of the Oakland Children's Choir, and the voice coach of several young bay area popular singers that have gone on to big careers. Some of her students were "American Idol" contestants and popular Bay Area R&B singers.
I'd seen her Christmas Eve show at Yoshi's where she performed with Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage Choir. The show was sold out. Fate had me run into her at the laundry mat on Park Blvd in Oakland a few days later. Where I introduced myself, told her I'm a filmmaker and the rest is history.
In March I interviewed her and set up a shoot where she was choreographing stick pounding at a rehearsal with a well known Dance Company in San Francisco during International Women's Week.
I was so honored to set up the shoot and indeed it was a tremendous success for myself as well as the crew.
Guess what? Of 170 entries in the international documentary film challenge, the film made the 14-finalist list.
I am so proud of the crew It Donned On Me. The screening will take place on April 26th in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In Toronto several broadcasters and distributors will screen the films. To include history channels, and etc.
I am so excited about this. The other finalists are from Amsterdam, Sydney, Australia, Brooklyn, NYC, and Seattle, just to name a few of the places.
Since June of 2007 we’ve been Nationally Acclaimed Award Winning Filmmakers. Thanks to the creation of “Stick & Pound”, we are Internationally Acclaimed Award Winning Filmmakers.
As I continue to plant more seeds...just watch me bloom! The best is yet to come.
Profound Peace & Blessings,
Dinah
