Dunsire Forums steps up to help SoS documentary
The Bob Dunsire Bagpipe Forums has stepped up to assist filmmaker John McDonald of Pasadena, California, complete On The Day, his wide-ranging documentary on the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band, volunteering to match contributions from Forum members up to $5,000.
While the documentary on the all-star band is scheduled to premier at the Piping Live! Glasgow International Festival of Piping on Friday, August 14, in Glasgow, the film is still more than $10,000 short of meeting its budget, according to McDonald.
In an impassioned plea, Dunsire Forums administrator Mike Greene, said, “I have read many threads on this forum lamenting bad press or portrayal of bagpipers, bagpiping or what have you. Here is a film that will not only be very entertaining, but also shines the best possible light on the music and the people behind it. High quality video, sound and a story line that will appeal not only to pipers and drummers, but also to those who are not directly involved in the art.
“Here is YOUR chance to make a difference and be a part of something that has the potential to do so much for the highland arts. Don’t just stand on the side lines expecting someone else to pony up the $$ to make this happen. Get involved NOW!”
John McDonald and a crew of camera operators and assistants shadowed the Sprit of Scotland’s every move during its one week together as a band from August 10 to 16, 2008, when the band formed to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships, where it finished eleventh in Grade 1 after qualifying for the Final events.
The band, which features 17 Highland Society of London Gold Medalists and other prominent soloists and experienced band-members in its ranks, has not played together since last year’s World’s, though Spirit of Scotland does plan to reform some time in 2010. [Disclosure: the editor of pipes|drums is a member of the band.]
Those wishing to contribute directly to the documentary may do so via the film’s website at www.onthedaymovie.com. Those who donate receive a tax receipt.
pipes|drums donated more than $1,000 to the project in March.
Further to the last comment, perhaps a company like PBS or HBO or BRAVO might be interested in funding this project as a documentary to be aired on TV? I remember seeing one recently called They Pipe Among Us”
This isn’t someone else’s financial endeavour”. The producer/director of this venture is John MacDonald from California. He’s not only a first rate documentary producerper. He’s a piper. He’s one of us. This documentary is a passion for John. For John
Further to the last comment, perhaps a company like PBS or HBO or BRAVO might be interested in funding this project as a documentary to be aired on TV? I remember seeing one recently called They Pipe Among Us”
This isn’t someone else’s financial endeavour”. The producer/director of this venture is John MacDonald from California. He’s not only a first rate documentary producerper. He’s a piper. He’s one of us. This documentary is a passion for John. For John
I ponied up $15.
im sure there must be loads of pipe bands from all grades that would love to have a documentary of all the hard work they have put in for a long number of years to be published…why this band??
because it’s so unique and had such a different story than all other pipe bands ever. a lot of bands work hard, as they well should. i know that field marshall had a bit of bio stuff on their rewind/charged dvd (i can’t remember which one). hype has surrounded this band since the beginning, and this documentary could very well quell or support different ideas about the band, probably in an objective fashion. i’d buy it (and by buy it i mean let a friend buy it and then burn it so i can watch it too)
Why not raise funds the old fashioned way of selling piping manuscripts ? Sell copies of the DVD in advance to interested customers, after all, why would I donate to someone else’s financial endeavour, with the end result being that I get to pay more to see it ? Unless of course all proceeds are going to some worthy charity such as the College of Piping. Maybe I missed that part.
As usual, Bob said it best…
I ponied up $15.
im sure there must be loads of pipe bands from all grades that would love to have a documentary of all the hard work they have put in for a long number of years to be published…why this band??
because it’s so unique and had such a different story than all other pipe bands ever. a lot of bands work hard, as they well should. i know that field marshall had a bit of bio stuff on their rewind/charged dvd (i can’t remember which one). hype has surrounded this band since the beginning, and this documentary could very well quell or support different ideas about the band, probably in an objective fashion. i’d buy it (and by buy it i mean let a friend buy it and then burn it so i can watch it too)
Why not raise funds the old fashioned way of selling piping manuscripts ? Sell copies of the DVD in advance to interested customers, after all, why would I donate to someone else’s financial endeavour, with the end result being that I get to pay more to see it ? Unless of course all proceeds are going to some worthy charity such as the College of Piping. Maybe I missed that part.
As usual, Bob said it best…