The Politics of Jazz

 

Director's Statement

 

When I started researching this film, I knew nothing about jazz. But I knew there was a story to be told about this city that the world had not yet heard.

The people of New Orleans impressed me, inspired me, overwhelmed me. If the film can bring one thing for me, it would be to mirror back to them a lyrical portrait of their city, their spirit and their tenacity to change the world, in a way that would show them something new and make them proud.

Each concert was sublime, so I felt compelled to find a way to make the film as much a concert of the music as it was a political- documentary.

Each interview was like a deep and intimate conversation, getting to know a new friend. So I focused the film on the moments when each interviewee finds a heart-felt memory, a moment of passion, when in subtle ways they bare their soul.

The edit was structured like a Mardi Gras parade of mini-portraits of each artist, so that the audience can get to know who the person is in as much depth as possible, before jumping to another chapter, rising and falling and changing track like a sweet jazz refrain.

For me this is not a film about jazz – its about people. And if you walk away feeling you’ve met and known these people, that in some small but powerful way you have been witness to their cathartic experience of rebuilding a city on inspiration and a little jazz, then my work has been done.

This is simply a film exploring the most important things the people of New Orleans wanted to share with you.

 

Wendy Dent

Producer/ Director, The Politics of Jazz

 

 

WATCH THE TRAILER at

http://www.youtube.com/WendyDent

 

 

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