Anything Goes : Looking for feedback on our sizzle reel for our documentary feature by Mac Smith

I watched the youtube short of the Madison Scouts - It was clean and well done. Sometimes the words run a little too long but the HIV words need to run just a few seconds more for impact. My only worry is that it would become an HIV story...but I liked the updates or backgrounds of the men at the end. I never heard of the Madison Scouts but that's a good thing - more will learn when your full length gets out.

I watched the whole thing through entirely, which as Bryan said, I didn't have a specific interest in the subject. I think though what I do have an interest in is the core idea of 'brotherhood' as an essence and that is hugely relatable. It had me reflecting on plenty from my own life and experience and relating. So Bravo. I thought the opening sequence was weak compared to the closing sequence. Conceptually I like the idea of what you did with that sequence, but it felt slow and like I didn't understand what was going on and was waiting for something, but not in a good way. Also I think I may have preferred to have some of the earlier clips about the young people before them being introduced, then maybe the sequence of the guy discussing their being lucky to be in a diverse community. Then the youth and what is going on with them now. I like the way that the youth seem to embody an element of the diversity in the series. I remember at least two of the guys were white and in my head the third guy was too. I also remember seeing more diversity in the images of participants. So I am disappointed in that way. (Just looked and confirmed the third guy was white). The fact that one guy has HIV and (I assume from his mannerisms is gay) at least adds to the diversity of the people interviewed. There is a potent quality to the imagery in a few of the sequences... I think the shirtless scene witht them sweaty was strong and had an interesting mix of the primal with the refined. I think perhaps that or another practice sequence may be a more interesting opening sequence whether for the sizzle reel or for the ultimate edited documentary. I like the core of the documentary and could easily see it on the Oprah channel especially if you can round it out with a couple other interviews with people who are not white, even one guy who is hispanic or other would contribute a lot. I do think the opening sequence as a sequence is powerful and engaging once I understand what is going on more. It is fun to see the walk on process visually in a way that is like we/i am walking along with them. The clip definitely left me wanting more and hoping for more. It felt like I was 'introduced' which I think I may have preferred to have a more intimate few moments with some of them in a way that would be more like a trailer vs. a simple introduction. For what you have ultimately, I think it is strong and I am pretty compelled by it. I just want more and deeper. I could see doing some teasers that are shorter with just a focus on each of the individual characters, or one of them and maybe could help pitch to specific audiences. For example, what you have of the gay guy (I am assuming) could be edited in such a way that it is what you have plus one more clip of him that is more personal and mixed with clips of the rest and maybe would be a 3-4 minute clip for a youtube video. That then could be marketed to the gay community perhaps. There could be fast clips of the other characters, so it is clear it is not all about him. But you may get some preorders from gay men based on that. Gay men seem to like the flags as well from what I understand, I have heard of flag groups that are gay, but not educated on it much. So that would be a good sequence probably if you did a trailer for the gay male audience, even if you just used that to promote once the show was complete. I think there is something very timely about the project in terms of what a lot of people are craving as they are leaving religions and seeking camaraderie which would be akin to a religious community. It was nice to see/feel that that seemed to be ingrained in that experience. Also people are craving a connection in a world that is increasingly diverse and foreign, and also sometimes void of culture and more commercial. I agree with Carol about the danger of it becoming an HIV story, but I think that if the other stories and characters are strong then that would help. As the promo was viewed there was less to latch onto with the other characters. It is nice that one does culinary work, and food is clearly relatable for a lot of people. (look at how big Food Network and food shows on other networks are). I do think if you can have the other men be equally compelling and focus on how the HIV story shows the brotherhood, and offers something to the brotherhood, I think that will contribute a lot. Oh, and I agree with Carol about moments of the words running long. I think some of that could be interesting if taken and shortened into a trailer at some point. I see great potential for three trailers with different character focuses and/or different elements of the film like the discussions of the value of the core without a focus on the personal. There is a lot to like in it. Congrats on such an engaging project.

Thanks so much for your comments. I really appreciate getting outside opinions. Jo definitely has the most compelling story with his disease and struggles, but like you said Carol, this shouldn't turn into a HIV story. Hunter the 15 year old has a pretty good story as well especially with his maturity level changing rapidly. We'll definitely need to strike a balance between the characters. I have thought about creating three teaser trailers based on each of the characters and may do that after I start crafting each of their stories. David thanks for bringing up the points about how camaraderie and community are important in today's age. That's definitely a message that we'd like to convey. Ultimately we want this project to be able to hook a wider audience that's never heard of this activity and inspire them. Thanks again, Mac

If I think about my 'take away' from the piece based on just what I saw, i take away not so much wanting to do the drum core, since that is not my personal expression, but wanting to be a part of a community that comes together from various locations and learns from each other. I know a few communities like that. To me that alone is a worthy take away. Additionally, I think if you really focus on the brotherhood and the community in terms of time and conversation, then the HIV story can still be strong and prominent, but also not the focus. I think that in some ways the HIV component/gay element to whatever degree the gay element may be discussed, also adds a sense of camaraderie across areas both of which could easily inspire a phobia in others - gay/HIV is a double whammy in a male situation, so in that way it is interesting just in terms of connection and community depending on what you focus on and how it is structured. In a case like that, I think it bridges further and further creates something that transcends the drum core focus and the male focus even, and can become about love and fellowship. I think too there is something fascinating about that sense of warmth in the discussion with the group and an outsider among men (gay male) being welcomed and supported through HIV (modern leprosy) which is contrasted with the structure of the movement and the sharp clean outfits, and the precision of the drums and other instruments. Even just having seen the clip a few days ago, I hear drum core and think something very different than I would have just days ago. That is exciting in terms of the potential. Seems like it may make for an interesting Sundance Documentary.

Like the previous respondents I also had no knowledge of a "pro" drum and bugle corp in America, having been introduced to it I am of course now curious. I think everyone has exposure to marching bands in high school and college and except for the musicians that is where our personal experience drops off, so you indeed have a touchstone that has a potentially large audience. As far as the sizzle reel itself .... very little sizzle, the start was slow and the elements that followed, some of which were quite compelling seemed jumbled and not cohesive. You had a lot of the right parts but seemingly in the wrong order and paced in a fashion that made me strain to maintain interest. I sincerely hope you have lots of footage on the background of the young men's life before their summer of intense dedication to the scout corp, the cow auction, the cooking school, and the personal health crisis will draw sharp lines of diversity while also showing common desire and purpose. I think the diversity angle juxtaposed to their mutual commitment to the brotherhood of their small 150 member community for the summer could be a refreshing look at how younger people are still taking part in American traditions that are 75 years old with an entirely more open modern sense of all the types of men who can comprise their unique brotherhood. I think your subject is quite interesting and I hope your documentary is extremely successful, I'd like to see it!