FESTIVAL AWARD WINNING DOC “MELODY MAKERS”
The Bible of Rock 'n Roll Now Available
Featuring ERIC BURDON (The Animals), IAN ANDERSON (Jethro Tull), YES (Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White), DAVE COUSINS (The Strawbs), JUDY DYBLE (Fairport Convention), Nazareth (PETE AGNEW & DAN MCCAFFERTY) and STEVE ABBOTT (UK Decay)
In tandem with the theatrical and home entertainment release of the film “MELODY MAKERS” (December 17. 2019) comes the release of the Melody Makers Companion Apple Book.
An immersive experience, this interactive book takes users through the rise of Melody Maker magazine through a series of rock trivia games, photo puzzles, embedded interviews, and a photographic gallery full of Barrie Wentzell's Legends Series from his iconic rock photographic archive (1965-1975).
The book is a robust partner to the film that offers viewers an added music history experience.
The book was "invented"--designed, curated and created==by Canadian filmmaker, and film festival producer Leslie Ann Coles.
It chronicles the birth of music journalism and the world’s oldest and longest standing seminal music magazine; “Melody Maker.”
Through a series of interviews from artists (Ian Anderson/JETHRO TULL, Eric Burdon/THE ANIMALS, Alan White, Steve Howe and Chris Squire/YES, among others) and journalists of the time, the film tells the true story of the rise and fall of the world’s most influential music publication and uncovers an era of tremendous creative freedom.
At the heart of the story is Barrie Wentzell, Chief Contributing Photographer of Melody Maker Magazine (1965-1975) and his iconic photographic archive of legendary musicians during the birth of the rock 'n roll era, who along with his journalist colleagues gained unprecedented access to bands and musicians that would go on to become the legends of rock n' roll.
Wentzell's photos are the touchstone of this documentary as the photographer and others recount the many untold stories from behind the pictures.
Barrie recalls a Peter Townshend telling him about an idea he had for a rock opera when Tommywas a concept.
Melody Maker journalist, Chris Charlesworth recalls when the magazine tried to expand into the US market without paying off the mobsters who controlled magazine distribution in key cities such as New York, and PR Keith Altham shares an anecdotal story about a publicity stunt gone awry involving the notorious drummer, Keith Moon and a hovercraft.
Beyond the visual stories told, “Melody Maker” includes interviews ERIC BURDON (The Animals), IAN ANDERSON (Jethro Tull), YES (Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White), DAVE COUSINS (The Strawbs), JUDY DYBLE (Fairport Convention), Nazareth (PETE AGNEW & DAN MCCAFFERTY) and SEVE ABBOTT (UK Decay); journalists CHRIS WELCH, CHRIS CHARLESWORTH, ALLAN JONES (Senior Editor UNCUT Magazine); ALAN LEWIS; and other notable subjects PETER WHITEHEAD (filmmaker Charlie My Darling), ROGER DEAN (artist), JEFF DEXTER (DJ/ Promoter), KEITH ALTHAM (PR for The Rolling Stones, The Who) and GLEN COLSON (Stiff Records) to name a few.
BIOGRAPHY
Leslie Ann is thrilled to launch her debut feature documentary Melody Makers with the enhanced Apple Book made possible with the generous support of Telefilm Canada’s Marketing and Promotions Program.
As the executive producer and director of LA Coles Fine Art Films she is currently engaged in a wide variety of works which include theatrical features, non-scripted TV, documentaries, shorts and interactive digital media.
Her company is committed to producing films and cross platform projects that combine art, entertainment and social justice.
Coles is a Women In the Director’s Chair alumni, and a recipient of three CTV Banff Fellowships for original series.
Founder of the Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) in 2001 to address gender parity in the film industry, she has executive-produced 46 short films directed by at risk female youth through the YoungFilmmaker Development Workshop (YFDW), a program established under the auspices of the FeFF.
In her capacity as Festival Director for the past 17 years, she oversees the rigorous evaluation and selection of independent films for FeFF from over 2,500 entries every year.
Intimately familiar with the local and international filmmaking community since 2001 with the inaugural festival and her debut multiple-award-winning film “In The Refrigerator: Spirit of a Haunted Dancer,” Leslie Ann’s strength is her ability to creatively strategize projects and determine market potential during the development process, always with a critical understanding of a film’s milieu, be it social, cultural, or art-focused.
FESTIVAL AWARDS FOR MELODY MAKERS
- WINNER Best Music Documentary, 18th Bare Bones International Film Festival 2017
- WINNER Best Documentary, 8th Fort Myers Film Festival 2018
- WINNER Best International Documentary, 16th Garden State Film Festival 2018
- WINNER Audience Choice Award, Hot Springs Women’s Film Festival 2018
- WINNER Gold Award Best Documentary, Spotlight Film Festival 2018
- WINNER Best International Documentary, Color Tape Film Festival 2018
- WINNER Best Documentary, Meraki Film Festival 2018
- WINNER Best Director, Borderlands Film Festival 2018
- WINNER Best Feature Documentary, Nice IFF 2018
- WINNER Best Documentary, MedFF 2019
