We haven’t been very active on this film blog the last couple of months as we’ve been tying up some loose ends with music licensing in the movie and other things connected with our distributors. A reminder that we have had a US distributor since just before the film premiered, 7th Art Releasing. Earlier this year, Blue Ant International picked up the film for international distribution and CBC television in Canada acquired the film for national broadcast. The next showing in Canada will be on the Documentary Channel, Dec 18 at 9:00 pm EST.
The distributors are talking with different broadcasters in several countries about acquiring the film so we hope to have some more good news in 2017.
We appreciate all who have gotten in touch on social media or by email to ask where they can see the film. We are anxious for it to be available online in some capacity but the distributors handle that aspect of it so we will update you on this page in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we are still very much open to doing special screenings with radio communities in various North American cities. If you think there is an opportunity where you live, and a suitable venue, don’t hesitate to get in touch and hopefully we can set up a screening.
Lastly, sometime early next year we hope to make available on YouTube some interview clips that never made it into the film. Pat, Meg, Charles and David had so many great stories to tell and we just didn’t have room for all of them in the final cut. But a number will see the light of day on YouTube so again, stay tuned to this page for more info on that coming soon!
Tag Archives: Pat O’Day
Staying Tuned in 2016
We’re a month into 2016 and we’ve got lots of news coming down the pipe in the coming weeks about I Am What I Play. First off, we continue to set up festival and special screenings. One of the stars of the film, Pat O’Day, finally got to see the film for the first time in January at a special one night screening in Bellingham, Washington at the Pickford Film Center. We’re told a full house enjoyed the screening and Q & A with Pat after the show.
There are back to back screenings coming up at Wellfleet Preservation Hall near Boston, as part of their Independent Documentary Series. Details here: http://www.wellfleetpreservationhall.org/index.php/wellfleet-preservation-hall-events/wellfleet-preservation-hall-film/event/4524-independent-documentary-series-i-am-what-i-play
There will also be another Boston area screening in late February with special guest Meg Griffin! Keep watching this space for details and of course have a look at our Screenings page on this site for more regular updates.
And in a few days, we will have amazing news about a special screening in Europe AND future broadcasts on Canadian Television.
Lots in the works!
And of course, we must say RIP to David Bowie who died on January 16. He and is representatives were so easy to deal with when trying to secure the rights to use the song DJ in the film. Of course, we took the title of the movie from a line in that great Bowie tune. He was always a true artist right to the end.
Finally, in our last entry, we highlighted a screening that was about to happen at The Regent Theater in Boston in late December. It was a smashing success with over 300 guests in attendance who enjoyed a special pre-screening meet & greet with Charles Laquidara. Some pics below.
Director Roger King and Charles Laquidara before the screening. Every theater should have a bar!
Canadian Premiere
Our Canadian premiere took place Friday May 8 in Toronto at the Royal Cinema. We were the opening film of the Canadian Music Week (CMW) Film Festival and we had a great turnout at the theater. This premiere was well-timed as CMW’s two-day radio conference had just wrapped up so a lot of radio industry titans were already in town. Many of them attended the screening and the film was very well received. Also in attendance was one of the film’s 4 subjects, David Marsden, who took part in an entertaining Q & A session after the film. We look forward to more screenings in Toronto in the near future.
I Am What I Play Premieres
Well, we are happy to announce both our American and Canadian premieres. I Am What I Play will screen at the Boston Independent Film Festival on April 26th at the historic Somerville Theater. Here’s the film page on their website with ticket information:
And then on May 8th in Toronto, I Am What I Play will be the opening film of the film festival portion of Canadian Music Week (CMW). This screening will take place at The Royal Cinema on College St. Another great venue. CMW is kind of the South x South West of Canada so we are thrilled.
Tickets available here:
http://cmw.net/film/events/i-am-what-i-play-canadian-premiere/
Much more to come on these two premiere screenings of course!
Our U.S. Distributor
Late last year, we signed a U.S. distribution deal with L.A.-based 7th Art Releasing. They will handle all U.S. distribution for the film on all platforms: festival, theatrical, television, digital etc. It’s great to be partnering with a boutique distributor with a 20+ year track record, specializing in documentaries.
We are starting with festivals and aiming to build awareness and buzz about the film.
http://www.7thart.com/films/I-Am-What-I-Play
And on that note, we are happy to announce the U.S. premiere of I Am What I Play will take place at the Boston Independent Film Festival on April 26. The festival is regarded by many as the best film festival in New England.
More details to come!
I Am What I Play trailer
Every film needs a trailer and we’re excited to share it with you now. Here’s a first look at I Am What I Play.
Be sure and follow the film:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Am-What-I-Play/297875140261718
Twitter: https://twitter.com/radiodjmovie
Free-Form Ambassadors
As we shop the film and start to do promotion at the same time, the question keeps coming up: why did we choose these 4 particular radio jocks? I think once you see the film, you’ll agree we’ve chosen wisely in terms of personalities/characters. That was the idea: to showcase 4 DJs who have had ups and downs in their lives, just like the arc of a movie character. But the big picture was to present 4 jocks whose careers would be symbolic of the profession, the medium and the heyday of rock radio. We’re very happy with the subjects of the film but no doubt there are other worthy disc jockey choices as well.
The common theme among our 4 DJs is very much about freedom. They fought throughout their careers to be able to continue to do what they wanted to do. One of the things we hope the film will do is to generate a discussion about the current state of radio. So here’s the ongoing question that we want to be a part of this film blog:
What DJs currently on air are still doing their shows in the free form tradition? Who is still playing what they want to play and saying what they want to say?
In the comments section, please name names: the DJ, the name of the show (if there is one), the city and the station. Give us a short description of the show as well. We would like this to be a place radio fans can visit and get a sense of the great radio shows that are still out there and where they can be found.
If we start to get enough of a DJ list going, we may create a separate Facebook group or web page dedicated to these free-form ambassadors.
Screen Shots
Over at the I Am What I Play Facebook page, we have been posting screen shots from the film on a regular basis. If you’re on Facebook, be sure and like the page for updates on the movie. We will continue to update this blog but the Facebook page has more up to the minute action:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Am-What-I-Play/297875140261718
Having said that, here are a few screen shots from the film:
Charles Laquidara in a 1970’s TV commercial for his morning radio show, The Big Mattress.
Meg Griffin in the WNEW studios in New York City, late 1970’s.
David Marsden being inducted into the Canadian Music and Radio Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2011.
Newspaper ad for Pat O’Day’s radio show in the late 60’s.
I Am What I Play Facebook page
Although the plan is to continue to update this blog, we live in a world of social media now, in case you didn’t hear. We’ll be posting regular updates about the film on the newly launched I Am What I Play Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Am-What-I-Play/297875140261718?ref_type=bookmark
Be sure and go to the page and “like” it and then you will be part of the I Am What I Play family and see those regular updates in your news feed. We’ve posted a few pics and other odds ‘n ends not seen on this blog so have a look and…like it!
Or if Twitter is more your style, we’re at:
https://twitter.com/voiceovercanada
But more to come here on this blog/site as well.
Testing, Testing
In February, we completed two test screenings of the film. Intimate locations – the screening room of a post-production facility. About 15 people in attendance each night. I served wine. I know it’s rock radio so an Australian Merlot doesn’t immediately come to mind but I’m just trying to add a touch of class to the proceedings. (Editor note: I even took a picture of the wine and glasses but my picture upload is not cooperating!).
Needless to say, it was a thrill to sit and watch the finished product with a live audience. Now I knew almost everyone at both screenings but it was still a nice mix of a few radio/voice over types, a few old friends, a couple of people who worked on the film and even a couple of strangers who have nothing to do with radio, TV or film. The feedback was universally positive – people really seemed to love the film. And I do have friends and colleagues who can dish out the constructive criticism when it’s warranted.
In this case, it was mostly constructive praise. Criticism was mainly of the “tweaking” variety. I gave them all a questionnaire to fill out at the end. Some comments:
“You meted out the story telling with each character in such a way as to make the point on that portion and move on to the next. I thought your timing was excellent. ”
” Well produced!! Very interesting subject matter, a great range of music, and visually compelling. ”
“The best film about radio I’ve ever seen.”
I was looking for any obvious holes or segments that didn’t work or make sense. There was very little of that so here we go: I have begun the outreach to broadcasters and distributors. Another journey has begun. I am trying to avoid the pounding the pavement on the film festival circuit, though Friday was the deadline for submitting to the Toronto International Film Festival and I dropped it off in person. Updates to follow!
