IN THE BLOOD Film, history, & live music combine to illustrate the life, skills, & character of the turn-of-the-century Maine lumbermen & river drivers Sumner McKane: Creator/Producer : In The Blood Phone: (207) 807-8849 Email: sumner@sumnermckane.com Web: inthebloodmovie.com & sumnermckane.com
The first time I went up there...oh boy, it was wicked. I was a young fella, and I was scared! A couple nights, I guess I cried. I said I was goin home, I ll never make a river driver. -Thomas McLeod, River Driver, Vanceboro, Me
SYNOPSIS
In The Blood sheds new light on the character, history, and importance of these legendary Maine men. The experience is a virtual journey into the 19th century Maine woods. Lumbermen began living in camps in the Maine woods around 1820. They were the pioneers who created a selfcontained working community in the woods, and on who s backs the state s economy and history were largely established. They were unique in their character, strength, and skills, and they symbolize Maine s gritty and resilient reputation. These are some of the most notable figures in Maine's history; yet their significance is often overlooked by educators and historians. Up to the turn of the century, it was not a board of directors or a bureaucratic system that made the logging camp and industry successful, it was the skills, integrity, and personality of individuals. In The Blood illustrates and celebrates these individuals. The audience is taken into the woodsmen's rugged environment- into the camp, onto the haul roads, landings and yards, rivers and lakes. In The Blood creates a virtual world and brings the Maine lumberman s turn-of-the-century reality to life. With stories and descriptions told by the men themselves, In the Blood offers a seemingly personal experience- as though you are sitting in camp listening to the men. You will forget, at least fleetingly, you are watching on a screen and not in the woods or driving down a river.
IN THE BLOOD a docu-exhibit
DOCU-EXHIBIT: employing film, photography, ORAL HISTORIES, sound design, & LIVE MUSIC, to to tell a story- live. By presenting a historical subject in a contemporary and entertaining manner- using multimedia paired with compelling live music- a history lesson becomes an ENTERTAINING virtual journey into a bygone world. In The Blood uses the most captivating rare films and photos that Maine's archives have to offer. After over 3 years of research, combing libraries, museums, historical societies and archives, these films and photographs have been handpicked with careful consideration. Films and stunning 19th and early 20th century photographs are presented on the main screen. These are paired with still images on a smaller screen behind the musicians. Interviews, music and pristine sound design are heard through a stereo sound system. Narration and subtitles are used to clarify what may have been ambiguous in an interview. By taking such steps as creating 3D images out of 19th century photographs and editing historic footage and interviews to be clear and audible for all audiences, In The Blood has broad appeal and is an engrossing exhibition of film, music and history.
Screen 1 main screen: films, photos Screen 2 still images Musician Musician STAGE (Production dependent upon venue size)
THE MUSIC
McKane paints a uniquely American landscape, a travelogue for a cross-country trip from pristine New England winters to the wide-open expanses of the plains. -John Diliberto, National Public Radio's Echoes McKane is without question amongst the most talented songwriters, producers, and guitar players making ambient instrumental music right now. -The Silent Ballet The musical score for In The Blood- live, was composed to reflect the moods and environment of the films, photos, and stories. Based in McKane's own brand of ambientamericana, there are elements of ethereal soundscapes and textures, country-blues, post rock, hopeful melancholia, and traditional lumbermen's melodies- deriving from celtic and english folk songs. Melodic electric guitar and bass join textured sequences and manipulated loops of percussion- of which 80% were sampled from actual woods sounds (leaves rustling, axes, logs rolling, trees creaking, and walking in snow).
About Sumner Mckane
CURRICULUM VITAE WISCASSET MAINE SUMNER MCKANE: (207) 807-8847 SUMNER@SUMNERMCKANE.COM BORN 1976, Damariscotta, Maine ACHIEVEMENTS 2008: "What A Great Place To Be": Record Of The Month on Echoes- a nightly, ambient music show on National Public
Radio. 2008 "What A Great Place To Be": 2nd on EchoesTop-20 Essential CDs For 2008; top-5 on the Echoes Listeners Poll. 2006 Sumner McKane's original music was used to score the documentary: "Our Town" 2005 "Night Blooming Cereus": Top-5 on the Echoes 20 Essential CDs of 2005. 2005 Recorded the score for the award-winning documentary: "Closing The Circle". 2004 release: "North": Top-10 on Echoes top-20 Essential CDs for 2004 -The Sumner McKane Group has been featured 5 times, and have recorded four live concerts for NPR's Echoes. NOTABLE PERFORMANCES Opening support for: Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, George Jones, Keith Urban, Charlie Daniels Band, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Marshal Tucker Band, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Tanya Tucker, Big & Rich, Caspian, Tartufi. CURRENTLY Sumner is currently working on a similar project to In The Blood, titled THE MAINE FRONTIER: Seen Through the Lens of Isaac Simpson. "Select Visual History", Sumner's tenth CD release, will be available in February, 2013. Apart from performing In The Blood in Maine schools and
venues throughout the state, The Sumner McKane Group has been performing their live score for the 1920s silent film, "Nanook Of The North". The group also performed sections from their score for a feature on National Public Radio's nightly ambient music program, Echoes. Sumner recently scored and created sound design for the Berlin based designer and animator Lucas Zanato. These projects included an advertisement for OOMY.com, and the Berlin based HDS-UNIONE. For interviews & features on Sumner, on NPR's nightly ambient music show, Echoes, please visit: www.sumnermckane.com www.inthebloodmovie.com
DONT HIT YOUR SISTER RECORDINGS SUMNER MCKANE WISCASSET, MAINE PHONE: (207)-807-8847 EMAIL: sumner@sumnermckane.com www.sumnermckane.com www.inthebloodmovie.com
IN THE BLOOD A live docu-exhibit illustrating the life, skills, & character of the turn-of-the-century Maine lumbermen & river drivers www.sumnermckane.com www.inthebloodmovie.com