Doc - Archguitar Doc

Documentary Feature

Title: Archguitar Doc (Working Title)

Project Status: In Postproduction

Logline 

A documentary adventure about success, collaboration, and surviving while doing what you love.

Synopsis

This is a film about Peter Blanchette, inventor of his own instrument the 11-string "archguitar", and creator of a unique guitar orchestra. The Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra (HVGO) is comprised of players with a huge spectrum of experience: from a seasoned classical guitarist who has played with Leonard Bernstein, to a teenager who is just starting to learn. Getting them to play on the same level and in unison is a Herculean task. Some members wonder why a musician as talented as Peter would even bother to try and make it happen at all! This story brings up larger questions about the meaning of success, what it means to be an artist in America, and how it might be possible to survive doing the things you love to do. These ideals collide head-on with Peter's desire to raise a family, be a good father, and find joy in a world where we too often succumb to the financial pressures of our capitalist society, and stray from the joys that make life worth living.

Additional Project Information

We have over 100 hours of footage and worked with editor Malcolm Pullinger to begin carving out the story, but of course we couldn't raise enough money to hire him for the many months required to finish a fine cut of the film. As friends and collaborators with the subject and his family, Jesse and Paul are too close to the material to cut the film on their own.

Team

Director Jesse Epstein (Wet Dreams and False Images, Sundance Grand Jury prize winner 2004), editor Malcolm Pullinger (Winnebago Man, Following Sean, Best Documentary Emmy nominee 2008), Produced by Paul Odgren ("Living in America", listed on Top 10 Music Videos of 2010 in SPIN Magazine)

Financials

Available upon request

Seeking

Funds and/or Producing Partners to complete postproduction

Rights Available

All right available

Project Website

tinyurl.com/guitarfilm

Contact

Paul Odgren

paulodgren@gmail.com