A LIVE:
INNOVATIVE & ENTERTAINING COMBINATION OF FILM, MUSIC & MAINE HISTORY
IN THE BLOOD A live docu-exhibit illustrating the life, skills, & character of the turn-of-the-century Maine lumbermen & river drivers
Film: Sumner McKane Music: Sumner McKane & Joshua Robbins
“ The fi rs t ti me I went up there...oh b oy , i t wa s wi cked . I wa s a y oung fella , a nd I wa s s ca red ! A couple ni ghts ,
I gues s I cri ed . I s a i d I wa s goi n’ home, I ’ll never ma ke a ri ver d ri ver. “ -Thomas McLeod, River Driver, Vanceboro, Me
S Y N O P S I S
The illustration that In The Blood presents, sheds new light on the character, history, and importance of these legendary Maine men. The experience is a striking virtual journey into the 19th century Maine woods. Lumbermen began living in logging camps in the Maine woods in the early 1800s. They were the pioneers who created a successful selfcontained working community in the woods, and on who’s backs the state’s economy and history were largely established. They were the innovators who established the method to cut and deliver hundreds of millions of board feet of lumber through thick forests and down crooked waterways, to the mills- using only horses, oxen, and manpower. They were unique in their character, ethics, morals, 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 stories, personalities and significance are 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, their character and history. The audience is taken into his 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. Employing stories and descriptions told by the men themselves, In the Blood offers an accurate, detailed, and seemingly personal experience- as though you are sitting in camp listening to the men after after a long workday. You will forget, at least fleetingly, you are watching on a screen and not sitting in a camp, driving down a river, or rolling on the yard.
IN THE BLOOD a “ d o c u - e x h i b i t ”
DOCU-EXHIBIT: A performance employing film, photography, interviews, sound design, and a musical score to to tell a story, live. By presenting a historical subject in a contemporary and entertaining manner- using multimedia with compelling live music- a history lesson becomeS a ENTERTAINING virtual journey into a bygonE world.
In The Blood uses the most captivating and 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 hand-picked with careful consideration. Films and stunning 19th and early 20th century photographs are presented on a large screen This is 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 Music ian Musicia n
STAGE (Production dependent upon venue size)
T H E
M U S I C
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 Š
“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 ambient-americana, there are elements of country-blues, ethereal soundscapes and textures, post rock, hopeful melancholia, and traditional lumbermen's melodies- deriving from celtic and english folk songs. Melodic guitar and bass joins sequences and manipulated loops of percussion, of which 80% were sampled and from actual woods sounds- leaves rustling, axes, logs falling, trees creaking and walking in snow. The audience will feel as though they are leaving the woods when they leave the venue.
A b o u t S u m n e r M c k a n e
Sumner McKane FILMMAKER | COMPOSER
CURRICULUM VITAE SUMNER MCKANE 9 Langdon Rd. Wiscasset, Maine 04578 Phone: (207) 807.8847 Email- sumner@sumnermckane.com www.sumnermckane.com www.inthebloodmovie.com BORN 1976, Damariscotta Maine EDUCATION 2000-2002- University of Southern Maine, B.A. in History, with high honors Graduated as a member of Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society 1998-2000- University of Montana 1998- Rocky Mountain School of Photography, Summer Intensive, Missoula, MT. SUMNER MCKANE/SUMNER MCKANE GROUPDISCOGRAPHY In The Blood- Score (2011) Nanook (2009) Something Very New England About This View, (2010 Heat Death Records, Manchester UK) What A Great Place To Be (2008) Two If By Sea (2006) Night Blooming Cereus (2005) Closing The Circle- Score (2005) North, (2004) Solo Acoustic Guitar (2003) Streams (2002)
Design (2002) Pictures For Stories (1997) 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; the 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": the 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 the Echoes top-20 Essential CDs for 2004 -The Sumner McKane Group has been featured 5 times, and have recorded four live concerts for Echoes. TOURING EXPERIENCE 2003-current: Perform regionally with the Sumner McKane Group 2004-current: Perform over 100 shows a year- from Maine to Tennesseewith contemporary folk/country artist, Don Campbell 2001-2004: Toured from Maine to Tennessee with country singer, Jenny Paquette 1998-2000: toured the Northwest U.S., playing solo finger-style guitar 1998-2000: toured the Northwest U.S., with Montana-based singer, Amber Marie Alameda 1993-1997: performed throughout New England with prog-rock power trio, Glass Onion
NOTABLE VENUES -The Grand Ole Opry- Nashville, TN -Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA -Wild Horse Saloon, Nashville, TN -The Capital Theater, Wheeling, WV - Maine Venues: Merrill Auditorium, Cumberland Country Civic Center, Bangor Auditorium, The State Theater, Space Gallery, Stone Mountain Arts Center, LL Bean Concert Series 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 TEACHING EXPERIENCE 2001-current: Guitar/bass teacher- Buckdancers Choice Music School, Portland, Me 2008-current: Owner and Instructor- Midcoast Guitar School, Wiscasset, Me. CURRENTLY The Sumner McKane Group has been performing their live score for the 1920s silent film, "Nanook Of The North". The group recently performed sections from their score for a July 4th feature on National Public Radio's nightly ambient music program, Echoes. Sumner McKane has been recording for music libraries that provide music for films, television shows, advertising agencies, and multiple forms of media. He has over 80 songs published in music libraries around the world. Sumner has started creating a multi media exhibit and film that features Maine lumbermen and river drivers in the early twentieth century. He has also been composing music for a new documentary titled "From The Garden", by Red Door Media. He has scored and created sound
design for the Berlin based designer and animator Lucas Zanato. These projects include an advertisement for OOMY.com, and Berlin based HDS-UNIONE. Sumner is currently scoring and editing footage from Ivan Basse's 1938 films of rural South Dakota, which will eventually be presented with a live score from the Sumner McKane Group.
For recent interviews & features on NPR's nightly ambient music show, Echoes, please visit: http://sumnermckane.com/index.php?/band/interviews-and-features/
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