Private Project

TICK TOCK CLOCK

With rare documentary film footage, Tick Tock Clock is a groundbreaking, historical film showing the fun, innocence and joy of 1950s teenage life in Texas during the birth of rock and roll -- from teenagers who lived and filmed it. This film is a journey that ties the Past to the Present. The teenage, 50's films were shot only by the teens themselves from the time they were 13 years old through high school and were free to choose to film what they chose.

Through this journey of time, Tick Tock Clock takes us from the 1950s to Christmas 2018, when the Director finds out the old family home in Bellaire, Texas, Houston is being torn down. Emotions run high as she and her same three friends from high school meet at the home and watch as bulldozers as tear down the house. As trucks leave with pieces of the foundation, so do memories of jitterbugging to 78rpm and 45 rpm records of the likes of Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, of Christmas morning, teenage parties, and dancing on the roof.

Later, we see them as old, in their 70's, filled with memories of home but still having fun. It seems that when rock 'n' roll entered their minds and hearts as teens, long, long ago and stayed, way into old age. After all these decades, these friends find they can still dance to the same, sweet sounds of real rock 'n' roll.

  • Gail Reaben
    Director
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tick Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams
  • Gail Reaben
    Writer
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams (Completed but for opening shot of Havana airport and few minor details.)
  • Gail Reaben
    Producer
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tick Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams (Completed but for opening shot for opening scene, Havana airport, Jose Marti, and few minor details.)
  • Gail Reaben
    Camera or Cinematography
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tick Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams Completed. Just need B Roll of airport in Havana
  • Court Metrage, Cannes Film Festival, France, 2007
    Prior Screenings of Be Bop Babies
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tick Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams (Completed. Just need B Roll of airport in Havana.)
  • NXNE music & Film Festival, Toronto 2008
    Prior Screenings of Be Bop Babies
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tick Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams (Completed. Just need B Roll of airport in Havana.)
  • Worldfest Film Festival, Houston, 2006
    Prior Screenings of Be Bop Babies
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tick Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams (Completed. Just need B Roll of airport in Havana.)
  • Jecheon International Film and Music Festival, Korea 2008
    Prior Screenings of Be Bop Babies
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams (Completed. Just need B Roll of airport in Havana.)
  • PBS Televison, The Territory, Claremont Film Festival, France 2008
    Prior Screenings of Be Bop Babies
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tick Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams (Completed. Just need B Roll of airport in Havana.)
  • Worlfest Film Festival, Platinum Remi Award
    Be Bop Babies - Award
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams (Completed. Just need B Roll of airport in Havana)
  • Gail Reaben
    Editor
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams
  • Gail Reaben
    Writer
    Be Bop Babies, Vignettes of Long ago; Tick Tock Clock, Cuban Dreams
  • Genres:
    1950s era, Rock 'n' Roll, History, Christmas, Family, 1950s Dances, Texas Teenagers
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    18,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Worldfest Film Festival, Houston, Platinum Remi Award, 2016
    Houston, Texas
    United States
    April 9, 2016
    Premiere
    Platinum Remi Award, Documentary Short
  • On Location Short Film Festival Memphis, 2016
    Memphis, TN
    United States
    July 19, 2016
  • Chesapeake Film Festival, Maryland, 2016
    Easton, MD
    United States
    October 29, 2016
    East Coast Premiere
  • Comfits Global Community Film and Arts Festival, Toronto, 2016
    Toronto
    Canada
    October 19, 2016
  • GardenCity International Film Festival, India, 2017
    Bangalore, Karnataka
    India
    April 2, 2017
    India
  • Thin Line International Documentary Film Festival, Texas, 2017
    Denton
    United States
    April 21, 2017
    North Texas Premiere
  • Atlanta Award Qualifying Film Festival, 2017
    Atalanta
    United States
    May 27, 2017
  • Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival, 2017
    Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
    United States
    November 9, 2017
    Florida Premiere
Director Biography - Gail Reaben

Gail Reaben has an extensive background in audio, video and film production in various roles as producer, director, editor, art and film direction. She has a B.A. in Art, is an award winning filmmaker, artist and photographer as well as a published writer of mystical phenomenon.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My wish is that, through viewing Tick Tock Clock, the audience can experience the joys of growing up as teenagers as my friends and I did during a glorious era, when Rock 'n' Roll music exploded onto the national scene in the 1950's. I want to also share how some of those same teens, now in their late 70's, witnessed the demolition of the old family home where many teenage parties took place, along with the memories. Are they looking back or do they find a way to dance again toward happy times ahead?