Annie Benjamin | Night Bird

Annie Benjamin | Night Bird

BTS mini-doc about Annie Benjamin's "old school style" recording sessions for her stellar "Night Bird" album in Austin, Texas.

Director - Kyle Sullivan | Cinematography - Bill Schweikert | Producer - Michael Dawson | Art Director - BJ McDonald

About the album "Night Bird"
“Annie Benjamin | Night Bird” was produced by Brady Blade (Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews) and recorded/mixed by Chris Bell (Erykah Badu, Don Henley, U2). Music for Night Bird was tracked at Blue Rock Artist Ranch & Studio (Wimberley) and at Arlyn Studios (Austin) during a rare 2021 un-lock-down during the height of the Covid pandemic.

Featured musicians include Mr. Blade on drums/percussion, Glenn Fukunaga on bass, Dave Scher on guitars/vocals, and Mike Dawson on keyboards. Joining Annie as special guest on her "Night Bird" sessions is the legendary cross-genre accordionist and Grammy award winning music producer Joel Guzman.

  • Kyle MacKenzie Sullivan
    Director
    Trekspertise (2014 - present), Garden of the Gods (2021) -- more credits at iMDB
  • Annie Benjamin
    Key Cast
    "herself"
    Her Song (playwright, actor 2013)
  • Brady Blade
    Key Cast
    "himself"
    EmmyLou Harris, Daniel Lanois | Leo (2007), Reach Me (2014) -- more credits at iMDB
  • Glenn Fukunaga
    Key Cast
    "himself"
    The Chicks, Joe Ely, The Bodeans,
  • Dave Scher
    Key Cast
    "himself"
    Eric Johnson, Ruthie Foster
  • Chris Bell
    Key Cast
    "himself"
    Audio Engineer: Erykah Badu, Don Henley, U2
  • Mike Dawson
    Key Cast
    "himself"
    Roar Electra, Dawson's New Rage
  • William Schweikert
    Cinematographer
    A Song For Ruth (2021), Rust Belt Driller (2021), --- more credits at iMDB
  • Michael Dawson
    Producer
    A Song For Ruth (2021), Avalanche (1974) [uncredited]
  • BJ McDonald
    Art Director
    A Song For Ruth (2021)
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Black Magic
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • The Kitchen Sink Studios
    Santa Fe
    United States
    December 4, 2022
    North American Premiere
    Fans Invitation Screening
Distribution Information
  • Charles McGarry
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
Director Biography - Kyle MacKenzie Sullivan

Kyle MacKenzie Sullivan is an independent filmmaker based out of Birmingham, Alabama. He’s been involved in narrative and documentary films, including "The Death Of Dick Long "and "Union;" the award winning short film "Garden of the Gods;" and continues to create for the popular web series, "Trekspertise." Kyle’s last taste of high adventure was a month spent in the cold depths of Antarctica.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I try not to bring any preconceptions in when approaching a documentary subject. In my experience, just interviewing people provides a natural story, tension, triumphs, failures. People are filled with stories. A person is a story, especially to those who pay attention. And no one pays attention more than musicians.

I find that cinema is the highest art medium ever devised. And so, I always aim for cinematic in anything I do, even if its something as simple as the lighting and screen ratio. In fact, there's nothing simple about it.