BLUE NOTES & HIGHER GROUNDS
The Seaside Dixieland Band from Schouwen Duiveland has old players. Amongst them also the father of the director, who is 89 years old and plays trombone. The film follows the men as they are tortured by fysical problems, will they make it to perform at the famous Jazz by the Sea festival?
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Erik de BruynDirectorWild Mussels, J.Kessels a.k.a Road Duster, The Heart of Hadiah Tromp.
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Erik de BruynWriterWild Mussels, The Heart of Hadiah Tromp, Spring Song, Nadine, Guitar Kids
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Marc BaryProducerhttps://www.ijswater.nl/
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Anthon de BruijnKey Cast
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Project Type:Documentary
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Genres:documentary
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Runtime:56 minutes 27 seconds
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Completion Date:December 15, 2024
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Production Budget:180 USD
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Country of Origin:Netherlands
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Country of Filming:Netherlands
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Language:Dutch
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Shooting Format:Alexa Arri etc
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Aspect Ratio:2:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Distribution Information
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Omroep MaxSales AgentCountry: NetherlandsRights: All Rights
ERIK DE BRUYN studied Sociology in Utrecht & Film Arts/ Masscommunication (University of Amsterdam). His first feature film WILD MUSSELS (Opening Film Dutch Film Festival 2000) was nominated for Best Script/Best Actor, received the Dutch Film Critics Award Best Film 2000, the Youth Award for Best Film. An several other awards, as the Russian Film Critic Award at the IFF in Moscow 2001. 2007 NADINE, Erik’s second feature film was released; about the biological clock of a career-woman, starring Monic Hendrickx, Halina Reijn and Fedja van Huet ( from Oscar winning film CHARACTER). Opening Film at the IFF Mannheim Heidelberg. 2008 he directed for the famous VPRO Doc Series IN EUROPA, for BNNVARA crimeseries DEADLINE (2009), 6 episode costumedrama about the 19th century Kings of Holland: THE THRONE (2010). THE PRESIDENT (2011), his third feature, was awarded Best Comedy Feature in Italy. J. KESSELS ( a.k.a Road Duster) was his fourth feature (2015). Also this feature won international awards ( f.e. Grand Award, Int. Motor Film Festival London) and so did his two feature length Telefilms: THE HEART OF HADIAH TROMP (2017) about a Jamaican girl in the Dutch Navy (eight International Film Awards ) and HOPE (2016).
Erik also directed for the TV series VAN GOD LOS, Portraits of artists (Dutch Masters of the 21st Century). Two music documentaries: GUITARBOYS (2013) and RACOON: BLUE DAYS, SONG DAYS (2014). In 2014 he directed three episodes for tv series SMERIS (COPS) and CELBLOK H. In 2019 he made Dutch-Flemish mystery-thriller series GRENSLANDERS (FLOODLAND), (director, co-writer, co-composer and showrunner). End of 2019 he directed an item for National Geographic USA. 2021: ZWANENSPRONG, a tv film based on a theatre-play. 2022 was for writing on plans and directing an episode (5) for the NTR History Doc Series: RAMPJAAR 1672. ’23-24 he directed Ocean Smoke ( an episode for NTR Docu Series FOCUS. Dec. ’24 he realized BLUE NOTES & HIGHER GROUNDS, a documentary about a Dixieland band with old men amongst who his father. Erik de Bruyn also made short films as: SPRING SONG (2005). THE WITNESS (Winner Best Short Film Award of Italia, IFF Montecatini). He also directed commercials. (For portfolio see 'WORK' section on site www.erikdebruyn.nl )
Erik wrote several of his own movies, some scripts for others and for television. With editor JP Luijsterburg he forms the composing duo EDBJPL. See https://www.edbjpl.com.
He is a songwriter/singer for his band PEG WHALES (on Spotify).
I was struck by the bend like bamboo, wise resilience of the old musicians of the Seaside Dixieland Band, a musical group from the special peninsula of Schouwen Duiveland. I wanted to make a musical film, which for once would not follow the rhythm of the oldies, but would have its own rhythm, more in keeping with the dixieland that the old gentlemen practice every Friday night in the waiting room of the village doctor, who is also the drummer.
The question was, could making music together perhaps also contribute to healthier aging, and if so, roughly how does that work. However, I didn't want to turn the film into a medical leaflet either; for me it was about the band members. And especially also about my father Anthon, who is now 89 and has only learned to play the trombone since his retirement. He has to say goodbye to more and more things he loves in life, due to that old age and his rampant health. But when he plays dixieland with the Seaside men, he is fully alive again. I hope that this film, with its slightly melancholy, touching tone, some metaphors and especially the delightful music, can bring viewers a very pleasant experience.
Erik de Bruyn, director ( & composer score music)