Private Project

The Ballad of Donn's Depot

A derelict Texas train station is reincarnated as an Austin dive bar and becomes the center of a community of musicians, dancers, and friends. The Ballad of Donn's depot is an intimate musical and lyrical trip to a place you want to be.

  • Jay Curlee
    Director
    Rocking the Boat: A Musical Conversation and Journey
  • Jay Curlee
    Writer
    Rocking the Boat and hundreds of programs, series, and commercials.
  • Jay Curlee
    Producer
    Rocking the Boat and hundreds of programs, series, and commercials.
  • Susan James
    Producer
    Rocking the Boat and hundreds of commercials.
  • Matt Clark
    Producer
    Nearly 100 films and TV series.
  • Ben Yuri Biersach
    Producer
    Growing Old in a New Age
  • Michelle Beebe Nabours
    Producer
  • Kathy Rice Schmitt
    Producer
  • Chris Gage
    Key Cast
    "self"
    Hee Haw, Grand Ole Opry, Jerry Jeff Walker, Roy Clark., Austin City Limits
  • Donn Adelman
    Key Cast
    "self"
  • Frank Cavitt
    Key Cast
    "self"
  • Marcia Ball
    Key Cast
    "self"
    Treme', New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 42 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 14, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Distribution Information
  • Jay Curlee
    Sales Agent
Director Biography - Jay Curlee

A Vietnam era Army vet, Jay Curlee was discharged in Hawaii where he started a 20 year broadcast career making commercials and local programing. For the last 25 he has been an independent work for hire Director/Producer/Writer. He has a national PBS series, "Growing Old In A New Age," and an independent music doc about roots legend, Delbert McClinton ("Rocking the Boat"), to his credit. He lives in Austin Texas and is deeply imbedded in that music community.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The film puts the viewer In the middle of an intergenerational community where friendships and music create an oasis for the mind in challenging times.