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Pvt. Ravel's Bolero w/Outtakes Reel

A filmic poem & documentary including after it, the separate Outtakes reel mentioned at the top of the credits.

The reel includes, in order of appearance:
1. War Dogs – This research was found too late (including other animals) but something just had to be included about them.
2. “Le Poilu”, Ernest Karganoff's comments – The reading of this was purposefully “blown up” (disrupted) in the film to mimic/evoke the feeling of how frustrating war is (and how dangerous), in disallowing the viewer to access all the information one needs. A call out to the inability in war to achieve closure in so many ways, and on so many levels.
3. Scottish Bag Pipers – Another topic discovered late in research. Not only too late for there to be room for its inclusion, but as this is a French based film, it was not really correct for the film. But it was so interesting it just needed to be included somehow.
4. French Trench Soldier Slang – Another version of how frustrating war is and too fast. So some of these references are shown on quickly screen. Sometimes easily read, at times barely read and other time incapable of reading. But it was felt unfair to remain unavailable and so it was included here in a more easily readable format.
5. “J'Accuse” (1919), film info by Dir. Abel Gance – This was a fascinating story that should have at least had a brief reference to it in the film. Since there was not enough room for all the info available, it lands here in the Outtakes reel.
6. “The Khevsurs” – WWI Knight Crusaders – Yet another piece of fascinating piece of history I found that there really wasn't room for by time I discovered it. But I had to share it somewhere.
7. “Pvt. Ravel's Bolero”, just the poem – This was kind of a no-brainer, to allow the viewer to experience what initiated this entire project. Along with the Scottish Bag Piper video/info, it inspired the idea of making an Outtakes reel. Includes the voice actor's reading of the poem.

  • J Z Murdock
    Director
    "Gumdrop", a short horror
  • J Z Murdock
    Writer
    "Gumdrop", a short horror
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    33 minutes 1 second
  • Completion Date:
    January 24, 2022
  • 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
Director Biography - J Z Murdock

Filmmaker, author, writer JZ Murdock co-founded LgN Productions in 1983 and revived it in 2016. His first film "Gumdrop", a short horror has won several awards and his current project, "Pvt. Ravel's Bolero" won an award in its first week on the film festival circuit.

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Director Statement

"I had wanted to do something different after my short, disturbing horror film. I always liked Ravel's Bolero and wanted to do something filmic with my poem dedicated to WWI, France, Ravel and his famous piece, Bolero. This, is it."