Lo-Man Productions
P.O. Box 631302 Houston, Texas 77263 * #713-627-0145
TO:
ALL INTERESTED PARTIES
RE:
SUMMARY:
“DANCING AROUND MY WORDS”
The Producers of “Dancing Around My Words – The Life and Times of Huey Long” have
prepared the attached summary to convey their objective of documenting the life and times of
Huey Long, an original member of the recording group, “The Ink Spots.”
The attached summary is a simple draft overview for discussion purposes only. A formal script
is being prepared by the producers based on the content of interviews taken with Huey between
2006 and his 103rd birthday in April, 2007.
Additionally, a benefit “Tribute” concert will be performed and recorded in honor of Huey’s
contributions to the evolution of Jazz music. This concert, with talent yet to be determined, will
be a separate stand alone program, which will be packaged with the documentary as a “Special
Bonus Feature.”
After reading the attached summary, if you are interested in participating in the proposed
documentary we request that you speak directly with either Nancy Tankelson (Producer) at 713838-8585, 713-725-9430 (C), or with Alan Ames (Producer-Director) at 713-627-0145, (O) 832265-0275 (C).
Sincerely,
The Producers
Lo-Man Productions
“Dancing Around My Words”
The Life and Times
Of
Huey Long
(A century of American culture and history)
Lo-Man Productions was formed for the expressed purpose of
creating a documentary film on the life and times of Huey Long, An
original “Ink Spot”.
Lo-Man Productions is presently producing "Dancing Around My
Words: The Life and Times of Huey Long – A Century of
American Culture and History.”
As a musician for the past 80 years, Huey has been an integral part
of American musical and social history. The Producers have come
together to produce a film based on this extraordinary man because
we believe that the richness of his experiences are a part of our
shared American heritage. By chronicling Mr. Long’s life, those who
touched him, and who touched us, we will be able to provide a
legacy to those who will be touched in the future.
Our intended market for this documentary includes a variety of
venues including PBS, BET, The History Channel, as well as other
educational, musical, and cultural programming networks.
Also included are primary and secondary schools and universities,
Museums and other cultural centers which will benefit from this
production.
-2-
CONCEPT:
“Dancing Around My Words” will interweave the story of Huey’s long life
with a variety of important events that have occurred over the last century
in our country, the world, and jazz. Documentation of these events, as well
as Mr. Long’s experiences will be reinforced by headlines, film clips and
photos of the evolution of life the Twentieth Century.
Numerous interviews with Huey between Thanksgiving day 2006 and his
103rd birthday on April 25, 2007 will compose the majority of the film, and
will be enhanced by various interviews of Huey’s friends, students and
professional jazz musicians as they recount their favorite memories and
stories from Huey’s vibrant past.
A musical soundtrack and “theme song” for the film is being composed and
recorded by various students of Huey’s, and the process will be included in
the film along with numerous sound bites from some of the most popular
songs of the era.
Through the stories Huey tells, we will be transported back in history on a
journey through the development of jazz music and its influence on
musicians of the 20th century. This, coupled with the stories “behind the
scenes” will provide an intimate overlay of the impact Huey Long has had
on many famous musicians and friends in his role as a jazz musician for
the past 80 years.
Some of the musicians who will be referred to in the film include:
Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Fats Navarro, Father Hines, Dizzy Gillespie,
Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Nat “King” Cole and Mose Allison to name
a few. Additionally contemporary musicians such as, Norah Jones, Al
Jarreau, George Benson, Kurt Waylum, The Manhattan Transfer and
others will be asked to contribute their opinions of Huey’s influence on their
style of performance.
The documentary will conclude with a live performance of Huey on his 95th
birthday performing one of his favorite tunes, “Route 66.”
The Live Concert
Additionally, the Producers intend to stage and produce a live benefit
concert featuring various artists performing songs from Huey’s legacy of
eighty years of musical performance. This will be coupled by a special
performance of Huey’s own musical creation of Chord Melodies*, an
innovative style of music which he developed.
Artists will perform a tribute song to Huey and then relate their favorite
Huey Long story or influence of Huey upon their careers culminating in an
“All-Star” finale and final words by Huey himself.
This concert will be filmed in Hi Definition Video and be included in the
feature film documentary packaging as a “Special Bonus Feature.” We
believe that there will also be television broadcast interest in the live
concert production both domestic and world wide.
The cost of production and post production of the live concert will be
approximately $25,000.00. This expense should be easily covered by the
standard “Advance” against royalties which major record labels provide
upon acquisition of programming.
The Producers intend to secure domestic and world wide television
distribution by attending NATPE 2007 -2008 and presenting the concept to
the major cable networks.
* TM