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Fast Company is a fast fun film

9/30/2015

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By Christopher K House

Fast Company from director Jack Davidson is a fun short documentary film with a unique flavor. World's Fastest Drummer is a competition that calls itself "extreme sport drumming" for good reason, how many drum beats per minute can a person bang out? If you think 100 or 150, you'd be way off. It can run into a thousand. Fast Company is a quick glimpse into the competition created by legendary musician and world record holder Boo McAfee. In 1981, Boo drummed for 738 hours. That's not a typo, the man actually did that.

With short blasts of interviews with contestants and past contestants, we see inside this crazy fascinating competition. One that is growing each year in size and popularity. The whole thing was made possible by the "Drumometer" a cool piece of tech I quickly became fascinated with. Folks of all ages enjoy competing and revisit the competition each year. There's a strong competitiveness with the contestants, you find yourself rooting for one or the other. The film, brought to us by About Face Media and sponsored by Church's Chicken (because who else knows drumsticks better?) played at this year's Milwaukee Show at the MKE Film Festival. It was met by rousing applause, especially when Boo himself took the stage with his fellow film makers for a quick Q&A afterward. We had a chance to meet Boo and asked him a few questions. He is a genuinely kind man who was grateful for the positive reception of the film. I did ask about the possibility of a WFD competition here in Milwaukee, Boo said its possible so start brushing up your skills, I know I am. I really enjoyed Fast Company, if you see it coming to your area, be sure to catch a screening.

Rating A

Milwaukee Movie Talk - Can you tell us a little about your history? How did you get started drumming?
 
Boo McAfee - was raised in the Nashville TN area. Started playing drums when I was 12 years old. I had a friend who had a drumset and I had a new bicycle. He wanted to ride the new bike and I wanted to play his drums. So we would trade one hour at a time in the afternoons after school. By the time I reached 17 I had my own set, received by GED diploma from school and was out on the road working as a drummer. I was fortunate enough to make a living working with some of artist out of Nashville for most of my life.
 
MMT -  What motivated you to try for a world record and, what pushed you to go on for so long?
 
BM -  I was at a point in my life, bummed out severely and I needed to doing something impossible as a bench mark for myself. A personal goal if you will, it wasn’t designed as a musical or artistic journey. It could have been eating a bicycle or climbing Mount Everest etc….. I simply needed to pick the most impossible endeavor I could think of and if I was successful at that venture I believed everything would be easier by comparison……..
 
MMT -  Why did you create the Drumometer?
 
BM - I was 19 years old and at a trade show to see Mr. Barrett Deems (drummer for Louis Armstrong). Mr. Deems comes and says “hello folks, I’m the World’s Fastest Drummer.“ Out to my left I heard “Oh yea what machine did you use?” I turn and looked and there stood Buddy Rich, the greatest drummer in the world. Being young and impressionable, I thought what machine? Man! If we had a machine right now, what a great show it would be. We got ‘the world’s fastest drummer’ and the ‘world’s greatest drummer’ what a show!
 
It took 24 years and several engineers, but we finally answered that question, it’s now called the Drumometer……..

MMT - World's Fastest Drummer seems to be growing each year. How did the competition begin?
 
BM -  Well the drumometer was used at our drum school to measure the progress of students each week and out of that with the drummers physical and competitive mindset grew some friendly competitions. Johnny Rabb was the first in history to break the 1000 strokes (single hits) in 60 seconds and first to set the WFD World Record of 1071. From the first record we got the WFD ring and Championship belt and the act of Extreme Sport Drumming just blew up from there…..
 
MMT - How many contestants do you see each year and, do you see many returning contestants?
 
BM -  Well it varies from event to event. We have done some 106 competitions. We average I’d say 300 per competition of participants giving it a go, some are spectators, kids or family just doing it for fun. There’s usually about 75-100 serious competitors per event. We run preliminaries the first few days to find the top 10 fastest hands and 10 fastest feet. These top 20 contestants compete at the WFD Finals on the last day for Grand Prizes and world bragging rights.
 
Over the years though we have seen the level of serious competitors from around the world really explode. One good example is Peng Wang of China who started training for WFD at 10 years old and at 20 won the World Finals and became a WFD Champ. Peng had spent half of his life with the Drumometer training for WFD.
 
MMT -  About the documentary, how did that come about?  
 
BM - Well you know how one thing you do leads to another right? Well, all the videos and social media energy we had cultivated or nurtured over the last 15 years led me to a phone call with Milwaukee’s own About Face Media’s  Barry Poltermann and Dick Gillespie. Barry’s first question was “so what is WFD and why in the world would anyone want to watch such a thing?” I answered the best I could and then Barry enlisted director Jack Davidson of Milwaukee and we made a short film…… Jack came to our WFD South East Championships in April of 2015 and filmed for 4 days.  Out of that competition came most of the material and stories in the short film called ‘Fast Company’ that was shown at this years’ Milwaukee Film Festival. I must add what a fantastic honor it is to have the film shown at the Milwaukee Film Festival. I attended and it was fabulous.

MMT -  As for your sponsor, Church's Chicken. That seems like an odd sponsor, how did they become involved? 
 
BM -  Well, honestly nobody knows ‘drumsticks’ better than the World’s Fastest Drummers. And my friend, Church’s Chicken makes the World’s Best ‘drumsticks’. Right?  “It All Starts With The Drumsticks”. Having said all that, the synergy between drummers and their drumsticks are endless. On a serious note, Church’s Chicken has a strong commitment to music education and the community. WFD is an outlet and vehicle for Church’s to do some good in these communities. Example, at WFD World Finals 2015, Church Chicken and WFD hosted the Legends Awards. We honored three great drummers, D.J. Fontana (Elvis) WS Holland (Johnny Cash) and Richie Albright (Waylon Jennings). Church’s donated $1,000 in each of the three legendary drummer’s names to the W.O. Smith School of Music in Nashville TN. In support of local music education. Just one of many ways Church’s and WFD are working together to help music education and the communities. This is why Church’s and WFD are wonderful partners.   
 
 MMT -  What would you like to see for the future of WFD? How big do you see it becoming?

BM -  In the near future I see a natural progression as a WFD Reality Based Game Show and multiple platform gaming properties including an old school WFD arcade game!
My dream for WFD would be when Betty and Joe of Montana look down at their little grandchild beating with two spoons on the floor or pans they say ‘Who do you think you are? The World’s Fastest Drummer? Then head to the nearest retailer to support the development of that young inspiration!
 
MMT -  What do you see for the future of music in general? What do you think of the drum machines and electronic instruments taking the place of actual instruments?
 
BM - I think the future of music itself is going be an exciting ride for sure. There’s some great minds doing great things and this will continue. Having said that, the music industry itself is certainly going through major manifestations fueled by technologies and outlets that didn’t exist a decade ago. This evolution is an amazing sometimes scaring thing to be a part of.  

MMT - Drummers in films, have you seen any films about drummers that stand out? Whiplash for example was one of our favorite films from last year.  

BM -  The first drummer movie that stood out to me was ‘The Gene Krupa Story’. Sal Mineo did a fantastic job as Gene Krupa. I too like the movie Whiplash. If you recall the opening scene is black and you hear tap-tap-tap-tap- gradually getting faster and faster till it reaches his top speed! Right? This is the #1 drum rudiment called ‘the single stroke roll’ right-left-right-left etc…. It is the foundation and #1 rule of WFD.  Right? I get asked “Did WFD inspire the movie Whiplash?” My answer? “Man I loved that movie”!!!!

For more info on the World's Fastest Drummer competition, check out their webpage HERE


Boo McAfee enjoying the applause after the screening of Fast Company at the Milwaukee Film Festival
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Day 7 of the Milwaukee Film Festival

9/30/2015

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Every day during the festival we will try to fill you in on what we will be seeing and what our pick of the day is. 

Not a big day for us.  Chris was able to add the documentary Call Me Lucky into his schedule for tonight (the movie was our pick of the day on Monday).  But our pick of the day is Turbo Kid.  A throwback 80's action film with BMX bikes.  Chris was able to catch this one before the festival and he loved it.  Here is his review.  Chris' review of Turbo Kid 
Turbo Kid is playing tonight at 7pm at the Times Cinema.  Head over to mkefilm.org for tickets
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The Great Alone Movie Review

9/29/2015

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by Stephen Milek
Growing up I had a fascination with Alaska and the Iditarod so when I saw that there was a documentary about a musher coming to the Milwaukee Film Fest I got excited. I was hoping to get a chance to meet Lance Mackey but our schedules didn't work out while he was in town. But I did get to see the movie. And for those that like inspirational documentaries this is one for you.

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Milwaukee Film Fest Day 6

9/29/2015

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It's Day 6 of the Milwaukee Film Festival. And today our day jobs distract us from the festival.

While we won't be seeing anything today doesn't mean you shouldn't. And if you are going to see a movie today make sure it's the World Premiere of 30 Seconds Away at 6:30pm at the Oriental theatre.

If you didn't catch it here are our 10 Questions with Faith Kohler 
Be sure to check out what will surely be one of the most talked about movies of the festival.  


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Milwaukee Film Fest Day 5

9/28/2015

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Today is one of those days we are not going to make it to any movies. Basically taking a day off to spend with our families so our kids don't think we abandoned them.

But if you are heading out to the film fest today our pick of the day is Call Me Lucky directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. And if you only know him from his role in the Police Academy movies than you are missing out because he has made himself a well regarded director. After such dark movies like God Bless Anerica and Worlds Greatest Dad Goldthwait is back this time with a documentary.

Call Me Lucky is about Stand Up Conedian Barry Crimmins. Who is a very influential comic that not many have heard of. Goldthwait aims to change that with this documentary. Know for rapid fire political satire Crimmins launched the careers of many comics in Boston including Goldthwait. But the story is more that that and talks about Crimmins dark past and overcoming the trauma of childhood molestation.

Check it out today at 4:15pm at the Avalon theatre.

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10 Questions With Faith Kohler

9/27/2015

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One of the movies we are most excited for at the Milwaukee Film Festival is the World Premiere of 30 Seconds Away: Breaking the Cycle. This documentary is a locally produced and locally made film. The movie shines a spotlight on homelessness, a subject that many people don't think too much about. Cities across the country are struggling to find a solution to this increasing problem.

Faith Kohler decided to let the homeless tell their stories. She teamed up with producer Jessica Farrell and Cinematography Alex Block and began shooting the film. After 5 years the film is ready to be shown.

To find out more about the project we asked Faith 10 Questions. Check them out below.


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Jaws at the 2015 Milwaukee Film Festival

9/27/2015

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By Christopher K House

I make no secret when I say Jaws is my favorite film of all time. Needless to say, I was extremely excited when I learned it would be screened at this year's Milwaukee Film Festival. The giddy excitement built up and, when the curtains rose, I discovered it was an original 35mm print of the film. Not a restored, digital version but the very same print audience's first saw when Jaws was unleashed on the world in 1975. Do I need to review the film again? No, I think I've gushed enough over the years. This was the first time I caught it on the big screen and, what an effect that screen had. All the nuances missed on tiny TV's were loud and clear on that silver screen. What a joy to be among an audience that held folks new to the Jaws phenomenon. The squeals when old Ben Gardner's head bobbed out of the hole of his half sunk ship to the gasps of Quint's Horrific demise, it was awesome. This is another reason to see a film like this with a group in a theater. What an experience. Jaws remains my favorite film of ALL time, for good reason. 
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Finders Keepers Movie Review

9/27/2015

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By Stephen Milek
Every now and then there is a documentary that comes out is so bizarre you have to see it. This year when I heard about a movie at Sundance about a guy that finds a leg in a grill and won't give it back to the original owner and eventually they end up on TV's Judge Mathis. I knew I had to see it. The story would be a crazy fiction movie but the fact that it actually happened is mind blowing.  


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Uncertain Film Review

9/27/2015

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By Stephen Milek

It's always a difficult decision deciding what our partner film will be during the festival. This year we wanted to do something different and went with a documentary. What struck us from the trailer of Uncertain is how great the cinematography looked and the how intriguing it would getting a glimpse into life of a small town. It was a great decision and the movie truly delivered.

The movie gets its name from the name of the town Uncertain, Texas. The population in Uncertain is 94 and getting smaller. As the sheriff says in the beginning about the town "you have to be lost to find it". The movie focuses on three guys representing three different generations. Henry is the 80 something fisherman who has lived there his whole life and has a strong connection to the lake. Wayne is a recovering drug addict that moved to Uncertain to start a new life. Then there is Zach who at 21 sees no future for himself in Uncertain and struggles with addictions and diabetes. The fourth character in the movie is Caddo Lake. The lake is one of the biggest sources of income for the town but it is being choked off by an invasive weed. So like the town it is uncertain how long the lake will be around.

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Milwaukee Film Fest Day 4

9/27/2015

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A lot going on today and we couldn't pick just one movie.

To start the day off Chris will be at Jaws. This is his all time favorite movie so he is super excited to see it on the big screen. So if there is a grown man looking like a giddy school kid that's probably him.

While we won't be able to make it I highly recommend seeing Safety Last. The 1923 silent film will be accompanied by live music from the famous organ.

To finish the night off check is The Milwaukee Show Part 1. The Milwaukee Show is always one of the highlights and shows off some of the great local talent we have in the city.

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    Chris

    A film fan from an early age, Chris is a true cinephile. Starting with his first big screen experience, Star Wars to the current indie films, it's obvious he is obsessed with film. Chris has been writing about film and television since the early days of the internet.
    Follow on Twitter @TheFilmBully

    Steve 

    A lover of all movies. Steve will watch anything from classic silent films to modern horror films.  Obsessed with the Oscars and Film festivals. Steve prides himself on watching every movie on the AFI 100 Greatest Movies and every Oscar winner. 
    Follow on Twitter@MovieRPH

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