Trad USA Documentary Pilot
Director: Edel Fox
Co-Director / Producer: Dónal O'Connor
Director of Photography: Brennish Thomson
Production Sound Engineer: Mike Harmon
TRAD USA SYNOPSIS
"This groundbreaking, ambitious television series aims to celebrate the vibrant and enduring legacy of Irish traditional music in North America, where it has thrived for over 150 years. Contemporary in style, this cinematic and exciting series will embark on a journey to uncover the rich history of how Irish music took root and flourished in the U.S. and Canada. We will explore how emigration, the Vaudeville stage, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and Irish music festivals played pivotal roles in nurturing this cultural impact. Drawing on inspiration from films such as Country: Portraits of an American Sound and Ken Burns’ films Jazz and his renowned series Country Music, we want to tell the story of a changing Irish music scene in the USA – a scene that rose out of dire necessity and poverty, to become one of the most loved and enjoyed genres of music across the country.
Through this exploration, we will trace how Irish musical traditions arrived on North American shores, and how they intertwined with the social fabric of Irish immigrant communities. The series will reveal how music, song, and dance often became lifelines for survival and resilience in a foreign land, and how they continue to serve as a powerful expression of Irish identity, connecting generations of diaspora."
Below are test frames; NOT FINAL LOOK; shot and graded by Brennish Thomson.
Behind The Scenes stills from the TRAD USA production in Boston, MA.
All equipment provided by Studio23.
