TechnoMECCA | The Detroit Sound Project: the independent feature documentary on the origins of electronic dance music

Film Background:

The documentary film, TechnoMecca (being rebranded as The Detroit Sound Project), and it’s educational companion website will explore the history of electronic music from an Afro-American perspective. It will focus on Detroit and how Afro-American dance culture in the late 80's catalyzed the development of electronic dance music around the world. Detroit is Techno and electronic music's “Mecca”, and the documentary, TechnoMecca, will explore the artists who created the sound, the artists that keep it alive, as well as, analyze the cultural events that caused it to develop in Detroit in the 80’s and spread around the world.

Detroit Techno organically grew out of the rich musical soil that spawned the Motown dynasty but the Detroit sound experienced an infusion of technology in the 80’s that changed the way the world listened to music. True electronic music lovers from around the world have respected Detroit as the birthplace of Techno and Electronica for years. But the role Detroit’s Afro-American producers played in the history of Techno, Electro, and electronic dance music in general, has been largely been overlooked by the mainstream in the US. Its development has largely been relegated to the European artists who dominate and capitalize on the scene currently. Very few people in the US, or even Detroit, actually know the term “Techno” was coined by Juan Atkins a DJ/producer who developed the music as a youth growing up in Detroit. The transmedia project Technomecca will engage and educate on the music while educating youth in technology literacy. Ultimately, this project will serve as an example and challenge for young film makers around the world to learn to create short-form non fiction films of their own. We want inspire youth, especially those in the blighted streets of Detroit, to take pride in and document their own stories. LEARN MORE

BIG NEWS!!! The first phase of the educational component of this film is live and starting Beta testing, visit the  Music Origins Project website to learn more!

Here is the latest sample segment from the film (filmed and directed by Kristian Hill and edited by Scott Chennault):

Here are a few pre-production (rough cut) clips for the film:

The Team::

David Grandison Jr.

Urban Universe Productions

http://about.me/davidgrandison

Portfolio

http://Grandison.info

Kristian Hill

Hailing from the Motor City - Detroit, MI; Kristian Hill, a celebrated veteran editor,videographer and quickly rising director, has excelled in the Film and Video Industry for 16+ years. His most recent editorial accomplishment, which earned him his first Screenwriter credit, is the critically acclaimed documentary + television mini-series "Icons Among Us: jazz in the present tense, " that has rocked the film and music industry and is currently on a world tour through the American Film Institute as an example of American film excellence for 2010. His Emmy nominated editorial projects have been featured on ESPN, NFL Network, HBO, BET, SITV and more. Other clients include: Warner Bros. Records, Overbrook Entertainment, Simmons - Lathan and HBO. Kristian resides in LA.

http://about.me/kristianhill

Kristian Hill's Video Channels: 

-VIMEO

Scott Chennault

A native of Detroit, Scott Chennault helps create powerful stories through vivid imagery.  Based in Los Angeles, Scott is a video editor who works collaboratively with clients to ensure their vision is expressed creatively and succinctly.  Scott's passion for editing is just as strong today as it was 10 years ago when he made his first edit - perhaps even stronger.

http://about.me/scottchennault

Demo Reel

http://www.iedit.tv

Scott Chennault's Video Channels 

-You Tube

-VIMEO

Partners and Cross Promotion Agreements::

The Learning Collective

Will provide assistance in the development and enhancement of the curricula to meet the needs of schools around the country.

The Afronaut Radio Show (Paul Grissom) and WHCR New York

The promotion for the educational component will be aided by a radio series on the history of African Americans in Electronic Music hosted by the radio host Aftonaut (Paul Grissom) on WHCR at launch time. A series of 3-5 shows will be videotaped for podcasts and also aired and posted on a pages that will be created UrbanThinking.net until the Music Origins website is complete. Each show will be video taped, as well, to be used in the film. 

The Wireless Harlem initiative will provide fundraising assistance and technical assistance in setting up WiFi hotspots at important historic locations in Detroit and other cities around the country. This will enable free access to the website's historic information via mobile devices and the app.

The Interviews::
Jeff Mills, Eddie “Flashin” Fowlkes, Carl Craig, Derrick May, Rolando, Kyle Hall, Alton Miller, DJ Dez, Chez Damier, Terrance Parker, Anthony “Shake” Shakur, Alton Miller, Brendan M. Gillen of Ectomorph, Piranhahead, Norm Talley, Brett, Dancer, Larry Heard, Osunlade, Mike Clark, Kenny Larken, Kai Alce, Sundiata, Paris "The Blac Fu" of the Detroit Grand Pubahs, Glenn Underground, DJ Assault, DJ Godfather, Malik Alston, Al Ester, Aril Brikha, Kieth Worthy, Reggie Dokes, Kimyon, The Roots, Mos Def,  Alexander Robotnick, DJ Spooky...and A Guy Called Gerald.