A LIVE: INNOVATIVE & ENTERTAINING COMBINATION OF

FILM, MUSIC & MAINE HISTORY

IN THE BLOODA live docu-exhibit illustrating the life, skills, & character of the turn-of-the-century Maine

lumbermen & river drivers

FILM: Sumner McKaneMUSIC: Sumner McKane & Joshua Robbins

SUMNER MCKANE: (207) 807-8847 // SUMNER@SUMNERMCKANE.COM

“The first time I went up there...oh boy, it

was wicked. I was a young fella, and I was scared! A couple nights, I guess I cried. I said I

was goin’ home, I’ll never make a river driver.“

-Thomas McLeod, River Driver, Vanceboro, Me

S Y N O P S I S

In The Blood sheds new light on the character, history, and importance of these legendary Maine men. The experience is a virtual journey into the 19th century Maine woods.

Lumbermen began living in camps in the Maine woods around 1820. They were the pioneers who created a self-contained working community in the woods, and on who’s backs the state’s economy and history were largely established.      They were unique in their character, strength, and skills, and they symbolize Maine’s gritty and resilient reputation. These are some of the most notable figures in Maine's history; yet their significance is often overlooked by educators and historians.      Up to the turn of the century, it was not a board of directors or a bureaucratic system that made the logging camp and industry successful, it was the skills, integrity, and personality of individuals. In The Blood illustrates and celebrates these individuals. The audience is taken into his rugged environment- into the camp, onto the haul roads, landings and yards, rivers and lakes. In The Blood creates a virtual world and brings the Maine lumberman’s turn-of-the-century reality to life.      With stories and descriptions told by the men themselves, In the Blood offers a seemingly personal experience- as though you are sitting in camp listening to the men. You will forget, at least fleetingly, you are watching on a screen and not sitting in a camp or driving down a river.

a “ d o c u - e x h i b i t ”

IN THE BLOOD

DOCU-EXHIBIT:A performance employing film, photography, interviews,

sound design, and a musical score to to tell a story, live. By presenting a historical subject in a contemporary and

entertaining manner- using multimedia with compelling live music- a history lesson becomeS a ENTERTAINING virtual journey

into a bygonE world.

In The Blood uses the most captivating and rare films and photos that Maine's archives have to offer. After over 3 years of research, combing libraries, museums, historical societies and archives, these films and photographs have been hand-picked with careful consideration.

Films and stunning 19th and early 20th century photographs are presented on a large screen This is paired with still images on a smaller screen behind the musicians. Interviews, music and pristine sound design are heard through a stereo sound system. Narration and subtitles are used to clarify what may have been ambiguous in an interview.

By taking such steps as creating 3D images out of 19th century photographs, and editing historic footage and interviews to be clear and audible for all audiences, In The Blood has broad appeal and is an engrossing exhibition of film, music and history.

Screen 1

Screen 2

still imagesmain screen: films, photos

Musician Musician

STAGE

(Production dependent upon venue size)

T H E M U S I C

McKane paints a uniquely American landscape, a travelogue for a cross-country trip from pristine New

England winters to the wide-open expanses of the plains. -John Diliberto,

National Public Radio's Echoes ©

“McKane is without question amongst the most talented songwriters, producers, and guitar players making ambient

instrumental music right now.-The Silent Ballet

The musical score for In The Blood- live, was composed to reflect the moods and environment of the films, photos, and stories. Based in McKane's own brand of ambient-americana, there are elements of country-blues, ethereal soundscapes and textures, post rock, hopeful melancholia, and traditional lumbermen's melodies- deriving from celtic and english folk songs. Melodic guitar and bass joins sequences and manipulated loops of percussion, of which 80% were sampled and from actual woods sounds- leaves rustling, axes, logs falling, trees creaking and walking in snow. The audience will feel as though they are leaving the woods when they leave the venue.

A b o u tS u m n e rM c k a n e

Sumner McKaneFILMMAKER ¦ COMPO

SER

CURRICULUM VITAEWISCASSET MAINESUMNER MCKANE: (207) 807-8847 SUMNER@SUMNERMCKANE.COM

BORN1976, Damariscotta Maine

ACHIEVEMENTS 2008: "What A Great Place To Be": Record Of The Month on Echoes- a nightly, ambient music show on National Public Radio. 2008 "What A Great Place To Be": 2nd on EchoesTop-20 Essential CDs For 2008; the top-5 on the Echoes Listeners Poll.2006 Sumner McKane's original music was used to score the documentary: "Our Town"2005 "Night Blooming Cereus": the top-5 on the Echoes 20 Essential CDs of 2005.2005 Recorded the score for the award-winning documentary: "Closing The Circle".2004 release: "North": top-10 on the Echoes top-20 Essential CDs for 2004-The Sumner McKane Group has been featured 5 times, and have recorded four live concerts for Echoes.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES Opening support for: Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, George Jones,

Keith Urban, Charlie Daniels Band, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Marshal Tucker Band, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Tanya Tucker, Big & Rich, Caspian, Tartufi

CURRENTLYThe Sumner McKane Group has been performing their live score for the 1920s silent film, "Nanook Of The North". The group recently performed sections from their score for a July 4th feature on National Public Radio's nightly ambient music program, Echoes.

Sumner has started creating a multi media exhibit and film that features Maine lumbermen and river drivers in the early twentieth century. He has also been composing music for a new documentary titled "From The Garden", by Red Door Media. He has scored and created sound design for the Berlin based designer and animator Lucas Zanato. These projects include an advertisement for OOMY.com, and Berlin based HDS-UNIONE.

Sumner is currently scoring and editing footage from Ivan Basse's 1938 films of rural South Dakota, which will eventually be presented with a live score from the Sumner McKane Group.

For interviews & features on Sumner, on NPR's nightly ambient music show, Echoes, please visit:

http://sumnermckane.com/index.php?/band/interviews-and-features/

DONT HIT YOUR SISTER RECORDINGSSUMNER MCKANEWISCASSET, MAINEPHONE: (207)-807-8847EMAIL: sumner@sumnermckane.com

www.sumnermckane.com www.inthebloodmovie.com

IN THE BLOODA live docu-exhibit illustrating the life, skills, & character of

the turn-of-the-century Maine lumbermen & river drivers

www.sumnermckane.comwww.inthebloodmovie.com