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Video: Nelson George and Roland TR-808
Photo/Nelson George
As part of Tribeca Film Fest’s Focus Forward Short Films, noted cultural critic, hip-hop head and film producer Nelson George gives us a two-minute and fifty-five second breakdown of the Roland TR-808 drum machine in “All Hail The Beat”. During the 80′s, the instrument of choice in the music of hip-hop, house, techno, electro, and beyond were influenced by the legendary 808. Even now, it’s still inspiring music producers and DJs alike. Very insightful.
Tribeca Film Festival Runs April 18 – 29
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| Photo credit: TribecaFilm.com |
The 2012 Tribeca Film Festival begins next month on April 18th and runs through the 29th in New York City. And with 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries (19 of which will be world premieres), there should be at least a handful of good films for the most eclectic movie watcher. This year I’m aiming to see five; last year I only had time to catch two as well as two filmmaker talks: the avant-garde documentary The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, which is a deeply moving story about the relationship between performance artist Genesis P-Orridge and his soul mate Lady Jaye; and the seductive drama Last Night starring Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington (Avatar), and Eva Mendes.
The filmmaker talks, which were held at the Apple Soho store, included one with Michael Rapaport, the director of the documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest and the other was with Stephen Mitchell, who documented American rockers Kings of Leon in Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon.
Nonetheless, I know I’m being super-ambitious this year with trying to see five films but there are so many good features I have to go all in. So we’ll see how this plays out. But here’s a list of the 2012 Tribeca films that caught my eye:
- 2 Days in New York – a seemingly sweet follow-up to Julie Deply’s 2007 comedy 2 Days in Paris. Now Chris Rock is in the role of Marion’s boyfriend.
- BAM150 – a behind-the-scenes look at one of the nation’s oldest performance arts centers, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn.
- Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey – rock documentary of a YouTube star who is now fronting the rock band Journey.
- The Russian Winter - documentary that follows Brooklyn-bred musician and former prison inmate John Forte as he embarks on a 2008 tour across Russia, once again doing the music he loves.
- Searching for Sugar Man – documentary about obsessed fans in search of a 70′s rock icon…that no one has ever really heard of.

