A love of music unites the documentary subjects at the heart of Red Bull TV’s “This and Nothing Else: Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival,” directed by Christian Schultz. The 30-minute episode was produced by Red Productions (no relation to the brand) as part of an ongoing series celebrating unsung heroes who dedicate their life to one true passion. It was released in advance of this year’s Bonnaroo, which began June 8 in Manchester, Tennessee.
“I grew up in an artistic, musical family,” said Schultz, a New Orleans native, whose related work includes the 2016 Musicbed feature documentary, “Make,” and a Subaru Owner Stories project. “My dad dragged me to concerts, and until about 19, I was committed to music.” At that point, having played drums “in about 20 punk bands,” Schultz picked up a DSLR camera and started shooting local commercials, music videos and eventually, documentaries. “I like to understand the ‘why’ – why people do the things they do,” Schultz explained.
In “This and Nothing Else,” we get to know the “why” behind a handful of festival loyalists: John Parsons of San Francisco, a 53 year-old actor/musician/writer who has recorded more than 120 hours of sounds over the past 12 years at Bonnaroo; Squish, 8, and his mom, Amy, 36, of Louisville, heading to their 4th and 13th fest, respectively; and the Bonnagrannies, four friends from Nashville, who range in age from 86 to 91, and who inspire attendees and fans of any age to seize the moment and dance through whatever life has to offer.
Schultz called Red Bull “an amazing client to work with,” noting his appreciation for the trust they placed in him on the shoot. “The moment that most stands out for me as a filmmaker is when Laddie, 87, drops a line about how changes in music don’t faze them, because they have the beat and have loved dancing since the Charleston,” Schultz recalled. “Then to capture all these generations immersed in and uplifted by this experience was very powerful – a unifying moment for the film.”
In addition to the project for Red Bull, Schultz recently completed “My Tree of Life,” a beautiful and haunting exploration of the road back from addiction.
Bonnaroo aired live on Red Bull TV last weekend. Highlights, including performances and features like This and Nothing Else, are available on demand at redbull.tv and on the Red Bull TV app available as a free download on any connected device.
About Red Productions
With offices in Los Angeles, CA and Fort Worth, TX, Red Productions is basically a bunch of film geeks with the tools and talent to accomplish your goals to a level beyond what you’ve envisioned. (Blown minds are kind of our benchmark.) We stay ahead of the curve, constantly pursuing new, innovative approaches but always with the purpose of creating lasting impact. We dream big, then we wake up and make big happen. We’re not here to press ‘record’ – we’re here to find your story and go tell it to the world. We love what we do, and we can’t wait to share our passion with you. Just say the word.
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Image: Steve Pancrate via Pexels
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