Through our research into our subject matter for Down on the Corner, we have discovered that there are a handful of other projects previously done on the subject of busking. however, these films have mostly centered on one or two individuals, or an event such as a tour/travel documentary or a festival type setting. ours will be different by focusing more on an area and everyone involved in the process/community of busking within that area.

as for participants, Luke and I have approached several musicians, performers, and entertainers downtown about participating in our doc and most all of them have expressed interest. we will now begin to make more solid contacts and begin scheduling interviews.

below is a copy of our treatment.

Treatment “Down On The Corner”

Director: Rob O’Connor

Producer: Luke Lamar

“If a street performer makes you stop walking, you owe them a dollar.”

In a market already saturated with bio-pics of individuals, “Down on the Corner” will provide insight into the legality and community of street busking in Wilmington, NC. Interviews with lawmakers, city officials, and police will establish the legality and rules associated with street performing. A participatory style of documentary will have our narrator spending time with many prominent street performers from the Wilmington area as we provide a platform for them to tell their stories to the public. Finally, we will apply all that has been learned throughout the documenting process to stage our own busking performance downtown, in an effort to illustrate the process and lifestyle for the audience.

            Though there are other documentaries featuring the various performers in numerous towns and cities, “Down on the Corner” is set apart by its focus on larger themes. This documentary will highlight the relationships between the buskers and the law and city, their sidewalk audiences, and each other. Not many other works have been produced with this focus in mind.

            Our intended audience for this film is somewhat wide. A large portion of our audience is the local population of Wilmington. “Down on the Corner” will provide insight into the lives and stories of some local fixtures that they see weekly, and yet know little about. On the other hand, we also target musicians, performers, pop culture enthusiasts, and appreciators of good entertainment. Anyone who would stop and watch a performance on the street.

            Our main stylistic element is the participatory filming style. The narrator will be present on screen as a “character” driving the documentary format forward. The only featured commercial recording will be the song “Down on the Corner,” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, as an introduction and theme setting piece about busking. The rest of the soundtrack will be mixed from live performances we experience while filming, as well as any necessary original scoring of our own.

            Robert (director) and Dustin Fleischmann (DP) have worked together pefore on a lyrical documentary about dance as an art form. It was filmed in a similar style and intention to this documentary. Luke (Producer) and Aedan Coughlin (AD) also have experience shooting and collaborating on documentaries in the area (The Beast).

            The film will be submitted to festivals as our distribution. We will target festivals focusing on local North Carolina Filmmaking, as well as those internationally that focus on music, performance, and similar human interests.

            Preproduction has already begun on the project, several performers have already been approached about participating and they have expressed interest.

            Our documentary will be funded by several local sources. We have partnered with local businesses to plan fundraisers and will be launching an online crowdfunding campaign.