MELODY MAKERS – Leslie Ann Coles (Canada, 2016) 95’13”

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Melody Makers’ captures the birth of music journalism during the zeitgeist of rock n’ roll through the lens of photographer, Barrie Wentzell, Chief Contributing Photographer, Melody Maker magazine (1965-1975) whose iconic, largely unseen photo archive, is the heart of the story.

MELODY MAKERS tells the true story of the rise and fall of the most influential music publication in history. Melody Maker magazine began as a weekly jazz musician’s trade paper in the 1920’s and by the 1960’s became an internationally recognized “must read” for rock n’ roll fans and musicians alike. Melody Maker became a pop culture phenomenon and this was, to a great extent, due to its Chief Contributing Photographer, Barrie Wentzell (1965-1975) and his black and white photos that blistered across the front cover.

Melody Makers features candid interviews with the Melody Maker journalists, musicians and other subjects who worked behind the scenes who infuse the film with humour, and offer new insight about the cultural significance of the paper at a time when rock n’ roll was in its infancy and confidences were kept. The journalists and Wentzell had unprecedented access – pre paparazzi, before the national press began picking in the idiosyncrasies of the artists.

Melody Makers is rich with anecdotal stories from behind pictures. Featuring candid interviews with the Melody Maker journalists, musicians and other subjects who worked behind the scenes who infuse the film with humour, and offer new insight about the cultural significance of the paper at a time when rock n’ roll was in its infancy and Melody Maker magazine was revered as the bible of rock n’ roll during this dynamic, formative and most controversial period in music history.

Alongside a very rare largely unseen iconic classic rock n’ roll photograph archive, our subjects take us on an extraordinary journey into the spectacular rise and dramatic fall of Melody Maker magazine as we experience the history of rock n’ roll through the rare images from behind the scenes; of young artists at the start of their careers who became legends; of live performances and crazed fans; and of images highlighting the artistic collaboration between the musicians and Melody Maker’s staffers. These pioneers of rock n’ roll blazed the trail establishing the tone, style and standard for music journalism today.

Leslie – Ann Coles transitioned from dance and interactive performance art to film and television in 1999. Her debut film, “In The Refrigerator” which she wrote, directed and starred in screened in over thirty-five film festival and garnered 13 international awards for Best Debut Filmmaker, Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Short Film, Best Avant Garde, Best Debut Filmmaker, and the Barebones Grande Jury Award for Filmmaker in an Acting Role.

Coles has won three CTV Banff Fellowships and is a Women In The Director’s Chair alumni (2006). As Founder and Artistic Director of the Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF), an independent women director’s festival established in 2001, she selects ninety independent films for the annual Female Eye Film Festival from over five hundred international entries every year. Under the auspices of The Female Eye Young Filmmaker Workshop she has mentor directed and produced 46 short films to date involving female youth at risk.

Leslie – Ann is evolving in convergent media platforms using interactive digital media and is very hands-on in the creation of her original productions including “Melody Makers”, her debut feature.