The simple but compelling true story of an African-American vagabond named Joe. A former rail-rider, he has settled as a squatter in a secluded spot near downtown Los Angeles to live out his life in the small hut he has made his home. Dependent on the city and yet terrified of everything in it, Joe seeks a quiet life-style of simple needs and simple wants. The camera follows Joe through a day in this life, never intruding, showing only glimpses of his existence, painting a portrait of a unique individual.
Featuring music by B. B. King and Nina Simone
“…an eloquent, wordless documentary.”
Charles Champlin, Los Angeles Times
Produced as my senior thesis at the University of Southern California, Division of Cinema, 1971.
The world’s elite solo bagpipers form an all-star band to compete against all odds at the World Championships in an epic battle of the bands. Filmed in Scotland, Canada and the US, this award-winning music documentary offers all of the thrills and nail-biting suspense of a great sports movie. You don’t need to be an expert or enthusiast to enjoy this riveting tale of talent, perseverance and camaraderie. (Note: This is the 67-minute version of the film that aired on the CBC)
PLUS 3 FREE BONUS EXTRAS:
- 28-page photo-filled booklet about the band & the film (pdf)
- 18-track music album* (76 minutes, mp3)
- 12-page music album liner notes (pdf)
*Solo recordings (not on any other albums) by Spirit of Scotland band members Roddy MacLeod, Niall Stewart, Alasdair Gillies, Simon McKerrell, Stuart Samson, Colin MacLellan, Matt MacIsaac, Niall Matheson, Willie McCallum, Angus MacColl, Euan MacCrimmon, and Jim McGillivray, plus the band's medley at the World Pipe Band Championship finals.
The counter-culture revolutionaries of the 1960s protested against everything that was part of the “establishment,” from consumerism to the Vietnam War. The hippies sought self-sufficiency, living off the land, doing your own thing, and being as naked and natural as the land itself.
But decades earlier, there was Marshal South.
In 1930 this eccentric artist and author and his wife Tanya fled civilization in pursuit of a simple back-to-nature lifestyle. For seventeen years, they lived on a remote waterless mountaintop in the California desert and raised three children. Marshal’s monthly articles and Tanya’s poetry in Desert Magazine chronicled life in their arid paradise for a growing national audience. The family survived the Great Depression and World War II, but isolation and betrayal eventually took their toll.
Five “rock stars” of the bagpiping world get their kicks on Route 66 as they play an unforgettable concert tour down the Mother Road of America. Scottish pipers Willie McCallum, Stuart Liddell and Angus MacColl and drummer Jim Kilpatrick join forces with American percussionist Mike Cole in Chicago for the 2,400-mile journey to Los Angeles. Interweaving incredible music with the band members' personal experiences, the film entertains and enlightens, offering a unique view of America’s fascinating people and places through the eyes of these foreign visitors.
“He’s a Peeping Tom!” ~ Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox)
Every year, fans of BACK TO THE FUTURE from all over the globe travel to a quiet street in South Pasadena, California to visit the location of a pivotal scene in the movie: the "peeping tom" tree where George McFly (Crispen Glover) is saved by his future son, Marty (Michael J. Fox), changing history forever! That tree sits in the front yard of filmmaker John McDonald who couldn't resist documenting the passion and devotion of these fans as they regularly descend of Bushnell Avenue to touch (and sometimes climb on) a piece of movie history. (Running Time: 15 minutes)
The Misty Isle Pipe Band travels to Glasgow, Scotland in 2004 to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships.
This bonus package includes 21 separate videos that will totally immerse you into the musical talent of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band as well as some of its individual members.
- MSR Qualifier (BBC coverage with 4 cameras)
- MSR Final with Bob Worrall’s Commentary (BBC coverage with 4 cameras)
- Medley Final with Bob Worrall’s Commentary (BBC coverage with 6 cameras)
- Eaun MacCrimmon plays the entire piobaireachd "Lament to the Earl of Antrim" on the Isle of Skye
- 7 concert performances by Roddy MacLeod, Alasdair Gillies, Euan MacCrimmon & Angus McColl
- Stuart Samson, MBE plays at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland
- Busking on Buchanan Street in Glasgow
- 6 video tutorials of Roddy MacLeod’s practice recordings for the band with sheet music
- Roddy’s home practice of the band’s medley
- “The Proper Way to Tie a Necktie” with Alasdair Gillies
PLUS 4 FREE BONUS EXTRAS:
- Panoramic poster as band marches off the line at the World's (pdf)
- 28-page photo-filled booklet about the band & the film (pdf)
- 18-track music album* (76 minutes, mp3)
- 12-page music album liner notes (pdf)
*Solo recordings (not on any other albums) by Spirit of Scotland band members Roddy MacLeod, Niall Stewart, Alasdair Gillies, Simon McKerrell, Stuart Samson, Colin MacLellan, Matt MacIsaac, Niall Matheson, Willie McCallum, Angus MacColl, Euan MacCrimmon, and Jim McGillivray, plus the band's medley at the World Pipe Band Championship finals.
Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band member, Euan MacCrimmon, plays "Lament to the Earl of Antrim" at the site of the ancient school of piping on the Isle of Skye.
The 67-minute feature documentary PLUS a bonus package that includes 21 ADDITIONAL VIDEOS.
- MSR Qualifier (BBC coverage with 4 cameras)
- MSR Final with Bob Worrall’s Commentary (BBC coverage with 4 cameras)
- Medley Final with Bob Worrall’s Commentary (BBC coverage with 6 cameras)
- Eaun MacCrimmon plays the entire piobaireachd "Lament to the Earl of Antrim" on the Isle of Skye
- 7 concert performances by Roddy MacLeod, Alasdair Gillies, Euan MacCrimmon & Angus McColl
- Stuart Samson, MBE plays at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland
- Busking on Buchanan Street in Glasgow
- 6 video tutorials of Roddy MacLeod’s practice recordings for the band with sheet music
- Roddy’s home practice of the band’s medley
- “The Proper Way to Tie a Necktie” with Alasdair Gillies
PLUS 4 FREE BONUS EXTRAS:
- Panoramic poster as band marches off the line at the World's (pdf)
- 28-page photo-filled booklet about the band & the film (pdf)
- 18-track music album* (76 minutes, mp3)
- 12-page music album liner notes (pdf)
*Solo recordings (not on any other albums) by Spirit of Scotland band members Roddy MacLeod, Niall Stewart, Alasdair Gillies, Simon McKerrell, Stuart Samson, Colin MacLellan, Matt MacIsaac, Niall Matheson, Willie McCallum, Angus MacColl, Euan MacCrimmon, and Jim McGillivray, plus the band's medley at the World Pipe Band Championship finals.
In the final concert of the Route 66 tour in Pasadena, Willie plays a wonderful piobaireachd.
REDISCOVERING LOST GOLD!
The 1-hour PBS television special PLUS 56 minutes of Bonus Features.
Rugged idealist Marshal South and his family flee the city hoping to live off the land in the Anza-Borrego Desert, but their back-to-nature dream ends as isolation and betrayal take their toll.
The late television personality Huell Howser believed the South family saga was a quintessential California story. He produced a special episode based on filmmaker John McDonald’s documentary for his television series "California’s Gold" before the series was cancelled by PBS. Here is the intriguing episode that has never been seen before!
Oldest South child shares family heirlooms from Ghost Mountain at his home in Silver City, New Mexico.
REDISCOVERING LOST GOLD!
The 1-hour PBS television special PLUS 56 minutes of Bonus Features.
Rugged idealist Marshal South and his family flee the city hoping to live off the land in the Anza-Borrego Desert, but their back-to-nature dream ends as isolation and betrayal take their toll.
The late television personality Huell Howser believed the South family saga was a quintessential California story. He produced a special episode based on filmmaker John McDonald’s documentary for his television series "California’s Gold" before the series was cancelled by PBS. Here is the intriguing episode that has never been seen before!
BONUS FEATURES:
- "California, Here I Come" music video by Huell and the Musicians Institute
- Mark Jorgensen, former Park Superintendent, visits Ghost Mountain
- Oldest child Rider South shares family heirlooms from Ghost Mountain
- Post-screening Q&A with filmmakers and guests in Borrego Springs
- Musicians perform at Ghost Mountain’s trailhead
BONUS FEATURES:
- "California, Here I Come" music video by Huell and the Musicians Institute
- Mark Jorgensen, former Park Superintendent, visits Ghost Mountain
- Oldest child Rider South shares family heirlooms from Ghost Mountain
- Post-screening Q&A with filmmakers and guests in Borrego Springs
- Musicians perform at Ghost Mountain’s trailhead
The work-in-progress reel reflects the tone, though not necessarily the final structure of the film and is a 10-minute rough cut assembly of scene selects, not color corrected or mixed. The sample introduces the film’s main character, primarily using his voice to tell his story, showing him moving back and forth between living in the natural world and the man-man world, the people he encounters and the conflicts he faces. It also includes interviews with experts reflecting on the issues he raises. The minimalist music that blends with the natural sounds of the environment and sound effects is representative of what will be used in the final film.
One scene from the feature-length documentary work in progress MULE: Living on the Outside. It has not been color-corrected or sound mixed, and the music is temporary.