interview w/Brooks Kohler 1.11.08
Brooks Kohler is an accomplished writer and independent
filmmaker, and I had a chance to catch up with him to talk
about his new documentary 'Bar Chord Harvest'. Below, is
the interview in its entirety.
-Randy Mallett, BannedPromotions.com
RM: My good friend Brooks. How have you been lately?
BK: Thanks for asking. It means a lot to have people take interest
in the film. For me, I’ve been good. I recently moved back from
Nashville to Southern Illinois and am slowly getting settled.
RM: Before we get to the film, tell us a little about your
past.
BK: You know, I’ve worn so many hats I feel like I could start
a costume store. Back in the early 90’s I was a grunge
rocker, banging my head in bars, and trying to get a
recording contract. When that didn’t work out I went to
college; it was during my early college years that I began writing, and that’s what took me to Nashville.
RM: What got you into writing, and eventually, filming?
BK: I did a little writing when I was in my early twenties, I guess to impress girls or something, but didn’t begin writing professionally until 2001. That’s the year I first got published. It was a bad time; my father had just passed away and my head was in a spin. I remember writing the story, but forgot sending it to the magazine. When I got the email it was going to be published it caught me off guard. I did a little dance around the office. My coworkers thought I was crazy.
What got me into filmmaking was the public library. My apartment was close enough to the library that I could walk there, and with money being tight, I spent a lot of time searching its archives for movies. One thing about the Nashville Library is that it has a great collection of movies, many of which are documentaries. When everyone was hitting the bars, I’d go home and watch movies. In a way, my TV became a film school. Almost every night I had something new to watch and learn from. I watched silent films, old sixty European films, all the indie stuff you could imagine, and documentaries, lots and lots of documentaries. It was out of this that I began to think about making a film.
RM: Some of your biggest influences?
BK: You can’t watch a documentary about great Hollywood directors and not learn something. Martin Scorsese said something that really made me think. He said, “When you don’t have a lot of money to make a movie. Make a good movie with no money.” If I had any single director to point to for inspiration it would be him. He grew up watching Italian movies on TV, many of which were cheaply made because World War II had displaced many of the great Italian actors and actresses. Working with what they had, Italian filmmakers focused their attention on compelling stories and worked hard to get the most out of their equipment. A lot of what we take for granted in cinema came from this era of filmmaking. It really appeals to me.
Outside of Scorsese, I’d have to say that Peter Bogdanovich has been a big influence on me. The first film I ever watched by him was, “The Last Picture Show.” It was filmed entirely in black and white and is one of the best depictions of small town life I’ve ever seen. Anybody who has ever read my short stories, especially my most recent stuff, will know I don’t always paint the prettiest picture of the picket fence home. To me, there’s an irony in calling the Midwest the Bible Belt. I mean, half the friends I got back here are either divorced or working on it. It took moving to the city to fully appreciate this. I think Bogdanovich understands that. Old habits are hard to break when they live across town. He took a chance with the “Last Picture Show.” Life is about chances.
I have a lot of influences, but I tend to gravitate toward filmmakers and writers who don’t really care what other people think. I’m not a big fan of contemporary movies or their feel. I don’t want every person in a horror movie to look like a model or want to watch some guy who can obviously get a date, any night of the week, complain about not being able to get one. Nor, do I want to see an independent movie where the film correction is so bad I have to wear sunglasses to watch it. To me, movies are about their stories and great dialogue. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that movies are about pictures, not dialogue. I’ve never understood that and being a writer, take it as an insult.
RM: Alright, give us a brief description of your latest project, 'Bar Chord Harvest.'
BK: Bar Chord Harvest is a documentary that features a collage of interviews and mix of original music from ten Midwest bands, none of which are signed to a major record label.
RM: What inspired you to do the film?
BK: In Nashville I noticed that bands had an advantage. By default people were interested in them simply because of where they were based. I mean, I could let someone in Nashville listen to a great band from St. Louis and they’d be like, “Cool, where are they from?” I would tell them St. Louis, and that would be it, end of conversation. Yet, when I let someone from Nashville listen to a great band living and working in Nashville they would be like, “Let’s go check them out!” It really got to me. I began to suspect that the only reason bands were getting recording contracts was because of convenience. After all, why sign a band living in St. Louis, when you could easily walk down the street and sign one playing at a local bar? I mean, I’m all for bands relocating to get added exposure, but when really great bands are overlooked because of their location in general, that’s lazy! I can’t prove that’s what’s happening, but then again I can’t prove that global warming is happening either.
RM: How many bands have you visited and interviewed over the past several months?
BK: I originally planned to interview five bands, but as the word spread I had more sign up. In the end, I interviewed ten bands over a three month period.
RM: Miles you've logged while travelling?
BK: I have no idea. I gave up on the first day when I logged 393.
RM: What was the biggest surprise you encountered while making the documentary?
BK: The cost. I never sat down and prepared a budget. Then again, I didn’t have any money when I began filming. I just hit the road and turned on the cameras. I think a lot of people who have a passion to create learn this. If I had known it would be so expensive, I would have probably never done it. With that said, I’m glad I didn’t know. I’ve made a lot of great friends while working on the film and learned a lot about myself.
RM: And what is the one thing that you learned, or discovered about bands in the Midwest while doing the film?
BK: I was surprised at how commercial the bands sounded, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. It really impressed me. There are some great recording engineers working in their basements. Several of the bands gave me finished albums, and I’m happy to report that I play them on a regular basis.
RM: I understand you have pretty big plans for Bar Chord Harvest upon completion.
BK: I’m planning to release it to festivals and universities first. That makes the most sense. I want to see how the crowd reacts to it. If a festival won’t show it, then maybe a university will or small theatre. The big thing is keeping a hype around the film without inflating expectations. I’ve been in meetings where producers claimed their film would make this and that in return. I’m not doing that; it’s dangerous. People start judging your success off monetary hype and not the movie itself. At this stage I all I want to do is get the movie exposure. If a distribution company takes notice and wants to work with me, I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
RM: What are your expectations from the film? I don't really mean popularity or new connections, but what do you intend for the viewers to think when they watch the film?
BK: This is a tough one. When I first started to make the movie, I approached it by wanting to make a statement, but in all honesty, outside the interviews and some really great music, I can’t see any that I’ve made. If anything, I hope that people will be able to empathize.
RM: Alright, when can we expect to see this thing?
BK: I’ve already finished the offline edit, which is a blueprint for the finished film. Now it’s just a matter of reloading the footage and editing in a better program. If all goes well, it should be ready by Summer 2008.
RM: Just one more thing. Any plans or ideas for another documentary? What's next for Brooks Kohler?
BK: If this works, I’ll definitely make another one; there’s a lot a great music being made around here. People need to hear it. If any of the bands get signed who are in it, I’d love to spend some time on the road with them for a follow up. That would be cool. One thing I do want to do, however, is turn a few short stories I’ve had published into short films. You know, use local talent, find a new star, that whole “out of the woodwork” sort of thing. I’m enjoying this. If God permits I’ll be doing it for a long time.
( www.bannedpromotions.com/bkohlerinterview )
