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Brought to Life: A Documentary about Colour Revolt
TYPE: Documentary Feature
GENRE: Documentary
STATUS: Production
LOGLINE
A decade after disbanding, the enigmatic indie rock band Colour Revolt continues to influence underground and mainstream music. COLOUR REVOLT: BROUGHT TO LIFE unearths their story, unfolding into a powerful exploration of identity, change and the search for self beyond the dreams that once defined them.
SYNOPSIS
Their sound inspired artists like Julien Baker, Manchester Orchestra and Brand New. Mary-Louise Parker wore their shirt on Weeds, and Johnny Marr of The Smiths once paused a show to shout out a fan wearing one. After 12 years of touring and three albums, Colour Revolt vanished without a word — leaving a deep imprint. What became of a band whose resonance has only deepened with time?
This film follows each member today, from social work to chaplaincy, as they reflect on how their lives have unfolded in unexpected ways. Along the way, we see artists cover their songs, connecting their music to a new generation. In the end, the film reveals how their journey continues to resonate and inspire.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT
Colour Revolt’s story repositions our definitions of success, deconstructing the notion that something must last for it to have lasting meaning. Those who have stood at the crossroads of pursuing dreams and building a sustainable life can relate. It would be easy to reduce this documentary to an exploration of what could have been. That isn’t the film we intend to make. Our movie meets each member in their current pursuits — a social worker, a painter, a missionary and others still making music. By stepping into their lives today, we explore a more universal question: How do we begin again when our dreams don't go as planned?
KEY CREW
Joshua Cannon, Barrett Kutas - Directors
Joshua Cannon and Barrett Kutas met in high school, touring and making movies ever since. In 2018, Cannon and Kutas formed ONE FOUR THREE, a collaborative creating film, literature and events while seeking out those with a kindred vision to tell stories and host inclusive experiences for all. Their work has premiered at Indie Memphis Film Festival, the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado and on MTV, TIME, The Fader and KEXP.
Ryan Earl Parker - Additional Photography
Ryan Earl Parker is a cinematographer whose latest film, the NETFLIX Original Documentary SECRETS OF THE SAQQARA TOMB, reached the #2 movie worldwide in its debut and is available now to stream. Also currently available in virtual theaters is the critically acclaimed film THE ARTIST’S WIFE (dir. Tom Dolby) -- starring academy nominees Bruce Dern and Lena Olin — by STRAND RELEASING. After premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, his latest narrative episodic RELEASE directed by Joe Penna (ARCTIC, STOWAWAY) is currently available on the streaming platform TOPIC. Ryan also lensed the feature documentary PARIAH: THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF SONNY LISTON which premiered last November and is available to stream on SHOWTIME. He is currently filming a new feature documentary from Emmy-Award winning and Oscar-nominated director Sam Pollard called THE HARVEST.
Sam Leathers - Additional Photography
Sam Leathers is a photographer and cinematographer living in Memphis, Tennessee. He has over a decade of experience shooting stills and video, and has worked as a video technician on high-end cinema cameras for over five years. His work has been featured on publications like The Fader and SPIN Magazine.
Russell Riley - Producer
Russell Riley is an entrepreneur, inventor, and project manager with a storied production background, organizing events and creating businesses from the ground up to serve the Greater Memphis area. He founded The Water Source in 2006, grew the company’s revenue from zero dollars to over a million before cashing out in 2021. He now pursues a variety of passion projects. A talented product developer, Riley’s The Pitching Edge, a golfing tool designed to practice your game indoors, was commissioned by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for use at signature events. From writing commercials to professional consulting, Russell’s key talent lies not only in getting a project off the ground, but finding its audience and marketing it efficiently.
Mica Jordan - Art Direction
Mica Jordan is a graphic designer with a decade of experience creating print publications. As a founding member of One Four Three, those skills allowed her to naturally step into the world of production design, overseeing the art direction for films. A dedicated producer, Jordan lays the foundation for every production. Mica is designing a book that accompanies this film.
Brody Kuhar - Director of Photography
Brody Kuhar is a Tennessee-based filmmaker with roots in Illinois. Memphis, his adopted home, has played a pivotal role in uncovering his artistic potential, offering an unexpected yet fertile ground for his growth as a filmmaker. His portfolio includes commercial, documentary and music video work. Mama’s Sundry, an award-winning documentary Kuhar created with Cannon, garnered attention at film festivals including DocNYC, Telluride’s Mountainfilm Festival and more.
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The Gotham Film & Media Institute is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding, developing and celebrating the people and projects that shape the future of story.