DOCUMENTARY
INTRODUCTION
The documentary is a chance for the Boiler Room audience to delve deep into the lives, cities and cultures of the musicians featured in the three pre-recorded sessions.
Although this presentation focuses exclusively on Santiago de Cuba, we will be expanding the reach of the documentary to cover the other two cities featured in the sessions. The MANANA team have spent the last two years building connections with the Cuban Government, Cultural Institutions and the wider Cuban music community across the island and we will be using these partnerships to create a detailed, intimate portrait of the forgotten and hidden corners of the Cuban music landcape.
OUR APPROACH
We will be shooting a 40 minute documentary across the musical heartlands of Havana, Santiago and Holguin - the locations of our three Boiler Room sessions.
We will be selecting a mixture of strong, charismatic and multilingual musicians with a clear connection to the history of folkloric music to bring to life the colour and vibrancy of Cuba's musical scene. We have also chosen a presenter who is able to seamlessly navigate the musical and cultural landscapes of all three cities; his role will be to entertain and educate the Boiler Room audience, whilst giving them access to the island's hidden musical treasures.
OUR PRESENTER
ALAIN GARCIA ARTOLA
Finalist of the 2008 Red Bull MC championships, politically connected, charismatic and sharp as a knife, Alain is a born entertainer.
He was the star of 2010 documentary Golden Scars, is bilingual in English and Spanish, and is equally comfortable freestyling as he is writing poetry, singing Changui, debating politics, or talking about religion. As presenter of this documentary he can bridge the gap between modern Cuban music and the ancient Folkloric traditions of the island as a whole.
TNT REZISTENCIA
Alain representing Santiago and his band T.N.T La Resistencia at a photo shoot in Havana 2 years ago. These days the band have begun experimenting with a fusion of Hip Hop and traditional folkloric music.
MUSIC, HISTORY & POLITICS
Alain talking politics, music, and what the MANANA festival could mean for Cuba. He has a strong intellectual understanding of role of Folkloric tradition in modern Cuban music.
THE CHARACTERS
OFFUN
NAGBI
Offun Nagbi is the chief Babaaláwo priest in Santiago de Cuba
Babaaláwo is a spiritual title that denotes a Priest of the Ifá religion. The Babaaláwo ascertain the future of their clients through communication with Ifá. This is done through the interpretation of either the patterns of the divining chain known as Opele, or the sacred palm nuts called Ikin.
IFA PRAYERS AT SUNRISE
Babaaláwo's undergo training in the memorization and interpretation of the 256 Odu or mysteries, as well as in the numerous verses or Ese of Ifá. This is a dawn prayer to the Ifá gods on the hills of Santiago.
ORISHA CEREMONIES
Orisha ceremonies range from quiet offerings and prayers to full-on rum fuelled parties. They often take place in people's houses and courtyards and sometimes last for up to 8 hours.
CARLOS
GUERRA
Winner of Best Quinto Rumba percussionist for 3 consecutive years at the Conferencia del Oriente.
Carlos is the band leader of Obbatuke, one of the top three Rumba bands in the country. He has played with Muñequitos de Matanzas and Yoruba Andabo but has so far resisted numerous attempts to persuade him to move West to Havana. He's a joker, drinker and has a keen eye for the ladies.
ROOFTOP SESSION
Often a crowd will form on the neighbouring rooftops to watch and dance as Carlos practices. Music is at the heart of Santiago de Cuba and flows through the streets of the city.
OBBATUKE RUMBA BAND
This is a high quality MANANA recording of Carlos's band Obbatuke playing at the renowned Casa del Caribe, home of Santiago's Rumba scene.
GALIS
RIVERI
Galis is one of the last remaining Godfathers of Folkloric drumming in Cuba.
Founder of the highly respected 'Conjunto Cutumba' and a consultant for the government's 'Comisión Nacional de Evaluación Musical', he has mentored many of the finest drummers in Cuba, including percussionists from the legendary Yoruba Andabo.
COURTYARD DRUMMING
This video shows Galis playing the Bata drum with his wife and son. Part of the challenge in the documentary will be breaking down the complexity and finesse of the syncopated rhythms that exist within Folkloric music.
THE DRUM MAKER
At 76 years old, Galis is one of the most respected Fundamento bata drum makers alive today. He is an authority on Cuban Folkloric music, and is often sought out and referenced by musicologists.
WHAT NEXT?
NEXT
STEPS
MANANA have over 200 hours of additional footage, some incredible high quality recordings, and a partnership with a production company affiliated with Cuba's first online magazine Vistar.
If Boiler Room are happy with our approach, we can complete a similar presentation for the remaining two cities and circulate specs for the production equipment that is available in Cuba. We will also follow up early next week with a similar deck outlining our recommendations for the three Boiler Room sessions.
THANK YOU