|
 Off
The Charts: The Song Poem Story
Directed by: Jamie Meltzer
At The 46th San
Francisco International Film Festival
Ever wonder what really goes on behind those quirky ads
you see in the back of periodicals like "The Enquirer"
or "Star?" You know, the ads that announce, "You
Too Can Lose 15 Pounds in 2 Days", or, "1001 Recipes
From Hungary" or "Become Recorded Song Writer?"
Well, Jamie Meltzer did and created a documentary on the borderline
scam-o-rama of the "song-poem" ad.
It's
a small ad that has been running for decades. They claim you may
have a hidden talent in your poem writing. Send them your words
and they'll send you a recording; Music put to your sonnet. Simply
write a poem, send it in, and a studio records it - usually verbatim
- and sends you back a 45 or album of your very own. Naturally
there's a "small" fee involved.
In
Off
The Charts, we meet several such folks that sent in their
money and had their words put to music. The out come is just hysterical.
With over 200,000 recording verified, there's, surprisingly,
never been a "hit" produced. But these folks are not
in it for the glory or fame. They just want their poetic inner
voices to be heard, for the most part.
One such poet, Gary Forney, inspired by his recording actually
dares to go on tour. Well a cheesy Folk Music Jamboree a few towns
over...he and his "guitarist" son perform his "Chicken
Insurrection" ditty with such commitment it would make Christopher
Guest sit up and take notice.
I for one had no idea these recordings existed, let alone show
up on album compilations, complete with mini-bios and photos.
Now that's a thrift shop find if ever huh? You can't begin to
imagine the lyrics some of the songs contain...the titles say
it all; "Me and Budda in a Red Toyota," " Nonviolent
Taekwondo Troopers" which is more of an ode to a bicycle
than troopers. Or say, " The Human Breakdown of Absurdity,"
oddly NOT penned by Crispin Glover.
Off the Charts is ultimately touching. It doesn't try to
mock, though come on! Look at the subject. Meltzer has given a
voice to an unknown (for the most part) bit of Americana, filled
with genuine people with an undying spark of belief their song
will be a hit. Find this film - it's a treasure.
Here's an Internet station that actually airs these songs->
|
