The shots in a film scene are usually not recorded in the exact order they will appear in the scene. Shots from one camera angle are recorded, then the camera is moved to another camera angle. Sometimes shots which appear back-to-back in the finished film are actually recorded on different days. Continuity from shot to shot is an important aspect of film making. Filmmakers must make sure that the actors’ makeup and wardrobe, as well as all of the scenery and props remain the same from shot to shot.

One of my students sent me a link to this video following a discussion of continuity. I think it makes the point pretty well.

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

I shot these videos back in 2009 at the Freedom Creek Festival in Old Memphis, Alabama. They feature Cedric Burnside and Lightnin Malcolm on the stage. They have been called the Juke Joint Duo and the Two Man Wrecking Crew. They sure do make some fine music.

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Hill Country Revue performs at the 5th annual North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic in Potts Camp, MS. The event is hosted by Kenny Brown who played guitar with the late blues legend, R. L. Burnside. This song was written by Kenny Brown and was originally recorded by R. L. Burnside. It is about Mr. Burnside’s wife, Alice Mae.

Hill Country Revue:
www.hillcountryrevue.com

More about the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic:
www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Saturday, October 16th at 3:30 p.m. in Northport, Alabama

Ben Prestage is a phenomenal entertainer. He travels all over the world leaving audiences stunned by his talent wherever he goes. The folks behind the annual Kentuck Festival in Northport, AL spotted him in my documentary, “Songs Inside The Box” and wanted to book him. I’m glad they did because I’ll get to see him again this Saturday and I recommend him to all my friends. Here’s a sample:

For more info:
www.benprestagemusic.com
Kentuck Festival
Songs Inside The Box website

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

That’s me on the right with the video camera. My wife and I made our annual pilgrimage to the hill country of north Mississippi for the 5th annual North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic on June 25th and 26th, 2010. Cindy took some still pictures and I shot some video.

The Rising Star Fife & Drum Band put on a wonderful performance with Sharde Thomas singing and playing the fife. Ms. Thomas is the granddaughter of the late Otha Turner of Gravel Springs, Mississippi. African-American fife and drum music was heard across the Southeast at one time but Rising Star is one of the few such bands remaining.

Later on they were joined by Ricky Davis of Blue Mother Tupelo on guitar, Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars and Hill Country Revue on drums, and Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars and the Black Crowes on bass.

The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is hosted by Kenny Brown who played guitar with the late blues legend, R. L. Burnside. The event is patterned after an annual event held for decades by the late Otha Turner of Gravel Springs, MS who is Sharde Thomas’ grandfather. Ms. Thomas learned to play the fife from Mr. Turner.

The Otha Turner family picnic (sometimes called the Goat Roast because goat sandwiches are served) is still held in Gravel Springs, MS each year on the last weekend in August.

OTHA TURNER’S FAMILY GOAT BARBECUE PICNIC
985 OB McClinton Road
Senatobia MS 38668
Show Runs All Afternoon/All night
Price: Free – Donations Welcomed!

Directions: On I-55, get off on the Senatobia exit and turn left (away from town) down Highway 4. Go approximately three Miles down that road to Gravel Springs Road (the second road to the right on 4 from Senatobia). Turn right on Gravel Springs Road. Go to the second 4-way stop and turn left (that road is OB McClinton Road) Follow that road about a half mile and the Turner’s Picnic is on the right. There will be lots of cars & people gathered there. Park along the side of the road.

More about Otha Turner:
http://www.othaturner.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othar_Turner

More about the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic:
http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

The North Mississippi Allstars perform at the 5th annual North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic in Potts Camp, MS on June 26, 2010. The Allstars are a trio but bassist Chris Chew could not be a part of this performance, so they were billed as the NMA DuoLuCo with Luther and Cody Dickinson performing. (Cody Dickinson plays the bass line on a keyboard while also playing drums!)

Here’s the opening of their set:

A the end of the set, the Allstars invited guitarist Kenny Brown and members of the Rising Star Fife & Drum Band to join them for a medley:

The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is a two-day event hosted by Kenny Brown the last weekend in June. It is patterned after the long-running annual picnic held by the late Otha Turner of the Rising Star Fife & Drum Band. “Glory Glory Hallelujah” was a favorite of Otha Turner and “Goin’ Down South” was written by the late R. L. Burnside with whom Kenny Brown played guitar.

Information about the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic can be found here:

http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

If you haven’t seen this video yet, you’ve got to check it out… Coffee spills in the BP conference room and things get out of hand.

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

My wife and I recently attended the 5th annual North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic in Potts Camp, Mississippi. We’ve attended every one so far and it has become an annual tradition for us. The two-day festival features over 20 bands from the hill country of north Mississippi, an area with rich musical traditions and some very musically talented families.

One of those families is the Burnside family. R. L. Burnside was a blues legend who passed away a few years ago. I loved his music and was thrilled to get to meet him and interview him for my documentary on Richard Johnston. R. L.’s son, Duwayne is an amazing guitarist and was one of the featured artists at the picnic. Cindy shot the photo above and I shot this video:

Duwayne Burnside toured with the North Mississippi Allstars for a while and that’s Luther Dickinson of the Allstars trading guitar licks with him. The sound quality on my video is not perfect because it comes only from an on-camera microphone and I was standing right at the foot of the stage behind the main speakers. That’s Duwayne Burnside, Jr. that jumps on the stage and bumps the camera. Later in the set, Duwayne, Sr. let Duwayne, Jr. play. I didn’t capture that with my camera but someone else did and posted it on Youtube.com:

The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is a great event which I highly recommend!

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Kenny Brown learned how to play guitar from Joe Callicott and R. L. Burnside. His guitar accompaniment was an important part of the sound of R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough popularized by Fat Possum Records a few years ago. Now that both Burnside and Kimbrough have passed on, Kenny Brown plays and records with his own band. He also hosts the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual festival in rural Potts Camp, MS that showcases music from the hill country of north Mississippi.

My wife and I attended the 5th annual picnic recently. Cindy took a lot of still pictures and I shot some video. Here’s a video with Kenny doing a hill country classic, “Miss Maybelle.” Kenny’s band is joined by Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars and Black Crowes.

And here’s a video with Kenny doing a song originally by Buster Brown which was popularized by Fleetwood Mac. He’s joined on guitar by Duwayne Burnside, son of R. L. Burnside.

Information about the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic can be found here:
http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Ben Prestage at the annual Alabama Cigar Box Guitar Extravaganza

I’ve known Ben Prestage for several years now and have had the privilege of seeing him perform on many occasions. He is a rare talent and his shows are truly amazing.

I saw this video for the first time today and want to share it. Much of it was shot at the annual Cigar Box Guitar Extravaganza held in Huntsville, Alabama. I was there in the audience.

Ben is from Florida and although he travels around the world he hasn’t been featured in Alabama as much as I would like to see. I’m very happy to see that he’s scheduled to perform at the October Kentuck Festival in Northport, Alabama. He is one of the performers featured in my documentary, “Songs Inside The Box.”

For more about Ben, visit his website:
http://www.benprestagemusic.com

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.