Shot over the course of five years by first time filmmaker Al Hicks, KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON depicts the remarkable story of 93-year-old jazz legend Clark Terry. A living monument to the Golden Era of Jazz, Terry – a mentor to Miles Davis – is among the few performers ever to have played in both Count Basie’s and Duke Ellington’s bands. In the 1960’s, he broke the color barrier as the first African-American staff musician at NBC – on “The Tonight Show”. Today, after a life spent working with and teaching the most totemic figures in jazz history, Terry continues to attract and cultivate budding talents. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON highlights his friendship with the preternaturally gifted Justin Kauflin, a blind, 23-year-old piano prodigy who suffers from debilitating stage fright. Not long after Kauflin is invited to compete in an elite Jazz competition, Terry’s health takes a turn for the worse. As the clock ticks, we see two friends confront the toughest challenges of their lives. Kauflin’s work on the film’s score with composer Dave Grusin sets the tone for a story that spans decades, lifetimes and the entire history of modern Jazz, complete with firsthand anecdotes from Jones and Herbie Hancock. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON is a film crafted with great affection by Hicks – another former student of Terry’s – a grace note for his teacher, infused with soulfulness and serendipity. Paula DuPre’ Pesmen (behind the Academy Award winning THE COVE and the Oscar nominated CHASING ICE) produced the film with seven time Academy Award nominee Quincy Jones who also counts Terry as his mentor. Jones came on board as producer after literally walking into the film as one of its subjects, discovering Justin’s talent purely by chance during a visit at Clark’s home. (C) Radius-TWC
The heartwarming and crowd pleasing Keep On Keepin’ On has been on quite the journey. Over the course of five years, director Alan Ricks shot the documentary. In between filming, Mr. Ricks would work to save money to continue filming his first documentary. Working and filming was a cyclical process. The perseverance of the subject matters in Keep On Keepin’ On was also experienced by this filmmaker. Boulder resident Paula DuPre’ Pesmen met director Alan Ricks at the Sundance Film Festival when her climate change documentary Chasing Ice had its world premiere. Considering Paula’s backing of Academy Award friendly documentary content with Chasing Ice and The Cove, she knows an incredible film making project when she sees one. Alan Hicks moved to Denver to finish the movie as Davis Coombe at Milkhaus began the daunting process of editing the footage.
Very unexpectedly, I had a random opportunity to watch most of the footage from Keep On Keepin’ On almost a year ago at a rough-cut screening hosted for select members of the Denver Film Society where we offered our opinion and feedback afterwards. I saw the whimsical potential within the gritty footage within the incomplete movie. On my comment card, I wrote that Keep On Keepin’ On could be “the next 20 Feet From Stardom.” Harvey Weinstein agreed. After winning the audience award after its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Radius-TWC acquired distribution rights and released Keep On Keepin’ On during the awards friendly during the autumn.
Considering the various Colorado connections, the screening of Keep On Keepin’ On at the Starz Denver Film Festival felt like a homecoming. This was the best event ever hosted by the Denver Film Society which is quite the compliment coming from an organization that consistently showcases a top notch Movie Awards Party as well as Summer Scream at Lakeside Amusement Park and Film on the Rocks summer outdoor film series at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater. Denver Post Film Critic Lisa Kennedy moderated a post-film screening Q&A with director Alan Hicks, producer Paula Depre’ Pesmen, editor Davis Coombe, and subject matter Justin Kauflin. Appropriately, it won the first True Grit award at this year’s Starz Denver Film Festival which is given to Colorado filmmakers.
Alan Hicks first met Clark Terry when he moved to New York when he was 19 years old to study jazz through his friend James. Alan was honored to meet him and formed a bond during his time studying music in New York.
“[Clark Terry] told me I could play,” Alan recalled. “We went to dinner. And we hung out and started studying with him.”
Paula DePre’ Pesmen bragged about how terrific Alan was as a first time director and how proud she was of her team for Keep On Keepin’ On.
“[Alan’s] smart, intuitive, and a wonderful collaborator,” Paula said. “It’s been a great partnership through out the entire process…It’s another piece that has been so rewarding. I still cry every time I see the film because I’m so proud Al, Justin, and Clark and everyone has done such a good job.”
Paula mentioned how she was very happy that the film-making process embodied Clark Terry’s generous and talented soul.
“I think that Clark’s spirit definitely grew out of every second of the film. It wasn’t a matter of me doing it but it finding me. I have never been involved in a movie where everything came together. I think that joy for me has been shared by Clark’s goodness.”
Editor Davis Coombe had a lot of Alan Hicks’ footage to use in Keep On Keepin’ On. Having to figure out was a daunting challenge he had to overcome with the post-production process.
“This film is so much different because. It was really tough to figure out what to use in the movie,” he said.
Mr. Coombe wisely selected the best footage he had available for him which wasn’t a simple task. The interactions the audiences witnesses between Clark Terry and Justin Kauflin was magic unfolding on the screen.
While speaking and performing for the audience, Justin was happy to be in Denver for this screening. He has a happy-go-lucky, gracious spirit and is one of the most humble people I have interacted with in a very long time. With talent, charm, and a big heart, Justin has a lot going for him.
“It’s been a real treat working with this whole process.” Justin commented with a smile on his face.
Keep On Keepin On’ is opening on December 5th at the Sie Film Center. I highly recommend it as one of the best documentaries of 2014 and a sure-fire Oscar contender for the Best Documentary category.
