KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON, the new documentary on Clark Terry and Justin Kauflin’s unlikely jazz connection is shared with the trailer and clips by the director Alan Hicks. We discuss the bond of the musicians, the fragile health of the 93-year old jazz legend and the crippling stage fright that has stricken his young protégé, plus how Quincy Jones became a producer on the film. Director Alan Hicks shares his own connection to jazz and the big wave he rode from down under to the world of documentary in this BYOD full length interview.

FILM & GUEST INFO:
In KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON, a 23-year-old, blind piano prodigy, Justin Kauflin, who suffers terrible stage fright, finds his way to jazz legend and teacher Clark Terry, 89. Over the course of filming, Terry begins to lose his sight as an unlikely bond begins to take hold.
When Justin is invited to compete in an elite international competition, Clark’s health takes a turn for the worse. As clocks tick, we are suddenly witness to two friends tackling the toughest challenges of their interwoven lives.
Terry, now 93, was Quincy Jones’ first teacher, and mentor to Miles Davis. He is among the few performers ever to have played in both Count Basie’s and Duke Ellington’s bands. In the ‘60s Terry broke the color barrier as the first African-American staff musician at NBC – on The Tonight Show. The film is by first-time director Al Hicks and producers Quincy Jones and Paula DuPre’ Pesmen (The Cove and Chasing Ice).

Prior to directing Keep On Keepin’ On, Australian Alan Hicks was a drummer, surfer, and former student of jazz legend Clark Terry’s at William Paterson University near New York City. Hicks began documenting the film, his first feature, as a college student and while traveling the world as a member of Terry’s musician ensemble in the mid-2000’s. Along with director of photography Adam Hart, they at times seemingly became part of Terry’s and (fellow featured subject) Justin Kauflin’s extended families. This in turn provided them dramatic and unprecedented access to intimately capture the unfolding story

ADD’L LINKS:
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http://thelip.tv/
BYOD Full Episodes Playlist:
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BYOD Short Clips Playlist:
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EPISODE BREAKDOWN:
00:01 Welcoming Alan Hicks, Director of ‘Keep On Keepin’ On’ to BYOD.
02:02 One of the subjects of the film, Justin, is losing his sight by 6th grade. Justin, meets Clark Terry.
03:10 The film is produced by Quincy Jones.
07:21 KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON, trailer.
09:45 KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON, clip: Justin and Clark listening to music together.
16:42 Alan sold his surfboard for a ticket to Sundance.
19:57 What lessons from jazz and Clark Terry that were carried into the making of the film?
25:03 The film is often Justin’s journey of finding out who he is.
27:11 Clark Terry never charged a student in his life for a lesson.
31:31 Clark Terry released an autobiography in 2013.
34:00 Thanks and goodbye.