The Galway Film Fleadh in Galway, Ireland is already four days in, showcasing films from around the world. That pool of talent includes filmmakers and subjects hailing from Texas. The two music documentaries Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove and The Jones Family Will Make a Way highlight the diverse music community that makes Texas unique. The Doo Dah Man, directed by the UK's Claude Green, stars Dallas actor Glenn Morshower (24, Transformers).
Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove
Doug Sahm represents everything that is Texas music. He was a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. He mixed everything from hard blues to Tejano and created a style of music unique to the region. However, like most successful musicians, the road for Sahm was a constant struggle, juggling the fast life of music and raising a family with as much normalcy as possible. He caught the attention of the greats, including Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson who said Sahm's music was the best.
The Jones Family Will Make a Way
Austin music critic Michael Corcoran was tired of the stale music invading the air waves. And one day he was introduced to a riveting gospel group that motivated him to spread the good news about this Texas family. Bishop Fred Jones is an eclectic presence who promotes his family across the state and beyond. He teamed up with Corcoran to continue the journey spreading gospel music to unlikely places like SXSW in Austin, bars and other music venues to grab the attention of music fans outside of the church.
I interviewed Alan Berg who produced Sir Doug and the Texas Cosmic Groove and directed The Jones Family Will Make a Way about the films and getting into the festival.
The Doo Dah Man
Director Claude Green flew all the way from London to LA to have lunch with actor Glenn Morshower and convince him to the be the lead in this charming film. Fortunately Morshower accepted. The Doo Dah Man is the story of Jake (Will Brittain), a troubled college kid who runs away from his family and travels across the country in hopes to escape his unhappiness. In Texas he meets a charasmatic con artist named Smitty (Morshower) who shows him, more or less, the ways of the world and how to survive. They form an unlikely connection and are both transformed by the end of their journey.
I interviewed Green in May when it premiered at the USA Film Festival in Dallas.
