Some backstory on the film: In addition to Ken Burns (PBS) and NPRs Tom Bodett and the many musicians who graciously contributed to the film (Carly Simon, Rhonda Vincent, The Black Lillies, Red Molly and Mirella Cesa) Many are people intimately connected to brain cancer. The inspiration was certainly my Dads diagnosis. It became a community one in support of local friend Mark Green. But it really is on behalf of anyone who ever has been, or will be afflicted with brain cancer. Opening percussionist, Todd Roachs father-in-law died from brain cancer. Beth Lavinder is the hoop dancer who will be performing with Todd. I saw her this past summer at the Roots on the River festival in Bellows Falls. She hoop danced on stage while James McMurtry and his band performed. I was mesmerized and asked her if she would like to come back (from her home in North Carolina) to perform with Todd and Mac during the Benefit Concert. She was thrilled to do so. March 28th is the anniversary of her dear friend who died .... from brain cancer. I had no idea. Within the film, there are many who have participated in honor of loved ones who have, or have died from brain cancer or are otherwise connected to brain cancer. 1) Internationally-recognized neuro-oncologist from The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center, Dr. Henry Friedman. 2) Australias leading brain cancer advocates: Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. 3) Jessica Oldwyn, Brain Cancer Blogger and researcher extradornairre. Her blog, Toom-ah?, What Stinkin Toom-ah! both chronicles her life since being diagnosed with brain cancer AND provides an astounding amount of information about brain cancer. 4) Dana Swanson. Dana has brain cancer. She is also a singer, actor, writer, comedian and the voice of SARA v3.0 for Tooanmi. 5) David Menasche, author of The Priority List: A Teachers Final Quest to discover Lifes Greatest Lessons which chronicles his life with Brain Cancer. He was a teacher until a seizure from brain cancer took his vision. The movie version starring Steve Carell will come out shortly. David provided 4 takes for his clip before settling on this one which is of him holding up his book, The Priority List Unfortunately David never saw this completed film as he died a couple of months ago. 6) Tommy Harvey, the boy being held up by the elephants trunk is from Mendon, MA. His younger brother passed away two years ago from brain cancer. The elephants name is Tai ... he is perhaps the most famous movie star in the film as he has appeared in The Jungle Book, Operation Dumbo Drop, and Water for Elephants as well as Britney Spears Music Video, Circus. Tai spent this past summer at The Southwick Zoo (owned by Tommys brothers elementary school teachers husband.) 7) The big group of students from The Dummerston School in Dummerston, VT participate in honor of a teacher from that school who died from brain cancer. 8) Neil Taylor, The Blind Masseur who lives and practices massage in Brattleboro, VT. Like David Menasche, Neil was a teacher who loved his work (at The Greenwood School in Putney, VT) before a seizure (caused by brain cancer) took his sight. He had to re-invent his life and now practices massage. We trade. His positive outlook on life is contagious! 9) Mark Green who decided to work for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure after he was diagnosed with the disease. Marks daughters are also in the film. 10) Others in the film have loved ones who currently have, or have died from brain cancer. For a disease that effects such a small percentage, I sure bumped into an awful lot of it. Please watch the film and (if you are not attending the benefit concert at The Opera House) click on the link that brings you DIRECTLY to the listing on CONCERT WINDOW TODAY to make a donation to watch the benefit concert streamed live on March 28th. Concert Window will email you on the day of the show, reminding you to tune in. Thank you. https://youtube/watch?v=DKsJziLW8t4
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 17:19:21 +0000
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