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A documentary about 162 kids, one teacher and a song that defies gravity.

SOMETIMES A GREAT EDUCATION IS ALL IN THE NOTES.

Limperis_WFEF_PCARD.qxp 4/14/06 1:07 PM

Constantine Limperis phone: 917.769.7950 email: [email protected] web: whenfriedeggsfly.com

Short Synopsis A visionary teacher takes on the challenge to create community in a NYC public school as he leads 162 eight-year-olds and their busy parents from creation to performance of an original song about the environment. A musical journey for all generation.

Synopsis Teacher Bruce Mack has taken on a challenge. He has made a commitment to get 162 eight-year-olds at a public school in New York City to compose, perform and record original music with their parents. Serious rehearsals. No cutting corners. The topic is pressing: saving the environment. And it has to have a great beat.

When Fried Eggs Fly takes us on a musical odyssey of rhythm and sound. Bruce explains the sights along the way. A master of improvisation, he claims “music creates an opportunity to understand one another in a different way”. It can bring people together. This song is not being composed on software, but with simple instruments and the human voice.

Kids, both singers and the band have to buckle down and learn their parts. Parents, after a long day at the office, feel silly as they are asked to get in touch with their voices, humming sounds and then scatting out tunes. Kids try to rap to a simple beat. They brainstorm lyrics together. Everyone suddenly finds themselves out of their normal roles. Even other teachers get involved, writing the chorus as they gobble down sandwiches during a lunch break. It’s a transformative experience for everyone. But is it music? They’re the ones who will be on stage, putting themselves on the line.

The rehearsals get tougher. Bruce feels the pressure as the deadline approaches. The singers are having trouble hitting a note right. The enthusiastic rhythm section keeps missing the cues from the singers. They have to learn to work as a group, or the song will fall apart. Time is running out. Nerves, butterflies. Then, it’s showtime ...

Turn off your cell phones and get ready for a musical journey for all generations. You’ll walk away singing.


Bio Director/Producer Constantine Limperis

Before being drawn into the world of cinema Constantine Limperis had his roots in the visual arts. He worked as a freelance editor and director but always aspired to follow his own vision. After stumbling upon Bruce Mack conducting a group of children playing rich melodic rhythms, the idea was planted. With the discovery of Bruce Mack’s challenge to collaborate with so many kids, and the persuasion of a few P.S. 3 parents, “Fried Eggs” took flight. Compelled by the relevancy of the message and difficulty of the task Constantine picked up a camera with no money, no crew and began to shoot.

Contact: Unstumble Films LLC Box 20023, London Terrace Station New York, NY 10011

phone: 917.769.7950 web: whenfriedeggsfly.com email: [email protected]

More PR material is available on the website.


Director’s Statement

Several years ago, I walked into P.S. 3, an elementary school in New York City, and heard some curious sounds coming from the other side of the building. I saw a dread locked man conducting a group of kids on wooden instruments.

The music, layered with rhythms, was somehow melodic with a good dose of controlled chaos thrown in. I had never heard anything like it before and was told that the conductor was music teacher Bruce Mack. That moment has come to mind many times since.I later mulled over the idea that Bruce would make a good subject for a documentary, and actually submitted it to a television station. But nothing came of it and the idea went into the projects-to-do-someday-bin. Then Bruce decided to teach the kids how to write a song, and some parents mentioned the word video to me with a nudge. I thought of my binned project, but no, I didn’t want to do my documentary without a sponsor. I had responsibilities. Then, somehow, I found myself picking up the camera and started shooting rehearsals in Bruce’s classroom. Soon I was hooked.So, what’s so important about eight-year-olds composing a song in a public school? I asked myself this question as I started the whole process. At first the answer wasn’t obvious to me. It only became clear after many rehearsals and interviews. A song is created piece by piece. The ingredients are rhythm, melody, harmony and lyrics, favored by the character, ideas and even the humor of the artists putting it together. But it’s not easy, and songwriters of a certain age are not always ready for the discipline required. Did Bruce know that?

At the first interview, I believed that I was facing an idealistic teacher who seemed to have gotten himself into a tight spot attempting a difficult project with 162 squirmy kids. I had serious doubts that he would be able to pull it off and felt a bit guilty about filming it. Kind of like shooting a train wreck in slow motion. But Bruce never wavered. Neither did the children. They got tired, even bickered when someone kicked their chair, but stood strong. And practiced, practiced, practiced. I soon understood the importance of this work. Their commitment was contagious.

Some might consider writing a song together in school to be a simple cultural exercise, something only of local interest. But is this really all that it is? Bruce fights the same battle everyday that teachers fight everywhere: against boredom, apathy, and lack of confidence. Through making a song they learned things that are often very difficult to teach more traditionally: Self-discipline. Self-esteem. How to memorize. How to come up with ideas and implement them. How to recognize errors and move on. How to focus. Plus they got a chance to see their parents put themselves on the line as well. For a brief moment, they got connected.All this for a song...


CREDITS

Written and Directed by CONSTANTINE LIMPERIS

Photography: CONSTANTINE LIMPERIS WOLFGANG HELD MARTINA RADWAN RUBY PACKARD Editor: CONSTANTINE LIMPERIS Associate Producer: ANJA FISCHER Original Music: BRUCE MACK Performance Sound Recording: BEN MANLEY Audio Post Production Mix: NEIL BENEZRA, BROOKLYN SOUND SOCIETY

Featuring: BRUCE MACK STUDENTS OF P.S. 3 MAGNUS SWEGER LOUISE MAGRUDER-ALHADIDI LISA SIEGMAN REGINA CHIOU CINDY RODWELL-SIMON JACKIE SVATOVIC

Music: “PLANT ME HERE WHERE I SING” © 2005 composed and performed by the students, teachers and parents of P.S. 3 Improvised music performed by BRUCE MACK “DO IT, FLUID” written by DONALD BYRD, used courtesy of ELGY MUSIC

USA • Color • In English • 2006 © UNSTUMBLE FILMS LLC

Contact: Lily Shaw, Publicist [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tribeca Festival announces the world premiere ofWHEN FRIED EGGS FLY

A feature documentary by Constantine LimperisSometimes a great education is all in the notes.

A documentary about 162 kids, one teacher, and a song that defies gravity.

April 3, 2006 [New York, NY] – The 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express, is pleased to announce the world premiere of an Unstumble Films production “When Fried Eggs Fly”. First time feature director, Constantine Limperis explores one teachers’ vision, youthful passion, a ton of parents’ devotion and a collaboration that defies all odds. A musical journey for all generations “When Fried Eggs Fly” is a remarkable documentary about the creative process that will have you singing in your seat and tapping your toes all the way home. Press Screenings will be held on Fri, April 21 /12:30pm at Tribeca Cinemas (54 Varick Street, below Canal at Laight) and Fri, April 28 / 12:00pm Tribeca Film Center (375 Greenwich, Second Floor, between Franklin and North Moore) (Running Time 65 min). Press credentials are mandatory for attendance to screenings to apply please go to www.tribecafilmfestival.org/press-accreditation.

“Music creates an opportunity to understand one another in a different way.’ -- Bruce Mack Shot with a shoestring budget and a huge heart “When Fried Eggs Fly” features Bruce Mack, the students, teachers, and parents of P.S. 3 in their undying devotion to compose, score and write “Plant Me Here Where I Sing” an original song with a pressing topic: the environment. Candid interviews reminiscent of “Mad Hot Ballroom”, reveal both humor and depth. With serious rehearsals, no cutting corners and a few butterflies, these precocious 8 years olds scat, hum, tap and drum their way to a beat all their own.With Bruce Mack’s subtle persuasion teachers find their inner poet, parents relearn the meaning of play and a group of kids finds their voice. The end result is a heartfelt journey exposing the need, function and power of the creative process to reorient the way we think about education and community.

Before being drawn into the world of cinema Constantine Limperis had his roots in the visual arts. He worked as a freelance editor and director but always aspired to follow his own vision. After stumbling upon Bruce Mack conducting a group of children playing rich melodic rhythms, the idea was planted. With the discovery of Bruce Mack’s challenge to collaborate with so many kids, and the persuasion of a few P.S. 3 parents, “Fried Eggs” took flight. Compelled by the relevancy of the message and difficulty of the task Constantine picked up a camera with no money, no crew and began to shoot.

“When Fried Eggs Fly” will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival as part of the Family Series on the following dates/ times and locations.Sun, April 30 / 2:30pm – AMC Loews Lincoln Sq 1 - $12Wed, May 3 / Noon – AMC Loews Lincoln Sq 4 - $12Thu, May 4 / 4:15pm – AMC Loews 34th Street 12 - $12Sun, May 7 / 11:00am – AMC Village VII 3 - $12To purchase festival tickets please go to www.tribecafilmfestival.org.

For addition questions, a Press Pack, or to arrange interviews please contact:Lily Shaw at [email protected] addition information about the film please visit the website www.whenfriedeggsfly.com.

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