The intersection of art and life are at the core of MUSIC FROM THE INSIDE OUT™, Academy Award® nominee Daniel Anker's cinematic exploration of music through the stories, the passions and the artistry of the musicians of the Musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The film is the result of a unique collaboration with the musicians themselves, and has been playing in theaters nationwide to critical and audience acclaim.

MUSIC FROM THE INSIDE OUT™ was recently nominated for the International Documentary Association’s Distinguished Feature Award. The film—an Emerging Pictures release—has been featured at film festivals around the world, including the Sydney Film Festival, the Full-Frame International Documentary Festival, the American Film Institute’s AFI Silverdocs Festival and the Valladolid International Film Festival. It began its national theatrical release in January 2006, following a four-month run in Philadelphia, five weeks in North Carolina, and two-months at New York’s Cinema Village. The film has since been shown in San Francisco, Atlanta, Tulsa, Kansas City, Columbia, SC, Minneapolis, Washington, DC, and elsewhere. Upcoming cities include Seattle (Feb. 17), Boston (March 3), Los Angeles (March 24) and Chicago (April 7). Check the website, www.mftio.com, for updates.

Filmed over a period of five years on three continents, MUSIC FROM THE INSIDE OUT™ is groundbreaking in style and approach: the main character of this film is “Music” itself. Incorporating a blend of well-loved musical works—including classical, jazz, bluegrass, salsa, and world music – the film features one of the most eclectic soundtracks of any recent documentary. 

It is a film that strives for passion and intimacy: The musical performances are interwoven with the musicians’ individual stories, each of which has at its core the struggle to find personal expression when one’s profession requires performance as part of an ensemble. Ultimately, the film attempts to break down the barriers that have long separated orchestra musicians and their audiences, and get to the essence of the magic and the mystery of music itself.

EDUCATIONAL APPROACH
Grounded in the "aesthetic education" approach to the arts championed by the Lincoln Center Institute and Harvard's Project Zero program, Music From the Inside Out™ raises questions that don't have easy answers, such as "Does music have color?" or "How does music work?" These ideas are explored through the musicians' own experiences, dialogues, and music-making. The educational and outreach initiatives being developed to accompany the programs were initially conceived with the help of an advisory board that includes faculty from Temple University, the Juilliard School, Harvard University's Project Zero program, and other institutions.

"MENC is a proud supporter of Music From the Inside Out™, one of the most innovative media ventures we've been involved in, says John Mahlmann, Executive Director of MENC, the nation's leading association of music educators with over 90,000 members. "Music From the Inside Out™ will enrich communities nationwide and bring to millions the message of how important music education is for people of all ages. The project's commitment to connect with ongoing school-based music education ensures that the series will benefit children across the nation."

SUPPORT
Music From the Inside Out™ is made possible through the support of numerous individuals and foundations in the Philadelphia area. "What has excited me," says Carole Haas Gravagno, Philadelphia Orchestra Board member and a leading advocate who has helped garner support of over $1 million, "is the way this project can light the fire for young people, by showing them how much music can mean to them. It is a wonderful vehicle for The Philadelphia Orchestra, but it will also help all orchestras gain the new audiences they so deserve."

An initial grant from the Presser Foundation, with follow-up grants from the Arcadia Foundation and Phoebe Haas Trust enabled the project to begin production. A major funding commitment from ITVS (Independent Television Service) will allow the project to complete production and post-production. Additional funding is being sought from private and government sources to enhance outreach in schools and communities across the country.

Music From the Inside Out™ is a production of Anker Productions. It was conceived by Daniel Anker, an award-winning producer/director whose credits include Marsalis on Music and three seasons of broadcasts of The Metropolitan Opera Presents. Among his honors are a Peabody Award, four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and multiple grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His most recent film, Scottsboro: An American Tragedy (produced and co-directed with Barak Goodman), received the 2001 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Non-Fiction Special, and was nominated for an Oscar this year in the category of Best Documentary Feature. It aired nationally in April 2001 on the PBS series An American Experience, shown locally on Philadelphia's WHYY-TV.