New Orleans musicians join forces to rally a storm-weary people We Shall Not Be Moved music video premiere, 'moved' by Hurricane Gustav, now set for Friday, September 19th at the New Orleans Museum of Art (scroll down for sneak preview)
More than 100 New Orleans musicians and vocalists came together over nine months to produce a music video based on a new arrangement the old spiritual, We Shall Not Be Moved. The project was conceived to heal, uplift and unify a people weary from their struggle to recover from Hurricane Katrina. After some twenty audio recording sessions and five weeks of high-definition video production, the two-act, ten-minute musical film short was to have had its premiere at the NO Museum of Art August 29th, 2008. The imminent arrival of Hurricane Gustav disrupted that plan.
After Gustav succeeded in scattering the residents of New Orleans once again, organizers decided it was time to "go live" on YouTube on September 2nd. The two videos corresponding to the two acts of the We Shall Not Be Moved musical film short immediately made the video-sharing site's Daily Top 10 Non-Profit Videos List. Viewer comments have been effusive and the videos are climbing their way up through the ranks of most-viewed non-profit videos. It is the hope of organizers that the videos will "go viral" across the web to gain worldwide attention.
In the midst of an exhausting hurricane season, the We Shall Not Be Moved ensemble of musicians is counting on the power of an extraordinary music video to reach into the heart of every New Orleanian, blast off the song-and lift up an entire city by their heartstrings. In the process, they hope to help both themselves and the people they love find, once again, the poignant, joyful harmony in which those afloat in this fragile bowl of land have always coexisted with nature's fury ... and with the ever-present waters that at once imperil and sustain them.
We Shall Not Be Moved is intended as an anthem for a joyful people who rushed back to their city passionately committed to rebuild and renew-but who could not have foreseen the enormity of the struggle before them. It is a rallying cry to cross a threshold, let the pain of the past three years flow downstream, and stride into the future with spirits soaring. This musical film short is, in fact, only the beginning--the launch of an ambitious non-profit project that the musicians of New Orleans are calling The Movement.
Proceeds from the premiere event will help defray the costs of producing the video and fund non-profit programs to heal, uplift and unify the people of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Contributing musicians (none of whom were paid for their participation) will receive a portion of the proceeds from CD sales & track downloads. The remainder of proceeds from CD sales & track downloads, as well as ALL proceeds from the sale of other merch, and ALL donations, will fund our non-profit programs moving forward.
When: Friday September 19th, 7:30pm to 10:30pm Where: New Orleans Museum of Art (City Park) What: Food, wine & live performances by lead vocalists to precede the high definition world premiere screening in the museum's auditorium at 9:30pm Dress: "Premiere Elegant" (casual chic to black tie) Tickets: available online at http://www.weshallnotbemoved.org or at the door
$50 World Premiere General Admission
$100 World Premiere Producer's Circle