College of Music alumna Barbara Bentree is now a documentary filmmaker.
During her career, Barbara Bentree (BME 鈥�80) has collaborated with Mouseketeers, her husband and even her high school classmates.
But through it all, the name of a fellow College of Music graduate kept coming up.
鈥淟ittle things happened along the way that would bring Dave Grusin into my life. And now, after all these years, I鈥檓 very happy to say that we have become friends.鈥�
Friends and, for the time being, interviewer and interviewee. Bentree and her husband John Rangel are producing a documentary about the life and career of Grusin (BM 鈥�56) with their production company and through their signature brand, Musician-Made Films.
鈥淚鈥檓 so honored to tell this story,鈥� says Bentree.
Now on her third documentary film, Bentree is also on her third career. After graduating she went to Los Angeles to sing, performing in musical theater and an acapella jazz group. Then came a three-year stint as a music producer on 鈥淭he Mickey Mouse Club,鈥� during the era that saw Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Christina Aquilera and more launch their young careers.
These days, she鈥檚 bringing her unique background and musical chops to the documentary film world.
鈥淚 think I have an advantage over some filmmakers because of my background in music,鈥� she says. 鈥淪torytelling, composition, variation, form and dynamics apply to all art forms, including film, and I learned about these elements through studying and performing music.鈥�
After creating films about women鈥檚 reproductive rights and the merits of attending your high school reunion, Bentree says her understanding of music has really come into play as she鈥檚 worked with Dave Grusin.
鈥淪ometimes you see documentaries about musicians and know that a musician wasn鈥檛 involved. The content they focus on sometimes doesn鈥檛 make sense,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 think part of why Dave trusted me with this story is because John and I are both musicians and we have the same focus.鈥�
The idea to tell the Oscar-winning composer鈥檚 story on film came when Bentree and her husband were on a road trip.
鈥淲e were listening to Herbie Hancock鈥檚 autobiography on tape. And we thought, if Herbie has a story about his life then Dave should too.鈥�
Since then Bentree says it鈥檚 been an honor to share Grusin鈥檚 expertise and experience.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how he was able to produce that volume of work at that quality鈥攗sing the technology the industry had at the time. He was working on several TV shows, scoring films, doing live concerts and starting a record label鈥� all at the same time!
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be an inspiring, uplifting film.鈥�
Bentree films composer and alumnus Dave Grusin during the making of a documentary about his life.
In his 50-plus years in the music industry, Grusin has scored dozens of films, including 鈥淥n Golden Pond鈥� and 鈥淭ootsie.鈥� He won an Academy Award for the score for 鈥淭he Milagro Beanfield War鈥� in 1988.
鈥淗e was a part of that incredible evolution in music from pencil and paper to computers. 听Dave has a wealth of information and reflection to share about 鈥榩rocess鈥� and the state of the industry,鈥� says Bentree.
Bentree says she can see the project turning into a teaching tool as well.
鈥淲e asked him specific questions about technology and technique that might appeal to a more niche audience. He鈥檚 a vast resource and as a teacher, I want to know these things, too.鈥�
Bentree says the common thread in her patchwork career has been her interest in learning鈥攁nd her education degree from the College of Music.
鈥淢y degree from 麻豆免费版下载has really been a blessing. In those lean years between incredible ups and downs, I could always get a job teaching music.
鈥淢y life is an example of how amazing it is to have a career in the performing arts. The diversity of skills that you acquire in music serves you well to keep working and have a very interesting life.鈥�
Read more about Barbara in the latest edition of Colorado Music Magazine >>
