Peace Old Jazz Band – The Movie Starts On Kickstarter 3rd July 2012

Uli Gaulke is presenting his cinema documentary about the oldest band in the world – the jazz band of the Peace Hotel in Shanghai – on Kickstarter.com from 3rd July, 2012 in order to raise funds. After the award-winning and internationally acclaimed documentary features HAVANNA, MI AMOR (2000), MARRY ME (2003), COMRADES IN DREAMS (2006) and PINK TAXI (2009), his latest project is just about to be finished.

The budget for music rights was exceeded and 25,000 Dollars are to be raised within 30 days via Kickstarter, in order to make the film happen. The elderly gentlemen seen in the film greatly enjoyed improvising American big band classics and humming Elvis tunes. These scenes are often beautiful and touching and the filmmakers would love to keep these shots in the film. This will only be possible if the full music rights can be acquired.

There are exclusive rewards waiting for the backers – ranging from “Thank You” fortune cookies containing preview clips of the film and a special Kickstarter DVD edition, right up to the one and only chance to enjoy a private concert and a“Meet & Greet”session in Shanghai with the oldest band in the world.

News and background info about the band and the production of the film (including a timeline starting 80 years ago) can be found on facebook: www.facebook.com/PeaceOldJazzBandMovie. There is also the chance to WIN an overnight stay in one of the Fairmont Hotels worldwide (travel not included). We raffle among all those, who share their personal experience with the Peace Hotel Old Jazz Band on our facebook site. All you need to do is post a photo of your encounter with the band till 1st August, 2012.

Official launch date: 3rd of July, 2012 on KICKSTARTER.com.

About the movie:

This is the story of the oldest band in the world and their greatest adventure yet. Aged between 65 and 90, they come from Shanghai and they have been performing together every night since 1980. Each of the musicians has been playing jazz since the 1940’s. They have seen off the Japanese occupation, the Nationalists, not to mention the Communists and theirCultural Revolution. Then came the opening up of Chinese society and, finally, turbo capitalism – Chinese style. And throughout it all, the band played on. Jazz stands for individuality, creativity and spontaneity in a way that no other style of music does. In China, these qualities were regarded with suspicion for many years. Against all odds, these legendary jazz granddaddies never lost their love of music. They kept it alive and it, in turn, kept them alive.

But one big challenge remains. This film follows the band as they leave China to win the hearts of audiences at the world’s biggest indoor jazz festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam…

Director Uli Gaulke follows the traces of the past and signs of the times. He accompanies this unique band during their preparations for the challenge ahead: they have dedicated their lives to music and now want the chance to prove they can live up to the expectations of an insightful western audience. PEACE OLD JAZZ BAND is produced by Flying Moon, one of the leading production houses for theatrical documentaries in Germany.