Watch The 78 Project Movie

The 78 Project Movie is a documentary that follows a passionate and curious team of filmmakers who set out to explore the connection between music, history, and technology. The film takes its name after the year 1878, when Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, a groundbreaking technology that changed the way we listen to, record, and share music.

The documentary showcases an innovative project, in which the filmmakers travel across America to record musicians in a unique way. Instead of using modern equipment and software, they opt for a vintage, yet authentic method of capturing the essence of music. They carry around a 1930s Presto direct-to-disc recorder and a single microphone, which they use to record live performances of various artists in different locations. The goal is to create a 78 rpm record, the format that dominated the music industry from the early 1900s to the 1950s, and capture the raw, unfiltered sound of music in a way that has not been done in decades.

Throughout the movie, viewers get to experience the intimate and spontaneous recording sessions of artists from diverse genres and backgrounds. From renowned musicians like Loudon Wainwright III and Rosanne Cash to lesser-known artists like John Doe and Jaron Lanier, the film showcases the soulful and powerful performances that come alive with the help of the vintage equipment. The filmmakers capture not only the music but also the ambiance of the locations where they record the artists. From a cabin in Virginia to a church in Mississippi, each performance is a unique and authentic representation of the artists' connection to their music and surroundings.

The 78 Project Movie not only showcases the artistry of the musicians but also highlights the history and technology behind the creation and preservation of music. The documentary provides a thoughtful reflection on the origins and evolution of the music industry, from the early days of wax cylinders to the dominance of digital music in modern times. It explores the ways in which technology has impacted the music industry, and how it has altered the way we experience and appreciate music.

In addition to recording the artists, the film also features interviews with prominent musicologists, historians, and audiophiles, who provide important context and insight into the significance of music and its role in our culture. They discuss the importance of preserving the oral history of music and the ways in which the technology used to record it has evolved over time.

Overall, The 78 Project Movie is a fascinating and emotional tribute to the power of music and its ability to connect people across time and space. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of music, the cultural significance of technology, or the transformative power of art.

The 78 Project Movie is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8.