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STEEL DRUMS, NOT GUNS

By David HESS

Documentary - Completed 2009

The History of the Steel Drum and its relationship to Carnival in Trinidad.

- Year of production
- 2009
- Genres
- Documentary
- Countries
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Budget
- 0 - 0.3 M$
- Duration
- 30 mn
- Director(s)
- David HESS
- Cast
- Philip Michael THOMAS
- Producer(s)
- David HESS, Nick AQUILINO
- Synopsis
- The title of this documentary, Steel Drums Not Guns, refers to the philosophy of the Steel Drum makers of Trinidad, an island nation that has managed to eliminate juvenile delinquency. It is replaced with the spirit of competition among young people who are engaged in the creation and performance of steel drum music in the huge event known as Carnival. The story is told through the eyes of its participants.
  Carnival, as celebrated in Trinidad, is full of color, excitement, and pulsating with the life of the island nation, which is also the birthplace of the Steel Drum.
  For over 50 years the world has enjoyed the scintillating, pulsating music of the steel band, a product of discarded oil drums. The refined sound we now hear will be demonstrated by this documentary, a history of the Steel Drum and its place in the Carnival. During the finale of the Carnival, dozens of the steel bands compete in an event called “The Night of the Champions.”