The covid pandemic of 2020-21 was perhaps the greatest disruption to American society and pop culture in this country’s history. This documentary follows Joshua Jones, general manager of Dallas-based indie Americana radio station KHYI-FM, as he struggles to produce the silver anniversary of a beloved roots music festival in the wake of that pandemic.
Against a backdrop of stories and performances by Texas music artists Ray Wylie Hubbard, Charley Crockett, Joshua Ray Walker, The Derailers, and Kiefer Sutherland, Joshua’s heroic journey mirrors the themes that express the genre of Texas Country Music itself: Dedication, heartbreak, faith, and redemption … With a healthy bit of humor.
In a welcome return from dark times, Texas Music Revolution is a celebration of Texas, its people, and their music.
Troy’s career in film and television has been an irreverent one, with two decades of adventures around the globe on Emmy winning nonfiction projects for Discovery, CNN, NatGeo, MSNBC, Travel, A&E, History, etc. He is best known for Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe (two Emmy nominations for Cinematography), Zimmern List (Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program), Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Wicked Tuna, and Somebody’s Got to Do It. Texas Music Revolution is Troy’s feature debut as a director.
Director Statement
Two decades of exploration as a nonfiction storyteller has galvanized my conviction that we all have fascinating and resonant stories to tell. Whether around the world or close to home, the stakes and motivations of the common man are what bind us and inspire us to greater heights. To me, this dynamic of human potential is far more compelling than the grandiose fiction of big budget cinema and escapist television. It’s in this world that I find my calling.
It’s not easy capturing real life. In fact it’s impossible. The presence of the filmmaker adds a foreign element to the general unfolding of things, and his presence is a poison unless a degree of trust has been built between filmmaker and subject. By comparison, consider the contradictions of reality and ‘reality TV,’ and the spectacle of the influencer phenomenon at the heart of today’s social media. Though presented as real, these cultural forms are anything but. To tell a real story as honestly as possible requires patience and a commitment to trust, and a resistance to interfering with the action before you. To tread carefully, with camera in hand, with sensitivity and humility. To maintain adaptability to the unfolding of story while commanding the technical means of capturing it. It’s not easy, but when it works it’s magical.
The period of shooting TMR will remain in my mind a chronicle of an incredible time in America. The pandemic turned life upside down and wreaked havoc on so many. It transformed the way we socialize, and added a complexity of nuance to the notion of “distance” that will take years to measure. The story of Josh and KHYI-FM provided a compelling window to gaze through for a deeper understanding of Texas, its people, and its music at a pivotal time, and the stakes involved for him and the station. For this opportunity and experience I am grateful.
If there is any silver lining to this period perhaps it will be in the way we value community. Being deprived for so long of the opportunity to gather and share the intimacy of live music, of dancing, of simple touch— these might all serve as a reminder that the health of a community is derived from the quality of its togetherness.
Director:
Troy Paff
Writer:
Joseph Vele, Brandon Faris, Troy Paff
Producer:
Troy Paff, Joshua Jones
Talent:
Kiefer Sutherland,
Charley Crockett,
Ray Wylie Hubbard,
Joshua Ray Walker,
Tony Villanueva,
Brandon Faris (Editor)
Troy Paff (Director of Photography)
Jason Snell (Art Designer)
Brando TriantafillouSound Designer
Tim DugganColorist
Troy’s career in film and television has been an irreverent one, with two decades of adventures around the globe on Emmy winning nonfiction projects for Discovery, CNN, NatGeo, MSNBC, Travel, A&E, History, etc. He is best known for Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe (two Emmy nominations for Cinematography), Zimmern List (Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program), Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Wicked Tuna, and Somebody’s Got to Do It. Texas Music Revolution is Troy’s feature debut as a director.
