NIU Today
Illinois, USA - The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) has nominated “Hammer on Steel,” a two-program documentary created by The University of Akron, for eight Emmy awards for the 2011 broadcast year.
NIU’s Cliff Alexis, steel drum builder and tuner and co-director of the world-renowned NIU Steel Band, was nominated for Emmy Awards in two categories – Special Event Coverage and Best Music Composition – for his work on the film.
Documenting the compelling and conflict-torn history of steel drum music in the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago, “Hammer on Steel: Bad Boys and Genius” premiered in February 2011 on Western Reserve Public Media in Northeast Ohio.
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Where and when will we be able to see these films?
This is great news for Mr. Alexis, NIU and pan. It's finally evolving as a musical instrument of great stature and long overdue. I believe this is the turning tide for pan and pan musicians to take it into the world wide recognition it deserves and maybe the musicians can finally get the financial rewards for all the long and tireless years and sleepless nights of the past, present and the future. I say "KUDOS" we have finally been placed on the map of the world. I will also state here that hopefully they can fianlly Patent this important instrument which should have been done a very long time ago. This is part of our history, don't let it be stolen anymore.
This is indeed great news for the Pan. It will be some of the things that help to propel the pan to higher levels. It is happening at a very opportune time when the Pan is now widely spreading into institutions of learning globally.
Congratulations to Mr.Cliff Alexis for his ongoing contributions and dedicated hard work . He has been a pioneer in this area for a very long time. Much appreciations to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences ( NATAS) for the nomination of "Hammer On Steel: documentary. and also much appreciation to the University of Akron for doing the Documentary.
What a contrast to our own homeland T&T with the recent scenario of the Pan in the Classroom episode.........
but nobody can stop the journey of the Pan. We either get it all together or will be definitely left behind in certain areas.
No one has a monopoly on the Pan right now so it is fair game for any nation anywhere to to do whatever they could envision. Those of us here on this WST Forum can at least have a say, bring forward issues and hopefully push the Nation of T&T to fully recognize the Potentials of the PAN.
Salah
Salah, it's so funny this morning I started writing something about "fair game" but deleted it, what you said is so true, all these institutions of learning that adopt the pan what do you think they are going to do with it? if T&T don't do right by the pan sorry, but someone else will. T&T MUST be on the cutting edge of everything related to the PAN even the way they treat pan players. The way it has become is T&T verses the world, we have to remain the Mecca.
David Gettes: Apparently this film was shown in Feb. on local PBS stations. Hopefully, there will be repeat showings in light
of it's nominations..In the meantime, you may purchase the DVD directly from the University's Store (I used Paypal) at:
http://www.uasteelband.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DVD
Hope this helps,
Terry
is there a link to watch this film?
Great news for Steel Pan. Congrats to Mr. Cliff Alexis and NIU