In this clip, Michael Knox, the director of the circus documentary, “Tearing Down the Tent” talks about his experience as a child traveling with the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Michael Knox is the director of the circus documentary, “Tearing Down the Tent.” The film features his friend Jamie Reel running away to join the Cole Bros. Circus as Knox reflects on the circus, with which he traveled as a child.
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
Sometimes as a filmmaker you just stumble across something that makes you cackle, and the news that PBS is planning a “Circus” show did just that. Especially seeing how they don’t plan on airing said show until the fall of 2010.
I think what made me laugh so hard was the sheer fact that our film will be done way before the “Circus” show airs, according to the press release that announced the multi-part series. …continue reading “Tearing Down the Tent” director reflects on PBS Announcing “Circus” series
There’s a tight knot that creeps up on my stomach each time the credits start to roll for my circus documentary, “Tearing Down the Tent.” And Saturday night was no different.
Oh sure, the screening group was made up of about 20 to 30 of my friends, who brought people they knew as well, so it was a “kid gloves” crowd. Especially since they knew this was my first outing at directing a feature film.
But you sit there and you watch the crowd and hope people laugh at the right spots and seem caught up in the story. The hilarious thing is, since I’ve seen this movie MULTIPLE times with two of my friends, we were actually in the back row quietly heckling the film. Not in a bad way. Just noticing things that made us start to laugh or think of other things.
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
Standing in the moto-globe of death, with a motorcycle racing around my head at 35 miles an hour, I realized that I had the chance to direct a really fun film that people could enjoy.
As a child I traveled with the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus, where I had a chance to ride elephants barebacked, work as a cotton candy vendor and help the clowns.
But over the years the circus has struggled, with the cost of gasoline rising, issues with immigrant acts being held up by problems with their visas, as well as PETA putting pressure on circuses to stop using animal shows, the circus industry has changed over the years.
I didn’t know that these issues even existed until I talked to my mother, Kathy Knox, who works for Cole Bros. Circus, handling press kits and such.
After talking to her I had the idea of doing a documentary about the circus. I had worked as a reporter for 10 years, covering cops, courts, business, government and entertainment articles and my news background taught me how to look out for a good story.
The story of the Cole Bros. Circus, the largest traveling tent circus in America, facing struggles that could possibly shut it down made me realize this is a piece of American history that needs to be recorded.
My nostalgic memories were the germ of an idea for this story. Then I discovered my friend Jamie Reel, a bartender in Asheville, wanted to run away and join the circus. The perfect addition to our documentary.
With Reel onboard, we were able to interview the performers and weave their stories through the adventures of Reel runnin away to join the circus. During his week with the Cole Bros. Circus, he was able to perform as a clown, work with camels, ride an elephant and stand in the moto-globe of death.
But I wasn’t about to allow Reel to do something dangerous without me at least trying it first. Which is how I found myself standing isnide a metal cage, shaped like a globe, as the driver raced around my head. The perfect beginning to our first day of filming.
Filming took place in Wilmington, N.C. and Asheville, with the total shooting schedule lasting a little over two weeks. We are now in the process of wrapping up our editing and will be having a private screening of the documntary, “Tearing Down the Tent,” to tweak the film.
This is the first in a serious of blogs that I will update as we begin our journey through the editing process and starting the film festival circuit.
Michael Knox, director of “Tearing Down the Tent”
