A Documentary from New Cinema Films Produced and Directed by John Summa & John Travers

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BERNARDO PALOMBO TO WORK WITH NEW SONG (NUEVA CANCION) DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS BURLINGTON, VT - March 16, 2007 -- Bernardo Palombo, Argentina-born composer and founder of El Taller Latino Americano (The Latin American Workshop) in New York City, has been hired as a musical consultant for the upcoming documentary film, The Power of Their Song: The Untold Story of Latin America's New Song Movement. An independent production targeted for worldwide theatrical release, The Power of Their Song tells the story of Nueva Cancion -- a folk-music movement that exploded in popularity across Latin America in the 1960s and early '70s. The music inspired a generation struggling against military dictatorships. "Bernardo's intimate knowledge of the history of New Song, his trove of archival visual and audio material, and own musical involvement with many of the artists featured in our film make his role invaluable. His support is critical to the success of the film," said the film's co-producer and Burlington, Vermont resident John Summa. Summa, a journalist and documentary producer, has written about events in Latin America for more than 25 years. Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Palombo’s song, Vendimiador, was recorded by the legendary Argentinean vocal group, Los Trovadores, and became an immediate and long-lasting hit. Since this early success, more than 50 of his songs have been recorded by other musicians worldwide, including Mercedes Sosa, Philip Glass, Conjunto Libre and Lucecita Benitez. Palombo has been involved with film and television before, working on documentary film projects as a composer in The Abraham Lincoln Brigade, El Salvador: Another Vietnam, Americas in Transition, and in the Lucas/Coppola-produced film, Powaqqatsi. He worked with filmmaker Sergio Leone and composed for the PBS show, Sesame Street, which now features some of his Spanish language songs. Palombo brought some of the leading musicians involved with New Song music to El Taller (many filmed) as its artistic director, including: Mercedes Sosa, Leon Gieco, Atahualpa Yupanqui, Grupo Aymara, Conjunto Libre, The Soldier String Quartet, Pete Seeger, Luis Días, and Larry Harlow. El Taller is a non-profit arts and education organization founded in 1979. "I was thrilled when I learned about the film -- and delighted to be asked to work as musical consultant," said Bernardo Palombo. "This is a film about the lives of some of the most beloved folk-music composers and singer-songwriters of the Americas and the events that engulfed their lives." Palombo is currently directing and producing a new crossover album of Latin American folk songs to be performed by recent Grammy winner Dan Zanes, of Dan Zanes and Friends, and Latin American musicians. In February, Zanes won a Grammy for best children's album of the year with Catch That Train. The film is being co-produced by John Travers, a Student Academy Award-winning director, cinematographer and editor based in Los Angeles, who has worked on both documentaries and narrative features for over 20 years. His professional career began as editor of PBS's Never Turn Back: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story, a documentary on the Mississippi civil rights leader, produced by Connecticut filmmakers Bill Buckley and Tracy Sugarman. Recent interviews for the The Power of Their Song include Robert DeCormier, musical director for Peter, Paul & Mary, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Roy Brown, American folk icon Pete Seeger, and UCSC professor and ethnomusicologist John Schechter, author of Worlds of Music and Music in Latin American Culture. Chilean New Song groups Inti-Illimani and Grupo Raiz were photographed for the production in 2006. During 2007 Summa and Travers will travel to Latin America to conduct interviews with New Song groups and individual musicians. The groups include Chile's Quilapayún and Illapu, as well as the Nicaraguan duo, Guardabarranco. Musicians to be interviewed include Daniel Viglietti, Mercedes Sosa, Leon Gieco, Chico Buarque, Silvio Rodriquez, Pablo Milanés, Gabino Palomares, Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, and Joan Manuel Serrat. To request an interview with the producers, or to learn more about The Power of Their Song, please contact John Summa at 802-846-7509. Additional information about the film and the filmmakers can be found at www.newsongfilmproject.org.

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS TO INTERVIEW ROBERT DE CORMIER Peter, Paul & Mary Musical Director to Discuss Latin American Folk Music BURLINGTON, VT - December 28, 2006 -- Robert De Cormier, musical director for legendary folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary, will be interviewed in Ludlow, VT on January 3, 2007 for the upcoming documentary film, The Power of Their Song: The Untold Story of Latin America's New Song Movement. > An independent production targeted for worldwide theatrical release, The Power of Their Song tells the story of Nueva Cancion (New Song) -- a politically inspired folk-music movement that exploded in popularity in the 1960s and early '70s across Latin America. "Robert De Cormier's deep connection to North American folk music and his understanding of New Song will add a valuable perspective to our film," said the film's co-producer and Burlington, Vermont resident John Summa. Summa, a journalist and documentary producer, has reported on political and cultural events in Latin America over the past 25 years. De Cormier, founder of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus and veteran musical director for Peter, Paul & Mary, spent time in Santiago, Chile in early 1973 at the height of the New Song movement. With wife, Louise and daughter, Robin, he visited La Peña de los Parra, a well-known community center for the arts and political activism founded by the late folklorist Violetta Parra. Soon after De Cormier's visit, frequent La Peña performer Victor Jara was tortured and killed following a rightest military coup d'etat. Jara was a leading New Song singer-songwriter. A symbol of resistance to military repression and social injustice throughout Latin America and around the world, Jara will be among the New Song musicians to be featured in the upcoming film. "We're very pleased Robert De Cormier has agreed to be interviewed for our film," said The Power of Their Song co-director, cinematographer and editor John Travers. "With his extensive musical background and knowledge of music, I know he'll provide some important insights about the significance of New Song and folk music in general," said Travers. Travers, a Student Academy Award-winning director, cinematographer and editor based in Los Angeles, has worked on both documentaries and narrative features for over 20 years. His professional career began as editor of PBS's Never Turn Back: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story, a documentary on the Mississippi civil rights leader, produced by Connecticut filmmakers Bill Buckley and Tracy Sugarman. Recent interviews for the The Power of Their Song include Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Roy Brown and American folk icon Pete Seeger. Earlier in the year Chilean New Song groups, Inti-Illimani and Grupo Raiz, were photographed and interviewed for the production. The filmmakers are currently negotiating interviews with Jackson Browne, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary, Bono of U2, Bruce Cockburn, Peter Gabriel and Joan Baez, among other North Americans with a connection to New Song. In 2007 Summa and Travers will travel to Latin America to conduct interviews with New Song groups and individual musicians. The groups include Chile's Quilapayún and Illapu, as well as the Nicaraguan duo, Guardabarranco. Musicians to be interviewed include Daniel Viglietti, Mercedes Sosa, Leon Gieco, Silvio Rodriquez, Pablo Milanés, Gabino Palomares, Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, and Joan Manuel Serrat. To request an interview with the producers, or to learn more about The Power of Their Song, please contact John Summa at 802-846-7509. Additional information about the film and the filmmakers can be found at www.newsongfilmproject.org. More about Robert De Cormier can be found at the Counterpoint web site, located at www.counterpointchorus.com.

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