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01/12/2005: "Flamenco soundtrack in a National Geographic documentary this Sunday January 16, 2005"

Dancer Anna Menendez and I recorded part of the soundtrack for a National Geographic documentary which airs this Sunday January 16.

In September 2004, I got a call to do a "voiceover" for this contractor who does work for National Geographic. They had a video segment with some actual flamenco but instead of paying the original artists the performance rights which would've cost them a lot of money, they decided to use local artists (in this case, myself and dancer Anna Menendez) for less money (but still very decent pay).

What we did was watch the video segment with the sound turned off and created the music and footwork to match the movements of the guitarist and dancer. We did several takes to get it right. All in all, it took us two hours to record a 30-second clip. It was the first time the contractor recorded flamenco footwork so he had to record a few experimental takes. I had a great time hearing my Valeriano Bernal guitar through one of those very expensive large-diaphragm studio microphones. Anyway, it was easy work and the contractor promptly paid us (nice!).

If you have cable television, tune in to the National Geographic channel this Sunday. Details

Replies: 4 Comments

on Tuesday, January 18th, miguelito said

As a fellow artist, I do feel at bit awkward that I recorded over the audio of your guitar playing--I loved your guitar playing by the way! But I'm sure this happens all the time in the interest of saving money on performance rights etc. I didn't get a copy of the video myself, but then again, I don't remember asking for one anyway. It doesn't matter to me, the broadcast of the documentary was only my "30 seconds of fame" on TV.

on Tuesday, January 18th, guest said

Just curious, we were promised a copy that has not arrived, but I am the guitarist that appears on the doc, and my friend danced, so good to hear it did finally get broadcast...

on Tuesday, January 18th, Miguelito said

It's about Spanish spiders but I don't know if they are Andalucian. The documentary isn't really of any great interest to flamencos other than to make people aware of the other kinds of work we professional flamencos occasionally get.

on Monday, January 17th, guest said

Hey miguelito,
this documentary wouldn't happen to be, of all things, about andalucian spiders, would it?