At least one music documentary in the lineup for the Thin Line Film Fest this year trains its lens on local music - and not the local music many Denton residents might expect.
Forget the Fry Street fugitives who have brought their indie rock, math rock, punk rock and Americana to downtown Denton, where the music scene is in revival.
Bass: Beyond Limitation is about the top double bass violinists in the world.
In 2010, the most obsessive double bassists converged on Denton for the inaugural International Double Bass Solo Competition, launched by Jeff Bradetich, who leads the bass program at the University of North Texas - oft in the shadow of a clarinet department and a jazz studies program that hog most of the attention in the College of Music.
Bradetich has been on something of a crusade to unveil the double bass's chops as a solo instrument. It's taken some convincing; at least one critic labeled Bradetich "a pachyderm in a tutu" during a performance.
Local filmmaker Andy LaViolette interviewed the musicians, the judges and filmed the contest as the players were whittled down to the final four. LaViolette didn't have to manufacture suspense. The bassists were competing for cash, debut concerts in important venues and a recording that promised to launch the musician's professional career into more rarefied air.
The 34-minute film will screen at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Campus Theatre.
-Lucinda Breeding THIN LINE FILM FEST
• What: Documentary film festival screening more than 75 films
• When: Feb. 10-20
• Where: All films screen first at the Campus Theatre, 214 E. Hickory St. Repeat screenings are at Denton Square Donuts, 208 W. Oak St.
• Tickets: All-festival passes are $150. Single-screening tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors, students and active military with ID.
• Details: For a complete schedule and admission price listing, visit www.thinlinefilmfest.com .
