Former film professor succeeds to teaching the power of music through film

In “Everything Went Down,” Dustin Morrow succeeds in showing the healing power of music.

“Everything Went Down,” a feature film by former Temple University media studies and production professor Dustin Morrow, was screened by TUTV on Thursday, Sept. 19. This musical was filled with powerful emotions, moving music and amazing cinematography.

The film was 80 minutes long and even though Morrow would describe it as “slow-paced,” it held the audience’s attention. You become very emotionally invested in the two characters. Former Temple student Noah Drew, drew the audience in by playing a depressed, emotional college professor who recently lost his wife to cancer. Throughout the film, music gives him the strength to move on and live again. Recording artist Kate Tucker, plays a struggling singer-songwriter who learns the true value of music as she sees how it brings him out of the dark. It was very special to watch their relationship grow and their internal struggles turn into happiness.

Morrow’s main goal for this film was to teach people about the therapeutic value of music.

“I realized that music has a purpose beyond giving us something to sing and dance to,” said Temple student, Kyle Hostetler. “It can heal a broken heart and unite two lost souls in a way that words never could.”

Morrow is such a firm believer in music education and therapy that any money generated from this film is being donated to music therapy programs for children.

The film was funded using only about $5,000 collected from Kickstarter, but appeared as though it had more to work with.

Most of this can be attributed to the fact that it was a one-man crew, so he didn’t have to pay a bunch of workers. Morrow shot and edited the entire production by himself. It took him about seven months to edit it down to an 80 minute feature.

“Everything Went Down” was shot in Bellingham, Wa. And at the Western Washington University campus, which contributed to the moving cinematography and scenary.

“The waterfall scene really took my breath away,” said another Temple student, Mary Kate Smyser. “Because he used eight cameras at the same time, all angled differently, it really felt like I was there.”

“Everything Went Down” will be available on Netlflix, iTunes and other online sources after spring 2014. This film is definitely worth watching. Not only will you be entertained, you will learn to appreciate music in a deeper way that you never realized was possible.

Mary Salisbury can be reached at mary.salisbury@temple.edu.