Synopses

Logline:

Randy Parsons had given up the guitar, and then one day he had a vision of how it would come back into his life.

Logline (French):

Randy Parsons avait abandonné la guitare, quand un jour il a eu la vision de comment elle allait revenir dans sa vie.

Medium Synopsis:

'Randy Parsons: American Luthier' is a documentary short about a Seattle guitar-maker whose client list includes Jack White, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, and many other well-known guitarists.

'American Luthier' focuses on Randy Parsons’ transformation from aspiring musician to guitar-maker. The guitar had been Parsons’ identity since he was a child, but after studying classical and jazz guitar in college, he realized that he would never make a living as a musician. So he gave it up — he didn’t even own a guitar in his mid-twenties — and then one day he had a vision of how the guitar would come back into his life. Now he’s creating instruments that are highly sought after works of art for clients like Jack White, Jimmy Page and Joe Perry.

This is a film about someone who gave up their passion for playing guitars and discovered that they had a passion for making guitars. Parsons’ success is a testament to doing what we love in life and work, even if it requires taking a second look at your dreams, and finding a different way to be a rock star.

Medium Synopsis (French):

'Randy Parsons: Luthier Américain' est un court documentaire au sujet d'un fabricant de guitares vivant à Seattle, dont la clientèle contient des artistes célèbres tels que: Jack White, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry et bien d'autres.

La guitare a toujours fait partie de la vie de Parsons depuis son enfance. C'était même son identité. Mais aprés avoir étudié la guitare classique et le jazz au collège de Cornish, il a realisé qu'il n'arriverait jamais à en vivre comme musicien. Alors il l'a completement abandonné et n'en a même pas possédé une jusqu'à l'age de vingt-huit ans. Mais un jour, alors qu'il prennait une douche, il a eu la vision de fabriquer des guitares. Depuis, Parsons est devenu un luthier très connu, fabriquant de façon artisanale des guitares qui sont très recherchées en tant qu'oeuvres d'art.

Long Synopsis:

'Randy Parsons: American Luthier' is a documentary short about a Seattle guitar-maker whose client list includes Jack White, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, and many other well-known guitarists.

'American Luthier' focuses on Randy Parsons’ transformation from aspiring musician to guitar-maker. The guitar had been Parsons’ identity since he was a child, but after studying classical and jazz guitar in college, he realized that he would never make a living as a musician. So he gave it up — he didn’t even own a guitar in his mid-twenties — and then one day he had a vision of how the guitar would come back into his life. Now he’s creating instruments that are highly sought after works of art for clients like Jack White, Jimmy Page and Joe Perry.

This is a film about someone who gave up their passion for playing guitars and discovered that they had a passion for making guitars. Parsons’ success is a testament to doing what we love in life and work, even if it requires taking a second look at your dreams, and finding a different way to be a rock star.

About the Film-maker:

David Aldrich is an independent filmmaker and new media producer from the USA who embarked on Randy Parsons: American Luthier in 2010 after watching Davis Guggenheim’s documentary, "It Might Get Loud." Jack White referred to his Seattle luthier (Randy Parsons) several times in the film. Since Parsons’ shop was less than a mile away from Aldrich’s home, he dropped by and said, “I’d like to make a documentary short about you.” Parsons agreed, and filming began in January, 2010.

Aldrich’s debut documentary film was self-funded and edited in his home-studio in Seattle, WA. Inspired by the DIY tradition of indie filmmakers, he bought an inexpensive DSLR and scooped up a bunch of vintage glass on eBay. Aldrich partnered with a few friends from the University of Washington, and got on with making a film that would showcase Parsons highly sought after guitar work.