808
Feature Documentary
Directing / Post Production
808 is the inspirational story of the Roland TR-808 drum machine and how its ground-shaking beats changed the musical world. Its sound transcended borders and musical genres, in turn inspiring countless artists and producers, providing them an iconic sound from which to build hits upon.
Even if you don't know the Roland TR-808 by name, you will know its sound. Its everywhere. A timeless musical icon that has touched almost every genre of music imaginable. As relevant today as it ever was, its sounds continue to resonate within music created around the world.
808 reveals the behind the scenes stories from the world famous musicians that used the TR-808 as a key instrument in their records. Investigating their musical hits which the Tr-808 played a key role in, offering a cross section of personal experiences about the development of musical genres from around the world… and 808 reveals why, after only three years of production, the 808 befell an untimely demise.
Featuring appearances from the likes of Pharell Williams, Phil Collins, Afrika Bambaataa, Beastie Boys, Damon Albarn, David Guetta, Fatboy Slim, Goldie, New Order, Rick Rubin, Questlove, Armand Van Helden and many more.
Filmed on location in London, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Belgium and Finland.
Production Company: You Know Films / Atlantic Films
Exclusive launch: Apple Music
“Alexander Dunn tells the drum machine's story in 808, a stylishly presented and dance-friendly doc that is exactly the sort of thing SXSW's 24 Beats Per Second section was made for”
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“808 is an exhaustive and energetic documentary exploration of the Roland TR-808 drum machine that is omnipresent in popular music to a degree that most of us have no grasp of...808 offers entertainment and education in spades”
CINAPSE
“Alexander Dunn’s documentary celebrates the famous drum machine’s legacy with a mind-boggling degree of legwork… the film tackles an impressively wide range of genres, producers, rappers and DJs who fell under the machine’s spell”
VARIETY
“Alex Dunn’s comprehensive movie shows how technology revolutionized music while simultaneously demonstrating how human ingenuity revolutionized what could be done with a machine.”
THE MOVEABLE FEST
Credits
Directed by Alexander Dunn
Written by Alexander Dunn & Luke Bainbridge
Executive Producer - Alex Noyer
Produced by Alex Noyer, Alexander Dunn, Arthur Baker & Craig Kallman
Co-Executive Producer - Arthur Baker
Co-Producer - Matthew Jarman
Associate Producers - Sarah Pinchemain, Luke Bainbridge & Claudio Rietti
Cinematography - Claudio Rietti, Stuart Birchall & Danny Vecchione
Archive Producer - James RM Hunt
Title Sequence - Paul Roberts
Cast: A-Trak, Damon Albarn, Arthur Baker, Afrika Bambaataa, Chris Barbosa, Jellybean Benitez, Mr BIGGS, Mike Butcher, Tony Carrasco, Phil Collins, Norman Cook, David Dewaele, Stephen Dewaele, Mike Diamond, Diplo, Chris Frantz, G.L.O.B.E, Goldie, David Guetta, Richie Hawtin, Adam Horovitz, Felix Da Housecat, Jori Hulkkonen, Lil Jon, Jim Jonsin, François K, Ikutaro Kakehashi, Remi Kabaka GSS, Ian Lewis, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Graham Massey, Mr Mixx, Stephen Morris, David Noller, Man Parrish, Questlove, T La Rock, Rick Rubin, Hank Shocklee, Tom Silverman, Gerald Simpson, Strafe, Bernard Sumner, Todd Terry, Tiga, Lady Tigra, Pretty Tony, Armand Van Helden, DJ Pappa Wheelie, Pharrell Williams