The evolution of Murfreesboro’s musical and subcultural landscape over the past 30 years is a story of significance untold through film until now through.
In early April, three local videographers began working on a film to document the ’Boro’s music and arts scene, harkening as far back as the ’90s and the heyday of Spongebath Records.
“It started off as wanting to just create some kind of small trailer for Boro Fondo,” said Mallory Burns, who is directing the film entitled All My Friends with the help of Cameron Chiles and film editor Chris Ott.
“I wanted to experiment shooting house shows, and the idea of shooting mass amounts of cyclists [during Boro Fondo] would make really incredible footage. I was talking about it through Chris [Ott], and he took the idea and helped make it something a lot bigger.”
En route to the next show during Murfreesboro’s annual BoroFondo.
An Ohio native who now calls Murfreesboro home, Burns said the college town has “a surprising amount of history” including notable independent label Spongebath Records and bands such as The Features, who’ve gained national recognition.
“Murfreesboro is often overlooked since it rests under Nashville, but the community and sounds that come out of it are incredibly unique. The documentary will overall be exploring the past 30 years of house shows, bands, controversies and the growth of the music scene,” Burns said.
As a director, Burns said she is also inspired by Murfreesboro as an open-minded community in the middle of the Bible Belt, challenging traditionalist values.
In addition to artists who are a part of Murfreesboro’s musical equation now, such as Josephine and the Wildfront and Tomato Face, All My Friends will also feature groups who have made the leap to Nashville, like Meth Dad, and reach further back to ’Boro bands of yore, such as Self, led by Matt Mahaffey.
The director said she wants to achieve “raw truth” through this documentary.
“There’s a lot of good to this city, but I don’t want to sugarcoat anything,” she said.
“I don’t want this to be some kind of billboard for the greatest city on Earth. I want the feuds and the drama and the messy parts. I want [the documentary] to be stripped down. I want people to be able to connect to this film, and I find that’s difficult to do if we put Murfreesboro on a pedestal.”
The filmmakers are campaigning for $2,600 through Indiegogo to fund extra equipment, with a variety of favors offered in return for donations.
There will also be a benefit show Sept. 19 at Wall Street to help raise money for the documentary.
The projected completion date is the end of the year, contingent upon funding. When the project is finished, locals can expect a screening before the film enters the festival circuit and distribution process.
“Overall, I want this film to reach the artistic minds who feel trapped in a small town,” Burns said.
“I want them to realize that you don’t need a big city or a large, free-thinking community to get the most out of where you live. You can start a change if you want it badly enough. You can openly express yourself even if you feel challenged by a lot of elements.
“The point of this film is that if a small college town in the Bible Belt can house one of the strangest art collectives I’ve ever experienced, anyone can.”
View the trailer of Boro Fondo footage here.
