College of Music alumna Barbara Bentree (BME 鈥�80)
For alumna Barbara Bentree (BME 鈥�80), a long-held respect for鈥攁nd admiration of鈥擠ave Grusin (BM 鈥�56) ultimately inspired her to direct a film about his life and work.
鈥淚t all started on a trip I took with my husband [jazz musician John Rangel],鈥� recalls Bentree, co-founder of , a production company based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 鈥淲e love listening to audiobooks and we heard an autobiography of Herbie Hancock, which brought Dave Grusin to mind. I thought, 鈥楪ee, why hasn鈥檛 someone done a retrospective on Dave?鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 incredibly humble, though, so it took a while to persuade him.鈥� But persuade him she did, resulting in 鈥�,鈥� a compelling documentary co-produced with Rangel.
鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful when you admire someone for so long鈥攎ore than 40 years鈥攁nd develop a preconceived idea of who they are 鈥� and then you have the opportunity to delve more deeply into their life and your admiration only grows,鈥� says Bentree, herself an award-winning vocalist who worked for two decades in Los Angeles and took first place in the prestigious Hennessey Jazz Search with her a cappella group Terra Nova. 鈥淚 had no idea of the range and incredible volume of Dave鈥檚 output鈥攕uch a huge amount of flawless work that crosses so many genres, from funky pop music to classical to jazz.
鈥淰ery few people can go into any genre of music and perform and hang out there at a world-class level. That speaks to how hardworking he is, how accomplished he is and the remarkable talent he is.鈥�
Continues Bentree, 鈥淢aking the film was an amazing journey that included interviews with film and music icons who dropped everything to be involved in the project because they, too, so greatly admire Dave鈥檚 impact and influence on the film and music industries over the last 50 years. John and I just kept pinching ourselves 鈥� We felt so privileged and honored to have exclusive time with people we鈥檝e admired all our lives not only to ask questions about Dave but also to gain insight into their lives and experiences.鈥�
Barbara Bentree photographing original Grusin manuscripts in Colorado
As a College of Music student, Bentree鈥攚ho now serves on the College of Music National Alumni Council鈥攚as curious about Grusin Music Hall. 鈥淚 asked, 鈥榃ho鈥檚 this Dave Grusin?鈥� and the rest is history.鈥�
Bentree also credits her studies at CU Boulder for preparing her to work as a filmmaker. 鈥淲ith a degree in music ed, I鈥檝e worked with every age group, including putting on shows and productions,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 believe that a degree in music prepares you for amazing things in this world because the elements of music鈥攖hings like dynamics, pacing and juxtapositions of ideas鈥攖ranslate to other creative disciplines.
鈥淓ven though I don鈥檛 have a formal education in filmmaking, my music degree and subsequent experiences have made me proficient and unique as a musician making films, in contrast to a straight-ahead filmmaker.鈥�
Indeed, Bentree previously directed theatre companies and produced music for television shows, most notably as a part of 鈥淭he New Mickey Mouse Club鈥� production team on The Disney Channel. She has also directed and produced the documentary 鈥淢y Choice鈥� about women鈥檚 reproductive issues and another film鈥斺�淪hould You Go?鈥濃�攁bout high school reunions. Additionally, she鈥檚 served on the board for New Mexico Women in Film and has been a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
鈥淪o many things are merging in our world now, including the way we tell stories,鈥� says Bentree. 鈥淔ilm is a powerful way to convey stories in this accelerated world where people have difficulty finding time to read. Visuals and music are ways to cut through and reinforce important concepts. Whether in storytelling or in marketing or in advertising, music is so much of everything.
鈥淓ven if you end up being a CEO of a major corporation, knowing about music prepares you to relate to the creative elements of product marketing, for example, and to make educated decisions about using media to promote your products.
鈥淚f you have a background in music, you鈥檝e learned how to play on a team and work with other people. You鈥檝e developed a certain work ethic and focus. You鈥檝e gained a certain sensitivity and understanding of the rhythm and flow of things. And you know how to present yourself with confidence in front of groups of people. These skills鈥攄eveloped in part by performing in ensembles and as a soloist鈥攁re skills that I rely on every day and that have helped my career.鈥�
Check for updates on the release date and locations for "Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time."
