Rockport Film Festival 2008

How does a piano get to Carnegie Hall? It begins in a gritty 5-story Queens factory (on Steinway Street in Astoria) where a small army of technicians ply their trade in much the same way as their predecessors a century ago. The mystery of each piano’s sound and personality is explored by some of the world’s most accomplished musicians.

"Competitive bird watching" may sound like an oxymoron, but it makes perfect sense to the participants of The World Series of Birding, who convene for one day each spring to see which of the more than 70 teams can identify the most bird species in 24 hours. - The contest goes from midnight to midnight.- The playing field is the state of New Jersey.- Any vehicle except aircraft may be used.- All birds must be alive and unrestrained.- Teams may begin the event anywhere in the state-- BUT each team must hand in their totals at the Cape May Lighthouse Finish Line by midnight.Equal parts scavenger hunt, science expedition, and endurance test, The World Series of Birding is also a fundraiser, generating millions for conservation. The more birds seen, the more money raised.- One team mounts a paramilitary operation with infrared and GPS devices.- Another team does the event on foot, jogging almost 50 miles.- After scouting for weeks, one team has the entire day planned literally to the minute.- A Seniors team counts only the birds that fly by the bench they sit on all day.Past participants have included some of the most renowned birders in the world, such as Roger Tory Peterson, David Allen Sibley, Kenn Kaufman, and Pete Dunne."OPPOSABLE CHUMS: Guts & Glory at The World Series of Birdwatching" takes you along for the ride, with all of its camaraderie, competitiveness,and compassion, The film may well be the very first nature documentary comedy.