Quendrith Johnson

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

During the holidays, how many of us know our loved ones are finding new ways to get their adrenaline rush? In the great un-lockdown outdoors, a lot of rugged adventures can go sideways. Life is about risk, but not without a mask lately. In MUSIC GOT ME HERE, an entire family pulls back the mask on traumatic brain injury from a devastating winter sport accident.

Much like the years-long recovery of Formula One ace Michael Schumacher, their teen son fights his way back from trauma.  So excruciating is the damage, that there is literally “no bone” on one side of the skull.

Bedridden in despair, the only way out is a fight for life, with the dedication of his loving parents, and music. 

Tom Sweitzer comes to play guitar for him, and opens up a pathway back to the steps needed to recover.

Documentarian Susan Koch charts Forrest Allen’s journey to “find my voice” from the accident at 18 to his reemergence as a musician. It is not for the timid, there is no sugar-coating.

But in a way, it is a raw angle on the real climb back from total despondency.

This is probably one of the most inspiring filmic moments you will have in all the tumult of 2020. It debuts on Laemmle Virtual Cinema on Dec. 4 via this link.

Watch Forrest’s Progress Begin

Music Got Me Here - Trailer from First Run Features on Vimeo.

First Run Features added a few paragraphs to help contextualize MUSIC GOT ME HERE, which is available Dec. 4 from Laemmle Virtual Cinema in the link below.

On Music as a Curative Throughout History

Ancient philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle and Socrates, recognized and wrote about the tremendous power of music. But it’s only recently that neuroscientists, using advanced magnetic resonance imaging, have been able to go beyond the anecdotal – and actually document the powerful pathways that exist between music and the brain. Music therapy has the potential to improve the lives of those dealing with some of life’s most serious challenges including traumatic brain injuries, Alzheimer’s, autism, Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, mental health issues, PTSD, stroke recovery, pain management, and opioid addiction. National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins, featured in the film, describes today as “a golden moment” for neuroscientists exploring the music-brain connections. Forrest’s dramatic story shows what’s possible – and offers hope and inspiration for countless others.

Get to Know Award-winning Helmer Susan Koch

Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker Susan Koch’s films and non-fiction television shows have appeared on ABC, NBC, PBS, HBO, Showtime, MTV, ESPN, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, CNN, and American Movie Classics. Koch’s documentary Kicking It, about homeless soccer players who compete in an international tournament, premiered at the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals and was broadcast on ESPN. Koch’s other films include the award-winning documentaries Reel Models:  First Women of Film (AMC), Mario’s Story (Showtime), City at Peace (HBO) and The Other City (Showtime). Koch is the Executive Director of the Middleburg Film Festival, located in Middleburg, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C.

Visit Forrest's true-life story, and the film here.

Happy Holidays, and say Good Riddance to 2020 with Inspiration for 2021.

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