ReelBob: ‘Mind Exchange Music Presents: The Showcase’ ★★½

By Bob Bloom

The first several minutes of “Mind Exchange Music Presents: The Showcase” plays like a promotional film-advertisement for the Chicago-based agency.

But as the movie progresses, owners Donny Walker and Kelly Askam, who codirected the film, take viewers deep into the creative process of what it takes to produce and facilitate new works — and that includes this documentary.

One of the most difficult facets of presenting creativity on screen is detailing the development.

Movies are motion pictures and crafting art, with few exceptions, is mostly a mental process.

Walker and Askam try mightily to overcome this obstacle and — at times — succeed. Still, “The Showcase” relies heavily on talking heads to detail the many necessary and varied steps.

Passion is what unites the musicians and artists associated with Mind Exchange Music and the showcase they decided to present.

The showcase, which is to be presented in one day, and features singing and instrumentals, is focused more on the music than the artists. That is not a detrimental, but it does short-shrift the hours performers require to hone their talents.

The movie also celebrates collaboration. Egos are put aside as musicians, singers, composers, arrangers, sound engineers and others necessary to produce the showcase work together to get the best possible results.

It does not skimp on the challenges facing such an endeavor. And that they succeed is the triumph of “The Showcase.”

Not all music fans will appreciate the documentary; it is not as mainstream as many would expect, but it is a pleasing and interesting experience.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

MIND EXCHANGE MUSIC PRESENTS: THE SHOWCASE
2½ stars out of 4
Not rated