Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of knuckleheads who don't know a violin from violette… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida!
Virtuoso violinist Philippe Quint stars in 'Downtown Express,' a new indie film that has parallels to the Russian immigrant's real life.
But after watching Philippe Quint move gracefully between classic violin and pop-jazz in David Grubin's new indie film Downtown Express, it is definitely more likely to happen in the future.
Downtown Express stars Quint – who is a four-time Grammy Award nominee for his violin virtuosity – as a Russian immigrant struggling to balance his love and respect for his domineering father with his desire to be part of Manhattan's much broader musical melting pot.
That, and, of course, there's a love story, as his character, Sasha, meets and plays alongside funky Ramona, played by another accomplished real-life musician, Nellie McKay.
This is an irresistible movie that magically melds the Julliard School of Music, Russian immigrant society, American jazz and classical music and not one but two romantic stories. I especially recommend it for inspiration if you have kids studying music in high school or college.