‘Scouts Honor’ to show at Egyptian, but only if enough tickets sell

Scouts+Honor+to+show+at+Egyptian%2C+but+only+if+enough+tickets+sell

By Margaret Maka

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story said Shelby Devitt was an administrative intern. Devitt is an administrative assistant.

The Egyptian Theatre will host a screening of the documentary “Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood” Feb. 26 — but only if at least 61 tickets are sold.

The theater, 135 N. Second St., will screen the film at 7:30 p.m., after which there will be a Q&A with former and current NIU drum corps students. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at bit.ly/1694Npw.

The documentary follows the 2012 Madison Scouts drum corps as they prepare for and compete in the annual Drum Corps International Championship. As of Wednesday morning, nine reservations have sold so far and 52 more are still needed for the screening to take place, according to Gathr Films’ website.

Marching Lifestyle

Shelby Devitt, movie captain for the DeKalb screening of the documentary, has worked as an administrative assistant for the Madison Scouts since 2013. Devitt lives and works full time with the corps.

“We travel by bus, sometimes to a different state every day,” Devitt, who is traveling abroad and does not have access to a phone, said in an email. “We arrive in the middle of the night at a housing site, which is usually a high school, and the members rehearse during the day before a performance at night, and then we roll out as soon as that’s done. This goes on for about three months.”

Devitt said the film documents the physical, mental and emotional challenges of this lifestyle on the corps members.

“This film isn’t just about marching band, and it wasn’t made elusively for an audience already familiar with the topic,” Devitt said. “It highlights three members overcoming personal obstacles in their pursuit of something bigger than themselves. You can see how this activity requires everyone to push themselves and work together to achieve something creative and athletic within their community.”

‘Theatrical on Demand’

Alex Nerad, Egyptian Theater executive director, said he wasn’t sure how the number of ticket reservations needed in order to hold the screening is determined.

“I know this is a new kind of format that’s been out there for documentaries called ‘Theatrical on Demand,’” Nerad said. “Basically if there’s a community that’s interested enough in a film and enough people commit to it then they’ll do a screening in the area, so it’s something that’s become more and more popular with documentaries.”

Nerad said he thinks the requisite ticket amount will be sold, as the screening was announced Jan. 21 and there hasn’t been a lot of publicity yet.

“I think the documentary being on drum corps, there’s a lot of connection normally here with different competitions that take place at NIU during the summer, as well as our local high school and college marching bands,” Nerad said. “So, I think there’s definitely an appeal locally and certainly from the trailer and reviews that I’ve seen on it it looks like a really interesting documentary that would be fun to see.”

“Scouts Honor” teaser: