In preparation for the start of the drum corps season, National CineMedia and Drum Corps International team up to show behind-the-scenes footage of past and present drum corps favorites at movie theaters across the nation.
Today at 7:30 p.m., “The Countdown” will be shown at 481 theaters nationwide. Lennox Town Center, Easton Town Center, Crosswoods Cinema and Georgesville Square Stadium will be the four Columbus theaters featuring the event.
Drum Corps International’s media coordinator Diane Peasel said the event is designed to kick off the drum corps season. The documentary will give an inside look at what some of the top drum corps have been working on in spring rehearsals, clips from the 2009 World Championships and some classic clips from years past.
“They can’t see this spring rehearsal footage anywhere else,” Peasel said. “The fans really enjoy it.”
The season begins in June with about 100 live events across the country, Peasel said.
Michelle Portillo from National CineMedia said that “The Countdown” has been a very popular event since its start six years ago. National CineMedia presents cinema advertising and events in theaters nationwide.
“The Drum Corps International community is huge, and when we began small in very few theaters fans insisted that event branch out more,” Portillo said.
The Drum Corps organization didn’t want people driving 50 miles to the nearest theater to see the event, and now they don’t have to, Portillo said.
The documentary will feature The Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio, as well as classic moments from the Toledo drum corps, the Glassmen of Maumee.
Portillo said that she was not a drum corps fan before experiencing “The Countdown.”
“Whether you’re a drum corps fan or not, it is an amazing experience to see the formations and footwork on the big screen,” Portillo said.
Drum Corps International reaches out to fans through Facebook, Twitter and e-mail, Peasel said. National CineMedia reaches out to audiences through pre-show trailers before movies and uses the screens in the lobby as people wait on refreshments as a means for advertisement, Portillo said.
There will also be a live showing of the semi-finals of the World Championship in August. Portillo describes this event as just as popular in the community.
“With the current economy a lot of people don’t have the means to travel to the semi-finals and the event is a great alternative for them,” Portillo said.
The drum corps fan base is huge and people get excited in the month before the season starts, Peasel said.
Although the event is completely prerecorded, Portillo said that the community makes its own event out of it.
“They come and tailgate in their jackets and their colors in the parking lots,” Portillo said.
She is confident that the drum corps community enjoys the event each year.
