The PBS fall 2011 line-up will include The Banjo Project documentary, now known as Give Me the Banjo. It will be one episode in the new mini-series, “PBS Arts Fall Festival,” for national prime time broadcast. The banjo documentation’s PBS incarnation will be 82 minutes, with Steve Martin narrating and as many of the players and commentators as will fit. The DVD/home video is currently being negotiated.  The film will air on PBS TV November 4, 2011.

For anyone who thinks the jazz age was overrated, there’s a big celebration of the bluegrass era in“Give Me the Banjo,”  Exploring the roots of American music — from the minstrel show to contemporary country — it features performances and commentary from Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Taj Mahal, Béla Fleck and the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

Having amassed over 400 hrs of footage during almost a decade of production, award-winning film director and producer Marc Fields and his creative team are now feverishly working to complete post-production by the end of the summer.

“This is the kind of national prime time showcase that the banjo deserves,” commented Fields. “Without the participation and support of so many in the roots music community, we wouldn’t have been able to create the program and the buzz that PBS has picked up on. Partnering with PBS will also help to facilitate the kinds of online educational and archival programs we intend to provide.” 

 Marc Fields has created a website about the banjo at TheBanjoProject.org.