A Michigan filmmaker is seeking collaborators, friends and former students of Johnny Costa to explore the pianist's dedication to education.
Nathan Southern from Horizons Filmworks is putting together a documentary that is rooted in the educational work of the pianist (1922-96), greatly known for his work as music director of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."
Southern says the documentary, about which the Public Broadcasting System is showing interest, has been in the making since 2008, when he listened to an album of Costa's work.
"Here's a guy who could have been another Art Tatum or a Dave Brubeck, but decided to go a different way," he says of Costa's work in education. "He said on that album he wanted to do something that really mattered."
Costa was born in Arnold, Westmoreland County, and studied music and education at what is now Carnegie Mellon University before becoming a house pianist for KDKA radio. Although he had talent that would have fostered a performance career, he spent much of his time in education.
The film's working title is "Keys to Life: Johnny Costa's Musical Neighborhood" and is being directed by Stephanie Gregoire from France. Southern hopes to have it completed by the middle of 2012.
Southern says he is interested in finding former students of Costa's to talk about the way he shaped their lessons.
Pianist Marian McPartland, Brubeck and guitar great Joe Negri, who was Handyman Joe on the Fred Rogers show, already are involved in the project, he says.
Share information at nathan@horizonsfilmworks.com or 248-835-4812.
