Bob Moog Documentary Project, ‘Electronic Voyager,’ Launched on Kickstarter

Electronic_Voyager_DocumentaryRobert Fantinatto and Jason Amm, the Director/Producer team behind the modular synthesizer documentary, “I Dream Of Wires,” are producing a new documentary, “Electronic Voyager,” in association with The Bob Moog Foundation.

Amm and Fantinatto, as Waveshaper Media, launched the documentary project today on Kickstarter.

“We aim to create a definitive and personal documentary about the life of iconic synthesizer pioneer, Bob Moog, through the eyes of Moog’s own daughter, Michelle Moog-Koussa – [who is herself] also a dedicated Moog archivist and historian…. We want to give viewers an insight into the man behind the iconic Moog brand.”

Bob_Moog_and_Moog_Kids_NumberOneDadAmm and Fantinatto have been working with Michelle Moog-Koussa, the Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, for several months developing the film’s concept, and crafting a definitive list of interviewees, locations to visit, and archival footage to unearth and license.

Amm says, “The list is long, and our plans are ambitious – we are passionate about bringing this film to life and doing justice to Bob Moog’s seminal and fascinating story.”

The production is already underway, with a number of notable participants already confirmed:

  • Herb Deutsch (composer, Bob Moog’s collaborator on the first Moog synthesizer)
  • Rick Wakeman (Yes)
  • Gary Numan
  • Moby
  • Adrian Utley (Portishead)
  • Gershon Kingsley (First Moog Quartet, “Popcorn”)
  • Larry Fast (Synergy, Peter Gabriel)
  • Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff (TONTO’s Expanding Head Band, Stevie Wonder)
  • Bernie Krause (Beaver & Krause, Moog modular session musician – George Harrison, The Doors)
  • Morton Subotnick
  • Dave Smith (Sequential Circuits)
  • Tom Oberheim
  • Roger Linn
  • with other interviewees still to be announced

The Electronic Voyager documentary will tell Bob Moog’s story from the perspective of Moog’s own daughter (Moog-Koussa), who has not only a deep personal connection to Bob Moog, but also a firm dedication to his work and legacy. Michelle traces her father’s story, visiting the places and the people who were part of Moog’s history.

Bob-Moog_Foundation_logo-2016 Bob’s friends, associates and admirers speak to Michelle about her father, leading to what Amm describes as a series of “uniquely candid, revealing and joyous” stories and insights about Bob Moog.  With access to previously-unseen family photos and rare historical artifacts from the Bob Moog Foundation Archives, Electronic Voyager is a rare opportunity for the outside world to get a closer look at the man behind the legendary Moog synthesizer.

Electronic Voyager collaborators see the recent, tragic passing of Bob Moog’s close friend and important collaborator, Keith Emerson as a stark reminder of the pressing importance of documenting Bob Moog’s crucial chapter in the history of electronic music, now. Producers hope to raise nearly $100,000 via Kickstarter to help them “get to work on this important documentary as soon as possible.”

electronic_voyager_blu-raySome of the Kickstarter prizes include: a deluxe 2-disc BluRay DigiBook, hardbound with 44-page full-color book; exclusive Minimoog hand-screened neckties and scarves by Cyberoptix; exclusive Moog-themed Cats On Synthesizers In Space T-shirts; new-old-stock vintage Moog’s Musical Eatery cookbooks; 8” x 10” classic Gary Numan photos, signed by the man himself, and more. A portion of the profits from the finished film will go to support The Bob Moog Foundation’s projects.

Moog-Koussa says, “I truly believe that this film will be an exceptional document, to not only my father’s work and legacy, but to history. I am going on a journey, a quest, to uncover all the facets of Bob Moog. I hope you’ll join me.”

The Electronic Voyager fundraising project launched today on Kickstarter, and will run through May 25, 2016. For more information on the documentary, the producers, and the project-backer rewards, visit the Electronic Voyager project page.

6 thoughts on “Bob Moog Documentary Project, ‘Electronic Voyager,’ Launched on Kickstarter

    1. I’m glad that the Fjellested documentary exists – but it fails to make Moog’s story, or the story of Moog’s instruments, exciting. The film only has a 29% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

      By comparison, the Theremin documentary has a 100% positive rating there.

      So there’s definitely an opportunity to do a film on Moog that tells a more engaging story. I’d love to see more about the pivotal era from 64 to 78 or so, where the synth went from nowhere to a novelty to the most important new instrument since the electric guitar.

      1. Thankfully Rotten Tomatoes isn’t a good arbiter of quality or value in film making. 😉 Much like episodes of NOVA, or anything, quality varies a bit. So, looking forward to a super deluxe colossal new in depth behind the scenes and more fun version. But skip the hour long tour of Erasure’s basement this time ! (love you guys!)

  1. I was so disappointed by the disjointed ramblings that were the Fjellestad documentary that I almost didn’t want to know… wait. The IDOW guys? Are you kidding me? WHOOHOO!!!

    Good luck, guys! 🙂

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