TO BUSK OR NOT TO BUSK
IMDB
Available Soon
(SHORT, 2026)
FESTIVAL RUN
LOGLINE
Two contrasting buskers present the value of their profession along with the sacrifices they made to pursue what they do, as seen both through the eyes of the public and their own.
TO BUSK OR NOT TO BUSK
TRAILER
SYNOPSIS
John Goodblood, an Argentinean guitarist, and Kevin Zi-Xiao He, a Chinese cellist, are immigrant musicians who despite pursuing grander careers in music, they keep feeling drawn to return to busking. They don’t do it out of desperation, but to create an enriching atmosphere through their rapturous music, connecting with the people around them.
As they perform, they enter a euphoric state where the world around them disappears, and their music becomes a vivid expression of their minds. However, busking presents challenges like uncertain income and potential harassment, creating a dilemma for the artists where to paraphrase Shakespeare: “to busk, or not to busk, that is the question".
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
• MikaMotions
CAST
Self - John Goodblood
Self - Kevin Zi-Xiao He
CREW
Director - Antonio G. Wagner
Producer - Antonio G. Wagner
Director of Photography - Mateen Missaghi
Film Editors - Nathaniel Cardoso, Antonio G. Wagner
Production Manager - Nathaniel Cardoso
Gaffer - Nikolas Kucera
Key Grip - Nikolas Kucera
1st Camera Assistant - Dreyton Ige
2nd Camera Assistant - Marian Kahiroullin
’B’ Camera Operator - Dreyton Ige
Sound Recordist - Antony To
Assistant Sound Recordist - Grace Noua
Re-Recording Mixer - Antonio G. Wagner
Composer - Antonio G. Wagner
Digital Colour Grading Services - Artjail
Colourist - Austin Tang
Colour Producer - Alison Maxwell
Production Assistants - Andrew Encarnacion,
Krishale Fernando, Marian Kahiroullin, Xavier Van Haay,
Still Photographer- Roman Shevchenko
FACTS AND FIGRUES
Average Takes per Shot : 3
Editing Time : 5 months
Shooting Days : 4 over 2 shooting periods (23/11/2024 - 24/11/2024
for the exteriors /07.12.2024 & 09.12.2024 for the interiors)
Shooting Format : Digital, Sony FX6
Aspect Ratio : 1.9:1/2.35:1
Language : English
Sound Format : Stereo/Dolby Digital 5.1
Genre : Documentary, Short, Music
Runtime : 14 min 59 sec
Completion Date : August 5, 2025
Production Budget :
$1,500 CAD / $1,100 USD
Country of Origin : Canada, Mexico
Country of Filming : Canada
Film Color : Color
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
"In 1990, when my father lived in Paris, France for one year, he found himself playing his guitar in the city's subways during his free time. Besides enjoying it, he felt the need to share his transcendent experience when playing music with those surrounding and walking past by him. The positive reception from the public of feeling at peace when hearing his music made his intents successful.
At the same time, living in an urban city means that it doesn't matter if you're taking the subway or walking on the streets, you're bound to run into a busker trying to do the same as my father. However, feeling that the profession is under-appreciated and under-valued when noticing how people stop what they're doing and feel comforted when hearing the buskers' music, but they fail to leave a donation or express their reaction to the performer.
It became a necessity to create a documentary that not only presents the value of the profession through distinct points of view. The film must also put viewers into the psychological perspective of buskers for them to see how the street musicians imagine themselves when performing. To make the feeling of seeing an orchestral musician and a street musician perform interchangeable for viewers. I wouldn't have felt satisfied if this story wasn't brought to life as intended.
Luckily, I took initiative to direct and produce the short documentary showcasing this known as "To Busk or Not to Busk". A statement that our subjects, guitarist John Goodblood and cellist Kevin Zi-Xiao He, find themselves asking if what they do ends up being worth it despite potential repercussions. Thus, giving this film the largest exposure possible for people to discover the true meaning of art/busking. That's an essential goal for a film I'm very proud of given my deep passion for film, music, and valuing any form of art."