DON'T SELL
MY GUITARS
Kenny Montgomery grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, picking cotton from the age of 6. By 10, he was a musical sensation, a gift from God, able to play any gospel song by ear. Preachers came from far and wide to take him to perform at their revivals. By 18 he had his own radio show. He went on to play with some of the great pioneers of country music in some of the raunchiest honkytonks from Oklahoma to California.
Now, in his final days, his thoughts are with his guitars, all those tools of the trade he amassed in a lifetime of picking. Out of the 20 guitars lining the walls of his music room, his most prized possession is his first guitar – a six-dollar, mail order, Sears Roebuck Silvertone.
He motions his wife to his side and whispers his final request, “Honey, don’t sell my guitars.”
The surprising revelation of what happened to Kenny’s beloved Silvertone guitar is the focus of this emotional short documentary that explores loss and redemption and a man’s love for his family.
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THE CAST
Kenny, age 18, with his 2nd guitar, an Epiphone. He sold it in 1955 when he moved to California. He swore he'd never sell another guitar again.
"The prettiest girl I ever saw, when I saw her singing in the choir."
Kenny, about 1969 with his fancy honky tonk duds.
"I've always been more of a family man." The filmmaker with her Dad.
VIDEOS
The Trailer
Kenny's Music
I Want To Be With You Always
Kenny spent hours every day playing along to his beloved iPod in his music room. I'd quietly walk in the room, iPhone in hand, and capture the magic that is at the heart of this movie. Here he is playing a classic Lefty Frizzell song as interpreted by the great Cajun singer, Jo-El Sonnier, one of Kenny's favorites.
Auld Lang Syne
Holidays were always a great occasion at our house. Kenny would show up with a guitar or two in hand and he'd break into song at the slightest provocation. Of course, I was always ready with my trusty iPhone when the magic happened. And when the music stopped, the charm continued. Listen for his greeting at the end of the song.
THE FILMMAKERS
Lynn Montgomery
Director, Writer, Producer (with Kenny)
Lynn Montgomery won a Los Angeles area Emmy for the documentary, Child Abuse, The Day After about the failings of the child protective custody system in LA. She won a Writer’s Guild Award for her children’s script for the Showtime series, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, starring Jean Stapleton, Shelley Duvall and Joan Cusack. She created a TV series for NBC and Disney called The Torkelsons, about her mother’s family in Oklahoma. She has written for the LA Weekly and the Big Bear Grizzly. She wrote and produced a nationally syndicated radio show aired on over 100 rock and roll stations for Westwood 1. Recently she wrote an award winning children’s book, Butt Ugly,
A resident of Santa Barbara for the past 20 years, some people know her as Austin and Hannah’s mom and Richard’s wife, but the kids are grown, the fabulously talented husband is retired and the 120-year-old house will just have to learn to fend for itself.
Lynn is back. She makes her directorial debut with Don’t Sell My Guitars.
Richard Kriegler
Art Director
Richard Kriegler is a fine artist as well as a commercial artist. He has worked for many Fortune 500 companies doing branding and illustrations. He worked on dozens of films as a matte painter and concept artist, including Stuart Little, Star Trek, Ghost of Mars, Vertical Limit and the Academy Award winning films Contact and What Dreams May Come.
For the last ten years he has been the Art Director for Call Of Duty. His game, Modern Warfare 3 became the biggest entertainment launch in history, grossing one billion dollars in 16 days.
(Lynn is happy she's married to Richard, otherwise she never would be able to afford him.)
SCREENINGS
Mar 24, 2018
Fort Myers, FLA
FORT MYERS FILM FESTIVAL
The Fort Myers Film Festival is an intelligent independent filmmaker's preferred event to create, unite and showcase the finest artistic cinematic works. The Fort Myers Film Festival is known for world-class swagger and support of local filmmakers. The festival event offers ‘the most vibrant intellectual and edgy crowd to grace Lee County in decades.’ The event has featured hundreds of local filmmakers and is a must attend for cineasts who love indie film.
Mar 14, 2018
4PM San Luis Obispo, CA
SAN LUIS OBISPO FILM FESTIVAL
Variety is the spice of life, and the SLOIFF is proud to embrace that philosophy in its programming. From cutting edge documentaries to tried and true cinema classics, the SLOIFF celebrates film on the ‘big screen’ by offering something for everyone. Experience HOLLYWOOD & VINES EVENTS that pair excellent local wines with film classics. Or the RED CARPET EVENTS, where we welcome celebrities from Hollywood filmmakers to action sports legends.
Friday, October 13 2017 Vienna, Austria
AUSTRIAN FILM FESTIVAL
What makes it interesting? Write a catchy description to grab yourThe Austrian Independent Filmfestival is celebrating
the international independent film with an competition for long and short films
in Austria's beautiful capital Vienna.
It is the biggest event for Austrian independent films.
October 11-15 2017 Santa Cruz, CA
SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL
We don't just watch films, we experience them. Pulling from the varied creative talents of our community we enhance each film screening by making it a unique event that cannot be replicated. You don't come here to see a film, you come to remember it.at's this item about?
Oct 06, 2017
Venice, California
OTHER VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
The 14th Annual Other Venice Film Festival proudly returns, better than ever, for its 14th season this October 6th to 8th. The OVFF is a nonprofit community event dedicated to screening full-length, short and animated films that embody the spirit, energy and diversity of Venice, California. From our humble beginnings in 2004, International film makers descended on Venice for three days of film screenings, premieres, sell out crowds, spirited Q&A sessions, panel discussions, local art on display and parties with live music and DJs. We are certain we have the best selection of films yet.
July 15, 3:45 Bellmore Theatre, 222 Pettit Ave Bellmore, New York
LONG ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM EXPO
'The Long Island Film/TV Foundation and the Nassau County Film Commission present the 20th Annual LIIFE – Long Island International Film Expo, July 13 – 20, 2017 at the historic Bellmore Movies. This year’s festival will include over a hundred short and feature-length independent films from all over the world."
Apr 21, 2017
6:00 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame 401 S. 3rd St. Muskogee, OK UPDATE WINNER
Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival is dedicated to screening feature motion picture projects with budgets less than one million dollars. Named one of the "25 Festivals worth the entry fee" by Moviemaker Magazine and named one of the "20 best festivals for new and emerging filmmakers." PBS included Bare Bones as one of the top 20 documentary festivals.
Apr 26, 2017
7:30 Screening Rm 128 East Congress Tucson Arizona
Staying true to its mission of showcasing independent film, the Arizona International Film Festival has exhibited over 2,600 films representing 90 countries to over 152,000 patrons in southern Arizona.
Apr 28, 2017
2:00 PM The Box 3635 Market St. Riverside, CA
In this, our 15th year, RIFF seeks diverse and challenging films of social upheaval, human conflict, and the boldness of the human spirit.
Apr 30, 2017
10 AM Edgemar 2437 Main Street Santa Monica CA
Housed at the Edgemar Center for the Arts, the CATE Film Festival is nestled in the Frank Gehry designed complex on bustling Main St. in Santa Monica, CA. The 5th Annual Festival presents films of all genres that feature a distinct vision, a unique voice or a challenge to what is expected and accepted in the medium.
Feb 06, 2017
Santa Barbara
Mar 02, 2017
Stillwater, Oklahoma *Update: WINNER
RED DIRT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
"During our 4-day run, we will feature many films, from full-length movies and documentaries, and short films from filmmakers both local and worldwide. In the past we have featured films from all seven continents, including Antarctica! Red Dirt was formed to bring more inspiration, culture, and entertainment to central Oklahoma, as well as to enliven people of all ages through the united power of the film medium.The fest is held on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma."
Mar 04, 2017
Cleveland, Ohio
SHORT.SWEET. FILM FESTIVAL
"In today’s film climate it is hard to showcase short films. Many festivals only care about features and it seems like this art is dwindling to silly videos about kittens on the internet. Even though we love kittens (who doesn’t?) here at the SHORT. SWEET. FILM FESTIVAL we love short films (heck, short is even in our title)."
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"I would have loved to have met this man. And when my time on earth is over and I get to heaven, he will be one of the first people I look for. I would love to have sat and picked with him. Treasure his legacy and his guitars, I sure would. Unfortunately my father didn't play guitar and he was very poor so he didn't leave me any instruments to remember him by. You are very lucky to have pieces of him still with you. If he loved his guitars the way I love my accordions and my guitars, they were like his children and should be treated with utmost respect and love."
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"Born in a honky-tonk along Route 66, filmmaker Lynn Montgomery has followed her roots in creating this moving love letter to her late musician father, whose guitar passion and devotion to family keep on shining through."
--Anath White rogerebert.com
