fretless films

Award-winning filmmaker John Whitehead's production company

Make ’Em Dance: The Hackerberry Ramblers’ Story

In their nineties when this was filmed, members of the The Hackberry Ramblers have been playing a toe-tapping blend of Cajun music and Western swing for seven decades. Part band biography, part road movie, Make Em Dance keeps up with these agin’ ragin’ Cajuns on tour from the Louisiana bayou to MTV. Aired on PBS’ Independent Lens.

  • John Whitehead: Producer, Director, Writer, Editor
  • Ben Sandmel: Co-Producer
  • pbs.org

more projects

Ohiyesa: The Soul of an Indian

Don’t Get Trouble in Your Mind: The Carolina Chocolate Drops’ Story

Transplant: A Gift For Life

First Speakers: Restoring the Ojibwe Language

Mississippi National River Recreation Area

StorySwap

St. Olaf Choir: The First 100 Years

The Practice of Science

Minnesota: A History of the Land

Make ’Em Dance: The Hackerberry Ramblers’ Story

Precious Waters

Clay, Wood, Fire, Spirit: The Pottery of Richard Bresnahan

Death of a Dream: Farmhouse in the Heartland

Wannabe: Life and Death in a Small Town Gang