Mozart in the Jungle

We are delighted for you to be our first audience

since we got together again.

You know, we... we haven't been able to play together

for a long, long time, and this is the time,

so, please, you know, forgive our errors.

We have a little bit of rough edges.

Bradford Sharp. This is my first movie.

My very first one. We're shooting on film. Kinda nervous.

Uh, it's untitled.

And just remember, everybody, just be natural,

be realistic, be in the moment.

Are you excited to play after time away?

Uh, yeah. I'm really excited.

I am also very curious about where we're playing,

because knowing Rodrigo, it's probably pretty interesting.

What do you love about the oboe?

What do I love about the oboe?

I don't really know what I love about the oboe anymore,

except that I know that I do love it.

You know that the oboe actually, like, symbolizes

the sound of love and...

Not like romantic love, but I think love in general.

- Okay, Warren Boyd. - Yeah?

Here. This one's for you. All the way to the back.

- Huh. - And, uh, Union Bob.

Have you played this? I did it in Sweden and it's, uh...

- I don't know. Yeah. - It's pretty, um...

- It's kind of crazy. - It's crazy?

- Yeah. - This is the first time you've played together

in quite some time. I'm curious to know what you...

What you feel like right now?

Well, I can't wait. I mean... Huh.

I... I've been dying for the last four months, or however long it's been.

I'm happy that I get to, um...

To sub, and... right now it feels good.

How long will your film be?

You know, right now I don't like to talk about

my work when it's happening,

uh, but I just want to be with you guys.

It could be... It's really up to you guys how long it is.

What instrument are you the most jealous of?

What instrument am I the most jealous of?

Like what you'd like to have the skill playing.

Um, Dee Dee. I'm j... For him. The percussion.

What does it take to be a good percussionist?

You really have to love what time can do.

You know, you can either play it on the beat,

behind the beat, in front of the beat.

And what's interesting is all different conductors

want time placed differently.

What, we're here?

This is where we're going?

Yo. We're going to jail.

No, no.

All right, let's get off the bus real quick.

I'm not even surprised.

What the hell?

So, guys, we're gonna get onto that bus that is over there,

the white one, and we're in a bit of a hurry, okay?

So none of your usual, you know, thingies,

ten-minute break and everything.

Okay, you guys heard the maestro.

Very fast, please, guys.

Let's get down low here, I want to get down low.

The Maestro, totally unpredictable.

I had no idea where we were gonna go.

And then when Bob saw the sign to Rikers,

I thought, oh, right.

Why didn't I realize this to begin with?

I mean, a classic Rodrigo move, right?

Rodrigo had just returned to us,

and this was his idea.

I thought it was unconventional,

but that's very much Rodrigo, and that's why I love him.

So I thought, well, let's give it a shot.

I wanted to encourage Rodrigo

because he had just come back,

so I thought let's... Let's give it a shot.

Has a orchestra of this size...

Don't film me. Actually, do film me

in case I want it for later just to have...

I don't know if I'm gonna be...

What kind of documentary this is gonna be yet,

if I'm gonna be off camera or on camera,

so we get one of both, each.

Maybe we get one of each.

Better to have extra fabric in the legs and then take the pants in,

you know what I'm sayin'?

Um, has an orchestra of this size ever, uh, played, uh,

in this facility before?

- No, this is the first time... - Not of this size.

This is the first time we've had an orchestra,

um, perform for the inmate population

in, uh, Rikers Island.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen,

you have now reached Rikers Island security check point.

Uh, once you get off the bus,

you will be given further instructions

on, uh, clearing the security check point. Okay?

All right, people, listen up.

Penal law 305.25 is a D felony.

Anyone caught with contraband will get arrested.

We do not discriminate here in Rikers Island.

No cell phones, no tobacco, no electronic equipment.

I didn't know where we were going,

and, uh, frankly, I didn't care.

I trusted it was gonna be some musical experience,

and I was cool with that.

We walked up and there's...

You know, there's Manhattan, the skyline,

and... and then there's the fencing.

It was kind of a... It had a weird beauty to it.

To listen to music

is definitely, uh... Is a right.

You know? Um, and to make music, therefore, but...

Is to listen to this type of music, I think, it is a right.

I think it is something that, uh...

That anyone should be allowed to

because the thing that gives you peace,

even if peace is not allowed

into... into your world.

Music is the biggest, uh, common denominator.

We're looking for reasons why to

keep on playing as an orchestra.

Go up to the skyline, then come back,

but make it look like you still care about what he's saying.

I think we're gonna find something here,

which I don't know what it's gonna be,

but it's only doing it that we're gonna find out

the real reason why we're here.

Nice.