‘A Band Called Death’ Filmmaker Mark Covino Takes On 242 Main Documentary Role

Above: Filmmaker Mark Christopher Covino. Download in high resolution.

BURLINGTON VT October 12, 2021: The film ‘No Stage Diving: The Story of 242 Main’ documents Burlington’s historic teen-led music venue. Filmmaker Bill Simmon recorded more than 60 interviews with band members, staff, and civic leaders, capturing a wide scope of human experience at 242 Main that took place over 30+ years. The film is now being edited by filmmaker Mark Christopher Covino.

242 Main is located inside Memorial Auditorium, a city-owned building that was tragically closed due to deferred maintenance by the city. For more than thirty years the youth of Burlington had access to a space that provided peer-supported creative expression, empowering self-direction, and a sense of community as a safe space. Big Heavy World pursued this project in response to the forced closure of the teen center in 2016, resulting in the loss of a critical and unique social resource for youth.

The film, a non-commercial project, is resulting from a widespread community effort. Hundreds of photographs and concert posters were sent in by the 242 Main participants and scanned by Big Heavy World volunteers. Interviews were transcribed and the volunteers continue to assist with all aspects of production and provide direct assistance to Covino.

Above: Bill Simmon. Photo by James Lockridge. Download in high resolution.

Simmon has now passed the creative torch to Covino who will move forward in the editor role. Simmon said, “I can't think of a better or more perfect filmmaker to take on this project than Mark. He imbues all of his projects with love and I know he's going to do right by this important story. My heart is very much in this film, but as my capacity has become limited, I've had to step away from editing responsibilities. I couldn't be more thrilled that Mark has decided to take this on.”

Covino said, “Like generations of people, I have a reverence for 242 Main because of what it stood for, for young people. It’s important to America’s all-ages music culture and I’m honored to have a part in telling its story.” Covino is a director, producer and editor whose work includes “Unless A Death Occurs: Hazing Examined” for PBS as well as the highly-acclaimed Black Panther documentary “What We Want What We Believe.” In 2012 Mark’s first feature film “A Band Called Death” premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival and subsequently won the Audience Award at South by Southwest in 2013. The film was acquired by Drafthouse Films shortly thereafter and was released to rave reviews around the world. In 2016 the band and film title earned a place in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. His follow-up the award-winning documentary “The Crest” was released by Gravitas Ventures in 2019.

Progress with the film can be followed at Big Heavy World’s 242 Main Resource Center, https://bigheavyworld.com/242main. A trailer, interview clips and concert posters can be found there, too.  

Big Heavy World is an independent nonprofit music development office established to archive and promote the original music of Vermont. With a crew of volunteers it publishes information about Vermont’s music industry, archives thousands of Vermont-made recordings, photographs and artifacts, and operates 105.9FM, a radio station highlighting the region’s creative community. It hosts the weekly ‘Rocket Shop local music radio hour and podcast that has featured ~700 Vermont-based artists. In 2020 Big Heavy World was recognized as ‘Best Global Music Office’ by an international Music Cities jury. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021. For more, visit bigheavyworld.com

High-resolution images are available at https://bigheavyworld.com/press-images