Sharon Sherman’s documentary “Kid Shoes,” starring the Eugene hometown band Soul Function, will broadcast today at 10:30 p.m. on Oregon Public Broadcasting.
“‘Kid Shoes’ is an upbeat documentary about the role of music in the lives of boys on their trajectory through middle school, to high school and to college,” said Sherman, the director of the University’s folklore program. The film depicts how and why being in the band affects each of the nine members.
“The video points to the healthy outlet music provides,” she said.
Sherman said the media put their focus on the negative aspects of music; her film will expose the pleasant perspective.
“This is really good. Their music is so positive,” she said.
Throughout the years, Sherman’s vision of producing a documentary about Soul Function stemmed from her epiphany that the band has their own lore, lingo and fans. And she has always wanted to make a film revolving around music.
“As I saw them develop, I put on my folklore glasses,” she said. “I asked myself, why do people do that? What is it that keeps these [bands] together?”
Sherman said the film is a statement about how band relationships function.
Some of the band members hung out during middle school and evolved into Soul Function. One of the band members in the documentary described the band as friends “from all circles of life.”
“Music gives [Soul Function] a sense of belonging ­ they develop leadership and strong bonds of friendship,” Sherman said. “People find themselves in music.”
Sherman said her video incorporates new technology and 30 years of experience.
“Editing is an intense process. When I close the door, the rest of the world just falls away,” she said, adding that this film is digital, which is “incredible — the image is crisp, the colors are true and it was an easy format.”
Sherman chose the title of “Kid Shoes” because it was the last song on the band’s second album. She said at concerts, this song creates an interaction between the audience and the band. In addition, she said the boys are growing up and becoming men — hence the name “Kid Shoes.”