John Monteleone: The Chisels Are Calling

Before watching this film, I did not know what an archtop guitar was, who John Monteleone was, or what a luthier was. This documentary is an enthralling journey into a world renown guitar maker's incredible background and masterful work. John Monteleone's story is an amazing one -- how he got to be who he is today, how his family and other personal history shaped that, how articulate and engaging he is, how truly impressive his work is, and how through all of that he has remained grounded, humble, and relatable. It had to be a real challenge to create such a fascinating documentary about such a specialized topic. The filmmaking, with outstanding directing and production, rose to that challenge and delivered an exceptional film. I learned so much, leaving the show feeling very satisfied, enlightened, and inspired to learn more about the subject, as well as the music, performers, and history featured in the film.