Contemporary Color

When David Byrne—best known for his decades with pioneering New Wave band Talking Heads—was approached by a color guard team to use his music in one of their routines, he didn’t just give consent. He took a deep interest in what’s called “the sport of the arts,” and decided to make it his next passion project. Part concert film, part backstage musical, Contemporary Color documents the epic collaborations that Byrne organized, pairing 10 cutting-edge performers (including St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs, Zola Jesus, This American Life host Ira Glass and Byrne himself) with 10 color guard troupes. The latter aspect may surprise you, much as it did Byrne, at first. Since the teams represent a subset of the sport known as “winter guard,” you’ll find no rigid drill team movements here; the routines still include props like rifles and flags, but the choreography and costuming far more resembles modern dance. The end result is like a really artistic halftime show, with Byrne running around behind the scenes like a proud coach overseeing the proceedings. Adding to the festive atmosphere of the film, Contemporary Color will be shown for free on the outdoor screen at the Proxy, located next to Patricia’s Green in Hayes Valley. —Cheryl Eddy