For the eight young men in the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, “brotherhood” is literal: they’re all sons of anti-establishment jazz legend, Phil Cohran. Cohran and their mothers raised them together on Chicago’s South side on a strict diet of jazz, funk and Black Consciousness. Family band practice began at 6 AM. Now grown, as they raise eight brass horns to the sky— while playing in the streets of New York City, collaborating with Mos Def, or wowing a jazz festival— they find the values their father bred into them constantly tested. They must decide whether his principles really are their own. "Brothers Hypnotic" is a coming of age story, for eight brothers, and for an ideal.

Director: Reuben Atlas

Producer: Sam Pollard, Reuben Atlas

Cinematographer: Dan Fridman, Sean Porter, Ari Issler, Igor Martinovich, Reuben Atlas

Editor: Keiko Deguchi

Music: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Phil Cohran, Artistic Heritage Ensemble, Aquilla Sadalla, MAIA

Additional Credits: Consulting Producers: Jamin Mendelsohn, David Van Taylor, Additional Editor: Paul Greenhouse, Additional Cinematographers: Ryan Garrett, Brian Moore, Paul Greenhouse, Rachel Morrison, Sound Recordists: Daniel Brooks, John Mathie, Daniel Gaughran, Shaka King, co-production partners: ITVS, NBPC, NTR:NPS

Reuben Atlas is an NYC based producer, director, and lawyer. "Brothers Hypnotic" is his first documentary and has received support from ITVS, the Jerome Foundation, the NBPC, NYSCA, and NTR: NPS Dutch TV. He has also worked in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, taught English in Costa Rica, and worked at a maximum-security prison and at Legal Aid.

Distributor: US Public Television - ITVS, NBPC; Dutch Public Television- NTR:NPS

Public Film Contact
Reuben Atlas
Pandora Film Center
ReAtlas@yahoo.com, Pandfilms@aol.com