Soundtrack to spotlight: the Maverick Machine Documentary

Unless viewers stick around during a movie’s credits, those who created the soundtrack are often forgotten. It couldn’t be farther from the truth for the Minnesota State Maverick Machine. Known as the soundtrack of MSU, they are moving into the spotlight in a new documentary created by the IT Solutions Video and Media Team called “The Return of the Machine.” 

The 55-minute documentary covers the Maverick Machine’s biggest performances over the last decade along with the 10th anniversary of the Maverick Machine’s return. 

Director of Athletic Bands Michael Thursby said he reached out to IT Solutions, which had helped them record their performances during the pandemic, to help highlight the Maverick Machine during the 2023-24 school year. Some of their biggest performances were at Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, at the Minnesota Music Education Conference and the championships of the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

“We didn’t want to take those moments for granted. We wanted to live in the moment, but then also document everything we do behind the scenes and in the public eye,” Thursby said. 

Mentor and director Fabio Castel-Garcia helped work on the documentary. He said after looking through amounts of footage, the documentary’s concept started to take place after conducting interviews with students, faculty and alumni at Homecoming last year to encapsulate the Maverick Machine’s spirit. 

“The documentary is like a story that tells a little bit of the past, where the band is now, their vision, how they see each other as a family and all the shows they’ve done,” Castel-Garcia said. 

Kathryn Petzel is the graduate assistant for the video production team. Petzel jumped into the filming in the middle of the three-year process. She said getting to learn how to make a documentary has been special and like “creating a time capsule.”

“They can look back on this and remember and feel the nostalgia about their experiences in the band,” Petzel said.

Castel-Garcia said seeing the narrative come to life through interviews with the band and President Inch has been “entertaining” to come together. 

“I think documentaries can sometimes go different ways by just following one person, but this time we have the subject of the band and how we’re showing them interacting with each other,” Castel-Garcia said.

The documentary premiered Saturday. Petzel said the scheduling of the premiere during Homecoming was in part due to how many people were going to be on MSU’s campus.

“Alumni were already going to be on campus along with band and community members, so they could easily attend,” Petzel said.

While Thursby saw the documentary a few times before the premiere to help with the editing, he said it was a “raw and emotional” experience to see upon the first viewing. 

“There were a few tears,” Thursby said. “It’s not about me, but about the experiences the students have had and how they’ve been able to make connections and build friendships through the Maverick Machine.”

While the band has seen evolution through the different trends in music and the addition of new instruments, Thursby said the one constant has been the bonds formed.

“There are alumni from 10 to 40 years ago that still have connections to this program and this university because of the program. I want people to see how deep those connections are,” Thursby said.

Castel-Garcia said he hopes viewers see the dedication and struggles the band goes through.

“They’re carrying all of their equipment, they’re in the cold before everyone shows up,” Castel-Garcia said. “Showing the behind-the-scenes and the human connection is so important.”

Thursby hopes viewers enjoyed the glimpses of behind-the-scenes work the Maverick Machine does in order to prepare for their performances. 

“It’s a lot of work to be at all those events and I hope it gives everybody an idea of what it’s like to do the whole show and how much work these students truly put in,” Thursby said. 

For those who were unable to attend the premiere, the documentary can be found on the Maverick Machine’s YouTube page.

Caption: Maverick Machine, a.k.a. “the soundtrack of MSU” are performing at the Homecoming football game (MATT MILLER/The Reporter).

Write to Emma.johnson.5@mnsu.edu