Tell us a bit about your organization and what your specialty is in the film and video space.
I started Life Music because music, like life, doesn’t fit neatly into one category. It draws from countless influences, takes many forms, and is most meaningful when it connects us and allows us to be honest and human. Life Music isn’t just a genre of music, but a way of creating. It’s a wide, open space where original works can exist freely, without the need for labels. Life Music isn’t a box — it’s a doorway.
At its heart, Life Music is about connection — reflecting the stories, relationships, and experiences that shape us as we go.
What is your organization’s ethos and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?
There are so many incredible musicians and composers in the world, and I’m simply grateful to be part of the larger musical community. But if I had to choose something that sets us apart, it’s the way we share the work. The music is about creating living moments that invite listeners to feel like they’re part of the story. By capturing and sharing music in this way, we aim to build bridges — between genres, between artists, and most importantly, between people.
How can people join or learn more about what you do?
www.justinlevitt.com or my social media (Instagram, Facebook)
Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?
The Story of Bootleg the Movie:
Justin and David first met in 2009 and an immediate friendship began. It was during this first meeting that they both expressed their love of piano and their interest in film scoring. Their 4 hand piano improvisations were soon to follow. “One day we simply sat down together and jammed” says Justin. “It was a lot of fun but we never took it too seriously. We simply enjoyed playing for pleasure”.
Although they considered their 4 hand improvisations a side venture, they did take note of their musical chemistry. For the next 10 years Justin and David began organizing several piano concerts plus other special events around the Bay Area. During these performances many of their friends filmed them on their phones or camcorders. Little did everyone know these videos would later become the pieces of an artistic movie project.
During the lockdown of 2019-20 many artists found themselves struggling with the restrictions placed on them. “I remember feeling isolated during those years” recalls David “and to keep inspired I would listen to recordings of past performances I was involved in. It was then that I came across a lot of videos that our friends took of Justin and I playing over the years. It really lifted my spirits watching them and immediately had to share them with Justin.”
“It really was uplifting to hear these performances” says Justin. “That’s when we came up with the idea to make an album. Not to market, but just for ourselves and our family and friends. We didn’t mind that some of the video’s audio were not up to commercial standards. In fact, that’s what inspired the name of the album – Bootleg – as bootleg recordings are generally poor in sound quality”.
The process involved watching and listening to hours of videos. During this time, they stumbled upon a website that sold stock footage of images and videos. Inspired with what they saw they decided to download a humorous clip and through iMovie, edited the footage into one of their piano improv videos. “It was hilarious” recalls David. “That was the turning point that turned Bootleg the album into Bootleg the movie”.
During the lockdown and the following years the two spent months transforming many of their friend’s videos into something more fun and entertaining to watch. David recalls “creating Bootleg The Movie during a pandemic was a catharsis for us. We didn’t make it for commercial reasons”. It was a passion project. It helped us get through some difficult times and we’re both very proud of it. We’re hoping it puts a smile on everyone’s face”. “I often referred to improvising with David like Running downhill backwards, while blindfolded” says Justin. “I love how we would simply start playing and creating a world together in real time, inspiring one another from note to note”. Looking back, I still can’t believe all of it was improv.”
What are you most proud of about this piece? What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?
What mattered most was finding a way to bring all of the improvisations together so they could be shared with friends and family, and so we could look back on them down the road. Also, knowing they were all made with my friend was special.
Can you share a behind the scenes story or fun fact about the making of your piece?
One of my favorite parts of the movie is the Bootleg the Movie outtakes video — it’s genuinely hilarious.
Tell us about the most memorable response you got from this work.
We hosted a live screening of the film in a beautiful Bay Area venue, where hundreds of people came out to support us. Surrounded by friends, family, and fans, we watched as the audience laughed and cheered throughout the film — an unforgettable experience that left us feeling both grateful and inspired.
Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’
Great video storytelling is capturing something real — moments where music, emotion, and imagery come together and connect people in a way that lasts beyond the performance.
