The Beforetime Orchestra & The Well Pennies present

A New Instrumental Album Inspired by
Rare Historical found-Footage

ABOUT THE PROJECT

"The North Star" is an album featuring seven original instrumental compositions inspired by rare, never-before-seen found footage. Accompanied by a documentary set to release in Spring 2025, this project offers a unique blend of music and history. Stream the album on all platforms on September 13th, and get a sneak peek of the full film with the release of its first vignette.

When George Weed passed away, he left behind a home filled with artifacts and relics collected during his adventurous travels as a young man. Among the most significant, was a box of color film that George (an amateur filmmaker), shot between 1938 and the early 1950s. These reels documented his participation in Admiral Byrd’s 3rd expedition to the South Pole, rare scenes from Papua New Guinea and the surrounding South Pacific Islands during World War II and intimate glimpses of post-war life in Hawaii, Mount Rainier, and rural Washington State.

Inspired by this extraordinary find, George's grandson, Tim Weed, along with Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool of the Well Pennies, created The Before Time Orchestra. Initially, the group planned to use the footage solely as inspiration for an instrumental album. However, as more of the rare footage was digitized, they realized the depth and significance of the material demanded a broader scope. The project soon expanded, evolving into a powerful short film that seamlessly merges these historical visuals with original music, creating a unique blend of history and art. The result is a poignant exploration of adventure, history, and the enduring human spirit, with the music serving as both a tribute and a narrative companion to the remarkable visual footage.

The South Pole PREVIEW
Premiering Sept 13th

“The North Star” offers a preview of this remarkable film, showcasing a rare and intimate look at Admiral Byrd’s third Antarctic expedition. Beginning in 1939, this historic voyage was abruptly cut short by the outbreak of World War II. George Weed, a crew member aboard the North Star, meticulously documented the journey with vivid 16mm color film, capturing a significant moment in exploration history and providing a unique glimpse into this largely undocumented polar expedition. The footage features the ship’s voyage through ice fields, rare scenes of military equipment such as the seldom-seen Antarctic Snow Cruiser, and stunning depictions of Antarctic wildlife, including penguins and seals. Additionally, it offers insights into the pre-war life of explorers at the remote edge of the world, including base camp life at Little America and the Ross Ice Shelf, shedding light on a pivotal era of human endeavor and discovery.

South Pacific PREVIEW
Premiering October 11th

This South Pacific preview captures a poignant chapter in George Weed’s journey as he undergoes basic training and ships out to the South Pacific Theater. The film provides a rare and intimate look at George and his unit as they traverse the dense jungles of New Guinea. Through George’s lens, we witness encounters with seldom-seen tribes and villages, revealing both the harsh realities of war and moments of profound humanity and tranquility. This footage not only documents the relentless impact of conflict but also highlights the enduring spirit and cultural richness of the people and landscapes caught in its wake.

The FULL film - Releasing Spring 2025

The full film, a short-form documentary, is set to premiere in the spring of 2025 and will be screened at various film festivals throughout the United States. Today, we are excited to release a standalone vignette showcasing George’s expedition to the South Pole, with a second vignette featuring his South Pacific footage scheduled for release next month.

ABOUT THE BEFORETIME ORCHESTRA

The Beforetime Orchestra is the brainchild of Los Angeles-based arranger/composer Tim Weed (grandson of the film’s subject) and celebrated songwriter/composer duo Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool (The Well Pennies). Known for their unique orchestral arrangements and lush string textures, this project was born after the trio started experimenting with short instrumental pieces inspired by Tim’s family films. Their debut project serves as the soundtrack to a compelling new documentary film, which showcases never-before-seen 16mm color footage of famed explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd during his 3rd expedition to the South Pole in 1939. The documentary also features unprecedented World War II footage from the South Pacific and offers an intimate look at post-WWII America, capturing the enduring spirit of adventure embodied by its central figure, George Weed, as he lives out his remaining years in the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. With themes of exploration, courage, and the unyielding pursuit of discovery, The Beforetime Orchestra paints vivid sonic landscapes that perfectly complement the never-before-seen historical footage.

About The Well Pennies

THE WELL PENNIES are a Folk/Pop duo consisting of husband and wife team, Bryan & Sarah Vanderpool. The pair met in Boston while supporting each other’s solo sets at folk venues around the New England area. They fell in love, ran away to California and released their debut self-titled EP that was met with critical acclaim from the Los Angeles music scene. Taking influence from 60’s & 70’s folk and pop icons like THE CARPENTERS, JAMES TAYLOR, & CAROLE KING, the pair combine their signature pop melodies and tight harmonies with beautifully produced lush arrangements. The band explains, “Our goal is to write songs that inspire something – however simple – to smile, to love, to get out and experience life.”

In 2014, their cover of “All My Loving” was chosen as the single for the “BEATLES REIMAGINED” album featuring EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS and 9 other up-and-coming indie bands. Their cover was met with critical acclaim from USA Today, LA Times, and Huffington Post and countless others, praising the track for its uniqueness and creativity.

Their first full-length LP, “ENDLINGS", was released in 2015 and made it on several “Best of 2015” lists including BILLBOARD MAGAZINE. The record explored the topic of extinction and how it relates to all aspects of life such as hope, human connection and artistry. The album, and their passion for music education, inspired the band to organize a unique tour called THE YOUTH ORCHESTRA PROJECT, where hundreds of students around the country joined them on stage playing along to their music. The tour started in Anchorage, Alaska with 10 students from The Anchorage Youth Symphony and ended in West Bend, Wisconsin where over 80 orchestra students from the West Bend High School Orchestra participated.

A MOVE TO THE MIDWEST: After 8 years in California, Bryan and Sarah relocated to DES MOINES, IA in order to “…escape the chaos and desperation of Los Angeles and move somewhere where artists can afford to be artists.” The change allowed more time for writing, recording and touring and soon after, they joined DIANA KRALL’s Turn Up the Quiet world tour as the opening act in 2017. Their move to Des Moines also included the creation of Golden Bear Records and their home recording studio where the duo now records and produces their own music along with other projects. In 2018 the pair signed Boston-based songwriter Kaiti Jones to their record label and produced her debut LP “Vows”. It was this Midwest transition and their travels around America’s heartland that inspired many of the songs in their new album, “Murmurations”, which was released on January 25th, 2019.

notable Band highlights

  • Over 50 Million streams on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube

  • Billboard magazine editor Gary Trust named their album in his top 3 favorite albums of the year and also interviewed the band on the eve of the Murmurations release, praising the album for the band’s “trademark harmonies and gift for melody, as well as lyrics, often drawn from the natural world, that, even when cautious, inspire.”

  • No Depression called Murmurations, “Folk Pop Perfection” and the band received praise from NPR, USA Today, NYLON, Interview, Diffuser and many more.

  • The Well Pennies toured as the opening act for Diana Krall’s Turn Up the Quiet world tour and played some of the most prestigious venues in the country.

  • Music featured on Atypical, The Fosters, Switched at Birth, True Blood, Here and Now, and as the closing theme on the popular Spanish TV show Mi Casa es La Tuya.

  • Their original cover version of “All My Loving” was included in an album organized by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros called “Beatles Reimagined” and was praised by USA Today, The New York Times, Rolling Stone and countless others for its uniqueness and creativity. Their music video garnered millions of views and the song was also prominently featured on an Italian commercial for Kinder Chocolate which won several ad awards.

  • The Well Pennies organized a unique tour called The Youth Orchestra Project where the band traveled around the country and local youth orchestras joined them on stage, playing string arrangements from their “Endlings” LP. The tour started in Anchorage, Alaska with The Anchorage Youth Orchestra and ended with their largest performance to date in West Bend, Wisconsin with their High School Orchestra and over 80 students participating.

Track Listing

1. Relics
2. The North Star
3. Aloha
4. South Pacific
5. Coming Home
6. Skiing
7. Homestead

ALbum credits

All songs written by Tim Weed, Bryan Vanderpool, and Sarah Vanderpool
Produced and Mixed by Bryan Vanderpool
Additional engineering by Tony Green at Ear Gallery (Highland Park, CA)
Mastered by Chris Hesse
Tim Weed - Violin, Viola
Bryan Vanderpool - Banjo, Harmonica Vocals, percussion
Sarah Vanderpool - Piano, Vocals
Tony Green - Bass
Rick Brandt - Cello

Press photos