Trailer: Arcadia High School Band Documentary

Nearly 18 months after filming began, "Tradition of Excellence," a full-length documentary film chronicling the Arcadia High School Band and Color Guard's will premiere in January.

The film was funded in-part by a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $8,000, filmmaker and 2006 AHS alum JC Chang said.

Originally conceived as a half-hour documentary focusing on the band's performance at the 2012 Rose Parade, Chang said the film "took on a life of its own" and became a full-length feature that follows the band through its entire 2011-12 season.

"It's one of those things where the subject will lead you," Chang said. "It's very unpredictable."

Take a look at the attached trailer for "Tradition of Excellence."

Chang said he interviewed 50 band alums during the course of filming, and he felt struck by the similarities in their experiences on the band.

"In the end, the camaraderie and the feeling of being a unit, a team, performing together is something we heard from every generation," Chang said, adding the uniforms haven't even changed much from 30 or 40 years ago.

Chang posts updates on the film and other cinema-related news on his Facebook page and video updates on YouTube.

Check Patch for more on the premiere.