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High school marching band is full of misconceptions and stereotypes, which makes it the perfect topic for a documentary film. "This is one subject that the general public just doesn't understand," Doug Lantz said.

Lantz is the director and executive producer of "From the 50 Yard Line," an award-winning film about instrumental music education that features the 2006 Centerville High School marching band.

"From the 50 Yard Line" makes its local premiere today at Cinema De Lux 14 at the Greene in Beavercreek.

Lantz, a freelance camera and sound crew member for ABC News in Los Angeles, is familiar with his subject. He is a 1985 graduate of Centerville High School and spent four years playing trumpet in the Centerville Jazz Band.

"It completely influences your life," Lantz said regarding his own marching band experience. "I don't think you realize it as much when you're in it. But when you're away from it, you can see how it impacts your life.

"It's definitely very emotional when you're involved in it. It's a place that you fit in."

Lantz, 40, followed the Centerville Jazz Band through auditions, band camp and the 2006 marching season. He also accompanied the band to a regional competition in Atlanta and the national championships in Indianapolis.

"I figured if I could take the viewer on a ride of what it's like to experience marching band, they might actually appreciate it a little more," Lantz said.

His crew filmed more than 200 hours of footage, using anywhere from two to six cameras for the various shoots.

Lantz had an "in" with Centerville City Schools. His father, John Lantz, is a former Centerville football coach and retired career counselor.

Lantz praised CHS Principal Eileen Booher for granting him access to the students, and helping to inform parents about cameras at school.

"We were very, very cautious about who is on camera and who is not, and that we have releases on everyone, and everything is done on the level," he said.

The students' normal tendency is to goof for the cameras. The filmmakers allowed them to do so for the first few days to get it out of their systems.

"What was amazing to watch was the more time we spent with them, the more they forgot that we were there," Lantz said. "Which I think makes for tremendous documentaries.

"When you can have cameras there and your subject is not aware, then you can really capture those moments."

Nothing in the film was preplanned or set up by the filmmakers, Lantz said. He is a 12-year veteran of ABC's "20/20," "Primetime," "Nightline" and "Good Morning America."

"From the 50 Yard Line" documents the emotional highs and lows of the season, such as a "share session" in which the students open up with their feelings about band.

"That moment when a kid is speaking, that happens once and there's no re-doing it," Lantz said. "So you have to be really at the top of your game at every moment to be able to capture those moments as they happen. That, for me, is what I love."

The documentary also contrasts Centerville's award-winning music program with that of Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, which was just revived after an 18-year silence because of budget cuts.

"The kids at Fairfax, this is their first time even playing instruments ... but they're having that same emotional experience as the kids in Centerville," Lantz said. "I thought that was just a powerful thing to want to convey in a film."

"From the 50 Yard Line" made its world premiere on Aug. 8 as an official opening night screening of the Rhode Island International Film Festival in Providence, R.I. It won the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary.

"It was very touching to see the power that this film has had in showing the importance of instrumental music," Lantz said.

Lantz said it was too soon to discuss distribution for the film. He has been approached by DVD distributors, but is hoping for a theatrical release.

On Tuesday, Lantz and producer Dave Johnson presented "From the 50 Yard Line" at the Everglades International Film Festival in Dargle, South Africa. It won the award for Best USA Documentary.

The film also has won awards from film festivals in Columbus, Ohio; Louisville, Ky.; and Kansas City, Kan.

"I think the eyes of the world are now going to be on Centerville in a new, unique way and that's really exciting and touching to me," Lantz said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen

@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How to go

What: "From the 50 Yard Line," Dayton-area premiere

When: Today at 10 and 11 a.m. and at 12:15 p.m. The 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. screenings are sold out.

Where: Cinema De Lux 14 at The Greene in Beavercreek.

Cost: Tickets for the 11 a.m. screening are $8 at the door.

More information: Visit www.fromthe

50yardline.com

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Awards for 'From the 50 Yard Line'

Audience Choice Award — Best Documentary Grand Prize

Rhode Island International Film Festival

Providence, R.I.

Best Family Film

Bluegrass Independent Film Festival

Louisville, Ky.

Second Place — Best Documentary

Kansas International Film Festival

Kansas City, Kan.

The Chris Award

Columbus International Film and Video Festival

Columbus, Ohio

Best USA Documentary

Everglades International Film Festival

Dargle, South Africa