Salvaged Reverb, a new short documentary (14 min) exploring the life, craftsmanship and five-decade journey of renowned studio builder and recording engineer Robert Lang, has been selected for screening at the Austin Short Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
The festival selection marks an important milestone for the film, which offers an intimate look inside Robert Lang Studios near Seattle, a remarkable recording destination built largely by Lang himself from salvaged stone, reclaimed materials and decades of persistent experimentation.
Over the years, the studio has welcomed an extraordinary range of artists, including Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Peter Frampton, Dave Matthews Band, Death Cab for Cutie and many others.
Rather than simply documenting the famous musicians who have passed through its doors, Salvaged Reverb turns its attention toward the person who built the place.
“It was a huge honor to film Robert and have the opportunity to capture some of the stories behind five decades of building, recording and creating,” said filmmaker Brian Craig Hinderberger who teamed up with Director of Photography Jordan Chamberlain during the visit. “What stayed with me was Robert’s passion, determination and willingness to follow his instincts. I hope the short film reflects that drive and the incredible environment he and his wife Tina curated at one of America’s most intriguing recording studios.”
During filming, Lang guides the audience through the handcrafted rooms and passageways of the studio while reflecting on the unlikely path that led him there from repairing pinball machines as a kid and welding at Boeing to creating a recording destination that would eventually attract artists from around the world.
At its heart, Salvaged Reverb is a story about craftsmanship, perseverance and the belief that an extraordinary creative space can become a magnet for extraordinary art.
Ahead of its Austin festival screening, Central Oregon audiences can experience Salvaged Reverb with the support of film screening sponsor Drop Thesis on October 24, 2026, at Silver Moon Brewing in Bend, Oregon, as part of Song of Sunset: UNDERGROUND.
The screening will be followed by a conversation presented by Oregon Film, bringing the story beyond the screen and into the live, interactive format that has become central to Song of Sunset.
“It will be a big moment to share Robert’s story with the audience in Bend and then continue the film’s journey to Austin,” Hinderberger said. “Song of Sunset was created around the idea that films shouldn’t necessarily end when the credits roll. We want the filmmakers, musicians, subjects and audience to share the same room and continue the story together.”
The October event represents an expansion of Song of Sunset’s combination of independent short films, live music, conversations and storytelling into a single curated evening.
The production’s promotion is also supported by the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, which is helping the Song of Sunset team promote the experience to visitors throughout the Pacific Northwest and encourage them to travel to Bend for the October event. You can check out a chronological playlist of music that was recorded at the studio on Song of Sunset’s website.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support of the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund,” Hinderberger said. “It gives our team the opportunity to reach people throughout the Northwest and invite them to the awesome travel experiences we have here in Bend. We want people to come here, experience the community, and get a peek into underground PNW culture.”
About Salvaged Reverb
Salvaged Reverb is an intimate short documentary portrait of Robert Lang, the visionary builder behind Robert Lang Studios. Constructed over five decades from salvaged stone, reclaimed materials and unwavering determination, the studio became a creative sanctuary for generations of recording artists. Through Lang’s own stories and a guided journey through the space he built largely by instinct and without traditional blueprints, the film explores creativity, craftsmanship, perseverance and the remarkable places that make artistic history possible. Executive producer Benjamin Chia spearheaded the project, with support from co-producer David Moss.
About Song of Sunset
Song of Sunset is a curated live-cinema experience bringing together original short films, live music, filmmakers, artists and conversations in a shared setting. Rather than operating as a traditional film festival or concert, each Song of Sunset experience is designed as a carefully programmed journey in which films, performances and real stories unfold together on the same stage.
Song of Sunset: UNDERGROUND takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Silver Moon Brewing in Bend, Oregon.
More information and tickets: songofsunset.com
This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.
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