Good Art is About Story – Great Art is About Characters | Nice Photography Magazine - The "Why To" Magazine about Creative Photography and Film Making

Good Art is About Story – Great Art is About Characters

Posted by Zeke Kamm on 3/29/09 • Categorized as The Latest

Personally, I believe art, the kind that effects someone emotionally, almost always needs story. You can tell that story in one still image, a frozen moment in time that reveals all the moments that lead up to it or hints at what is to come. It could be a song. A book. A movie. In this case, the art is a documentary film that I promise will surprise you.

A very close friend of mine invited me to a special preview of this film last year at one of the largest talent agencies in Hollywood. The theater was packed with creative types and executives, probably one of the hardest, most jaded audiences you could ever fear. Yet, it wasn’t long before laughter erupted at increasing intervals only to be silenced from time to time with moments of tender silence and even tears.

You may start off thinking this is just a very good fake or “mock-umentary”, but it ain’t. This is the real deal. In parts it’s so real that it hurts. This movie is about having a dream and fighting for that dream with unstoppable passion. Sure, it’s funny, sure it’s silly at times. But that just gives the pathos all the more pull in your gut.

Why is this doc that is nothing special visually – even raw and ugly looking at times with much of it shot on pretty crummy video cameras (though some of it is shot very nice), why do I consider this to be such great art? Because it’s about the characters. By the time it is over you will likely not just feel like you know these people, but I think you will love them like a best friend.

I know I’m a sarcastic bastard from time to time. But not this time. I’m not sure if the following trailer will compel you to go see this documentary. Actually it probably won’t. You can’t boil down what this film makes you feel into a couple minutes. So I’m going try and compel you. It is one of the greatest documentaries I’ve ever seen. No Joke. Go see “Anvil! The Story of Anvil”. I think you’ll be very glad you did.