D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist (2002)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Michael W. Dean

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

Filmmaking | Filmmaker | Interviewee | Independent Film Making | Independent Film Maker

Cast

Ron Asheton	...	Interviewee
Mike Boner	...	Himself
Lynn Breedlove	...	Interviewee
Simon Clifton	...	Himself
Cynthia Connolly	...	Herself
Michael W. Dean	...	Himself
Stephen Elliott	...	Himself
Mark Enger	...	Himself
Matt Enger	...	Himself
John John Jesse	...	Himself
Richard Kern	...	Interviewee
Keith Knight	...	Himself
Lung Leg	...	Herself (archive footage)
Beth Lisick	...	Interviewee
Lydia Lunch	...	Interviewee
Killian Macgeraghty	...	Himself
Ian MacKaye	...	Interviewee
Lil Mike Martzke	...	Himself - Interviewee (as Little Mike Martzke)
J. Mascis	...	Himself
Liza Matlack	...	Herself
Maggie McEleney	...	Herself
Eric McFadden	...	Himself
Craig Newmark	...	Himself
Jim Rose	...	Interviewee
Dana Schechter	...	Herself
Madigan Shive	...	Interviewee
J.G. Thirlwell	...	Himself
Courtney J. Ulrich	...	Herself
Oderus Urungus	...	Himself (as Dave Brockie)
Mike Watt	...	Interviewee
David Wellbeloved	...	Himself

Runtime:

55 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Trivia:

The DVD, "DIY or DIE: Burn This DVD" has no region restrictions and no copy protection and people are allowed to make personal copies for non-commercial use. The DVD is the only low-budget indie production in the world with subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Soundtrack:

I Am Your Mother (Suck On Me)

Fiercely independent and mostly starving artists unite!

This is an interesting documentary about the independent arts movement across America. While a few of those interviewed are immensely financially successful, the people interviewed all share a common thread of independence--doing art for themselves and a lack of regard for external validation. Simply put, they do what they do because it's compulsion that they love. Sometimes this produces really unique and ground-breaking work--other times, it's not! But what is fascinating is that most of these artists just don't care--it's their vision. So most barely make ends meet but are basically happy being themselves.

The style of this documentary is to mostly let the various artists just talk and explain what their art means to them, why they do it, what they consider success and their struggles to make it. A fascinating and rough glimpse into the world of fringe music, art, photography, film production writing, etc.. I don't always agree with the people and think some need to think about jobs (especially since my parents were artists and I teach at an art school--I just know way too many starving artists), but I sure have to admire their drives and idealism.

Oddly, this movie actually reminded me of an old Robert Montgomery film, LIVE LOVE AND LEARN (1937) as there are many, many parallels in the stories. Montgomery, too, is a struggling artist who is a Bohemian who could care less about financial success. When he loses sight of this ideal, his life spirals downward, as does his art.

FYI--The film makers really put their money where their mouth is, so to speak, as this film is totally free--region-free, copyright-free and freely distributed.