Mats Fan Documentary - "Color Me Obsessed"

[daveb]

It's easy for someone to say they wouldn't use band music/interviews if they never had any chance to access those things in the first place. It would be like me saying I have no interest in dating Angelina Jolie.

That said, the film does the best with what it has. Unfortunately, as a fan, I didn't find people sitting around talking about how the 'Mats changed their lives to be all that interesting. It's like listening to sports talk radio vs. attending an actual sporting event.

[evin]

to me gorman is trying to reinvent the dvd westerberg put out with fan footage or the book that that other guy wrote. jim something or other... sorry not great with remembering names. the film seems a slight twist on the aforementioned attempts.

"billwikstrom65" and "worldclassfad" sorta nailed it on the head. let's have someone make a real attempt at a proper documentary of this band. but...it's probably not going to happen.

however, i will add that it must be difficult to corral these guys (tommy, paul, slim, chris, and the other two dead members) to gain some insight into what it was to them. i'll chance to say that must be impossible.

in my opinion the true reason why it will not happen is because there is no money in it for the individuals that played in the band and the 10 or so years that they played together was but a part of their musical careers. i'm more than willing to bet they don't think about the replacements as much as "we" do.

thanks for reading and good luck gorman.

[anarkissed]

I agree. It must be nearly impossible to get either Bob or Steve Foley to sit down for an interview...

[FreeRider]

you know, I'm also thinking that Gorman couldn't raise the money to even get any music into the documentary. I don't know how much the performance royalties and copyright costs would've added to the overall cost of the film, but I'm going to guess that it was a lot more than what he could budget for. So, to some degree, he had to leave the music out and he was sort of forced to do it without using any of the music anyway.

[colormeobsessed]

This is starting to piss me off...

I do not understand why it is so hard for some people to comprehend that a filmmaker might want to take a chance, do something risky, turn a genre on its ear.

But for the hundredth time: there was NEVER a moment where I considered putting music in this doc. There was never a moment where I considered interviewing the band members. NEVER.

What excited me as a filmmaker was the chance to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. And I wasn't doing it to please anyone other than myself. This was my challenge to myself, could I make this work? That's what turned me on. (Even my wife said I was crazy at first, until she started looking at the edit.)

Ask Jesperson, ask Darren Hill, ask anyone connected with the band. There was NEVER any contact regarding music, interviews, clips, anything.

And if they had come to me, and given me access to everything...I WOULD HAVE TURNED THEM DOWN. That was NOT the film I was interested in making, as I've stated way too many times. I did not want to make the Mats version of End Of The Century. No interest.

If you have a question about the film...ASK ME. I answer EVERY question on the Facebook page, or on Twitter. And I've been very forthcoming about every aspect of this film.

So to those of you making assumptions: STOP. This had nothing to do with money, or access, or anything other than: THIS WAS THE FILM I WANTED TO MAKE.

And your assumptions seem to be based on nothing other than the fact that you cannot believe an artist might want to break out of the box and do something original. And considering you love a band that broke every rule, it's pretty damn sad when you put down others (or make stupid assumptions) when they likewise try to break the rules.

Gorman Bechard

[daveb]

Wow Gorman, get over yourself already. I'm glad you made the film you wanted to make, but just because you say you wanted to do something different doesn't mean that it works. I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt for a film that seemed to have been made with genuine love for its subject matter, but that ultimately I found to be not terribly engaging. At the Portland screening there were repeated groans and heckling from the audience at some of the embarrassing interviews. The amount of screen time you gave some of the interviewees was downright disproportionate to what they added. It drew attention to what was missing in the way of actual insight, as did the unnecessary little soundcheck/recording "teases." You don't want top use music? Great. Then have the power of your conviction and drop the little bits of taped "tuning up" filler.

Of course, this is only my opinion. Others may feel differently. Again, I'm glad you made the film you wanted to make. For some fans of the band the fact that you made a film about The Replacements is enough. For me, I was looking for more. Even in the format you chose to do this project in, there was too much filler with boring, desperately in need of editing, interviews.

David

[colormeobsessed]

Dave, re-read my post. It has NOTHING to do with people's opinion of the film. Of that, I could care less.

It had EVERYTHING to do with people saying there's no music in the film because I couldn't afford it, they wouldn't give it to me, etc. OR...like you suggesting I never had access to it in the first place.

Basically people assuming something in error, and/or calling me a liar. And sorry, that pisses me off.

So while i'm getting over myself, perhaps you can learn to read more carefully.

[daveb]

So Gorman, if Paul Westerberg came up to you during filming and said "I heard about your film and I'd love to go on camera and give my two cents about the history of The Replacements," you'd say, "No Paul, that doesn't fit with my vision of the film. I'm trying to do something different here?"

Maybe while I'm learning to read, you can learn to be intellectually honest.

[colormeobsessed]

Dave, I don't really care whether or not you want to believe it, but correct, if Paul came up to me during the filming and said what you suggested, I would have said no.

I would have said no if they offered me access to EVERYTHING...music, clips, and interviews with all three remaining members.

As I've said before, I did not want to make a film where in every frame you screamed: "wow, if only Bob was alive, this would have been great."

Because without Bob (the heart of the band) present to speak for himself, this would just be a VH1-like Where-Are-They-Now doc. And I did NOT want to make that.

(I scream, "wow, if only Joey were alive" during End Of The Century. I truly do not know of a great music doc made after a band has broken up. And I've seen a boatload of them.)

Someone else will make that film one day. And I'm sure I'll watch it. But I had no interest in that as a filmmaker. It was nothing I wanted to spend 2 or 3 years of my life on.

It also allows CMO to be more than just about The Replacements. It's about the passion one feels for a band, how a band can become part of your life. Not just the Mats, any band. (This is why I so love the Robert Voedisch clips in the film. He compares the band to oxygen for God's sake. As if he couldn't live without them. That's passion!) My favorite comments at screenings have been from people who don't know the Mats who come up to me afterwards telling he this is how they feel about band XYZ, or whomever.

That is my honest truth, intellectually, emotionally, and artistically.

Sorry you can't seem to grasp that.

[bobb]

Gorman has been consistent and clear on his intentions and desires for the film in everything I have read and heard. Take his word for that already, jeez.

[colormeobsessed]

Bob, thank you!

[batfink]

I believe the creator of the work has the final say on what they wanted their work to be. Sounds reasonable to me. If you don't like the film daveb - you are free to say so, but it's wrong to tell an artist that you knew what they were really thinking despite them telling you over and over that you got it wrong.

[evin]

gorman, i haven't seen your film. however, i do have an honest question. maybe i'm not terribly informed so please excuse me if this comes off as such.

what's different about your film in basic premise as compared to the book "all over but the shouting" and the dvd "come feel me tremble"?

thanks for your comments in advance.

[colormeobsessed]

Evin, unlike the book, the film has a linear flow. It tells their story from demo to break up, and covers everything in between. The book was all over the place for me, and it's MPLS-centric. I put it down after the first chapter, and never picked it up again.

And Come Feel Me had even less of a narrative structure, if any.

CMO is the band's story. Even told in classic three-act structure. The high, lows, and everything in between, from beginning to end. Virtually every myth is addressed. And I guarantee there's some new info in there you never heard before.

Also, I knew none of the people in the film. So, I never played favorites, or cut people out who should have been there. I told the band's story using the best quotes, no matter who delivered them.

Check the reviews we posted on this board. They'll give you many different viewpoints, even from non-fans.

Hope that helps.

P.S. Thanks, batfink!

P.P.S. And thanks, Meri (below)...the annoying smiley face is fine!

[Meri]

Nov 11, 2011 0:28:09 GMT -5 colormeobsessed said:

This is starting to piss me off...

{snip}

Gorman Bechard

If this board had a "like" button, I'd use it on this post. But since it doesn't, I'll use an annoying smiley face.



I loved the film (looking forward to seeing it again!), and whole-heartedly believe the film-maker.

[evin]

gorman, thanks for the reply to my question. your no nonsense response leads me to believe the film is worth a look. i live in nashville and would like to know when it may play here (the belcourt perhaps)? as a side note i can understand it possibly never playing here. it's a tough town, everyone's a musician and generally critical. so if not a showing in nashville how about eta on dvd or download?

[anarkissed]

I don't know, Gorman, most of your response to questions or criticism concerning your film has that "Oh, yeah? Think you could do any better?" tone to it, which I've always felt was the weakest defense of any kind of artistic endeavor. And I've always found that "I don't care what other people think" tact to be a little defensive...Do you honestly not care what anybody else thinks about it? You didn't hope some people might enjoy it? Why make it at all? Or maybe you could have made the film only you wanted to see, one that conformed to your vision only, and just watched it by yourself at home...

[colormeobsessed]

We're working on Tenn. Though nothing set yet. Finding theatres that book true indies, for a night or two is not easy. If you know someone at the theatre, have them get in touch. (Check out the info on the Facebook page.)

We're looking at a Spring DVD/VOD release.

[colormeobsessed]

Nov 15, 2011 18:04:56 GMT -5 anarkissed said:

I don't know, Gorman, most of your response to questions or criticism concerning your film has that "Oh, yeah? Think you could do any better?" tone to it, which I've always felt was the weakest defense of any kind of artistic endeavor. And I've always found that "I don't care what other people think" tact to be a little defensive...Do you honestly not care what anybody else thinks about it? You didn't hope some people might enjoy it? Why make it at all? Or maybe you could have made the film only you wanted to see, one that conformed to your vision only, and just watched it by yourself at home...

I have no idea where you're getting that tone from. You're projecting that. I'm not. Because that's certainly not the way I feel.

And no, I honestly do not make films with other people in mind. Any artist that makes something with an audience in mind is a hack. You have to follow your own vision. Otherwise it just becomes a job, making others happy, answering to investors. It's no longer an artform.

I made the film I wanted to make BECAUSE I wanted to make it. That's what I've done for almost 30 years: tell stories, either in print or on film. If people enjoy them, that's great. If they don't, that's fine as well. It's throwing a party. You can come. you can stay home. You can leave early. Whatever. I'm going to have a good time no matter what. It's my party. And if you want to have a good time with me, raise a glass, the more the merrier.

That's what I mean when I say I don't care.

Hell, I know people will dislike it. Big deal. I hated Inception. But I know people who thought it was one of the best films ever made. Does it matter? No. It's all subjective. And if I let every negative thing bother me, I'd have slit my throat by now.

If I'm happy with the film, and I am very happy with this film, if I'm willing to sign my name to it, that's all that matters at this point in my career. I have enough faith in my abilities to know that others will want to come to my party.

And the only thing I've taken a negative tone about was when people assume things that are wrong. Does that piss me off? Yes. And rightly so. I don't think you'd like being called a liar either.

[evin]

anarkissed said "And I've always found that "I don't care what other people think" tact to be a little defensive..." paul used that one all day long anarkissed. as an artist myself i use it when it rings true. if gorman is on with this sentiment then let it come out in the wash. he'll either burn for it or be exonerated for using it.

thanks for the update on TN gorman. i'd say go for belcourt theatre. indy all week long as far as i know. sorry don't have an "in" there but i do have one at the Exit/In. possible spot. would have to check to be sure.