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

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Michael W. Dean

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

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

Cast

Ron Asheton	...	Interviewee
Lynn Breedlove	...	Interviewee
Richard Kern	...	Interviewee
Beth Lisick	...	Interviewee
Lydia Lunch	...	Interviewee
Ian MacKaye	...	Interviewee
Lil Mike Martzke	...	Himself - Interviewee
Jim Rose	...	Interviewee
Madigan Shive	...	Interviewee
Mike Watt	...	Interviewee

Directed by
Michael W. Dean

Produced by
Michael W. Dean	....	producer

Original Music by
Fugazi

Cinematography by
Peter Spicer

Film Editing by
Miles Montalbano

Distributors

• Music Video Distributors (MVD) (2003) (worldwide)

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.

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.