I’ve been to New York City twice, and to my disappointment, did not see one superhero. A city famous as the home of Spider-man, Superman, Batman (sort of)…and not one single sign of any of them. I even threw myself off of the Brooklyn Bridge in hopes that one would suddenly swoop by and catch me in mid air, but alas, I simply slammed into the river, slightly embarrassed and badly bruised. In a second attmept, I robbed and shot another man in hopes that they’d at least show up to save HIM, but nothing. Now I must live day to day with the guilt of having taken another human life. It eats me up inside. If I had only known that all of my favourite heroes were actually busy working the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard for a bit of extra cash. Afterall, the superhero thing doesn’t exactly pay the bills on its own. Director Matt Ogens ‘Confessions of a Superhero’ follows four street performers as they attempt to attain fame and glory living in the shoes (or boots) of some of the worlds most beloved comic book heroes.
CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO is a feature length documentary chronicling the lives of four mortal men and women who work as characters on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard. This deeply personal view into their daily routine reveals the hardships, and triumphs, that these characters endure in pursuit of becoming famous. The Hulk sold his supernintendo for a bus ticket to LA, Wonder Woman was the homecoming queen, Batman struggles with his anger, and Superman is consumed with the character he portrays. The Walk of Fame may be right beneath their feet, but their path to Stardom is a long, hard climb. Explore the fascination, obsession, and allure of fame, through the eyes of some very unique people struggling to make it in Tinseltown.
I’ve heard about these folks previously, whether it be through entertainment magazine fluff pieces or late night talk show bits. I specifically remember seeing Christopher Lloyd Dennis and his Superman outfit on a few occasions. There’s not much to go by at this point, (a clip available on MySpace) but this reminds me of the Canadian documentary ‘Flyerman’. Passionate people who may be a touch delusional, attempting to achieve goals that are probably out of their reach. I don’t mean that as an insult. In fact, I can relate to it 100%. Which is why i’m excited to check this film out whenever I get a chance.
Related Link: MySpace: Confessions of a Superhero
I’m really interested in this. I find documentaries about ‘social misfits’, I guess you could call them, very interesting. I think Grizzly Man was the last thing along those lines I’ve seen.
Any other recommendations for this type of film Jay?
Well, there’s Flyerman as I suggested. But also you could go for:
Slasher
Speedo
American Movie
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Jupiter’s Wife
Crumb
Project Grizzly
That’s a good start. Just imdb them.
Thanks, I actually own American Movie and its one of my all time favorite movies.
Matt if you like American Movie, also see if you can track down Home Movie. It’s also by Chris Smith, and it’s about 5 people who live in weird houses.
http://www.thedocumentaryblog.com/index.php/2004/02/20/home-movie/
DOCS MONTHLY | The Doc Blogs: Part of a Thriving Online Film Community…
Images from a few doc blogs and websites, including Morgan Spurlock’s Blog, AJ Schnack’s “All These Wonderful Things,” Sara Jo Marks’ “Documentary Insider” and “The D Word,” started by filmmaker Doug Block….
An out of focus deeply contrastey shot, fades up on a man playing superman walking down a city sidewalk. The image is soft, he’s lost in a sea of out of focus faces. Tinkling electronic icy tones puncture through the image-creating atmosphere.
But, unfortunelly for these filmmakers, the atmosphere in this case is dull and boring, very uninteresting.
I’m talking bout a new documentary called “Confessions of a Superhero.” A film about four people who dress up as characters and walk outside Graumans Chinese theater in Hollywood California.
The film feels like one giant “Got Milk” add.
I’ve never seen a documentary so obsessed with its own aesthetic so much so that it over shadows the topic in which they document.
In this mess of documentary we meet Superman, Batman, Hulk and Wonder Woman as they go through their mundane lives trying to survive and find fame on the mean streets of Hollywood. As cliché as that may sound I did however go in with anticipation. I heard some great things about this film.
But as things happen at festivals lots of stuff is way over hyped. Superman’s story was mildly interesting. We learn that he may be crazy proclaiming to be the son of late actress Sandy Dennis. We learn that Batman my have killed someone in his past. Again it means nothing because the filmmakers fall short and don’t go there. Are they just all crazy diluted lost souls? They don’t get underneath the crap. They don’t even once try and really see these people as people. We watch them like fish in a tank. “Wow that one’s pretty.”
We don’t really care about Hulk or Wonder Woman.
Both dull. I’m sure not in person but the way they are here. Dull.
The filmmakers failed to make me or anyone else I spoke to feel anything for these people. It was almost like one day they drove by and said. “Hey let’s exploit these people, this is hip and edgy right?” WRONG!
What about the heart? What about really getting into there world and getting us hooked on their struggles. They tried but never really went there. Get dirty. So be afraid to show the underbelly. Who cares about Johnny Grant or cops being interviewed. That’s you’re your story guys. When filmmaker Martin Bell made “Streetwise” he wasn’t going for pretty shots and well-composed REM AKA Losing my religion style shots.
Who gives a shit? Tell the story. Instead we have so much time spent on bad pictures set to dreamy and boring music trying to give us some sort of emotion. Instead what that thought would be giving us emotion deadens it. The real big problem with his documentary is it has no human element. No heart. I should be feeling something other than looking at my watch and wondering what’s for dinner.
Better luck next time.
I disagree with the Nazi. I found the film entertaining and insightful. When I saw the film at the Alamo Draft House in Austin during SXSW (I went to the second screening because the first one sold out -and I barely made it into the second one too!) the entire audience laughed, gasped, and cheered. I experienced a deep catharsis with the characters in this film as I watched their struggle to become famous in Hollywood. Why is it wrong to make movies with beautiful images? Who says documentaries have to look poor in order to be considered a true documentary?
I spoke with one of the filmmakers while at the festival and he told me that he had been working on this film for 3 years. Somehow I don’t think the filmmakers were “exploiting” the characters. To me it sounds like the MovieNazi himself would have preferred to see the characters lives fictionalized into some gritty drama. The Nazi has ignorantly confused “dirt” with quality.
Bravo
Thanks for the plug for our film Confessions of a Superhero. Our website is now up and running – it’s at http://www.therealsuperhero.com
Also, we sold the film!!!! Morgan Spurlock (director/star of Super Size Me) presents the film in partnership with Red Envelope Entertainment and Arts Alliance America. It plays theatrically in November and hits the streets on dvd January 22. Look for updates at http://www.therealsuperhero.com
NEW. WATCH THE TRAILER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPceD3CrQeg
hmmmm…very interesting!
Thanks google
Confessions of a Superhero finally debuts on DVD next Tuesday, Jan 22, but you can preorder online via our website at http://www.therealsuperhero.com
If you are a netflix subscriber we have a link to add it to your queue or you can buy it. It is also available at many local retailers for rental or purchase.
While many of you have seen the film, there are over 2 hours of bonus features including a commentary by our lead character Christopher “Superman” Dennis. So please buy or atleast rent.
And please forward this email to your friends and colleagues.
Thank you.
Matt Ogens
Director, Confessions of a Superhero
Remember, go to http://www.therealsuperhero.com to rent or purchase.
This film is a joke! But not as much as Matt Ogens is! The film was edited with Lies & Deceit, and Unrighteous Arogance. Two sentences were edited together too make the actor sound like they said something coompletely different. This movie is dark and depressing, because Matt Ogens is really dark and depressing. He is also trying to “Steal” the lives of the Actors, by Lying about many things and with Unconscionable Contracts! He is also making alot of $$$ from their lives & has not paid them a dime as HE has promised by contract!
Matt Ogens is a Lying, Backstabbing, Two-Faced, Arrogant, pile of Bat Guano who is a poor excuse for a human being!
He gives a bad name to movie makers!