Re: Fairfax Underground Documentary
Posted by:
Amir Mahlkmalbaf
()
Date: June 18, 2013 03:37PM
MrMephisto Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amir Mahlkmalbaf Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am a local filmmaker and have been an
> occasional
> > poster/longtime lurker on this forum. I have
> > produced, written and directed several short
> films
> > and have been thinking about making a
> documentary
> > about Fairfax Underground and its posters for
> some
> > time now. This would be incredibly fertile
> > territory for an Errol Morris-style
> investigative,
> > quirky documentary about the lives of normal
> > people involved in unusual circumstances. The
> > years-long feuds, grudges, and alleged stalking
> > and vandalism alone would be compelling
> material
> > to document. If any longtime posters would be
> > willing to conduct on-camera interviews, this
> > would be ideal. We will delve deep into the
> secret
> > lives of seemingly normal Fairfaxians who lead
> > double lives as troublemakers, trolls, and
> > outrageous characters online, and how these
> secret
> > lives (and sometimes real lives) intersect.
> >
> > We will be in pre-production for the next few
> > months; this message is simply meant to send out
> a
> > feeler, to gauge interest. I will check back
> soon
> > and if the response is positive will post my
> > contact information forthwith.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Amir Mahlkmalbaf
>
> It would be an interesting concept and I'd
> probably watch it, but limiting yourself to just
> Fairfax Underground isn't going to provide you
> with enough source material. That's assuming
> anyone even agrees to participate in it. Think
> about it: let's say there's twenty active,
> outrageous characters/trolls. Being generous,
> let's say ten of those agree. You'll find that
> seven of those ten are completely boring and not
> worth pursuing. Of the three that are left, maybe
> two will be the exaggerated, cartoonish human
> charicature that makes these niche documentaries
> interesting. Suddenly, you're making a film about
> two people, and you've drifted away from your core
> concept.
>
> That said, I'd probably participate but end up
> being one of the boring seven. That's assuming I'm
> even notable enough to be in it.
Thank you for your comments, MrMephisto, and yes, you are certainly one of the notable, longtimer characters here. The concept of the film is just that, however; the stark contrast between the outrageous characters lived out on this internet message board and their (perhaps) 'boring' real-life counterparts. To question those regular (as you might put it, boring) people about what motivates them or has motivated them in the past to live out these grandiose, vulgar, racist, pompous online personas and to engage in years-long feuds (several of which have famously spilled over into real life). This will be about much more than Fairfax Underground; Fairfax Underground will simply be a starting point (as well as the focus) to talk about larger questions of personality and the behaviours we act out under the cloak of 'anonymity'. For example, the Errol Morris documentary Gates of Heaven is centered on the owners and patrons of a pet semetary. That sounds pretty limited in scope, doesn't it? But as we quickly find out, it's about so much more. I highly recommend it.
Eesh, perhaps unfortunately (as I know many will bemoan what could be construed as undeserved attention), will have to be a large part of it. His personal conflicts with the many different people over the years that at this point have become the stuff of local internet legend. It's much like 'road rage'.....most people, unless psychotic, would not behave anywhere near the way they do in person, face to face with other people, without the illusion of safety that a few thousand pounds of steel and glass provide. This will be about how we treat each other when there is the perception (right or wrong) of anonymity and a lack of consequences. In short, it is a study of human behavior filtered through the mechanizations of technology.
We will be refining the concept in the months to come and hopefully will be able to raise the money it will take to produce a feature length documentary.
cheers,
Amir