Tag Archives: Film

Cleveland, Documentary, Film, Review, The Awesome, Watch This

Film Review: Draw Hard (Turnstyle Films)

24 February, 2015 Brian Mc Leave a comment

I sometimes feel like I am an 80 year old man when I write. I am not sure that is going to make much sense to you yet until you read the following:

In my life, I have met a lot of good, amazing faces.

Granted I have yet to turn 40, but that sentence holds so true. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many people in my short existance on this planet.

One of those people is Jon Nix. He is a fellow Cleveland resident with a bigger love for music and film than I will ever have in my lifetime. He has leaped boundaries I could only have imagined doing at his age and currently runs the fast-moving Turnstyle Films.

Next week, Turnstyle Films is dropping Draw Hard, an amazing short form documentary on Cleveland’s most bad ass underground comic artist John G.

I watched the documentary not really knowing what to expect.

I know who John G. is and I have seen his art everywhere from his Lake Erie Monster comic illustrations to the numerous concert posters he had done for many local acts.

Chances are if you are from Cleveland you have even seen his artwork on the monthly menu fliers that make those Melt Bar & Grilled sandwich of the months look even more enticing.

What I did not know was John G.’s story.

Draw Hard did a hell of a job bringing me to speed with a solid dude I am sure I rubbed shoulders with back in the 90s. In one sitting, my appreciation for John G. grew easily 100 times.

The story is real and the best part about it was how it was told throughout. It is a truly inspiring short documentary that everyone needs to check out.

You do not even need to love comic books to appreciate this documentary. This showcasing of a man who overcame tragedy to his advantage proving you can do anything when you put your mind to it and without looking back.

On February 27th, Draw Hard will be available for rental or purchase on VHX . For $10, you can even get digital versions of the first 5 volumes of the Lake Erie Monster comic as part of a bundle deal.

The documentary will also be available for streaming through Fandor,

Don’t pass this up. Seriously. It is well worth your time.

Props to Jon Nix and Turnstyle Films for creating such a captivating documentary about one of the most talented humans in Cleveland.

Check out the Draw Hard packages available on VHX:

Take A Dip Package – $4.99
-A Digital Copy of the Film
-Director’s Commentary
-Trailer
-Hi-Res Digital PDF of “The Lake Erie Monster” Volume #1

The Monster Package – $8.99
-A Digital Copy of the Film
-Director’s Commentary
-Trailer
-Hi-Res Digital PDFs of the First 5 Volumes of “The Lake Erie Monster” & The Summer Special issue

The Gritty Package – $9.99
-A Digital Copy of the Film
-Director’s Commentary
-Trailer
-Hi-Res Digital PDFs of the First 5 Volumes of “The Lake Erie Monster” & The Summer Special issue
-Hi-Res Digital PDFs of The John G Art collections “No Gods No Monsters” & “No Gods No Monsters Non Grata”

Artist, Cleveland, Derek Hess, Documentary, Film, The Awesome

Check It Out: Forced Perspective – The Life of Artist Derek Hess

25 June, 2014 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Derek Hess is Cleveland.

I am sure you are asking yourself why in the hell I just stated that.

Truth is, have been sitting here for easily 30 minutes trying to figure out how to start this post and that is what sounded best. I have the feeling many of you reading this though agree with me.

The Cleveland, Ohio, America, World-Renowned artist Derek Hess has been creating concert fliers, illustrations, artwork and prints for nearly 20 years and finally someone had the right state of mind to do a documentary on him.

To say I am excited is an understatement. I have been a fan of Hess since I was a kid and have had the pleasure of meeting him multiple times. I am proud to say I have a few of his prints from over the years and one day hope to obtain an original.

I know the man has been through a lot and I am very curious to learn more about him soon. I can say he is a quality person and I know this documentary is going to be amazing.

The following comes from the press release:

“Forced Perspective” is a documentary film showcasing the life of artist Derek Hess directed by Nick Cavalier. The film illuminates Derek’s struggle with alcoholism, bipolar disorder, depression and watches him triumph over his personal demons while showing how these experiences help shape his artwork. From Derek’s early flyer work and celebrated sketches to his elaborate mixed media pieces, this film showcases the evolution of Derek’s art and the emotional ripples it leaves behind in the world.

Check out the trailer:

“Forced Perspective” – The Story Of Artist Derek Hess | Trailer 1 from Nick Cavalier on Vimeo.

Forced Perspective is currently in post-production with a release date next year.

80's, 90's, Art, Music, Rock, Times Of Yore

Times Of Yore: Gift

9 April, 2009 Brian Mc 1 Comment

Bringing back my little Times Of Yore entires, I’ve decided to take a break from the music and focus on a film I used to love when I was in high school.

The movie was called Gift. Does anyone out there remember this movie?

It starred Perry Farrell, of Jane’s Addiction fame, and his girlfriend at the time Casey Niccoli as well as included some Jane’s Addiction songs. The film focused on a semi-autobiographical drug-addicted tragic love story that involved mainly heroin and does not necessarily have a happy ending.

Watching the movie I knew that Perry Farrell and Casey Niccoli were an item in the early nineties. While the movie surrounded their love there were also heavy doses of fiction making for a wild viewing. I remember a lot of my friends getting confused after viewing the movie. I do not want to ruin anything so I will not metion the scenes that caused the confusion.

I should note that this was not intended to be a Jane’s Addiction movie and the band was only featured in a few scenes. The film created by Perry Ferrell and Casey Niccoli was more of a vision between the two lovers.

One part of the film showed a live cover of Sly & The Family Stone‘s “Don’t Call Me N*****, Whitey” featuring Ice T and Body Count. Seeing them on stage with Jane’s Addiction was, to me at the time, amazing (still is).

I also remember one of the lines said by Perry Farrell in the movie that was chilling to my ears:

“What would you do if you came home and found the person you loved the most in the world lying dead on the floor?”

At a day and age where I was turning from a teenager into a young adult, this movie opened my eyes to things never before I had thought of. Hardcore drugs, overdose, depression… I watched it over and over with my friends and sometimes alone. I loved the performances by Jane’s Addiction even if they were brief but more so I loved the art aspect of it as well as the performance and execution of the idea by a musician.

The story itself was less than what I needed as a kid trying to learn what love was all about. At times it was sweet to see the two in love and happy but towards the latter end of the film tragedy strikes and scarred my young eyes.

Sadly the VHS I obtained from Half Price Books for a only $7.98 collected dust for years and I finally rid of it thinking I would never want to watch it again. Wrong.

As luck would have it though it is coming to DVD. The film is scheduled to be released on DVD as part of the Jane’s Addiction box set, A Cabinet of Curiosities in April 2009.