Dreams with Sharp Teeth - Review

Dreams with Sharp Teeth
(USA, Directed by Erik Nelson)

Harlan Ellison is one of the touchstones that helped form my adolescent self. Growing up in the country without cable TV or computers, I somehow stumbled into an appreciation for science fiction from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Now that I think about it, it may have been the groundbreaking TVO program "Prisioners of Gravity" that started the trend. For half an hour once a week (and this had to be watched on schedule as we were still in the days of renting the VCR), interviews with science fiction, fantasy and comic book writers were edited together to create topical discussions. There, somewhere, was Harlan Ellison. He was hilarious and cantankerous and seemed perpetually on the cusp of a massive coronary attack. He seemed to hate a lot of things, but I felt he had good reason. Eventually I found his collection "Angry Candy" and from there moved into "Again Dangerous Visions" and "The Glass Teat". His writing was really strange and foreign, but he embodied for me the perfect image of the writer - someone alive with wit and opinion. I wanted to be a writer so, I guess, in a weird way I wanted to be Harlan Ellison. Strange goal for a country girl.

Anyway, now I live in the big city and I'm very educated and sophisticated and even appreciate the complexities of wine, but part of me is always going to want to be Harlan Ellison. I still read (and reread) his work. The documentary "Dreams with Sharp Teeth" was a must see for me at this year's Hot Docs festival. There was no question. I didn't even care if the movie was bad. I just wanted to spend some time with an old hero.

Harlan in his younger days
Luckily, Dreams with Sharp Teeth was a good solid movie, even without the rambling personal history. Harlan, now 74, shares his opinions, memories, and observations in energetic staccato bursts. There are references to his past including his many romantic liaisons, a childhood as the sarcastic runt who learned how to fight, and that one time he may or may not have shoved a guy down an elevator shaft. Additional interviews with acquaintances like Robin Willaims and Neil Gaiman offer their own fascinating insights into the author's world and the tempestuous reality of being his friend. The whole film is also greatly assisted by a tour through Harlan's LA Xanadu (aptly named the Lost Aztec Temple of Mars); a home that boasts secret passageways, wall to wall bookshelves, and a room dedicated to the preservation and storage of old typewriters.

Harlan today. I'm going to guess he's mad about something.
All this is sounding a little like the gushing of a fan girl, but even if you've never heard of Harlan Ellison, I think you will enjoy this film. It is about the creative process of a very prolific writer, and it offers insight into the dedication and determination necessary to accomplish any creative goal. It is often hilarious. Even if you never read one of his books, or totally disagree with his opinions, you will appreciate that Harlan Ellison is a pretty entertaining eccentric. He's also very intelligent, and his angry cries for us to rise above mediocrity are more appropriate than ever. Segments of the film are simply Harlan reading from one of his books, and in these segments I could have done with a little less of the undulating green screen background. It makes sense, however, to couple trippy visuals with the man who created "speculative fiction" in the 1960s. And even the parts that got a little too psychedelic were then followed by verite segments like Harlan driving in congested LA traffic and calling for the deaths of all his fellow motorists.

So in the end the film made me laugh, think, and even dust off some books I hadn't picked up in a while. I was not disappointed by "Dreams with Sharp Teeth" and I felt the film did justice to one of my literary heroes. I am such a geek I will try to buy this one on DVD.

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Here's the trailer for the film. In case you're at work or something I guess I should mention that the trailer contains swearing. I know. It's hard to imagine Harlan Ellison ever uttering a disagreeable word but there it is.

The Rentz doc is FINALLY FINISHED!

Will wonders never cease?! After (mumbled number) years, the documentary I made about Canadian folk artist Ewald Rentz is finally shot, edited, and available on DVD. The film is titled The "Completed" Art of Ewald Rentz. This is a major accomplishment for me, and one of the reasons I haven't updated my blog in many a months.

You can learn more about the film at the NEW Rentz movie website. This site replaces my old website, which told people to watch for the film's release in "Fall 2004" - a deadline I seem to have missed. In my own defense, we did film two additional (and very valuable) interviews, and I had to cat sit for a neighbour at least twice during the extra four years it took to complete. There's only so much you can do in a day.

Looking back at the long process of making this short film, I can at least take solace in the fact that I learned a lot along the way. The premise was simple; to interview collectors, dealers and acquaintances of Ewald Rentz and to intersect those interviews with detailed footage of his work. It wasn't like I was going all Herzog and running up an active volcano or anything. My interview subjects were extremely gracious and generous with their time and expertise. My producer Phillip Ross is also my dad so I didn't have any surly teamsters to befriend. It was in many ways an easy project, yet the journey from research to completion was surprisingly complex.

Am I happy with the finished film? BIG YES. There is a lot of great information in it about Rentz, his backgroud and inspirations, and his unique artistic style. The interviews vary from informational to personal. There's a bit of humour and a touch of drama. There are many good, detailed shots on the artwork, and family photos that put the artwork in context with Rentz's life. I am proud of the film and the response by others has been very positive.

Interview subject and major Canadian folk art collector Susan Murray
However, this is a blog where I criticize other documentaries, so in that spirit let me also tell you about the difficulties I experienced. My cinematography is pretty solid, although in editing I did find a need for more cut away shots. I started shooting the first interview straight out of film school, and I was so aware of how my little DV camera was not professional that I compensated by practically gluing it to a tripod. It makes some of the shots stable but a bit boring. We made good use of available light, save one interview that had the subject in a slightly darkened room with GIANT SUNNY WINDOWS on either side of his head. It sort of looked like we were in a bunker with an atomic explosion happening right outside the window. Luckily for me there are many decent exposure fixes built right into Final Cut Pro. The friendly experts at Trinity Square Video also helped me "turn down" the contrast. Most importantly, next time I'm shooting I'll ask myself "will this look like a bomb scene?" and change the lighting before I start rolling.

Checking out a small Rentz sculpture in detail
The sound quality is 80% good, with 20% "I wish I had a better directional mic so I didn't hear that lady sneezing off camera". I got pretty obsessive about the sound in post, often going frame by frame to cut out or diminish the worst offenders. It's amazing how much you do in post production with sound, image and even colour changes that you know the audience will never, ever appreciate. I guess it's an appreciation of omission. You just have to take the editor's word for it that the hours spent in a dark editing room makes a better final product.

Sculpture by Ewald Rentz
The film was so low budget, I believe it qualifies as "no budget plus gas money". I used my own camera, my own light set, and my own computer (mainly) to edit. Producer Phil secured the interviews, drove us around, asked the questions and became an interview subject himself. We both wore many hats to finish our little film. Next time out I may want to have a three or four person crew (a boom mic would be a lovely thing) but I have no regrets about the method or final product we produced. In a way, the honesty and joy of folk art is mimicked in our ragtag shooting style. Everyone involved with this film wanted to share something about the art they love, and that appreciation shines though any technical shortcomings.

Look at that terrific DVD. Would you like to own a copy? YOU CAN!
So here's the thing, if you're a fan of Ewald Rentz, Canadian folk art, or supporting struggling filmmakers, you can buy a copy of the DVD for only $20 Canadian. That's $20 - taxes included! The DVD comes with an image slideshow, full colour trapsheet, and shrink wrapping. We spent the money on professional DVD duplication and it shows (don't forget to be impressed by the bar code).Check out www.rentzmovie.com to order. It makes a great holiday gift! Order your copy today!

...I guess my critique turned into a bit of a sales pitch but seriously, I have multiple boxes of DVDs in the corner of my office that I would just love to wrap up and mail to warm loving homes. All major credit cards are accepted! SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! ORDER NOW!!!