Big Sky Documentary Film Festival / AmDocs - From Parts Unknown
Jesse “Madman” Manson decided to live out his fantasy by starting an underground Professional Wrestling league in the backyards of Spokane, Washington. Ten years later, Spokane Anarchy Wrestling is gaining momentum and popularity, but Jesse’s incurring injuries from years of wrestling are proving to be a threat to the one thing that has given him an outlet to express himself.
Interview with Director/Producer Michael T. Workman
Main image: Jesse "Madman" Manson paints his face before a match.
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made From Parts Unknown because I wanted to tell a story about self-expression in post industrial America, an area in deep economic turmoil. Professional wrestling interests me conceptually, in recent years wrestling storylines have increasingly reflected the stories of the people watching them. They are mostly poor and middle class white males, who because of multiple reasons, have seen their status in society drop over the last century. Wrestling has become a violent and theatrical expression of the insecurities of the male living in the remains of the failed American Dream. It's an escape from the complexities of economic alienation, a world where good and evil are clearly defined and catered to your bias.
Jesse’s story drew me in because of his openness when talking about his struggle with depression. He is a sensitive, caring soul in a hyper masculine space. Jesse is able to subvert male norms and be open about his emotions while articulating why he loves wrestling on a deep level. He humanizes a world that can be hard to understand from the outside. Wrestling is more than an escape for him, it is a way to connect to his lost family members, while giving him a sense of empowerment by channeling his struggles through a fictionalized character.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I wanted to tell this story as an attempt to bridge part of the cultural gap in the USA. I want people who do not think highly of wrestling and poor white culture to understand where they are coming from and what shapes their view points, in order to realize that we have more in common than we realize. At this point in our history we need solidarity, not division.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
From Parts Unknown explores creativity as a means of dealing with economic and personal hardship. It also examines the desire for the escapism of clearly defined good and bad in an era of alienation and complex global problems. This is also a story about poverty and the struggles of surviving in a system that actively works against you.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
We started out with the intent of making a short fiction film, after meeting Jesse and his cousin Jay and hearing how compelling their story was we decided that we wanted to make a character driven doc instead.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have received a lot of very positive feedback to the film so far. People from all backgrounds relate to Jesse's personal struggles with depression and his ambition to better his own life and community through doing what he loves.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I’m surprised at how open people have been to the story. People who hate wrestling because they think it is stupid or offensive have been very open to looking beyond that and understanding why Professional wrestling exists.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would love for new audiences to become aware of this story.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We need distribution and more publicity surrounding the film to share this of the story.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would love to see From Parts Unknown distributed to a wide audience of people, especially those who may not be interested in Professional Wrestling.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
The key conversation I hope this film sparks is a conversation about stereotypes and expectations. The USA is divided right now along mostly cultural lines, and as much as we would like to paint it as a picture of good and evil, it is not. The cultural divide we are dealing with is complex and multifaceted. It requires us to have hard conversations and most importantly listen the those we have been conditioned to despise.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now
I have multiple projects in early development phases right now, but it is too early to talk about them yet. Keep an eye out!
Interview: February 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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From Parts Unknown
Jesse “Madman” Manson decided to live out his fantasy by starting an underground Professional Wrestling league in the backyards of Spokane, Washington. Ten years later, Spokane Anarchy Wrestling is gaining momentum and popularity, but Jesse’s incurring injuries from years of wrestling are proving to be a threat to the one thing that has given him an outlet to express himself.
Length: 28 min
Director: Michael T. Workman
Producer: Michael T. Workman
About the writer, director and producer:
Director/Producer - Michael T. Workman is a filmmaker and artist based out of Missoula, MT. His documentary "Constructed Situations" (2015) won the Grand Jury Prize for the Art Montana Audience Awards Competition. In 2015 he was selected as one of the 25 Under 25, an award that recognizes 25 Montanans under the age of 25 that are shaping Montana through their work and leading social change. Michael is a Programmer at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.
Key cast: Jesse Lawson, Jay Lawson
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Distributors, Journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FromPartsUnknownFilm/
Twitter: @Workmanshipfilm
Instagram: @michaelworkman
Other: https://vimeo.com/user10622900
Funders: Crowdfunding/self financed
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, AmDocs in Palm Springs