FIVE QUESTIONS WITH “I AM NOT A HIPSTER” DIRECTOR DESTIN DANIEL CRETTON

A dubious term to be sure, it seems that one of the pre-reqs for hipster certification is denying that you actually are one. Based on this criterion, Brook, the main character in Destin Daniel Cretton’s feature debut, definitely qualifies. But I Am Not a Hipster is not so much concerned with labels as it is with crafting an intimate, small-scale character portrait. Adrift in San Diego’s music scene, Brook’s lackadaisical lifestyle is interrupted when his family visits with the intention of spreading his late mother’s ashes. Cretton, who made a splash at Sundance in 2009 with his Grand Jury Prize winning short Short Term 12, has employed the musical talents of singer-songwriter Joel P. West to help bring to life this introspective exploration of a character, a music scene, and a subculture.

Filmmaker: How long have you been involved in the San Diego music scene? How did your experiences within it influence this story?

Cretton: I lived in San Diego for 10 years and fell in love with a lot of local bands there. I can’t really say I was heavily involved in the music scene, because I’m not a musician (more of a groupie). But being a part of the creative community in that city was a constant source of inspiration for me. It’s just a really great group of down-to-earth people who love to get together and do creative things, whether that’s music or art or building a mini golf course in someone’s living room. But the movie isn’t just inspired by that community; it’s literally made by them. We shot most of the film in San Diego at a lot of the same venues we hang out at (The Casbah, Habitat, San Diego Velodrome). We basically rallied all our friends there to help make the movie. There was absolutely no way we could have done it without them.

Filmmaker: How did you conceive of Brook, the film’s main character? Was his backstory developed from personal experience?

 Cretton: Brook’s backstory is fictional, but still based on emotions that are close to me. I’m not a musician, but … Read the rest

“I AM NOT A HIPSTER” | writer-director, Destin Daniel Cretton

[PREMIERE SCREENING: Friday, January 20 6:00 pm –Screening Room, Sundance Resort]

One of my favorite things about directing movies is getting to highlight other people’s talents. When I was ten, I was videotaping my brother’s magic tricks and sister’s one-handed cartwheels to show-off to my parents. With this film, I got to do the same thing with a new group of friends.

Last year I saw Dominic Bogart on a Chicago stage in Jersey Boys and his singing blew my mind. I also knew he had a talent for subtle, character-driven performances, so I started to think of a role that would allow him to do both. A year later I asked him to be in this movie.

I Am Not A Hipster is a story that revolves around San Diego’s indie music and art scene, a community that I fell in love with while living there for 10 years. The movie contains seven song performances, and I am no musician, so it was pretty apparent that I would have to lean on some people if there was any hope to pull it off.

I really liked the idea of making the movie alongside the San Diego community that it portrays, so we got all of our friends from that world to help us. Singer-songwriter Joel P. West wrote all the music (joelpwest.com), Hess did the artwork, Ron & Trevor kept everyone organized, Joy (my sister) & Kahana did wardrobe, Brad gave back rubs (bradkester.com), Noelle built stuff, Jared calmed the extras, Katie wrangled children, Kenny brought the bikers, and on and on. It’s difficult to imagine trying to tell this story through a less-collaborative art form, because it honestly wouldn’t exist without everyone involved.

Making I Am Not A Hipster fulfills a childhood dream of mine, mainly because it showcases the talents of so many of my closest friends and family. Being a part of this artistic team brings me more joy than I can put into words. And that is exactly why I love making movies…because it’s almost impossible to do alone.

… Read the rest