Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure
In the pre-Internet age of 1987, grunge, hand-made/reproduced fanzines and homemade cassettes ruled the street of San Francisco. Two buddies, Eddie Lee Sausage and Mitch D., live in a shabby flat where the neighbours’ swearing pierces the paper-thin walls. The situation repeats each night – the neighbours’ alcohol infused and furious verbal symphonies become so mortifying to eventually become beautiful. For 18 months, the friends record the boozy tirades and distribute them in the underground scene as audio vérité, a genuine piece of urban folklore. The tapes quickly gain a cult following and inspire a multitude of comic book artists, actors, screenwriters and film-makers.
Shut Up, Little Man! is a cinematic journey to the underground roots of an authentic urban legend; it reconstructs the road from the underground to mainstream. Ultimately, however, this hilarious film poses serious questions on the nature of ethics in art and pop culture, while examining the fine line between inspiration and exploitation.
Matthew Bate
Australian director Mathew Bate is fascinated with the margins of pop culture and ‘outsider’ artists. Bate’s previous short films teem with a peculiar sense of humour, original storytelling and experimental visuals. His oeuvre includes a visually and sonically experimental documentary on the roots of electronic music, a silent film about a legendary stuntman from the beginnings of Hollywood, and a found footage telephone thriller. Shut Up, Little Man! is his debut feature film. His future plans include a film devoted to foot fetishist and photographer, Elmer Batters.
Filmography
2007 What the Future Sounded Like (doc., short)
2009 Connected by Light (TV, doc., short)
2010 The Mystery of Flying Kicks (doc., short)
2011 Stunt Love (doc., short)
2011 Zamknij się, człowieczku! Niefortunna audioprzygoda / Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure (doc.)