Interview with the director of “OBEY THE GIANT.”
“OBEY THE GIANT” is one of the films in the Art Short Film Program showing as part of the “Cinema Museum” special fall screenings hosted by Asia’s largest and only Academy Awards® qualifying international short film festival.
If you are someone interested in art and culture, then you will definitely have come across one of Shephard Fairey’s “OBEY” stickers or artworks at least once. Why not take a look at where these works originated from. The final part of the film, where Fairey meets with the City Mayor, is an absolute must-see!
– What are the highlights of your film?
The highlights, for me, are ultimately the scenes that were most fun to shoot. I really enjoyed shooting the long steadicam shot where we introduce the audience to Shepard’s studio and the scene where Shepard pastes Buddy’s billboard.
– Why did you decide to make this film about Shepard Fairey?
I worked for Shepard back in 2009 and got to know him well. Fast-forward to 2011. I was a student at Rhode Island School of Design（RISD） and it was time to make my thesis film. It was really intuitive, as a RISD student, to tell a story about a risd student. Shep’s story was always very compelling to me and no one had taken a crack at it. So I called him and his wife up one day, pitched the idea to them, and they were happy to let me do it.
– Any particular message for Japanese audiences?
It is fascinating to me how street art can transcend language barriers. Shepard’s movement is certainly a perfect example of this. It is important that there be a global dialogue about art because at the end of the day, the best art is universal and sheds light on the human condition. It is one of the few things that can unify us.