Ok, so I've watched this documentary twice tonight: Once sober, and once (admittedly) intoxicated.
I'm a creative myself. I've made one feature film (PARTY HARD (2020), co-written, produced & directed by myself for a budget of only $6,000), along with music videos and other various projects. No movie stars, no funding, and no traditional production-made projects. So, I totally understand where these guys and gals are coming from, especially when it comes to making films for the love of it.
Let me start this review by saying this now: I've only seen ONE movie by director David Axe-LECTION (2019). And I didn't like it. I haven't seen ACORN (2023) yet, which is the subject of this documentary, but after my two back-to-back viewings of Sarah Massey's making-of doc titled CREATE OR DIE (2024), it made me want to see what Mr. Axe's film is all about.
While I do echo another Letterboxd reviewer (about how the documentary self-limits itself by focusing so much on a movie that hasn't been seen by general audiences, instead of on the craft of micro-budgeted filmmaking itself), I can't help but smile throughout this entire thing due to my personal experience making micro-budget projects and the mayhem that ensues throughout each production.
Aside from the story of David Axe and the story of his feature film ACORN (2023), I was most impressed by the way documentary filmmaker/director/editor Sarah Massey has compiled all these interviews, BTS footage, and photos into a compelling and engaging narrative in such a short runtime. I haven't seen anything else she's made or worked on, but if her other (or future) work is anything on par with her documentary here, then I'm 100% in and can't wait to see anything else she's got in store for us.
In CREATE OR DIE, she makes it look so easy... when, as any creative and/or filmmaker knows, it's far from that... and yet, Sarah's able to showcase a $uck-ton of information in such a limited amount of time and make it easily digestible for those of us who don't know who any of these people are-or, for those of us unfamiliar with David Axe's work.
Anyhow, if you're looking for inspiration (like I've needed for quite some time now), give this documentary a shot. It's quick, nicely paced, and, in the end, gives those who are struggling with their own self-worth whether or not they're any "good" at what they do (be it film, literature, etc.). Hopefully, this film leaves its viewers with a positive and hopeful message, a positive outlook-even though we live in a world that's now over-saturated with so-called "content" and half-@ssed work created to just make a buck or two - a message that, as the title states, reminds us that we need to CREATE OR DIE to leave our unique footprint in the world... or, as some of the characters say, a legacy.
Because we all have something to say, for good or bad (or for better or worse), but nothing is more special than a group of individuals who come together over a shared idea, one they all believe in. And that's the power of movies, ladies & gents. A group coming together to create a singular piece of art.
