Piece by Piece (documentary)

infobox Film
name = Piece by Piece


director = Nic Hill
editing = Nic Hill
John Murillo
producer = Ed Walker
Tom Quickel
Noah Tsutsui
released = January 3, 2005
runtime = 78 minutes
distributor = Underdog Pictures

"Piece By Piece" is a documentary film directed by Nic Hill. The film documents San Francisco's graffiti culture from the early 1980s to 2004. It is narrated by San Francisco graffiti artist Senor One, better known as Renos. The "San Francisco Bay Guardian"'s Cheryl Eddy singled the film out as the highlight of the 2006 Hi/Lo film festival, calling it "an educational experience" and "a thoughtful document". [Eddy, Cheryl. [http://www.sfbg.com/39/28/art_c_film_hi_lo_festival.html "Hi/Lo Film Festival",] "San Francisco Bay Guardian", July 13, 2006.] In a full review for that same paper, Johnny Ray Huston said it was "a thorough history that still makes time ... for abstract, lyrical flowing passages". Huston complained that sections such as those featuring Tie One or Reminisce could make movies in themselves, and wished to see more detailing of artists' entries into the legitimate art world. He concluded that the film and director "succeeded at a mighty task" and were interested in displaying "a deep but entertaining understanding of the city as both a historical site and a nexus for contemporary change". [Huston, Johnny Ray. [http://www.sfbg.com/40/10/art_film_piece.html "Full-color Burners",] "San Francisco Bay Guardian", July 13, 2006. (p. 70)] Rory L. Aronsky in "Film Threat" wrote that the documentary "gets this graffiti culture completely right" [Aronsky, Rory L. [http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=7382 "Piece by Piece",] "filmthreat.com", April 14, 2005.] while for Dennis Harvey in "Variety" it was "an excellent overview of two decades' graffiti in San Francisco". [Harvey, Dennis. [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117929062.html "Piece By Piece",] "Variety", December 6, 2005.]

Synopsis

Chapter 1

The first segment of "Piece by Piece" lays out the fundamentals of San Francisco graffiti by documenting topics that laid the groundwork for artists today. Items covered are “Cholo” writing, the impact of PBS's Style Wars (1983), and the development of San Francisco's defined style. This segment includes not only San Francisco's graffiti originals, but also commentary from noted New York writers such as Seen, Cope2, and Case2. It also covers the life and death of Dream One, an SF graffiti pioneer and a vocal figurehead in Bay Area urban welfare activism.

Chapter 2

The second segment elaborates on what it takes to establish credibility among the graffiti community, documents a shift from words to images, and treats of how San Francisco developed graffiti styles yet to be seen in other parts of the world. This segment features works from writers such as KR and the horses of Reminisce, following writers and documenting their creative expression. Also featured here are Grey, Buter, Joro, Norm, and Barry McGee (Twist).

Chapter 3

The final segment of "Piece by Piece" explores the wide range of public opinion towards graffiti by giving voice to citizens of San Francisco and to representatives of law enforcement on the subject. It also details the artists’ confessions of their love and addiction to graffiti art and typographic lettering, instances of their social activism, and the short life span of their work.

Featured artists and crews

"Dug, Saber, Cycle, Grey, Seen, [http://www.dreamtdk.com/ Dream] , Tie One, [http://www.robotswillkill.com/graffiti/showgraff.php?artist_id=405 KR] , Revok, Twist, Renos, [http://www.crayone.com/ Crayone] , Diet, Ub-40, Reminisce, Deen, Buter, Giant, Jorone, Vegan, Kode, Norm, Reyes, Abhor, Awe, Bisie, Bless, Bzaro, Case2, Charo, Chief, Cope2, Cuba, Cyme, Cypher, Darks, Dj Rise, Emuse, Erupto, Flack, Fury, Igni, Jase, Maseo, Mque, Nate, Neon, Omen, Orfn, Phine, Phresh, Piccaso, Poesia, Quake, Raeyvn, Revers, Rolex, Saytr, Sibl, Skew, Skrag, Spie, Sprays, Trem, Twick, UFO, Vogue, TMF, TWS, ICP, AS, THR, HTK, FSC, BMB, MSK, AWR, AOK, LORDS, BA, US, GTB, KUK, OSD," and "BST" et al

Soundtrack

*DJ Qbert, D-Styles, TOPR, People Under The Stairs, All Bets Off, Kid 606, Dystopia, Bas1 "et al"

Awards and selections

* [http://barebonesfilmfest00.tripod.com/ Bare Bones International Film Festival:] Best Documentary [http://barebonesfilmfest00.tripod.com/id55.html]
* [http://www.filmfestdc.org/ DC International Film Festival:] Official Selection
* [http://www.documentamadrid.com/ Documenta Madrid:] Official Selection
* [http://www.hilofilmfestival.com/ Hi/Lo Film Festival:] Official Selection
* [http://www.rotl.de/ Rhythm of the Line - International Graffiti & Hip-hop Film Festival, Berlin:] Official Selection

References

External links

[http://www.piecebypiecemovie.com piecebypiecemovie.com]