I was at the Sidewalk Film Festival all last weekend and – if you missed it (you poor shlub) – here’s what I saw.  I saw three-and-a-half movies on Sunday.

1st: Barbershop Punk

Synopsis: Keeping the punk spirit alive, barbershop quartet fan Robb Topolski takes on Comcast, generates an investigation of net neutrality, and inspires a story of big brother, censorship, and access.

Quotes: “Freedom of speech comes second only to God.”  “Freaks, deviants – that’s me.”  “No man is more free than someone with nothing left to lose.”  “Half of all geekism is bragging about your geekdom.”

Good Stuff: There’s a moment in the film where it’s suggested that our government officials should wear NASCAR-style overalls with patches on them representing the people and corporations who give them money.  This drew spontaneous and loud applause from the audience.  Lots of interesting cameos, including one of my favorite people, Henry Rollins, and someone I didn’t know (but now really like), Ian MacKaye.  This film was one of the best I saw this weekend.

2nd: Ballhawks

Synopsis: For almost a century, men have patrolled Sheffield and Waveland – outside of Wrigley Field -  tracking down batting practice and home run balls that clear the bleachers.  Ballhawking has a unique and compelling draw: a ball can leave the bat of a major league ballplayer and land in a fan’s glove, making him part of the game.  In 2004, a planned bleacher expansion changes Ballhawking forever – making each ball more precious.

Quotes: “Why don’t you buy a ticket and go inside?”  “People laugh at passionate people.”  “You come to the ballpark and everything’s okay for six hours.”

Good Stuff: This film is about the periphery of a favorite subject of mine – baseball.  And I like periphery.  There are many people who love the sport, but everyone loves it in a different way.  Some fans get autographs, some listen on the radio, and some own 4444+ balls they’ve caught at the park.  I’ve stood on Waveland and tried to catch fly balls, so I can understand the thrill.  Bill Murray narrates, but just barely.

3rd: Ready, Set, Bag!

Synopsis: This documentary is about the annual U.S. National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger competition. Using the competition as a backdrop, the film follows the lives of eight baggers.  No matter where we live and what we do for a living, we all shop at the grocery store.  And the bagger is often the last personal contact we have with an employee.  The movie features Roger Chen, a Publix bagger from Huntsville, Alabama.

Quotes: “Bag it fast and bag it right.”

Good Stuff: I only got to see about half of this documentary, but it was very fun.  Very reminiscent of Make Believe, which I saw on Saturday.  It’s way cool to peer into and recognize all these subcultures – things that people can take very seriously.  Always remember that everything you’re passionate about might look really stupid to someone else.  Also, they play Pit on screen and held an on stage pick-up bagging competition afterwards.

4th: Brotherhood

Synopsis: Fraternity pledge (Sigma Zeta Chi – ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NOT Sigma Chi)  finds himself blindfolded in the back of a van and told that he has to rob a convenience store as a part of initiation.  Things go badly.  People make mistakes.  Things get worse.

Quotes: “This is a good move.”  “I swear to God we’re fucking taking care of it.”  “Guys like us don’t fucking lose.”

Good Stuff: The short before the movie, The Late Mr. Mokun Williams, by Kenneth Price was excellent and earned big applause.  The early pacing of Brotherhood was absolutely gaspworthy.  It’s one of those “one bad thing after another” movies where there’s a great deal of suspense in wanting to yell up at the screen, ” Don’t do it!”

Finally, I’m slightly nervous to announce that I participated in the Sidewalk Scramble this year, thanks to John Marc Green and Randal Crow.  Further proving that life is pretty much all unexpected left turns, I can now add to my resume that I’m a credited actor in an award-winning music video.  And I got to meet (and attack) Star Mays.  How ’bout that for fun?  I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity.

One more time, thank yous to Rebecca Pugh and the rest of the crew at the Sidewalk Film Festival.  From my perspective, everything went smoothly, I thoroughly enjoyed the event, and appreciated mingling with the creative, artsy crowd.