Man in Camo

I think experimental is the best word to describe Man in Camo (Ethan Minsker, 2018). The movie employs so many different mediums of art from film (obviously), to photography, stop motion, painting, sculpting etc. And yet it all fits together as one cohesive piece of art. Art is undeniably the movie's center. Ethan Minsker is a habitual artist; that's to say that he's always thinking about what he's going to make next. This movie brings you from his tumultuous upbringing to his life current day (2018) balancing a family, art, and relationships and how his art and life has changed along the way.

To experience Ethan Minkser's film "Man In Camo" is to share in an explosion of personal artistic explorations recorded and manipulated by him through decades. By traveling with his documentary, he enhances the experience by vising with the people who watch the film; it is personal, and he has a vibrant Q&A after his show. Ethan got people here in Bay City at #HHM13 worked up when they saw the film, and the audience had a great time conversing with him. I am wondering what he will do with the footage he recorded while here.

We all know our friends for who and what they are, but never really get the whole story. We share things about ourselves but sometimes forget little details. It's not that we mean to, it just happens. To see a film with someone who is so enveloped in their medium, it was hard to miss out on anything happening in Ethan's life. This film is honest, poignant, and highly entertaining. The style is unique, and whether you know the director personally, or simply being entertained by this film, you reflect on the stories in your own life. You don't have to make it to the top to have some one else write out inaccuracies in your autobiography, you can be just as extraordinary and share some truths with a dash of cinema magic. Can anyone pull it off the same way he did? Probably not, but cheers to Mr. Minsker for paving the way and making his mark in film.

I thought the movie was incredibly interesting and kept your attention the entire time. The visuals were creative and fun. The animation coupled with the moving graphics made my eyes not leave the screen. I think the movie came off too strong in the beginning and was hard to adjust to the style, pace, and sounds. Once I adjusted tho, I found myself at the edge of my seat waiting for the next words and visuals since they spoke to me. The movie inspired me to get back into documenting my life and trying to bring creativity into my every day life. While this movie isn't for everyone, the story it portrays and highlights is something everyone can watch and appreciate, use as a form of inspiration.

Man in Camo is a raucous explosion of multimedia and gorilla filmmaking. It is also a touching, introspective portrayal of one man's journey from angry punk rock kid to doting father, that lays bare the struggles of an independent artist trying to live his truth and support a family at the same time. If you're a child of the 80s who still looks in the mirror and wonders if you should get a new tattoo or if you ought to dye your greying hair blue, you will relate to this film.