In 2023, we’re living in an age in which we are relentlessly being bombarded by media in all forms, and it is constantly becoming more challenging to find content that displays original ideas and creativity. In particular, there are heaps of movies and television shows being released every day that offer nothing more than recycled concepts and storylines. This is why I think it’s important to acknowledge our independent filmmakers who use their innovation and ingenuity to put out valuable pieces of art for us to experience.
One of these filmmakers is Canadian actor and director Matt Johnson, who you may recall for his most recent film, BlackBerry, which was released earlier this year. Johnson’s work often shows a very minimalistic approach to filmmaking that utilizes low budgets. Despite this, he always manages to come up with concepts that push the boundaries of filmmaking in ways that you might not have thought about before. One of his finest projects is the mockumentary television series Nirvanna the Band the Show, which Johnson co-created with his longtime friend and collaborator Jay McCarrol. The show is entirely filmed in Toronto and it follows Matt and Jay (who both play fictionalized versions of themselves), as they go around the city, coming up with plans and schemes to get their band to play in a club on Queen street called the Rivoli.
The initial selling point of this show for most people would be the inclusion of publicity stunts, meaning similar to the work of Sacha Baron Cohen, the public isn’t aware of the real reason that filming is taking place, thereby resulting in genuine reactions as caused by Matt and Jay’s silly acts. This creates a series of unscripted events, and the duo cleverly utilize these interactions to tell a fictional story around them. For instance, in the episode The Blindside, a random passerby makes fun of Jay for playing with devil sticks, and that single unplanned interaction stems his entire character arc thereafter. Throughout the whole show, Matt and Jay write scenarios based on these random encounters, which makes the show feel a lot more authentic and real.
Additionally, something that is consistently present in all of Matt Johnson’s work is how he blurs the line between reality and fiction. In this show, Matt and Jay use the mockumentary style and clever editing choices to make the audience question whether what they’re watching actually happened or not. Not only does this make the show wildly entertaining, but it also sends a deeper message about how we perceive art. In the fiction world, Matt and Jay are starring as two silly friends who constantly try to find an audience, and to be seen and recognized. Simultaneously, the real-life Matt and Jay are friends who grew up together and are now presenting their creation (this show), to us (the real-life audience). The first scene of the show encapsulates this meta concept perfectly, where the two are trying to brainstorm ideas about how to start their show (the musical show they’re planning to play at the Rivoli). This scene paralleled the real-life Matt and Jay’s creative working process as they came up with the idea for this TV series. There are scenes in the show where Matt and Jay laugh at their own wackiness, and usually it is genuinely impossible to tell whether they’re laughing as the characters, or as themselves. It’s a simple but brilliant way of showcasing the idea that art imitates life, and vice-versa.
I chose to write about this show because as an aspiring filmmaker it inspired me, and I believe it can do the same for others who are ambitious about having their voice heard through the medium of film. Even if film isn’t your passion, Nirvanna the Band the Show is among the funniest and most entertaining comedy shows out there. Seeing Matt and Jay go around Toronto and perform their bizarre antics is enough reason to be invested. The two have great chemistry and play off each other’s jokes exceptionally well. This show gave me a new perspective on how to approach filmmaking, with the idea that you don’t need a huge budget or studio money to tell your stories, and that if your idea is interesting enough, there are minimalistic ways to execute it and still create something that feels authentic and original.
