I really hope other people have seen this documentary cause I have never heard anyone talk about  it.  it shows the realty of working in the Industry and creating a reality show.  It follows 2 writer/producers Gil and Dave through their time trying to be legitimized by the larger production companies by pitching reality TV shows so that they can finally produce their own scripted drama.  It tracks their progress and failure.

Gil and Dave have a n interesting relationship.  On the surface and in the pitching room they are of one mind they work together like lifelong friends. The minute that they leave the pitching offices you can see the differences in their morality and their ideas.  although they both say that they are wiling to do anything to sell a script it seems that only Gil is really willing to take that seriously.  Gil will throw out dangerous ideas that could be dangerous for their reputation.

American Cannibal is the name of the reality show that they accidentally sell as a joke to a porn producer.  Gil was joking around at the wrong moment to the wrong person while Dave the married guy who is already apprehensive and worried about meeting with KB (the porn guy) sits in the office totally embarrassed at his surroundings.

The pitch that Gil tosses out is a starvation contest like survivor but living with a cannibal family on an island where cannibalism is legal.  If that doesn’t sound bad then wait till you hear KB ‘s reaction.  it was absurdly excited and he was wanting to find the sickest people he could to be contestants so that maybe someone would at least eat a finger or something.  sick. sick. sick. and that’s where the story starts.

You might think that this could be a comedy, and at times it almost is.  What this really is though is a very serious and horribly depressing examination of the human condition.  Gil and Dave are desperately trying to be recognized by the people they respect.  They know how to do it and they are almost good at it.  they continue to settle for lower and lower standards in their pursuit.  They do this until they end up being creators of the same type of media that they joked about and hated early in the documentary.

Dave and Gil were torn apart through this experience and it slowly reveals to the audience how gradual your life can change and how small choices can destroy who you are.  This film is one of those rare films that you people should watch so that they don’t make mistakes like these guys did.  it really is exemplary of what cinema should be.  Documentaries have a special place with me because they get to be a little more heavy handed.

The real sad story is the subtle one of KB.  this is a man who is just a terrible person he is really just rotten and sleazy.  But he has the emotional maturity of a 5 year old.  He is like a child begging for attention and has no idea how to get it.  Everything he does is wrong.  It’s truly sad.  after finishing the film I just wanted to find him and try and help him because I felt terrible after the film.

Watch this movie and let me know what you think.  I’m curious as to what others are thinking.