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Meet the 2015 SXSW Filmmakers #23: Luke Meyer Follows Pre-Teen Metal Band in ‘Breaking A Monster’

Meet the 2015 SXSW Filmmakers #23: Luke Meyer Follows Pre-Teen Metal Band in 'Breaking A Monster'
Meet the 2015 SXSW Filmmakers #23: Luke Meyer Follows Pre-Teen Metal Band 'Breaking Monster'

Becoming a music sensation may take time and effort, but the long rise to fame hasn’t been an issue for the 12 and 13-year-old members of metal band Unlocking the Truth. In Luke Meyer’s documentary “Breaking a Monster: Unlocking the Truth,” the nonfiction filmmaker chronicles the band’s breakout year in which its young members first encountered stardom and the music industry, ultimately transcending childhood to become the rock stars they always dreamed of being.

What’s your film about in 140 characters or less?

The breakout year of pre-teen metal band Unlocking the Truth as they first encounter stardom and the music industry, and reckon with their rock-star dreams.

Now what’s it REALLY about?

Art, commerce, big dreams, childhood, heavy metal and Grand Theft Auto.

Tell us briefly about yourself.

My first film, “Darkon,” premiered here at SXSW where it won the Audience Award. After that I made a film called “New World Order,” which has become very popular on torrent sites. I have a production company called SeeThink Films with three other filmmakers.

Biggest challenge in completing this film?

Keeping track of what the band was doing. They’re a completely fresh band and they have an incredibly hard-working manager. They were in a position where new opportunities would come up sometimes with just one day’s notice, and of course they would take them because if they don’t the opportunity might not come back. Alternately long-standing plans would suddenly disappear too. I don’t think there was a day that passed during the time we were shooting this film when I wasn’t anxious about our shooting schedule.

What do you want the SXSW audience to take away from your film?

There was a blast of press about Unlocking the Truth last summer when news of their million dollar record contract got out. Among other things, this film shows what happened behind all those fast and bold headlines. After seeing this film maybe people will think more about the human realities that might exist beyond the TMZ headlines.

Any films inspire you?

Yes, there are many films. But recently I’ve been most inspired by the current state of non-fiction cinema. In the last few years that I feel like non-fiction cinema culture has become increasingly ingenuitive and creative. Making films at a time like this is inspiring in and of itself.

What’s next?

I’m working on a new film about a group in Manhattan that the press used to call “a psychotherapy sex cult.”

What cameras did you shoot on?

We shot on the Sony F3. The band shot some footage on GoPros and their iPhones too.

Did you crowdfund?
If so, via what platform. If not, why?

Not for this one. We went more traditional routes with this film

Did you go to film school? If so, which one? 

Did not.

Indiewire invited Tribeca Film Festival directors to tell us about their films, including what inspired them, the challenges they faced and what they’re doing next. For profiles go HERE.

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