Filmmaker Isaac Dietz, the brain behind Tub-O-Popcorn Productions, has been documenting bands (Anathallo, As Tall as Lions, The Format, MAE) In January Dietz reveals “Road Test” an honest documentary about a band touring for the first time. I got a chance to catch up with Isaac via email to ask a few questions about his take on the documentary and his affinity for music and film.
What was your idea behind Road Test?
I found out the local band Fazeshift was going on their first tour, and since they were pretty good friends of mine by then, I told them I wanted to film a documentary on a band touring for their first time.
I went out of my way to capture all the things that a normal person wouldn’t think is involved in a tour, and that people that tour regularly forget about. So I made sure i interviewed each member of the band individually every night, even if they were running on a few hours of sleep. I even made sure to not sleep unless every member of the band was sleeping, so I wouldn’t miss anything important. Eventually I started seeing the raw people, the raw emotions and experiences that they were going through. Eventually I started seeing that any band that tours can only handle what they are mentally prepared for, if you a prepared for a 4 month tour or a 8 day tour you are going to be drained by the last few days. At the last few days the band hears that their hometown friends are traveling to support them, and it just gives them that last boost of energy to finish the tour.
In the documentary a person that hasn’t toured will see how much uncertainty there is in a first time tour, you are never sure when your next meal, shower or opportunity to sleep is (or even where you might sleep by the end of the night)
How did you find the guys who starred?
A long time before I filmed this, Fazeshift hired me to film their very first live concert, after maintaining a relationship with them, after a few years I was able to ask them to tag along on their tour.
Was timing a HUGE factor?
Timing did help a lot, I think if they were experienced in touring, a lot of stuff wouldn’t show, things they have realized are normal in touring wouldn’t be mentioned in the interviews. Since 100% of the tour was a new experience it really showed what it is like to have a ‘civilian’ live the touring lifestyle for a bit. If I filmed it on any other tour of theirs, they would have already been used to the routine of uncertainty.
Your film projects tend to associate with music, what’s the allure?
I have realized that as a camera man I can experience things that a normal person would never even be allowed to experience. For example I know of someone that went to Iraq as a camera man, and got to tour all of Saddam’s old palaces and had the opportunity to experience some things a civilian wouldn’t be even allowed to experience. As a filmmaker you can cage dive with sharks, tour with bands, go to foreign countries and even be the only person on a crab fishing ship that isn’t obligated to much to doing labor, just along for the ride. I guess you can explain it as the Remora fish, the fish that attach themselves to sharks, they get are along for the ride, though any other fish wouldn’t be able to come close.
As a filmmaker I have realized I can experience a lot of things I wouldn’t normally be able to, so I decided to take advantage of that and tour North America for about 5 years now. I do enjoy music as much as anybody else, but I am much more a fan of film, music just happens to have a lot of interesting stories and people. I really started selling T-Shirts and CD’s for a local band and toured with them for a few years, and made enough connections to film other bands and a few years later I started doing video blogs.
Road Test will be having a DVD release party:
Friday, January 4th, 2008
The Red House
201 South West St.
Syracuse, NY 13202
$8 - doors at 7PM
Check out the other Creations from Tub-O-Productions
Watch the trailer below
December 21st, 2007 at 1:37 pm
That’s awesome tub-o! Keep up the good work
you rock!!
December 21st, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Congrats Isaac! Hope to see more from you! <3
December 21st, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Way to go, Isaac!
All your work has finally paid off! If I was in New York over the holidays, I would be sure to see it. I’m so disappointed that I can’t. Keep it up!!!!! ROCK IT!
December 21st, 2007 at 2:41 pm
God has really blessed this gentleman with a great talent. I know my family and I have enjoyed some of his work.
Good luck with the future and all the opportunities that come your way.
God bless,
Ashley
December 21st, 2007 at 2:41 pm
This is awesome.
December 21st, 2007 at 2:46 pm
omg isaac is like the koolest guy you could ever meet and now he’s like getting famose its soo awesome!!
December 21st, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I really wish I lived close enough to see this movie, but I don’t.
I do hope that eventually I will be able to see this film and others from Isaac!
December 21st, 2007 at 3:02 pm
i’ll buy this. TUB-O is a great guy all around. I’ve met him before. Man of G-d he is.
December 21st, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Great interveiw Isaac!!!! I can’t wait to here how the DVD release party!!!!
December 21st, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I am really excited about this movie, Isaac. And the interview is great. Keep on keepin’ on!
December 21st, 2007 at 3:34 pm
This movie’s gonna be awesome! Rock on!!
December 21st, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Dude, that is so amazing! Congratulations! I am so happy for you!! I’m definitely going to get this, it looks like you worked your hardest on it.
December 21st, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I’m gonna try to go to the showing on the 4th. It looks pretty interesting.
December 21st, 2007 at 4:30 pm
You are very passionate and elloquent! Congrats on the film!!!!
December 21st, 2007 at 4:34 pm
sweet interview. very interesting.
December 21st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
meeting you in 05 was something i will never forget. your passion for what you do is breathtaking and I love to see you succeed. Keep God first kid
i also love that we are twins.
Great job tubzizzle
December 21st, 2007 at 5:15 pm
This must have been a long-time coming for Isaac. I’ve followed his video work since his days with House of Heroes and I know he’s an amazing camera man and amazing person. I just really wish I could see his new film coming out!
December 21st, 2007 at 5:17 pm
“I guess you can explain it as the Remora fish, the fish that attach themselves to sharks, they get are along for the ride, though any other fish wouldn’t be able to come close.”
I love you for knowing about the remora fish… good analogy!
December 21st, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Isaac, you never cease to amaze me.
I (somehow) didn’t comprehend that this was DVD, but I’d buy it.
Supporting that popcorn, ha.
I love that this is going to be longer than ten minutes.
ANNNND if you’ve never looked into tub-o-popcorn productions, please do!
You will love what it has to offer.
-Your friend, K’tizzle.
December 21st, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Only a genuine person the likes of Isaac could capture the rawness of being on the road with out taking for granted the less appealing aspects of getting to your next destination.
December 21st, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I think this is an awesome idea for a film! I hope everything goes well.
December 21st, 2007 at 6:59 pm
looks amazing tub-o, good luck with this ,your going places <3
December 21st, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Nice! Can’t wait to see it. Keep up the good work Tub-O!
December 21st, 2007 at 7:19 pm
I love all of tub-o’s work, its real, and fun! keep it up and its very entertaining and awesome!!! God bless!!!
December 21st, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Thats awesome Isaac!
Congratulations! The trailer looks great!
Hopefully I get to watch the whole thing soon!
You’ll definitely go far with that amazing talent of yours!
Proud of ya, boieeeeeeeeeeee!
December 21st, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Isaac, looks like a great film, can’t wait to see it when it comes out. I am sure it will be as good as all your other productions!!!! God Bless.
Mrs. K
December 21st, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Isaac.
I am so excited to see this film! What an awesome thing to be able to do! I’m looking forward to it all!
Your truly amazing,
Molly
December 21st, 2007 at 7:40 pm
This is really cool, I’d love to see the film. Unfortunately I won’t be anywhere near NY for a long time. I want to know if there’s another way I could see this?
December 21st, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I really wanna see this! Isaac is such an awesome guy! congrats!
December 21st, 2007 at 10:45 pm
I would love to see your documentary! Please have a showing in Nashville! I know that a lot of others here would love to see it too.
Keep up the awesome work! Love it!
December 22nd, 2007 at 9:54 am
Tub-O…Nice work.
Looking forward to this wicked awesome film.
Later days…
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I’m looking forward to seeing the video! I love Isaac’s work.. Hope to have him help me out some day….
December 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I do so hope that we’ll get a chance to see the film if we don’t happen to live in or near New York…
December 27th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Wow, this sounds intriguing. I hope to be able to see the film someday. Keep up the good work, Isaac!