Much has been out of the fact that Great World of Sound’s writer/director Craig Zobel is also a producer on David Gordon Green’s first film George Washington. You can chalk up their connection to their studies at North Carolina’s School for the Arts more than any major thematic similarities, though both film maker’s mix humor with sorrow in heaping doses.
Great World of Sound is a biting comedy that not only delves into the dark side of the music industry and those desperate to break into it, but also the depths of those who are desperate for personal and financial success. Great World of Sound is a record label, at least in name. By placing ads in mid level city newspapers GWS draws prospective musicians to seedy hotel rooms for auditions after which they are hit up for 30% of the supposed production costs of their first cd. Of course the “producers” need that money now and preferably in cash. Moral dilemmas mount and cash runs out in this tale of lower class America woe.
The film is driven by some excellent performances by its two leads. Martin (Pat Healey) is a struggling young guy who seems to be bouncing from one job to another in a vain attempt to get a career started. With minimal education and an artist girlfriend to help support he is the perfect foil to Kene Holliday’s Clarence. Clarence has “lived on the streets, and been there” as he puts it, he doesn’t have time for the moral qualms Martin experiences. He wants to make money, he wants to get a leg up, and he isn’t concerned with who he burns in the process. This difference in their personalities is brilliantly and hilariously demonstrated in a scene of a young girl who has written a new national anthem. Zobel doesn’t let Clarence drift into scumbag territory though, he remains immensely sympathetic. He’s desperate for a break, and he knows just how hard life can get. Something he tries to impress upon Martin several times throughout the film. Together the young white bread Martin, and the middle aged black Clarence are a new Tango & Cash, only they’re scamming low level musicians instead of fighting Jack Palance’s drug cartel.
If Zobel can make the primary characters decent guys despite their profession he reserves no such chance of sympathy for the men behind GWS Productions. John Baker is absolutely pitch perfect as the head of scam (GWS are also his initials which make for easy check cashing). His character of Shank seems dredged from the very bottom of late night TV get rich quick advertising. His right hand man, Layton (Robert Longstreet) is the enforcer of GWS, and cracks the whip on the new salesmen/producers. Together they use the specter of financial success (if $13,000 in a checking account is runaway success) to cajole and coerce Martin and Clarence into their roles.
Some mention should be made about the way in which Zobel filmed the audition scenes. Some are staged, but many where filmed with hidden cameras and are set up much the way that Martin and Clarence would have. Only after the audition and sales pitch were the artists told what was really happening. Many of them agreed to be in the film, presumably, to help Zobel illuminate this real world scam. This technique generates some amazing exchanges between the faux music producers and their victims. There is no way you’d be able to script the awkwardness of these conversations, let alone afford enough quality actors to pull them off. Some of the musicians jump for their check book, others dither and question the need for the money, and some even call the hoaxsters on the scam. It all adds up to some of the most squirm inducing scenes in the film, and really forms the backbone for the drama.
Great World of Sound is an outstanding debut film for Craig Zobel. He investigates a real world scam with a compelling and intelligent narrative. The film can leave you with a lingering feeling of unease. This unease is not for the amorality of its characters but for their humanity. At a critical turning point in the film Clarence and Martin realize what is really going on. Their separate choices to continue the scam despite their knowledge defines them and the film.