paul on spout.com

SXSW 2008: Mark Webber & Frankie Shaw, Explicit Ills

Under discussion:
Jesus' Son (1999)
Storytelling (2001)
Broken Flowers (2005)
Explicit Ills (2008)

Under discussion:

Jesus' Son (1999)

Storytelling (2001)

Broken Flowers (2005)

Explicit Ills (2008)

Mark Webber has been an actor in the independent scene for a long time (Jesus’ Son, Storytelling, Broken Flowers) and he premiered his first feature film as director here at SXSW. Explicit Ills has an incredible cast including Paul Dano, Lou Taylor Pucci and Rosario Dawson getting a run for their money from non-actors like 8 year old Francisco Burgos.

Frankie Shaw also stars in Explicit Ills (and happens to be carrying Webber’s unborn bambino). In the “green room” at the Alamo Draft House theater, I talk to her and Mark Webber about how the movie is less story, more mosaic of an American city: Philadelphia. And how casting a city in the starring role exposes the real and present ills facing our country.