Vera Drew, undoubtedly, took her bold strides into the world of filmmaking with a twirl. Breaking every conceivable movie-making rule, she embarked upon an incredibly unique journey to create The People‘s Joker. The film, a parody of the menacing Joker, Batman‘s greatest adversary, was anything but ordinary, and certainly pushed the boundaries in all the right directions.
Storyboard: From a Joke to an Epic Saga
The People’s Joker’s conception story is pretty intriguing. It wasn’t designed to be a blockbuster or a multi-million dollar project. In fact, it started off as a joke, a prank project that took a serious turn. And when it turned serious, it meant it was time to start penning a script, despite not having a clear budget or even a roadmap. Now, the movie is available on video on demand and Blu-Ray, marking a massive milestone in Drew’s filmmaking journey.
Vera Drew: Jack Of All Trades
In the making of The People’s Joker, Drew donned many hats herself. She was the director, co-writer, editor, producer, and even the star. The film began as Doll Phillips’ Joker re-imagining discourse that reintroduced us to Batman’s enemy and the Martin Scorsese classics Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Bri LeRose, Drew’s writer friend, took exception to Phillips, and a comedic re-edit of Joker ensued. Drew eventually stepped in for a serious execution of the project and roped LeRose in for co-writing.
Bri LeRose and Vera Drew’s Ambitious Venture
Breaking industry norms, LeRose and Drew embarked upon a path that experts usually caution against. Not adhering to the “affordable to shoot principle”, they crafted a truly audacious script. The duo dreamt big and desired to create a splendid version of Gotham City, replete with rich, multi-dimensional characters. The People’s Joker turned out to be a vibrant critique of comedy institutions and a unique coming-of-age story.
Bewitching Response and Legal Battles
The People’s Joker was lauded by Richard Brody of The New Yorker as the “best superhero movie.” However, the euphoria was short-lived. Warner Bros objected to the film’s character and led to some disruption. Nevertheless, The People’s Joker managed to charm the festival circuits and rolled out for a theatrical run, distributed by Altered Innocence.
Shooting with a Shoestring Budget
Talking numbers, Drew confessed that the funding was pretty organic. They used a PPP loan during the pandemic and pushed on with their dream project. A successful crowdfunding campaign also raised nearly $25,000, which was pumped into shooting and production costs.
Film Completion: Borrowing and Collaboration
Post-wrap up, the creators had to borrow heavily for project completion. Drew stressed that she paid everyone, though she confessed that they were slightly underpaid. The process remained an exploratory mission, characterized by collaborative efforts where each participant’s artistic flair was welcomed. The team functioned as one unit with a community-garden approach.
Final Words
The People’s Joker’s creation journey is indeed inspiring. It is a sparkling example of an ambitious project achieved with a co-op approach, sans any concrete budget. Vera Drew’s journey certainly proves how passion, creativity, and collaboration can make magic happen in movie-making.
