My Big Fat Homeless Berkeley Movie

52 minutes     Documentary / Educational

A warm, infectious look at street life in Berkeley, CA., USA through the eyes of homeless filmmaker Johnny Allen Shaw. Sometimes it's zany, other times it's poigniant. It's always passionate and sponteneous.

Intended Audience: Mature

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""My Big Fat Homeless Berkeley Movie" is a bizarre sort of triumph — at times very funny, and brutally sad, but never didactic or preachy. Shaw never appears or speaks in the film, which wanders plotlessly through eighteen vérité vignettes depicting individual lives on the street. Embracing the gonzo ethic of "shoot first and call what you hit the target," Shaw's documentary is cultural anthropology in the raw, capturing the exotic people, customs, and ideas of a subculture that hides in plain sight." ---East Bay Express

Here, you'll meet Matthew Silver, explosive street theater technician, Allen "Scotty" Lange, immigrant and mental divergent, Mitch Mitchner, dedicated wingnut and couldn't be happier, Frank Chu of the 12 Galaxies conspiracy coverage and Patrick Lancelin's version of the Julia Butterfly Hill story.

Meet the Filmmaker

Director's Statement:

The only movies I've seen about homelessness have been emotional downers or somewhat out of touch. I wanted to show the beauty and depth of life on the streets and to show homeless people that were fine on their own.

  • Directed by: Johnny Allen Shaw
  • Written by: Johnny Allen Shaw
  • Produced by: Johnny Allen Shaw
  • Run Time: 52 minutes
  • Release Date: 2006
  • Country: United States of America
  • Intended Audience: mature
  • Website My Big Fat Homeless Berkeley Movie
Directed by Johnny Allen Shaw

Written by Johnny Allen Shaw

Produced by Johnny Allen Shaw

Cast
Josey Parrish:
Matthew Silver:
Planet:
Frank Chu:
Harold:
Alan:
Mitch Mitchner:
Screwy Lewie:
Patrick Zobo:
Pink Cloud:
Robert Enkenswa Nwenge:
Julian Walker:
Crew
Johnny Allen Shaw:

Filmed, edited and manufactured with no job, home or money, outdoors using pirated resources and dodging the authorities. This movie was made because I had no other choice of what to do in life and the virtual inventory aspect made it possible.