#REVIEW: “HOLLYWOOD SIGNS”

By Mr. Will Wong

This one hits a little close to home.  We got our start in Fan Culture and still to this day, those celebrity selfies and sightings are a huge part of our online identity. How cool is it that Utopia has released a new Doc, HOLLYWOOD SIGNS from Music Video Director Bill Fishman.  The Film explores Fan Culture, the obsession and industry of Autograph Chasing and some of the people who do it.

Fishman is able to get actual celebrities to participate in individual sit-downs, asking them about their fan experiences and conventions, including the likes of Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead franchise), Dan Fogler (“Fantastic Beasts”), Rachel True (“The Craft”), Eric Roberts (“The Dark Knight”), Bai Ling (“Red Corner”) and more.  We get their takes on fan interaction, with many of them understanding the need to participate in conventions, take pictures with and sign autographs for fans – the need to be approachable and relatable is what connected them to their respective fanbases in the first place. Campbell, though is kinda over it and sees it is all as a business and isn’t afraid to look the other way when the camera flashes in a selfie which the fan didn’t pay for.

The Film does look at history and even lists-out the ten most valuable Autographs of all time, but it gets most interesting when it follows the chase of Autograph Hounds, including veteran Mike “Red Bull” Medlin, who we meet outside Jimmy Kimmel’s Studio trying to plot his strategy to get some George Clooney autographs. For him, it’s a lot about making a living, especially having totaled his car recently, and barely making enough money to cover the cost of his Airbnb and food. Clooney fails to walk over to sign autographs for him – even after he considers budding ahead of a little girl and her dad – and already that sets the tone how this storyline is going to go for him. While he is successful in a couple hits, including a one-on-one with Alyssa Milano at an event she’s hosting, in the end it’s all still a struggle.

Fishman also takes us inside the Convention world where we meet fans plotting their strategy to get books and items signed, but even after paying the price of admission there’s still drama like Artists refusing to sign certain items (imagine David Cassidy refusing to sign anything Partridge Family-related!) or lining-up first at 6 AM only to be bypassed by VIP Ticket Holders.

And though the Film asks the question if all this chasing is a hobby or an obsession – leaning more to the latter – he does capture some sincere moments where we get small glimpses why it is people put themselves through all this. But one thing we wish it captured more was the happiness and joy of landing that hit whereas even after getting that hit here, it just feels like an endless grind.

A fun watch, HOLLYWOOD SIGNS is available now to stream in the U.S. on digital platforms.