Digital campaigns management company Huddle Masses has announced its work with independent film distributor IndiePix on the soon-to-be-released documentary “Dick.”
As part of the buzz-building campaign, more than 2,000 critics, bloggers and tastemakers received an email link to the YouTube trailer. A five-day marathon of publicity events is set to kick off on September 8, leading up to the September 12 premier.
The documentary from filmmaker Brian Fender features a series of interviews with 63 anonymous men aged 22 to 83. Their heads out of the frame, each one strips nude for the camera, making his penis the focal point of the shot as well as the conversation.
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Fender’s interviewees are invited to speak openly about their relationships with their penises and their sense of manhood in general. The film dispenses with all taboos, and many of the subjects remark that never before have they felt comfortable discussing their own bodies and sexuality. These men represent a cross section of modern society, from an ex-marine to a monk to a transsexual.
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Fender intends his film to provoke discomfort in audiences, at least at first. He argues convincingly that the awkwardness of seeing and discussing human anatomy is ultimately counterproductive.
“One of the goals with this documentary is to de-stigmatize male anatomy, sexuality and nudity,” explained Fender. “It’s ironic and even unhealthy that the physical symbol of masculinity is considered so shameful. People literally never talk about the male penis, and so there’s a lot of needless mystery and confusion.”
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The genesis of “Dick” dates back to 2008, when Fender posted a Craigslist ad inviting strangers to his apartment to participate in a documentary. He converted one room into a studio with canvas backdrop and went to great lengths to ensure his subjects felt safe and confident. Filming got underway in 2009.
As a piece of social commentary, Fender believes that “Dick: The Documentary” could have ramifications beyond its humble setting and scope. “I want this film to be a conversation starter. One of those conversations could be the relationship between toxic masculinity and rape culture, and how our silence about male anatomy and sexuality might feed into those phenomena.”
Since 2004, the IndiePix banner has been recognized as an outlet for filmmakers who push the medium’s boundaries, says the company.
IndiePix Films, Inc. carries on that tradition with a catalog of independent feature films and documentaries, and offers itself as a resource for independent film fans around the world. The catalog includes classics, festival films and award winners; both established and up-and-coming filmmakers have seen their work reach a wide audience thanks to IndiePix, the company says.
“Dick” is significant for its provocative filming and subject matter, but ultimately its more lasting effect may be the honest, humane perspective it brings to traditionally undiscussed topics, according to IndiePix.
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Photo courtesy: IndiePix
