Rod Webber

Rod Webber is an American musician, filmmaker, and actor. Though in his early music career he shared the stage with anti-folk acts Daniel Johnston (The Devil and Daniel Johnston) and Kimya Dawson (former Moldy Peach), Webber is probably best known for his improvisational films and documentaries, many of which were created using Webber's personal manifesto, which is cited in various publications about the filmmaker. Webber has twice directed former mumblecore actress Greta Gerwig, first in his film I Thought You Finally Completely Lost It and next in Northern Comfort, both shot primarily in a three-day shooting frenzy. Webber has also collaborated frequently (three times) with Doug "Tiny the Terrible" Tunstall, an outsider politician, WWE wrestler, and the subject of Webber's documentary A Man Among Giants. In addition to his filmmaking, Webber has released several successful musical endeavors.

At 21, Rod Webber began climbing the college music charts with Burned My Feet On Meat Street.[10] Webber followed up Burned My Feet with The You I Knew, featuring the lead track, "Blue Hour".[11] According to The Boston Globe, he began a courtship with major record labels such as Columbia, Arista, and Universal Records, but ultimately stuck to his indie roots, and continues to release records without the help of a major.[12]

In 2005, Webber began directing Monkfish starring Lloyd Kaufman,[13] and Tiny The Terrible, which debuted May 11, 2005 at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston.[14] Webber followed up Monkfish with A Man Among Giants,[15] a documentary in which Webber trails Monkfish star Doug 'Tiny' Tunstall aka Tiny The Terrible in his quest to unseat James E. Doyle, the Mayor of Pawtucket Rhode Island.[16] After Tunstall was arrested in 2009 for creating a disturbance in a courtroom, Webber bailed him out of jail. Tunstall was subsequently committed to a prison mental hospital, resulting in a year-long effort by Webber to have him released. Unsuccessful in helping Tiny's case through legal channels, Webber released a new feature-length documentary, American Psych Ward about Tunstall's unlawful imprisonment. After four days of packed screenings, Tunstall was released.[17]

Webber's effort to have Tunstall released from prison indefinitely postponed the release of Northern Comfort, which he had shot with indie 'mumblecore' queen Greta Gerwig the previous year. The film was delayed until May 28, 2010, by which time, Gerwig had gone on to her mainstream acting career with titles such as Greenberg starring Ben Stiller. Despite the delay, Northern Comfort met with favorable reviews. According to The Boston Globe, Webber and Gerwig create "ornery sparks",[18] and The Weekly Dig called him the "Anti-James Cameron" as a result.[19]

Next, Webber began filming Milkweed, a drama starring Webber and Ali Bell who helped him to produce Psych Ward, the year before. Again, despite Webber's speedy filming technique, the film was delayed to promote the release of My America, a politically charged drama which was shot in the spring of 2010 after the production of Milkweed began. The Boston Globe called the film, "a shocking drama on the subject of racism."[20] Time Out Boston described My America as "chilling."[21]

Milkweed was released in 2013 and also stars Mark Wahlberg's eldest brother, Arthur.[22]