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  • 6 weeks ago
Documentary about the late Chicago artist and musician Wesley Willis. Filmmaker Daniel Bitton follows Willis throughout the Chicago area, riding the bus, talking to friends and strangers alike, selling his CDs to record shops, and going about his day. Willis was memorable to many for being schizophrenic as well as 6'6" and over 300 pounds but was loved by his fans and friends for his quirky, oddball music, artistic talent, and for being a real gentle giant. He was a testament to the human drive to survive and create, as he himself was a survivor of extreme poverty, mental illness, child abuse, racism, and obesity. The fact that he lived to see 40 was incredible, but his having a successful music career and being able to function was even more so.
Transcript
00:00When I was 36 years old, I played music and do art.
00:12I had schizophrenia. I had chronic schizophrenia.
00:16Spiderman mess with my girlfriend. Spiderman wrapped his eyes around her with my bedroom door closed.
00:23I'll call him kissing my girlfriend and beat him to a pulp with a rubber hose.
00:27Reggie Carton asked me for $600. He told me if I don't give him $600, he was going to blow
00:34my brains out.
00:35If Reggie Carton had to take my damn money and put guns up to my head, I would have been
00:40alright.
00:41That's why I started hearing demons. I had three demons.
00:44Nerd Wrecker, Heartbreaker, and Mean Sucker.
00:50Sucker that guy hells raw dick.
00:55I'm just doing it for my demon.
00:58These things are all the souls of my demon.
01:00Excuse me for talking right there, man.
01:02I yell, I scream, I holler at people on buses.
01:08Outburst! Outburst! Outburst!
01:12Along with friends,...
01:14…is a joint ride.
01:16PRACHELY SCREEN
01:17I'm the daddy of Rock and Roll!
01:20I'm the daddy of Rock and Roll!
01:23I'm the daddy of Rock and Roll!
01:25I'm the daddy of Rock and Roll!
01:36I'm the daddy of Rock and Roll!
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