Ex Drummer

One suspects only true fans will be watching Ex-Drummer’s DVD extras – those who haven’t bought the DVD only to return it in a repulsed hurry. For such people, a true treat awaits in the form of a Making Of documentary.

In the style of the film, this narrative is dysfunctional, disorganised and made on a shoestring. It’s also terrifically entertaining. Where most such documentaries tend to feature crew, cast and captain recalling how wonderful everything was, this has director Mortier and his crew bitching about each other behind backs, angry, unpaid actors, rumours of closet homosexuality and a series of producers washing their hands of the film by phone.

The film is based on a book by Herman Brusselmans, and he chain smokes while bitching about Mortier’s lack of sponsorship. We also see lamentable auditions, learn about the shambolic sets and understand that much of the dialogue is improvised. At just over half an hour it’s gripping stuff, getting right to the hub of Ex-Drummer’s troubled conception, and constitutes as good a Making-Of documentary as you’ll likely to see.

The other DVD treats are less fulfilling – the ever-present trailer, some footage turned into music videos, and a band performing at the film’s eventual band battle that didn’t make the final cut.