I *Heart* Mike Mills

That's the good thing about film - it's really just a big pirate ship, and it's like saying, 'How do you become a good pirate?' Well, any f***ing way that you want. Just find your way to do it. I would put a huge vote in for doing it yourself and not believing things made at home and made for cheap or things made on video and without movie stars aren't worth doing. That's a total contradiction, coming from someone who has a film with Keanu Reeves in it, you know. But that's what I believe. - Mike Mills on Spout.Blog

Screening the world premier of the Beautiful Losers Documentary at SXSW introduced me to artists I knew I'd seen, but didn't really recognize, including Mike Mills. He doesn't know it, but he's just become one of my very favorite people. I'm also crazy about Shepard Fairey, Stephen Powers, Margaret Kilgallen and the other artists featured in the film, but Mills stands out for me. When I look at his artwork, watch his movies and videos, and read what he says in interviews, I catch myself thinking, I get that. I don't even need my "Understand Modern Art Breath Spray." (You can get your own at Fridgedoor.com.)

In an interview with "Pretty Cool People Interviews" that you can find linked below, Mills talks about constantly being hurried to finish the current project, struggling to get it perfect before having to move on to the next project. The looking at the next project as the chance to prove to (yourself and) the world how talented you are - how great your work can really get. Then suddenly you look around and you're 41. You're still trying to pull off that perfect project - the flawless art. You never have time.

I get that.