Experiencing Interruptions?

Inertia: Re-making THE CROW

Told through intimate VHS behind-the-scenes footage shot by the filmmakers themselves in the 1990s, "Inertia: Re-Making THE CROW" takes an unflinching look at the creative evolution of two midwestern teenagers struggling to create a faithful, no-budget video adaptation of James O'Barr's acclaimed comic book series—the same as was the basis for the major motion picture featuring the final performance of actor Brandon Lee, who was tragically killed during its production. The ultra-grainy, black-and-white, high school extracurricular project profiled here went on to be hailed by Crow fans as “inspired,” “innovative,” and “powerful.”

  • David Ullman
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour
  • Completion Date:
    August 25, 2001
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    VHS
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • New York International Film & Video
    New York
    United States
    February 10, 2002
    North American Premiere
Director - David Ullman
Director Statement

I feel a mixture of pride and embarrassment about the peculiar practice I've fallen into over the years of producing personal documentaries. I've also come to embrace it. They all center around the creative adventures of myself and my friends. Sometimes, I was finishing making-of films started by other people profiling these independent art projects (Inertia: Remaking THE CROW). Other times, the documentation was planned from the outset and vital to the facilitation of the very undertaking chronicled by the cameras my pals and I turned on ourselves (Steve: Finding Rhythm).

These ventures are sometimes vain, self-aggrandizing, and esoteric. They can also be critical, self-deprecating, revealing, and universal. I’m starting to see these stories as more than just those of myself and my friends. More and more, I'm realizing there are tons of creative people like us all over the world toiling in obscurity. They work long hours at their jobs and also make time for their art. These are folks who stay up late and get up early to tell their stories—and those of their friends and family—stealing the hours from comfort to create what they see, hear, and feel in their hearts.

I'm currently working on a couple of new projects that lean into this larger narrative.

-David Ullman, 2022