Filmmaker Matt Johnson and Composer Jay mccarrol Reflect on Playing Failed Versions of Themselves in “Nirvanna the Band the Show the movie”
In a recent interview, Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol discussed the surreal experience of portraying fictionalized, less prosperous versions of themselves in their film, “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” Johnson, who gained critical acclaim for “Blackberry” and is currently directing an upcoming Anthony Bourdain biopic titled “Tony” for A24, and McCarrol, a composer who frequently scores Johnson’s films, explored the surprisingly philosophical implications of revisiting their younger selves.
The pair contemplated the balance between accessing those earlier, less mature personas and their current creative achievements. Johnson described the character as “a shadow of the kid who lives inside me in an archetype way,” adding, “It’s almost like, with no persona, if you could just erase me, my prepubescent self is this character. And I’m so grateful that he still exists in my subconscious and I can listen to him. And he can move me around like a puppeteer.” He drew a parallel to the work of bill Watterson and “Calvin and Hobbes,” stating,”What’s so brilliant…is that he himself is a very modest,quiet adult man…and yet,he also has such a direct connection to this mischievous boy that lives inside him. I take so much from the idea that silencing that voice is a net negative for you.”
mccarrol likened losing touch with that inner voice to the poignant ending of ”The Polar Express,” saying, “It’s like that last page…when you can’t hear the bell anymore. It’s heartbreaking.”
Johnson acknowledged the necessity of maturity, stating, “If I lived my life the way that Matt, the character lives his life, it would be in shambles. Clearly, he’s not a serious person.” However, he also emphasized the enduring connection, concluding, “100 percent of the character is the real me, but now I’ve been so socialized that he doesn’t exist the same way, but thank God he can still talk.”
“Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” is currently on a North American tour throughout 2025.Dates and tickets for “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie the Tour” are available at https://nirvannathebandtheshowthemovie.com. NEON will release the film at a later date.
