Ron Mann's 1988 documentary about comic-book culture became an unusually chaotic production long before it reached theaters. What began as a modest half-hour project expanded after Mann and producer Don Haig conducted more research and began interviewing dozens of artists, ultimately generating approximately 70 hours of footage. The first rough cut, completed in October 1986, ran four hours; even Haig reportedly fell asleep during its first screening. Mann, editor Steve Weslak, and Robert Kennedy reduced it to three hours, but the film continued to change structurally as Mann repeatedly abandoned proposed chronological arrangements. Weslak later described the editing experience as “very, very, negative,” saying that Mann would reject organizational plans after seeing them assembled. Mann eventually fired Weslak after the third rough cut, and editing continued for another year.
Preparing the daily feature…
AI concept artworkArchive Record · 1980s
The Four-Hour Rough Cut and the Production That Spun Out of Control
Comic Book Confidential / 1980s
Ron Mann's 1988 documentary about comic-book culture became an unusually chaotic production long before it reached theaters. What began as a modest half-hour project expanded after Mann and producer Don Haig conducted more research and began interviewing dozens of artists, ultimately generating approximately 70 hours of footage. The first rough cut, completed in October 1986, ran four hours; even Haig reportedly fell asleep during its first screening. Mann, editor Steve Weslak, and Robert Kennedy reduced it to three hours, but the film continued to change structurally as Mann repeatedly abandoned proposed chronological arrangements. Weslak later described the editing experience as “very, very, negative,” saying that Mann would reject organizational plans after seeing them assembled. Mann eventually fired Weslak after the third rough cut, and editing continued for another year.
The daily feature is taking an intermission. There’s still an entire archive to explore.