TATTOO MIKE tells the story of a boy that runs away to join the circus. It is an intimate character study into the life of visual and performance artist Michael Wilson, exploring his marriage to a life of art and drive to define his individuality in a world that bucked against the extremity of his self created physical appearance. The film examines the ideas young artists of this era explored, taking controversial and outdated forms of traditional art like sideshow and tattooing and reimagining that art for a postmodern audience and the large role Michael Wilson played in that movement. Today the influence of that effort is ubiquitous: tattooing is everywhere and on everyone and the modern freak show is celebrated once again. 

     Myself as director and primary producer, this is my first film. My career over the last 24 years has been as a freelance portrait photographer specializing in editorial news stories. The majority of my assignments dealt with sensitive topics around a subjects personal experience of devastating loss or trauma [soldiers returning from Iraq missing a limb], the evolution of sexuality in the greater culture, or the emotional toll of living with chronic disease like HIV or cancer.  The magazine business I have always known no longer exists and this film represents a natural evolution of medium in an effort to remain relevant in the world we live in now. My career goal is to persist in contributing meaningfully, preserving the histories of the marginal, vulnerable and under represented, particularly in regards to queer stories. Michael as a subject is someone I’ve known about since I was a teenager in the 80s. His public image was instrumental in developing my own ideology about living creatively both inside and outside of society, and informed my philosophy and trajectory of why and how I have been tattooed myself.

View and / or download the pitch deck HERE.

     Your financial contribution will directly help towards travel expenses [airfare, rental cars, meals, lodging, equipment insurance] to complete principle shooting for the entire film, and will primarily go towards editing expenses:  transcribing, writing, the editors fee, and archival research with the goal of achieving a solid rough cut out of this campaign. 

   Even if you aren’t able to contribute financially there are still very meaningful ways you can help.  Please share this campaign with your friends and ask them to contribute and re-share among their friends.  Follow along on the films Instagram or Twitter feed and re-share those posts. You’ll be able to learn more about Michael, the history of tattooing and sideshow from that period of time, and you’ll be introduced to some of the ideas that will be explored in the film.  The social feed will feature:

     • never before seen archival material  

     • first looks at Michael’s painting and collage work

     • clips of contemporary interview footage shot for this film

     • a look into the evolution of the art of tattooing today and how things have evolved since Michael’s passing in 1996  

I’m also actively searching for any related archival material of Michael, tattooing in New York City, Coney Island or the early days of the sideshow during that 1980s and 1990s period of time. Or if you just have special stories about Michael that you’d like to share it would be nice to hear them. I’m also interested in any recommendations for producers or production houses who might be interested in this story. Any assistance from you at all, in the community, financial or otherwise, will be most greatly appreciated.  Thanks for taking this time.  www.tattoomikefilm.com | hill.ethan@gmail.com

DIRECTOR | DP – Ethan Hill is a film maker based in New York working on his first movie about Michael Wilson.  Previous work experience includes 20 years experience as an award winning portrait photographer.  A partial client list includes the New York Times, Newsweek, TIME, and Entertainment Weekly.  He continues work on an ongoing personal project documenting of the lives of gay men through interviews and nude portraits. He is an instructor at the International Center for Photography and has work included in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London.  www.tattoomikefilm.com |www.ethanhill.com | hill.ethan@gmail.com 

TYPOGRAPHER | GRAPHIC DESIGN – Rob Hewitt is an award winning creative director who specializes in magazine design and has held positions at GQ, New York Magazine, and Dwell.  His acute historical knowledge of editorial typography trends and graphic design are a major asset to the overall look and feel for TATTOO MIKE, recreating America’s second golden era of magazine design in the late 80s and 90s [Michael Wilson’s time] for this film.  Rob is currently a designer at Pentagram and maintains an independent studio at www.curiousoutsider.com In 2019, Rob also founded and launched OH—SO Equal, the first independent news-stand publication of its kind that celebrates the global celebration of Women’s Skateboarding! www.oh-so.co.

MOTION GRAPHICS – I am a motion graphics animator, visual artist, writer and educator living and working in New York and Paris. Work has included collaborations with artist Nadia Coen and The Inclining Experiment.  My work reflects my interest in using light, film, sound, type and 3D imagery in a reflection on the very nature of our perception of reality. I am interested in the borderlands where certainty fades to delirium.  www.behance.net/grlstudio

ANIMATION PAINTER – Jason Holley is an illustrator, educator, and exhibiting artist living in Los Angeles.  His illustration career spans 25 years and he is widely recognized for his influence and contribution to the field.  Clients include:  MTV, New York Times, and Random House. He has been a member of the faculty at Art Center College of Design since 1997 where is is an Associate Professor.  www.jasonholley.com

COMPOSER – Producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ and frequent collaborator, Bryce Hackford is a singular artist whose work across many different styles, from dance music and abstract electronics to rock and interdisciplinary collaboration, consistently employs sensual intuition, improvisation and deep listening. Safe (Exits), his latest solo album (2020) is available on 2xLP and most digital platforms, along with contributions to the recent Parquet Courts 12″ single, Plant Life (Rough Trade) and Genetisis LP collaboration with Brian Close, Ka Baird and Jimmy Tamborello (Futura Resistenza). https://brycehackford.bandcamp.com