By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer
Richard Davis was a bankrupt pizzeria owner when he got the idea for a bulletproof vest in 1969 Michigan.
Body armor was nothing new, of course, but Davis had an inkling that he could make something lighter that could be worn, undetected, under clothes. Kevlar, he'd discover, was the answer. And to prove that his invention actually worked, Davis, a former Marine and born showman, went to some extraordinary lengths: He shot himself over 190 times.
Somehow, that's not even the wildest part of his story, which is chronicled in the lively documentary "2nd Chance," which premiered this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival.
Utilizing new interviews with Davis, friends, enemies and ex-wives, the film charts the formation of his company Second Chance, its triumphs (saving hundreds of lives) and tragedies, including the death of a police officer after the company started using Zylon in its vest.
"2nd Chance" is the documentary feature debut of Ramin Bahrani, the Iranian-American filmmaker whose films often explore and dismantle notions of the American dream, including "Chop Shop and "99 Homes."
He was editing his last feature, " The White Tiger, " when several producers approached him about making a narrative film about Davis. But Bahrani surprised them when he said he'd rather make a doc.
"I tried to go there not knowing and not having a set plan and just waiting for the people to tell me things," Bahrani said. "With the short docs I had made, I remember calling Werner Herzog and asking him what's the approach? His advice was don't pre-interview people on the phone, don't talk to them before you meet them. Just start rolling the camera and get those immediate interactions."
Davis is an eccentric character who is at times shockingly candid and other times a wholly unreliable narrator, which Bahrani explores with a clear-eyed empathy.
"Some of what he says can be uncomfortable to hear and I don't agree with his positions. But at the same time, he was charming, he was friendly. When we showed up every day and we would show up to meet him, he cooked mac and cheese for the crew and fed us cookies," Bahrani said.
"What was interesting for me in Richard was, you couldn't pin him down to just wanting to make a lot of money. I kind of agree with his second wife that he wasn't motivated necessarily by money. But I do think he enjoyed being the star. There is a narcissism to him. There is an ability of believing his own deceptions that did remind me of a lot of people in power even in this country," Bahrani continued.
"It reminds me of some modern or harsh version of Arthur Miller's 'All My Sons,' where the father has a successful factory making airplanes for the war and the son comes to understand that some of these planes are faulty and resulted in the death of pilots. The father ends up really hitting a moral force from the son and it ends up in a suicide. There's a moral center to the play. Here, somehow that moral center within Richard's own world seemed absent. He started another company that was even more successful, or just as successful. There's something disturbing in that."
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
โThroughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,โ said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. โOne look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brandsโ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. Heโll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.โ
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More