GUEST OF CINDY SHERMAN
A SUNDANCE CHANNEL ORIGINAL
IN TOM DONAHUE’S FEATURE DOC DEBUT, GUEST OF CINDY SHERMAN FOLLOWS PAUL H-O, A MAN ACCUSTOMED TO BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. AS THE STAR OF HIS OWN PUBLIC ACCESS SHOW ‘GALLERYBEAT’, PAUL WOULD REGULARLY ATTEND ART GALLERY OPENINGS AND PERFORM WITTY ASSESSMENTS OF PIECES, MUCH TO THE AMUSEMENT OF HIS MANY FANS.
AMONG THEM WAS CINDY SHERMAN, THE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED BUT PRESS-SHY ARTIST, OFTEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST GIFTED AND SIGNIFICANT VISUAL TALENTS.
When Cindy invites Paul to her studio for a series of exclusive interviews, he gains unprecedented insight into her artistic process. It’s not long before a romantic relationship blossoms, however their initial bliss would end when Paul finds himself wracked with anxiety about his own personality becoming subsumed by his role as Cindy's guest at celebrity-studded events.
Guest of Cindy Sherman opened to rave reviews due to its tactful documentation of a man's journey into self-perceived irrelevance, serving as an example of the effects of ever-changing gender roles. In 2008 Guest of Cindy Sherman was nominated for a Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Filmed over 15 years and including interviews with a veritable who's who of the art and entertainment world, the film paints a vivid picture of the New York art scene that is also a witty, illuminating look at celebrity, male anxiety, and art.
Interviewees include: Paul H-O, Cindy Sherman, Eric Bogosian, David Furnish, Robert Longo, Carol Kane, April Gornik, Eli Broad, Gaby Hoffman, Molly Ringwald, Laurie Simmons, Danny DeVito, Jeanne Tripplehorn, John Waters.
DIRECTED BY: PAUL H-O & TOM DONAHUE
PRODUCED BY: PAUL H-O, TOM DONAHUE,
EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: STEFAN NOWICKI, CHRISTOPHER TRELA
PRODUCED BY: ANURA IDUPUGANTI
CO-PRODUCED BY: BENJAMIN BIRKE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCED BY: ELISSA BIRKE, PATTY CASBY, TED GREENBERG, ABRAHAM HERTZEL, ANDREW HERWITZ
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: CREATIVECHAOS VMG, FILMLIKE LLC
Reviews & Press
Far too outlandish to be believable – except it’s all true.
Guest of Cindy Sherman was how co-helmer Paul H-O found himself described on a seating card one night at some glitzy art-world dinner...
5 stars…brings the art world of the ’80s and ’90s down to an accessible level.
Sweet, disturbing, awkward and romantic all at once – and one of the most revealing portraits I’ve ever seen of the mistress of camouflage.
Scores of interviews with art-scene players give dimension to the strange story of Cindy and Paul.
A touching boyfriend movie, and a scathing portrayal of the art world, with great footage from the 90's art scene.
Delightful…a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse, bittersweet autobiography and witty trip down art-world memory lane.
As soon as Guest of Cindy Sherman ended, I wanted to see it again for its high entertainment value and to determine better what I had just witnessed.