Being an artist is tough work. Not only do you have to work very hard to hone your craft, and perfect it, but you also have to fight to be taken seriously. Jeremy Weinstein’s chronicle of his brother’s life as a Jazz Musician is a funny and charming slice of life and how a talented Jazz Musician finds himself on the end of man condescending remarks.
He takes it all in stride throughout his life until one day he meets an older woman who is aggressively trying to hook him up with her daughter. “Say What!” is a unique and engrossing animated short that relies on some wonderful animation, as well as great voice work that helps convey the tribulations that Jeremy’s brother Aaron endures as someone who loves Jazz and performs it for an audience of people that largely miss what he’s trying to express. Jeremy Weinstein manages to bring us in to Aaron’s world quite successfully, unfolding much of his anecdotes through the excellent art work by Bob Ziering and the sharp editing.
Through many expressive illustrations and sharp dialogue, “Say What!” moves at a brisk pace, giving us a peek in to this unusual world. It’s surprising how much Mr. Weinstein is able to take a lot of the inherent condescension in stride, only until he meets one woman who is dead set on setting him up with her beautiful daughter. “Say What!” is a raucously funny depiction of the allure and unusual draw of musicians, but is more so the exploration of the world of the artist and the long road they have to walk down to given respect for their skill.