Eight artists in Providence, Rhode Island, set up a secret apartment at a mall in Jeremy Workman’s aptly titled Secret Mall Apartment, produced and released on physical media by Music Box Films on November 18.
Secret Mall Apartment. The title succinctly states the subject and its coverage, just as the film itself does. It jumps right in and keeps tight. Of course, like any good documentary, and this is a damned very good one, there is more to explore. But the heart of Jeremy Workman’s documentary, produced by Jesse Eisenberg (not present outside of his name in the film, if you’re not a fan of specific delivery style), is of the apartment; how it came to be, the fun of building it as an art installation, and the lives of the people who frequented and “lived” there. Part heist flick, part art exploration, part discussion of gentrification and blandification of society, the whole is fantastic and mightily engaging.
The skinny of it: It’s 2003. Michael Townsend and three friends (more joined later) made a bet: who could stay the longest without getting kicked out of the sprawling, gigantic, eyesore to many, Providence Place Mall. The goal was a week. They were there off and and on for four years. After a night spent in an uncomfortable abscess of the hidden spaces, Townsend remembers watching a strange storage room that was needed for construction but not in retail from his apartment across the street. Wondering if it was still there, he wormed and worked his way through the bowels. Yes. Yes, it was. Wouldn’t it be fun to just hang out there, make a little artist home in the middle of the retail commercial giant of bland consumerism? Dawn of the Dead’s little living space, be proud! Soon, he’s joined by Colin Bliss, Adriana Valdez-Young, Andrew Oesch, James JA Mercer, Greta Scheing, Jay Zehnebot, and Emily Ustach (all revealed for the first time, before as mystery friends of the known Michael) as they move in, around, and experience the novelty of their new space.
This conversation of residential versus commercial, of art spaces versus sprawling cookie-cutter growth, provides an extra level of exploration and discussion outside of the basic quirk of “let’s live in the mall!” Rivers were rerouted, people were displaced, and a cityscape was now blighted with a monstrosity. A testament of rich versus poor erected in the middle of the city, surrounded by freeways on one side and a liminal space on the other: former factories, now lofts and creative spaces used by the artists, the punks, the margins; threatened with losing it if this mall is a hit. It’s telling that there were no entrances to the mall facing that direction. If commerce pushes them out, they’ll move in instead.
So, more than a fun niche, the secret mall apartment was a sort of art project for those in the know. A well-documented one, thank Bowie. Being the artists they are, the set recorded just about everything, about 25 hours’ worth (the film is a mix of narrating their old video and new interviews). Their small cameras, photographs, writings, and more allow an eye-opening look into their lives and mindsets, the humor of it, and the joy of sharing creative juices with your friends. With the documentation, the viewer joins the camaraderie and friendships, loves (at the time Michael and fellow apartment visitor Adriana were married), and the secret hush-hush heist-like daring thrill of it all as they problem solve their way into a second life.
Just as the film also speaks to the changing socio-economic scene, their friendship and working together is a wider view in the film. This project was a fun respite from their empathetic art elsewhere. Michael’s main art project is wowing tape art, literally painters’ tape made into incredible designs. Often in more depressing situations, of finding love in loss. For the film, the Secret Mall Apartment is a central location, a hub away, a way to explore creativity in different spaces and incredible ways.
That’s what Secret Mall Apartment boils down to: celebrating the fun positivity of friendships and art via this odd outlet. The rise and fall of this project is a break from the troubles of the larger world, both in the film and for the viewers. I was fully engaged and brought along, happy to be surprised at the full view, not just the quirk. Being a review and avoiding the details, I can’t get into so much more, but I implore if you’re a fan of art, creativity, exploring connections, and, yes, niche documentaries about news of the weird subjects, move into the Secret Mall Apartment.
PS Colin’s model of the mall. Holy shit, that’s impressive. You need to see it in the film to believe it.
The Package
Secret Mall Apartment is available on a single disc DVD or Blu-Ray through Music Box films. The hard case has the standard poster art with synopsis and feature listing on the exterior and a schematic of the mall on the interior. Both the DVD and Blu-Ray options contain the same materials.
The Video & The Audio
The presentation is well done, with the lo-fi 2003-2007 footage, a good chunk of the film, still being as clear and cleaned up as could be, even with the limitations of their technology. Audio is 5.1 and 2.1, English only with English subtitles available.
The Special Features
Music Box has put together about 80 minutes of insightful features. Presented in English with no subtitles.
“The Mall and The Movie”: Almost a short sequel in a way. With the release of the documentary in regular run, the film premiered at the movie theater at the mall, where the mall and theater went all in: they built a recreation, put up tape art, and hosted Q&As with the cast and crew. Fun seeing them be exhilarated with the overwhelming response. The film played for 15 weeks! (8m)
“Eisenberg Q&A” Nothing new, not really a Q&A, just Eisenberg basically introducing the film in a trailer sort of way. (3m)
“Q&As with Jeremy Workman, director” Snippets of Q&As with the director at a handful of theatres. Great to hear how the project came about, the challenges of putting it together, and the responses (12m)
“On the Marquee” Photos and videos of the film on theaters’ marquees, with some shots inside some truly grand theatres. So many seem to be indie houses, and loved seeing them. None from my area, but Portland and Vancouver represent! (2m)
“Promo compilation” and trailer- Just as said, the trailer and bits of other promotional material. 8m
“Jesse Eisenberg reads Letterboxd Reviews.” Eisenberg reads and comments on a dozen or so positive reviews. This was a fun bit. I’ve always enjoyed it when things like audience comment cards are included on releases of older films, scratches that itch. (2m)
“Jesse Eisenberg and Michael Townsend in Conversation” The meatiest of the extras. The conversation between Eisenberg and Townsend is a nice free free-flowing back and forth of how they got there, shared experiences, the importance of art, and talking more about the themes of the film. (25m)
“Deleted and Additional Scenes”: More context on some scenes, most of it from their original recordings. Favorite bits follow their goofing off at the mall. Unlike the movie, they aren’t rescanned, so you can see the original quality. Subtitles are hardcoded for the old footage.(15m)
“Timelapse of the Recreation Set” In the film, we see the building and use of a new version as a set, watch as it comes to creation. (1m)
“Tape Art in Mobile, Alabama” A deleted sequence from the film shows the process of Townsend’s tape art. It’s massive and impressive. Gobsmacked (6m)
Final Notes
Secret Mall Apartment is a great documentary that not only explores an odd niche of a story (literally!) it speaks to art and its power against the wave of commercialism. The disc has a great assortment of features that serve well to continue the ideas of the film into smaller slices.