If you enjoy getting insight into the life of a comic, or if you simply love Patton Oswalt, then you should check out "To Be Loved & Understood," a 10-minute documentary by filmmaker Julien Nitzberg. This mini-doc is part of a web series called “Rituals” that’s hosted by The Thrash Lab and, for a brief period of time, it gives you a little taste of the preparations that go on before a comic takes the stage and performs his or her material. Patton Oswalt shows that the life of a comic tends to be unglamorous.
The doc showcases the dichotomy between the enthusiasm of the fans and the mundane routine of the comic. As Patton Oswalt puts it, his life as a touring comic mainly consists of driving, checking into hotels, and sitting alone trying to prepare his material mentally. The end result is, hopefully, a successful show that pleases the proud, loyal fanbase, most of whom describe themselves as nerds who believe that Patton’s worldview speaks to them. Moreover, you get to see some of the ways in which Patton Oswalt develops his material as well as the occasional sparring match he winds up having with the director of the documentary.
It’s definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of the comedian. You can watch the entire episode below. [FilmDrunk]