Shepard Fairy aka Obey The Giant is not just the head behind the well-known Obama election poster and this cover for Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2011 issue. No, he also is one of the early-birds of the international street art movement, a true legend if you like to call it that way and for that reason got his tribute in one of the latest The Simpsons episodes! Now, Shepard is going to get his own first film: Obey The Giant - The Shepard Fairey biopic…
Based on the true story of Shepard Fairey’s first act of street art, Obey The Giant tells the story of a young skate punk challenging a big-city mayor and the powers-that-be at art school. Frustrated by his inability to gain respect within the confines of art school Shepard sets out to gain notoriety and acclaim by targeting the most powerful man in Providence, former Mayor Buddy Cianci. Risking expulsion and jail time Shepard plasters Andre the Giant’s face over the image of Cianci on a campaign billboard. As word of Shepard’s prank gets out, Shepard learns that art is a weapon and attention is both a blessing and a curse.
Directed by Julian Marshall, a 21-year old student at at Rhode Island School of Design (the same university Shepard went to), pre-production and shooting was already finished. What’s missing is the entire process of post-production. Therefore, the crew is now on Kickstarter looking for some funding to finish the film.
If you’re a fan of Shepard or if you appreciate his work for the public arts, become a backer!
shepard fairey movie