FOLLOWING FILMS - Podcast, Movies, Music, and More

There is a moment early in Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie where Matt Johnson stands atop the absolute highest tip of the CN Tower antenna, buffeted by high winds, preparing to skydive into a packed Rogers Centre. The goal is simple, yet completely unhinged: parachute into a live Toronto Blue Jays game to announce that his two-man, instrument-free band is playing a gig at the Rivoli that night. They do not have a gig booked at the Rivoli. They do not even have songs written.   If you have followed director Matt Johnson and co-creator Jay McCarrol since their early web series days or their cult Viceland television show, you already know the vibe. If you are walking into this feature-length cinematic manifestation completely blind, you might feel like you have accidentally ingested a dangerous amount of caffeine and nostalgia. Distributed by NEON, this film is a magnificent, boundary-pushing triumph of independent comedy. It is a movie that defies the sterile, focus-grouped...

  Welcome to the Following Films Podcast, I’m your host, Chris Maynard. I’m sitting down with Matt Johnson and Jay MCarrol to talk about Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. If you’ve followed their journey from the early web series days to the cult-hit TV show, you know the drill: two guys, zero songs, and a delusional obsession with booking a gig at the Rivoli in Toronto. This time around, the stakes are hilariously high, we’re talking skydiving into the Skydome, accidental time travel fueled by a discontinued bottle of Orbitz soda, and a DIY mission to 2008 that is as heartfelt as it is ridiculous. It’s a brilliant mix of guerrilla filmmaking and high-concept adventure that you have to see to believe, so make sure to check your local listings for showtimes. Before we jump in, if you enjoy this conversation, please remember to leave a review and subscribe, it really helps the show grow. I hope you enjoy the show.