Marc Maron on Being a ‘Cranky but Decent Guy Who Succeeded Despite Himself’ in SXSW Doc ‘Are We Good?’

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In “Are We Good?”, stand-up comic and podcast innovator Marc Maron navigates life following the sudden demise of his partner, filmmaker Lynn Shelton.

In a span of 95 minutes, the documentary titled “Maron: From Grief to Stage” has been skillfully directed by Steven Feinartz. Notably, this isn’t Feinartz’s first venture; he previously helmed Marc Maron’s 2023 HBO special “Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark.” This film delves into the emotional journey of Marc Maron as he copes with grief, both on and off the comedy stages. Beyond this personal exploration, it offers an in-depth look at Maron’s extensive and intricate career, his battles with addiction, his strained relationship with a father who was deteriorating, and his claim to fame – the podcast “WTF With Marc Maron,” which made its debut in 2009.

Feinartz and Maron, who first crossed paths 13 years back on WTF, commenced shooting their project “Are We Good” in May 2021, which was one year following the demise of Shelton.

Feinartz stated, “The film took me nearly four years to complete, with most of the shooting done solo while focusing on Marc. My aim was to create a raw, uncompromising piece. If you’re familiar with his podcast or comedy style, you’d realize that depth and truth are more important than glamour. Therefore, instead of the typical, sleek, flashy documentaries of today, I opted for a style more akin to films I admire such as ‘Crumb’, ‘Hoop Dreams’, and ‘Bill Cunningham New York’.

Does everything seem alright here?” (This is a rephrasing of Maron’s signature sign-off from his podcast, offering an insightful glimpse into the life of a 60-year-old man juggling personal and professional matters, while working on healing a broken heart.)

On the eve of the SXSW world premiere of “Are We Good?” on March 11, a conversation took place between EbMaster and both Maron and Feinartz.

Hey Steven, in your production notes for this movie, you mentioned being uncertain at first since Maron is known for closely guarding his own story. Can you tell me what changed your mind and led you to create the documentary instead?

Maron: Alright, Steven. Could you elaborate on controlling the narrative? I’m curious about it. Walk me through it, please. I feel like I’ve had no control over my storyline during this entire shoot, but do share your insights.

As a dedicated cinephile, I’ve been hooked on WTF since its inception, and I’ve always appreciated the raw, unfiltered narrative Marc provides. It’s like he’s speaking directly to his audience, and that authenticity is what makes it so compelling. When the idea of a documentary about Marc crossed my mind, I initially hesitated. I was concerned that Marc might not have been ready for such a project, especially given the weighty events he had recently experienced. I didn’t want this documentary to feel like an exploitation of his grief. However, after much thought and careful consideration, I realized that exploring Marc from a different perspective could offer a unique insight into his life. So, while there were many reservations, I felt it was worth pursuing.

Marc, why did you agree to participate in this documentary?

Maron: A while back, a person aimed to create a documentary about me when my podcast was gaining traction, and many weren’t familiar with podcasts. It was amusing because I wasn’t sure if I deserved one in that sense. When Steven suggested this, I wondered, what’s it about? Eventually, it evolved into sharing experiences of emerging from the pandemic and dealing with grief, and it continued to unfold. There were instances when I asked Steven, “Are you waiting for me to pass away? Are you waiting for an ending?” Documentaries are often made after someone passes or a tragedy occurs. However, I found it intriguing to let another artist depict my journey. I thought, if there’s value in this project, let’s go ahead with it.

In some parts of the movie, there are moments that are quite humorous, yet as a whole, it’s not a film that focuses solely on comedy and a comedian’s life. I wonder how the audience will perceive this balance between humor and seriousness.

When folks watch a Marc Maron documentary, they’re not expecting laughs. It’s definitely not your typical comedy doc, and I never aimed to create one. Instead, it’s more of a character study. To put it mildly, Marc is a charming grump, and I believe those less familiar with his comedy or who haven’t listened to the podcast for a while might be reminded of what they admired about him and even discover a fresh angle on him.

Marc, was making this doc cathartic in any way?

The effect the document had on me, particularly in terms of release, is that I carry out my actions for the people I serve, and it significantly benefits them as well as myself. I am eager to produce the content that I do.

So would you say that the doc made you feel good about yourself?

Maron: I’m not sure about that. Let’s not overreact. After seeing the final edit of the movie, I told Steven, “Wow, man. You’ve made me appear as a grumpy yet decent character who managed to succeed despite his own self.” And Steven replied, “Yes, exactly.” So, in this sense, it wasn’t necessarily a wake-up call, but there was some understanding about certain aspects of myself that I wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise.

“Are We Good?” is seeking distribution.

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2025-03-11 19:47