Matthew Toffolo chats with Daryl Granger about his feature documentary “The Showmen”, which explores the world of traveling carnivals through the lens of World’s Finest Shows. Daryl explained his filmmaking approach, emphasizing authenticity, minimal pre-planning, and learning from subjects, and described how he immersed himself in the carnival for a year to capture real experiences. He discussed the history and terminology of carnivals, the distinction between “carnies” and “showmen,” and the challenges and realities of the lifestyle, including long hours, weather impacts, and the importance of trust and community. The conversation covered the logistics, costs, safety regulations, and economic factors affecting carnivals, as well as the demographic makeup of the workforce and the role of offshore workers. Daryl highlighted the positive reception of the film from both the carnival community and audiences and shared insights into the personal stories and daily routines of those who work in the industry. The discussion also touched on the film’s potential for shorter vignettes and Daryl’s upcoming projects.

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

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Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.