Thank you!
Hi everyone! We wanted to say thank you for your support. We have reached our goal of $7,500. These funds will allow us to replace all of our borrowed equipment, submit to film festivals, and cover most of our post-production costs. We are extremely excited to have the support, collective wisdom, and backing of all of you kind folks. We are eagerly jumping back into production this week! As we continue filming, we look forward to sharing updates with you all in the coming months. AKA Elvis - coming to you all in 2023.
Summary
AKA Elvis is a feature-length (〜55 minutes) documentary film currently in production in Portland, Oregon. The film is an exploration of the controversial Portland local, Les Small, a 72-year-old one-legged man known by many as Elvis.
Les lives in a subsidized housing community in the St. Johns neighborhood of North Portland. Everyone in St. Johns knows Les - whether they like it or not.
Les's compulsive need to relentlessly interface with his community has earned him a controversial reputation. Les exists in two extremes, both of which are equally defended: the friendly Elvis impersonator, or the serial harasser. To some, he is a saint; to others, a villain. There is no in-between. Both sides are equally unwilling to compromise on their view of him.
We chose Les as our film subject through a desire to explore and formulate a deeper understanding of this divisive character universally known but, in his eyes, deeply misunderstood. To faithfully tell this story, we have, and will continue to seek, the voices of the St Johns community to share personal experiences that will help us deconstruct Les's infamous persona.
Populating our film alongside Les is a community of people living on the fringes of society. These are people dependent on welfare systems, subsidized housing, and the kindness of strangers. Many in this community are Les's neighbors and are currently living in their cars, trailers, and tents.
We are well aware of the controversy surrounding Les; this is ultimately why we desire to make this film. We are grateful for those that have already shared their personal experiences, and we actively encourage others to reach out and share their experience with us. This project has and will continue to be an evolving story. Our line of communication is always open. We need you to shape this narrative. Please direct your personal experiences, stories, and concerns to: aka.elvis.movie@gmail.com
We have made it this far, why do we need your help now?
We began shooting this film in January of 2022. We were both in between jobs and looking to satisfy our desire to work together on a film project. We rounded up some equipment through in-kind donations from friends and began shooting. The camera we have been using is a 2005 Panasonic camcorder that has been generously loaned to us by Lance Bangs who used it on Jackass Number Two. The minimal gear we have is beginning to fail us and we cannot confidently continue relying on borrowed equipment. Your donations will help us replace our failing audio kit, replace our borrowed camera with one of our own, cover gas costs & travel expenses, post-production expenses, and cover submission costs for multiple film festivals. These funds will allow us to become fully independent in making this film!
Your donation will serve as a lifeline for this film and will continue to support us in future documentaries. This equipment will have a life far beyond this project!
Budget Breakdown
- Audio Equipment - $2,630
- Camera Equipment - $1,000
- Travel Expenses - $500
- Post-Production Services - $2,370
- Festival Submissions - $1,000
Our Connection
David: As a documentary filmmaker, I am naturally drawn to divisive figures and controversial subjects. Over my five years living in Portland I have had few encounters with Les, but the mention of him has seemed inescapable. My instinct is to investigate the nature of his divisiveness. That investigation remains the ultimate goal of this film.
Tracy: I've lived in St. Johns for almost 2 years and had never chanced upon Les before his film; however, I routinely heard of his local celebrity – for better or worse. When David brought Les up for a potential film project, I wondered how such a divisive reputation might be illuminated with a bit more time, and, as we’d soon learn, quite a bit of patience.
I approached Les with the intent of gaining insight into his often aggressive social appetite and more controversial reputation.
The relationship Les has formed with the community over the last four decades is a highly volatile bond that is nothing short of compelling.
Influences & Artistic Approach
Our inspiration is derived from character-driven, fly-on-the-wall, micro-budget classics, such as the Maysles brothers’ films Salesman (1969) and Grey Gardens (1975), Mary Ellen Mark and Martin Bell’s Streetwise (1984), and Marc Singer’s Dark Days (2000). Shot in the French cinéma vérité style, we seek to capture authentic moments of Les’s life as it naturally unfolds.
Beyond inspiration from films, the approach we take is wholly determined by the subject of our film. Our style is designed to compliment the subject and his environment, untethered from predetermined convention or style. Les, not unlike a wild animal – hunting for human connection to survive instead of food — cannot be captured, but followed and documented. We adhere to the rules of his engagement and the film has benefited from this approach.
The Filmmakers
David Malmborg and Tracy Pitts share the same passion for documentary film. They began working together after realizing a mutual desire to make documentaries that do not follow pre-established formulas. Together they want to make films that feel beautiful, authentic, and deeply emotional.
David Malmborg currently works as a documentary associate producer and researcher. He was a researcher on Nathan Fielder’s new docu-comedy The Rehearsal, currently streaming on HBOMax. He is currently an Associate Producer on two major docu-series in production with HBO and Hulu/FX.
Tracy PItts is a writer, film photographer, and filmmaker in Oregon. His fiction, poetry, and photography have appeared in many publications, including ZYZZYVA, Booth, Spillway, Hamburger Eyes, December Magazine, The Sun Magazine, and others. His 2014 super 16mm short film, Outside, received a RACC grant and played at both domestic and international film festivals. He has run the gamut in film, from the art department for The Shins’s music video “Simple Song,” to editing promotional spots for the Northwest Film Center. Currently, he is a freelance video editor.
Contributors and Collaborators
Throughout this project, we have and will continue seeking guidance and support from fellow filmmakers and artists. We already owe a special thanks to the following: painter & artist Brooke Budy (@brookebudy), graphic designer Zahira Zuvuya (@zahirazuvuyadesigns), and filmmaker Lance Bangs (@lancebangs) for without his generosity this project wouldn't exist.
