Hot Doc: Billy the Kid

Many 15-year-old boys growing up in America play air guitar to screaming fans in the privacy of their own bedroom. Jennifer Venditti’s gives us a front row seat to that private rock and roll dreamland in her documentary Billy the Kid.

Billy is a teen with “behavior problems” that make him seem odd to teachers and peers but a vibrant and fascinating character on the screen.  As Jennifer tells it, “My urge to figure out what was wrong with him was quickly replaced by uncomplicated appreciation and empathy.” He’s weird for sure, yet you fall in love with him as hard as you did for your high school crush. Billy consistently shocks you with his wisdom and authenticity as he takes on injustice, hardship and the death-defying world of dating.

Venditti found Billy while working as a casting director for another film (Carter Smith's Sundance/Cannes-winning short Bugcrush). She was scouting a high school in Maine for real kids to be extras in a film when she met Billy in the lunchroom.  Instantly mesmerized, she cast him in the film and then later returned, determined to capture his teenage years on film. “Billy the Kid” is Venditti’s debut as a director and the documentary is quickly becoming this year’s “must see”. We won’t know till her next film whether it was first timer’s luck or an incredible genius at work.

Billy the Kid was released in New York on December 5th. Venditti will be hosting a few Q&A's after select showings this coming weekend. Click here for more info.