The Reinactors is a [2008] documentary film about the lives of film character impersonators and celebrity look-a-likes on the Walk Of Fame of Hollywood, CA. The film was well received by critics and audiences during its world premier at the 2008 Rotterdam Film Festival, going on to screen around the world at various Film Festivals in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Lisbon (Portugal), Dallas (Texas), Veritmiglia (Italy), Bucheon (Korea), New York City, Montreal (Canada), Luanda (Angola), Basel (Switzerland), & Berlin (Germany). The documentary also aired on Canada's Super Channel in September and October 2009. The DVD was released in the United States September 2009 by We Got Power Films. Filmmaker Spike Jonze has gone on record calling the film "A strange and tragic portrait of a dream that lives on one square block in Hollywood, and kind of in our whole country, too. Thank god Dave Markey made it funny at least."
The exploits and misadventures of film character impersonators and celebrity look-a-likes on Hollywood Boulevard over the span of a year. Director Dave Markey’s camera peers unflinchingly at recognizable characters and stars of movies, portrayed by anyone who chooses to buy the costume and brave the mean streets of Hollywood. These self-employed rogues forge a living one dollar at a time, posing for photos with tourists in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater.Johnny Elvis Foster as ( ELVIS ) Freddy Krueger works alongside Superman, Marilyn Monroe, Shrek, Lucy, Batman, Borat, and Minnie Mouse. Competing Chewbacca’s, Spidermen and Captain Jack Sparrow’s vie for a spot on the limited real estate on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk Of Fame. These characters have big dreams of breaking into the big-time, in the meanwhile they forge a living one-dollar at a time, posing for photos with tourists. These street characters have dreams of breaking into the big-time, and most see this as a viable way. However, the realities of the situation soon catch up with its players.
One by one, under various circumstances these characters find themselves at odds with the Hollywood they so want in on. These characters are literally right out of the movies, yet the unforeseen drama of the people behind the mask threatens to eclipse the wild array of Hollywood film icons they appropriate. As we descend into their world, we come to see the boulevard the way they see it. This is their ticket to the big time, and nothing can stand in their way. We come to realize these characters are born of the indigenous psychotropic nature of Hollywood itself. David Markey says, "The Reinactors plays like a Great Depression-era Hollywood classic retold for the new millennium. It's also a film about the cut-throat nature backstage and behind the scenes of show business. A profound statement on where we are at culturally in America at the moment. An American Idol on crack."
Cast- Johnny Elvis Foster Gerard Christian Zacher, Christopher Dennis, Michael A. Luce, Tienna Marie Johns, Maxwell Allen, Melissa Weiss, Adam Allee, Mitchell Schonberner, Juan R. Simmons, Sandra Lee Allen, Thomas Parsons, Damon Knight, Omar Budhoo, Fred Young, Sean Vezina, Marty Porter, Tuck John Porter, Drevon Cooks, Tony Tomey, Bonnie Finkenthal Dennis, Matthew Muhl, David Billingsley, Henry Avalos, Kevin Barner, David Born, Gary A. Downe, Gil Gex, Arlene Parness, Neil Moryson, Thomas Rocheblaue, Johnny Elvis Foster, & Ray Manzarek
Directed By David J. Markey, Produced by Kevin Church & David J. Markey, Cinematography by David J. Markey, Film Editing by Antony Berrios, Original Music by Devo, Lee Ranaldo, Abby Travis, & Curt Kirkwood, On-line editor Mark Fletcher, Additional Editor Tanner Roth, Assistant Editor Samantha Deghetto, Assistant Director Dan Clark, Field Recordist Kunal Rajan, Supervising Sound Editor Nathan Russell, Sound Editor Israel Segura