‘I Need That Record!’ guerilla filmmaker’s no-spin zone

Brendan Toller, a 22-year-old Western Massachusetts-based guerilla filmmaker, unveils his first feature documentary “I Need That Record! The Death (Or Possible Survival) of The Independent Record Store” at Boston’s Independent Film Festival 7 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.

The film examines why over 3,000 independent record stores have closed across the United States in the past decade and features Bostonians Noam Chomsky and Newbury Comics CEO Mike Dreese along with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Ian MacKaye of Dischord Records Fugazi/Minor Threat, punk author Legs McNeil and rock photographer Bob Gruen.

Armed with full-length feature he wrote and produced, the young filmmaker weighs in to Loaded Gun Boston about his greatest fear (bureaucracy), his idol (Michael Moore) and his secret desire to be a better whistler.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Feeling comfortable with yourself and your situation.

What is your greatest fear?
Being forever entangled in corporate bureaucracy.

Which living person do you most admire?
Michael Moore … his mix of humor and the facts is beyond influential.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I can barely afford day to day living I don't think anything about my life is ‘extravagant’ right now.

What is your favorite journey?
Well, I'm assuming everyone says life and not two hours on I-90 East Exit to Somerville?

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Being sure of yourself. We've seen what that can do in the last eight years …

Which talent would you most like to have?
Well, every filmmaker would like to be ‘talented’ at securing funds for their next film but that’s every indie filmmaker. I guess I'd like to be a better whistler …

What is your current state of mind?
Continuing to hunt down your dreams and desires will eventually get you there. Things going wrong or not how you expected are apart of the experience.

What do you consider your greatest failure?
Ian MacKaye told me he doesn't really believe in the concept of failure and I have to agree with him. ‘Success’ is all expectations that have most times been molded for you by outside opinions. I mean look at the expectations of musicians, artists, filmmakers in the U.S. If your album doesn't sell a million copies, you’re a failure. If your film doesn't play in all the theaters your a failure. If you don't selll your painting for $10,000 you’re a failure. The important thing is that you have an impact on people whether it be yourself, a crowd of one or a crowd of millions.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Heartbreak.

What is your dream job?
Rock documentarian. I would love to do docs for the Replacements, Guided By Voices, Alex Chilton and some fiction narratives based on certain band/album travails...

What is your most striking characteristic?
Honesty.

What is the quality you most like in other people?
Kind and humble.

Who are your heroes?
Paul Westerberg, Noam Chomsky, Ian MacKaye, Eddie Vedder, Robert
Pollard, Michael Moore and my parents

How would you like to die?
Falling from a 20-story building onto a bicycle with no seat.

What is your motto?
Do the right/honest thing.....and check out ineedthatrecord.com.

--By Sam Baltrusis