This was quite an epic journey but one that was well worth undertaking. It really only focused on the latter part of his life, post-shooting and, because of that, a radical change in the way he worked with a considerable reduction in the way that there seemed to be a random and almost uncontrolled stream of people coming in and out of the studio – which was how Valerie Solanas, it seems, was able to do what she did.
The diaries were the central basis for this film and were rivetingly supported by photographs and films – particularly the often very intimate and private home movies that were shot – he really did totally document every aspect of his life and existence – and very self-consciously too. I feel he was always VERY aware of what he was doing, in spite of denying plans and feelings. It was particularly fascinating, and frustrating, to see the glimpses of photographs and bits of films made in Studio 54 and the like. I kept on getting glimpses of people that I was sure I knew and wanted the film to slow down and show who all these people were – particularly as it was a stylistic feature of the film to flick very rapidly over such images.
I was also struck by the extent, from an early stage, as to how much a business the whole thing was (the title Factory was revealing – and deliberate?) and Warhol seemed to be connected, intimately linked indeed, from an early age with business and brands -the central one being himself in the way that modern social media now works where individuals become brands – Kardashian/Julian Schnabel/Damien Hirst…Great self-consciousness and self-awareness there right from the start I think
It also seemed to me at times that Warhol was creating art around him in terms of his relationships with people – I do not know if that was deliberate but I certainly had that sense from what he said in his diaries and, at times, form bits of the home movies.
A number of people came across very entertainingly – Jerry Hall seemed totally spaced out for all her interviews and Robert Hughes was characteristically as acidic as he was perceptive.
Essentially, as was said at the end, the man was himself, and through what he created, the work of art. Great series.