Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha (2008)

Melvin Van Peebles, director of the landmark independent film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, embraces the new age of digital filmmaking with his picaresque comedy, shot using DV equipment and taking full advantage of its creative possibilities. Van Peebles plays a fanciful version of himself, growing tired of life at home when he's only ten years old and deciding he'd rather see the world than read about it in books or hear about it from his mother. Melvin runs away from home and hitches a ride from a friendly truck driver, but things take an unexpected turn when gangsters kill the trucker and the boy is tossed into the river with just an inner-tube for company. The drifting current leads Melvin into New York City, where he takes odd jobs to support himself and meets a kindly woman who takes him in. Domestic life isn't exciting enough for Melvin, and as soon as he's old enough he signs up for the Merchant Marine, where he sees the four corners of the globe and finds adventure and willing women in every port. But with the passage of time, Melvin learns there's a downside to getting everything you want from life. Featuring cameo appearances from Mario Van Peebles, Glen Turner, Stephanie Weeks and Paul Krassner, Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha received its American premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.