Scab Vendor: Confessions of a Tattoo Artist

I just watched the Dallas premiere of this film at the historic Texas theater with Jonathan in attendance. Great intro and Q+A and merch. Jonathan is a charismatic figure who speaks fluent Portuguese (he now lives in Brazil).

This is one well made documentary, featuring a fascinating protagonist with a wild story. Jonathan Shaw has done it all: he made it in NYC, he made it in LA, was a pioneer in the tattoo world, a published author. He is the son of two celebrities, a larger-than-life figure who went out and made it on his own.

The film combines dynamic interviews with slick narration, authored and read by Jonathan himself, based on his well-written memoirs, and illustrations that fit his style well, created by a Brazilian film artist. There are highs and lows as Jonathan's passion for life fills the screen.

Directors Mariana Thome and Lucas De Barros worked for years on this film, following Jonathan across continents and ploughing through trunks filled with archival material. They chose to focus on one main storyline, dealing with the parents and generational cycle. This made the film come together beautifully, avoiding getting lost in so many fascinating anecdotes, recorded in his two memoirs. A treat for the senses, highly recommended.