Customer Reviews

Eleven Minutes

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a fan of Jay McCarroll after watching season 1 of Project Runway. Ever since I heard about Eleven Minutes I was checking every few months to see if it would come out on DVD. A couple years later, here it is.

It's basically a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a collection and get it into a major fashion show. There's a lot that goes into it that you don't really think about. Some of it is quite interesting and gave me a greater appreciation for what it really takes to put together a show and get clothes made.

The reality of the situation is that Jay is/was a new designer that was just released into the wild with huge expectations due to his win on Project Runway. He seems broke (can't pay his staff), and hasn't mastered all of the logistics around putting a show together and having clothes made. All of these things ball up together and create a lot of pressure for Jay. Anyone in that position would be pretty uncomfortable. That uncomfortable feeling is present throughout most of the documentary and makes it drag at times. It wasn't so much of Jay's clever and funny personality (which we do still see quite a bit) as it was the reality of how crappy his situation was.

It's worth seeing once, especially for those interested in the world of fashion and for fans of Jay, but I just didn't get the feeling like I'm going to want to watch it again. Jay is 5 stars, his collection shown on the documentary is 5 stars, but the documentary itself is just a solid 3 stars. Not bad, not great.

Having been a Jay fan from day One, I spent weeks hunting down this DVD locally so I could see Jay in action. Turns out, Jay isn't the only fascinating thing about fashion - it's a hot mess! We on the outside have the illusion that the designer draws something, and 2 days later a skinny kid wears it on the catwalk - not so. The sheer number of hands, people, and egos that come into play are astounding, and it's now amazing to me that anything gets done at all.
I still love Jay, even if he is stubborn and immature.

This documentary examines Jay McCarroll's attempt at runway fashion after his win of Project Runway season one.

The endeavor is stressful because it is filled with complications, from shoe designers who come through at the very last minute to disgruntled employees who expect payment for their services to the complexities of the business side of fashion. Jay swears his way through the film, trying to interject humor into heavy situations and trying to find his vision in the midst of what is expected of him as a newly emerged celebrity.

You will see the messy side of the industry. This is not a polished reality show. Instead, it is a realistic portrayal of the gears and guts of fashion and what it takes for a measley eleven minutes of glory.

If you love fashion, this documentary will be a real treat. If you simply like the formula of reality television, you will most likely find Eleven Minutes to be lacking.

I'm one of the people that couldn't wait to see what project runway season one winner was doing now and to find out where he was in the world. As always I love his style, character and fabric choices this a good follow up dvd that showcases the designer and the ups and downs of the behind the scenes fashion world.

"Eleven Minutes" is an engrossing documentary about Jay McCarroll (the first winner of Project Runway - The Complete First Season) as he strikes out on his own as a fashion designer. McCarroll works on his patterns, inspired in part by '60s "archomags",a retro steampunk style, and bodily discharges. He works with Kelly Coutrone, who's also on another BRAVO reality show "Kell on Earth." Since both have dramatic personalities, they clash over everything from pamphlets to pay. Jay also has to work with the woman who hunts down his jewelry,as well as a male shoe designer. Every detail for Fashion Week is important. There are even little details like the seating--he has to give pride of place to Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style (Tim Gunn's Guide to Style) after all!

Jay discusses being a gay designer, his battle to be taken seriously after reality television. He's clear that being a winner doesn't mean having a business handed to him on a plate. He works with Urban Outfitters, then muses about making ice cream and quilts in Maine.

"Eleven Minutes" is well worth your time!

Look for something else if you do not want to subject yourself to this kind of language. Lots of "blah, blah, blah" with f... inserted generously and not much of the design process.