Rod Webber

At 21,{{cite news|title=Needham Rapper Armed with Potent CD| author=Tristram Lozaw | date=January 7, 2000| work=Boston Herald| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-58495483.html/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104170333/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-58495483.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 4, 2012 |accessdate=October 4, 2010}} Rod Webber began climbing the college music charts with Burned My Feet On Meat Street.{{cite news|title= He Knows He's A Maverick In Boston | author=David Wildman | date=January 30, 2000| work=The Boston Globe| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8589680.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106003911/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8589680.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 6, 2012 |accessdate=October 4, 2010}}{{cite news|title= CD REVIEW: Rod Webber's Burned My Feet on Meat Street | author=David Wildman | date=October 26, 1999| work=University Wire| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23841072.html |accessdate=October 4, 2010}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Webber followed up Burned My Feet with The You I Knew, featuring the lead track, "Blue Hour".{{cite news|title= The You I Knew CD Review | author=Gail Worley | date=February 2003| work=Ink 19| url=http://www.ink19.com/issues/february2003/musicReviews/musicW/rodWebber.html |accessdate=October 4, 2010}} According to The Boston Globe, he began a courtship with major record labels such as Columbia, Arista, and Universal Records, but ultimately stuck to his indie roots, and continues to release records without the help of a major.{{cite news|title= Accidental Artist's Debut | author=Joan Anderman | date=December 30, 1999| work=The Boston Globe| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8577263.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106003927/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8577263.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 6, 2012 |accessdate=October 4, 2010}}

In 2005, Webber began directing Monkfish starring Lloyd Kaufman,{{cite news | title=Where's Lloyd | author=MJ Simpson | year=2008 | work=MJ Simpson | url=http://www.mjsimpson.co.uk/whereslloyd.html | accessdate=October 4, 2010 | archive-date=October 6, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006205626/http://mjsimpson.co.uk/whereslloyd.html | url-status=dead }} and Tiny The Terrible, which debuted May 11, 2005 at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston.{{cite news | title=Pony Trouble at Paradise Rock Club | author=Scott Matalon | date=May 11, 2005 | work=Ponytrouble.com | url=http://www.ponytrouble.com/news.html | accessdate=October 4, 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209023250/http://www.ponytrouble.com/news.html | archivedate=December 9, 2009 }} Webber followed up Monkfish with A Man Among Giants,{{cite news|title= Movie Stars Movie Stars | author=Joel Brown| date=July 10, 2009| work=The Boston Globe| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-20518521.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106003934/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-20518521.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 6, 2012 |accessdate=October 4, 2010}} a documentary in which Webber trails Monkfish star Doug 'Tiny' Tunstall aka Tiny The Terrible in his quest to unseat James E. Doyle, the Mayor of Pawtucket Rhode Island.{{cite news|title= In Duxbury, A Reel Partnership | author=Linda Matchan| date=July 5, 2009| work=The Boston Globe| url=http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/07/05/duxbury_arts_center_teams_up_with_the_coolidge/

|accessdate=October 4, 2010}} After Tunstall was arrested in 2009 for creating a disturbance in a courtroom, Webber bailed him out of jail. Tunstall was subsequently committed to a prison mental hospital, resulting in a year-long effort by Webber to have him released. Unsuccessful in helping Tiny's case through legal channels, Webber released a new feature-length documentary, American Psych Ward about Tunstall's unlawful imprisonment. After four days of packed screenings, Tunstall was released.{{cite news|title= Tiny Dreams Big | author=Tenley Woodman| date=July 5, 2009| work=Boston Herald| url=http://article.wn.com/view/2009/07/05/Tiny_dreams_big/ |accessdate=April 17, 2011}}

Webber's effort to have Tunstall released from prison indefinitely postponed the release of Northern Comfort, which he had shot with indie 'mumblecore' queen Greta Gerwig the previous year. The film was delayed until May 28, 2010, by which time, Gerwig had gone on to her mainstream acting career with titles such as Greenberg starring Ben Stiller. Despite the delay, Northern Comfort met with favorable reviews. According to The Boston Globe, Webber and Gerwig create "ornery sparks",{{cite news|title= Movie Nation - Wesley Morris and Ty Burr - Boston Globe Movie Critics | author=Ty Burr| date=May 28, 2010| work=The Boston Globe| url=http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/blog/2010/05 |accessdate=October 4, 2010}} and The Weekly Dig called him the "Anti-James Cameron" as a result.

{{cite news| title=Northern Comfort| author=Paul Ryan| date=May 28, 2010| work=The Weekly Dig| url=http://www.weeklydig.com/arts-entertainment/201005/northern-comfort/| accessdate=October 4, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601080504/http://weeklydig.com/arts-entertainment/201005/northern-comfort| archive-date=June 1, 2010| url-status=dead| df=mdy-all}}

Next, Webber began filming Milkweed, a drama starring Webber and Ali Bell who helped him to produce Psych Ward, the year before. Again, despite Webber's speedy filming technique, the film was delayed to promote the release of My America, a politically charged drama which was shot in the spring of 2010 after the production of Milkweed began. The Boston Globe called the film, "a shocking drama on the subject of racism."{{cite news|title= EXPERIMENTALLY ILL 4 PRESS Area filmmakers roll out reel alternatives to big festivals.|author=David Wildman| date=March 7, 2011| work=The Boston Globe| url=http://experimentallyill.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/experimentally-ill-4-press-%E2%80%9Carea-filmmakers-roll-out-reel-alternatives-to-big-festivals%E2%80%9D-by-david-wildman-%E2%80%93-from-boston-globe-more/ |accessdate=April 17, 2011}} Time Out Boston described My America as "chilling."{{cite news|title= DIY auteurs take over Somerville.| author=David Wildman| date=March 7, 2011| work=Time Out Boston| url=http://timeoutboston.com/arts-culture/film/56785/film-fest-rundown-reel-fest-experimentally-ill-4 |accessdate=April 17, 2011}}

Milkweed was released in 2013 and also stars Mark Wahlberg's eldest brother, Arthur.{{cite news|title= Milkweed| work=IMDb.com| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2369219/ |accessdate=October 4, 2010}}

• Is the creator of UtopiaLand (2010), a new animated series.
• Created and organized a traveling event called "Circus of the Shattered Monkey" featuring live music, poetry, and sometimes films. The event was also known by its French name "Cirque Du Singe Brisé."{{cite news|title='The Zeitgeist Gallery: Cirque Du Singe Brisé'|author=Rich Van Vleet|date=July 30, 2004|work=Zeitgeist Gallery|url=http://www.zeitgeist-gallery.org/archives/2004/07/30/cirque_du_singe_brise.html/|accessdate=December 14, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517064740/http://www.zeitgeist-gallery.org/archives/2004/07/30/cirque_du_singe_brise.html|archivedate=May 17, 2008}}

• Webber's version of "Syd Barrett Blues" is the original version released in 2004, and came out a year before The Black Angels (band) "Syd Barrett Blues," which takes the concept of Webber's ode to Barrett in the vein of Barrett's tribute to Bob Dylan, "Bob Dylan Blues."{{cite news|title='Albums, CDs Vinyl' | author=musicstack |year=2004|work=MusicStack|url=http://www.musicstack.com/album/barrett_syd/syd_barrett_-_up_close__apz_amp;_p/|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}
• When starting out, he was caught making one of his films without a permit. He was forced to shut down his production for use of a plastic toy pistol, and decided to instead release Burned My Feet On Meat Street.{{Cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-58495483.html|title=Needham rapper armed with potent CD.(Scene) - The Boston Herald | HighBeam Research|date=4 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104170333/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-58495483.html|accessdate=30 December 2020|archive-date=2012-11-04}}
• For a brief stretch in 2004, Webber wrote songs for his friend Michael Swasey, the host of The Swasey Show at WFNX.
• In 2007, Webber helped to document fellow Bostonians The Dropkick Murphys for their The Meanest of Times DVD.{{Cite web|url=https://thephoenix.com/boston/music/46793-best-of-times/|title=The best of times - Music Features|website=Thephoenix.com|accessdate=30 December 2020}}
• A longtime resident of Boston, Webber's 20-minute documentary of Brian McNamee shot in Everett, Massachusetts, helped to break news on the Pro-Baseball steroid scandal{{Cite web |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1083394 |title=McNamee stays strong - BostonHerald.com |access-date=2010-09-01 |archive-date=2012-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002080626/http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1083394 |url-status=dead }} in 2008, and was posted by The Boston Herald on their website on March 27 of that year.
• Webber has written, arranged and produced music for a handful of musicals and other theater productions. In 1998, he wrote the music for David Hanbury's Talking To Maybe, and co-wrote a number of songs for Personal Instrument in 2000, also by David Hanbury. He worked as record producer for cousin Jake Oliver's Viva Los Bastarditos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/BWW-Rewviews-Fringe-Viva-Los-Bastarditos-The-Power-of-Rock-20100816|title=BWW Rewviews: Fringe: Viva Los Bastarditos! - The Power of Rock|first=Duncan|last=Pflaster|website=BroadwayWorld.com|accessdate=30 December 2020}}

• 1997 – Math & Emotion
• 1998 – Telepath
• 1998 – Ascent
• 1999 – Burned My Feet On Meat Street
• 2000 – The Death & Burial of Rod Webber
• 2001 – Incandescent
• 2001 – Folk Songs
• 2002 – The You I Knew
• 2003 – Paper Slipper Shuffle
• 2004 – Eastertown

• Rod Webber won "Choice Award" for A Man Among Giants at Ruff Cutz Indie Film Conference.{{Cite web |url=http://www.imageiconent.com/Winners_Circle.html |title=Image Icon Entertainment - the Indie's Entertainment & Media Network |access-date=2010-09-01 |archive-date=2010-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225155147/http://www.imageiconent.com/Winners_Circle.html |url-status=dead }}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.rodwebber.com Official Site]
• {{IMDb name|2369219|Rod Webber}}

{{Commons category}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Webber, Rod}}

Category:Living people

Category:American male film actors

Category:Film directors from Massachusetts

Category:Anti-folk musicians

Category:Songwriters from Massachusetts

Category:Record producers from Massachusetts

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)