How to Be

How to Be
Slamdance Film Festival Poster
Directed by	Oliver Irving
Produced by	Justin Kelly
Written by	Oliver Irving
Starring	Robert Pattinson Rebecca Pidgeon Jeremy Hardy Powell Jones
Music by	Joe Hastings
Cinematography	Paul Swann
Editing by	Reuben Irving
Release date(s)	2008
Running time	84 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

How to Be is an award-winning independent comedy/drama feature film written and directed by Oliver Irving. It is about a young man named Art, played by Robert Pattinson, who is going through a quarter-life crisis.

Pattinson received the 'Best Actor in a Feature' award for his portrayal of Art, at the Strasbourg International Film Festival, in Strasbourg, France in September 2008.

Plot

Art (Robert Pattinson) is not talented, but aspires to be a musician. He has a dead-end job at a supermarket, despite having a degree (which he doesn't seem to value much). His girlfriend ends their relationship. Art is then forced to move back home with his cold and neglectful parents (played by Rebecca Pidgeon and Michael Irving). Art buys a book titled, It's Not Your Fault. Upon reading it, he tries to follow the self-help book's advice. He decides to use inheritance money to first buy a car, and then pay for a Canadian therapist, Dr. Levi Ellington (Powell Jones), the book's author, to come to his home in England and help Art get his life on track, about which his parents are less than thrilled.

Despite his unsupportive parents, Art attempts with his new life coach and two slightly unbalanced friends Nikki (Mike Pearce) and Ronnie (Johnny White) to find a balance in his life, true happiness, and a good relationship with his parents.

The film also stars Jeremy Hardy as Art's superior at the care centre at which he volunteers.

Distribution

How to Be was released in the United States by IFC Festival Direct on April 29, 2009. Leading up to the release, the director, Oliver Irving, took the film on a U.S. Screening Tour. The DVD was released first in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2009 and was released in the U.S. on November 17, 2009.

Soundtrack

How to Be Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Various Artists
Released	April 28, 2008
Genre	Soundtrack
Label	Dreamboat records

The How to Be soundtrack was released by Dreamboat Records on April 28. The 23-track collection features three original songs performed by Robert Pattinson, the original score by composer Joe Hastings and electronic music by musician-actor Johnny White, who plays Ronny in the film. It also features "Old Man" by Love, "Clear Spot" by Captain Beefheart and "Hammond Song" by The Roches.^{[citation needed]}

Track listing

1. Opening Credits - Joe Hastings
2. "Chokin' on the Dust" (Part 1) - Robert Pattinson
3. "It's not your fault" - Joe Hastings
4. "Hell Awaits" - The Rollercoaster Project
5. "You don’t actually have things all that bad"
6. "Old Man" - Love
7. "Chokin' on the Dust" (Part 2) - Robert Pattinson
8. "Sometimes we all need a little help" - Joe Hastings
9. "Dr Ellington Arrives" - Joe Hastings
10. "Visualize a time" - Joe Hastings
11. "Jam Session"
12. "1996" - The Rollercoaster Project
13. "Nikki's Song" - Mike Pearce
14. "Puzzle" - Joe Hastings
15. "Cemetery" - Joe Hastings
16. "Off License" - Joe Hastings
17. "Process 1" - The Rollercoaster Project
18. "Clear Spot" - Captain Beefheart
19. "Hammond Song" - The Roches
20. "Final Call" - Joe Hastings
21. "You're not a nobody"
22. "Doin' Fine" - Robert Pattinson
23. End Credits - (Joe Hastings)

Reception

Film festivals

How to Be had its world premiere at the 2008 Slamdance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Honorable Mention. It has since been chosen to appear at:

• Rhode Island International Film Festival (August 5-10, 2008)
• Strasbourg International Film Festival, where it was the opening night film (September 12-21, 2008)
• Calgary International Film Festival (September 19-28, 2008)
• Derby City Film Festival (October 8-12th, 2008)
• New Orleans Film Festival (October 10-16, 2008)
• Indie 2008 Film Festival, Brazil (October 10-16, 2008)
• Austin Film Festival (October 16-23)
• Gotham Screen New York International Festival (October 31 & November 1, 2008)
• Lone Star International Film Festival (November 12-16, 2008)
• Cinequest Film Festival (February 28th and March 2nd, 2009)
• Durango Film Festival (March 4th-8th, 2009)
• George Lindsey UNA Film Festival (March 5th-8th, 2009)
• Chicago International Movie and Music Festival (March 8th, 2009)
• DC Independent Film Festival (March 8th, 2009)
• Burbank International Film Festival (March 27th, 2009)
• Las Vegas International Film Festival (April 9th-12th 2009)
• California Independent Film Festival (April 16th 2009
• 22nd Singapore Internation Film Festival (April 25th 2009)
• First Glance Hollywood Film Festival (May 1st-3rd, 2009)

External links

• How to Be at the Internet Movie Database
• How to Be Official Website
• Making of Europe Making of Documentary Exceprts