HBO’s “How To With John Wilson” isn’t your typical show. Emerging from the mind of filmmaker John Wilson, this documentary series has carved a unique niche by blending seemingly mundane tutorials with profound and often hilarious observations on everyday life. Moving from Wilson’s personal Vimeo project, “John’s Movies,” to a major platform, the show retains its endearingly quirky character while offering viewers a visually enhanced and deeply engaging experience. This exploration delves into what makes “How To with John Wilson” a standout series, examining its origins, style, and the resonant themes that lie beneath its deceptively simple premise.
From Vimeo Tutorials to HBO Acclaim: The Journey of John Wilson
Before captivating HBO audiences, John Wilson honed his distinctive filmmaking style through a series of online “video tutorials” hosted on his Vimeo page, “John’s Movies,” since 2012. These weren’t your standard DIY guides. Titles like “How to Walk to Manhattan” and “How to Live with Regret” hinted at a deeper, more introspective approach. These early works already showcased Wilson’s talent for transforming simple how-to concepts into thoughtful meditations on society, the fleeting nature of existence, and the often-absurd aspects of human endeavors.
The transition to HBO brought “How To with John Wilson” to a much wider audience, yet remarkably, the show preserved the core elements that made Wilson’s Vimeo projects so compelling. The HBO iteration offers a similar viewing experience in almost every way, albeit with the advantage of a larger production budget, allowing for more extensive travel and higher production quality, upgrading from MiniDV to crisp 4K visuals. While Wilson’s explorations take him across diverse locations, from vacation hotspots to mountain ranges, his lens consistently returns to New York City, the undeniable heart and soul of his work. It is in the streets of New York where his introspective “Do you like me?” notes to the world truly resonate.
Deconstructing the “How To” Format: Beyond Simple Instructions
At first glance, “How To with John Wilson” presents itself as a series of tutorials. Episodes are framed around seemingly straightforward tasks, such as “How to Put up Scaffolding” or “How to Improve Your Memory.” However, the genius of the show lies in its masterful subversion of this format. Wilson uses these seemingly simple premises as springboards to explore a vast range of topics, weaving together personal anxieties, societal observations, and unexpected encounters.
As Wilson himself acknowledges, in the “How to Put up Scaffolding” episode, viewers might actually learn something concrete about the scaffolding industry. Yet, the episode transcends a mere instructional guide, delving into the history of scaffolding in New York, local laws governing it, and even its metaphorical presence in cinema. This episode, like many others, exemplifies Wilson’s ability to take a specific subject and branch out into broader, more philosophical territories. The scaffolding becomes a symbol, representing different things to different people, perhaps something they’ve been dealing with for too long and grown weary of.
John Wilson’s Verité Style: The “Talkative Cameraman” Approach
A defining characteristic of “How To with John Wilson” is its distinctive vérité filmmaking style. Wilson often positions himself not as a traditional host, but rather as a curious observer and what some might perceive as a “talkative cameraman.” This approach blurs the lines between filmmaker and participant, creating a unique intimacy and immediacy. He immerses himself in the world he’s documenting, capturing authentic moments and interactions without imposing a heavy directorial hand.
This style is evident in Wilson’s earlier work as well. In episodes like “How to Act on Reality TV,” he consciously steps back, allowing the material to speak for itself in a purely vérité-esque experiment. This departure from the overt tutorial format, while still maintaining an instructional element, highlights Wilson’s willingness to experiment and evolve his approach. He aims to keep his work fresh and surprising, constantly exploring different genres and tropes, from Ken Burns-style historical segments to Frederick Wiseman-esque observational sequences, even drawing inspiration from home improvement shows and the cinéma vérité of Agnès Varda. This eclectic approach ensures that “How To with John Wilson” remains consistently unpredictable and engaging.
Thematic Depth: Uncovering Layers Beyond the Surface
While the “How To” titles might suggest practical advice, the show’s true strength lies in its thematic richness. “How To with John Wilson” is not just about instructions; it’s about exploring the human condition in all its messy, absurd, and poignant glory. Wilson uses his camera as a tool to dissect urban life, human behavior, and the anxieties of the modern world.
The show often delves into unexpected and sometimes uncomfortable territories. Moments of genuine human vulnerability are juxtaposed with comedic observations, creating a viewing experience that is both hilarious and deeply resonant. Whether it’s exploring the mundane rituals of splitting a check at a restaurant or grappling with the existential weight of regret, “How To with John Wilson” consistently finds profound meaning in the seemingly ordinary. It’s this ability to uncover layers of meaning beneath the surface that elevates the show beyond simple entertainment, transforming it into a compelling commentary on contemporary life.
The Magic of Collaboration: Editing, Writing, and Fielder’s Influence
The distinctive voice of “How To with John Wilson” is not solely Wilson’s creation. Collaboration plays a crucial role in shaping the show’s final form. While Wilson is the driving force, a talented team of editors, writers, and producers contribute to its unique appeal. Editor Adam Locke-Norton, who previously worked on “Nathan for You,” brings a specific comedic sensibility to the editing process, playing with pacing and timing to maximize the show’s comedic impact.
The writers’ room, while formally structured, functions more as a research and brainstorming hub. Long conversations around broad subjects, coupled with Wilson’s ongoing filming, fuel the creative process. Unexpected footage captured by Wilson often becomes the starting point for entire segments, demonstrating an improvisational approach to storytelling. Nathan Fielder, as executive producer, also exerts a significant influence, encouraging Wilson to maintain freshness, avoid repetition, and constantly surprise the viewer. This collaborative environment allows for a dynamic interplay of ideas, ensuring that “How To with John Wilson” remains both deeply personal and expertly crafted.
New York City as a Character: Capturing the Ephemeral Urban Landscape
New York City is more than just a backdrop in “How To with John Wilson”; it’s a central character in its own right. The show is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, capturing its unique energy, its constant state of flux, and its quirky inhabitants. Wilson’s camera roams the streets, documenting the ephemeral and often overlooked details of urban life – the scaffolding that perpetually adorns buildings, the makeshift solutions people devise to navigate city living, the constant construction and deconstruction.
This obsession with documenting the temporary and ad hoc aspects of New York life is a recurring theme in Wilson’s work. He sees beauty and meaning in the impermanence of the city, recognizing that “each thing you shoot becomes supercharged with the threat of turnover.” In a city of constant change, “How To with John Wilson” becomes a valuable archive of fleeting moments, capturing a specific time and place that is constantly evolving. This dedication to documenting the transient nature of New York elevates the show beyond personal observation, transforming it into a living, breathing portrait of a dynamic metropolis.
Archival Value and the Allure of Raw Footage
Ultimately, “How To with John Wilson” succeeds not only as a comedy or a memoir, but also as a valuable piece of raw footage, a time capsule of New York City and contemporary life. Wilson’s commitment to keeping the material “naked” and unadorned lends it an archival quality, suggesting that these images will hold significance beyond their immediate entertainment value.
The show’s appeal lies partly in its ability to capture inexplicable and fragmented moments, leaving viewers with a sense of intrigue and a desire to know more. These glimpses into the lives of ordinary people, often caught in bizarre or humorous situations, create a compelling and often unsettling portrait of modern society. By embracing the raw and unpolished, “How To with John Wilson” offers a refreshingly authentic and deeply engaging viewing experience, reminding us to find humor and meaning in the everyday chaos of life.
“How To with John Wilson” is more than just a series of tutorials; it’s a masterclass in observational filmmaking, a hilarious and heartfelt guide to navigating the complexities of modern life, and a testament to the power of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Through his unique lens, John Wilson has created a truly unforgettable and essential television experience.
