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Experimental Films Fuel ‘Slave Play’ Documentary

Jeremy O. Harris’s new documentary — titled “Slave Play. Not A Movie. A Play.” — is ostensibly focused on acting students rehearsing scenes from his provocative “Slave Play,” which was nominated in 2020 for 12 Tony Awards.

That’s only the beginning.

The documentary, which is streaming on Max, becomes an examination of Harris’s artistic influences and why he wants his play to be seen solely as a work of theater. Part of the strategy is calling back to hallmark experimental documentaries.

The playwright Jeremy O. Harris, left, providing feedback to acting students who are rehearsing “Slave Play.”Credit…HBO

“It’s really important to pay homage to these figures who are just now starting to really get the celebration they deserve, but also opened the door for me to do what I’m doing,” Harris said in an interview.

Here are some of the references that informed “Slave Play. Not A Movie. A Play.”:

‘Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One’

“Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One” is a movie about making a movie about directing a screen test.Credit…Janus Films

Understanding the premise of this making-of-the-making-of documentary requires some investment.

On its first layer, “Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One” (1968) is a screen test filmed in Central Park. On the next, it’s a movie about William Greaves directing the screen test. And then it’s a movie about making a movie about directing a screen test.