WAIM 177: Independent Filmmaker Tommy Nickoloff

Tommy Nickoloff never set out to be a filmmaker. Growing up in the narrow world of Lorain, Ohio just outside of Cleveland, the arts were something other people did in other places. In Lorain, you worked, you took care of your family, and you did what was expected. Nickoloff’s childhood friend Jason Molina refused to accept that path for himself. From the get go, Nickoloff remembers Molina as something of a different breed, possessing a rare bravery that allowed him to chart his own path.

In high school, both Nickoloff and Molina were encouraged by teachers and counselors to go away to college and get out of Lorain. Nickoloff set off across the country, while Molina commuted just a few miles down the road to Oberlin College, which might have been geographically close, but it was a cultural haven miles away to a boy from Lorain.

Jason Molina would go on to lead the bands Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Company, which were both anchored by his titanic songwriting. For close to twenty years, Molina cranked out some of the most literate rock and roll of the last half century, until his untimely death at the age of 39. Despite such an early exit, Molina left behind a massive catalog that includes more than 15 studio albums as well as a slew of singles, EPs, and live recordings.

Encouraged by a friend to tell Jason’s story, Nickoloff set out to recapture his youth with Jason Molina. The new documentary, You Fuckers Figure It Out is an intimate look at the youths of Molina and Nickoloff. The film paints a vivid portrait of growing up in the post-industrial landscape of northern Ohio at the height of the Reagan era.

Tommy and I began talking so quickly that we got ten minutes into the chat before I realized I had not yet hit record. Because of this production gaffe, we missed some of our initial conversation that sets up the relationship between Tommy and Jason. Additionally, we will talk about Jason’s first band, The Spineriders a few times, but the context for that was also lost in the un-taped segment. Regardless, this is an amazing conversation of how Tommy Nickoloff set out to honor the story of his friend and in the end wound up finding his own purpose and path as a filmmaker. Art breeds art, my friends.

Let’s get into it.

Cheers,Matty C

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End Credits

Thanks so much to Tommy for joining me. You can find out all about his new documentary at https://www.yffio.com/

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.

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