The unsung heroes of American society are the volunteer firefighters that risk their lives every single day and ask for nothing in return. Some find themselves compelled to be firefighters to help their small town, others join as a result of a traumatic experience, and others have found that they have a higher calling–one that sees them saving lives on a daily basis. Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat is a documentary that follows a series of individuals poised to make a difference in this world–all of who are volunteer firefighters.
This is a straightforward documentary, not meant to shock and awe or ruffle any feathers; the only thing it is meant to do is inform (and if viewers feel compelled to become firefighters as a result, then that’s a massive bonus for the filmmakers). Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat is what you’d expect from a documentary focusing on firefighters–ones that aren’t looking for the spotlight, but rather just to help those around them. They don’t like to boast about what they do or what they’ve done, they aren’t trying to express to the world that they are special or deserve any bit of recognition–they just want to tell the world the basic ins and outs of the industry, and that’s exactly what Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat does.
What I love about this film is that everyone that plays a role in it seems to be down to earth and level headed. They aren’t about shining light on themselves, but rather the profession as a whole and just explaining to the world a little bit about what they do on a regular basis. Viewers constantly see these individuals in real life, honest situations where they are seemingly able to express themselves openly and freely. That speaks to the direction of Gary Matoso and Cameron Zohoori. They are able to make everyone feel comfortable–and they make it their goal not to bring out the best of everyone, but rather the truth in everyone. It seems like Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat showcases this from beginning to end. I was drawn into the film as a result of the personalities presented to me. When talking about a group of people who are all part of the same profession you’d almost expect them all to have similar personalities. That’s not the case. The one thing that they all have in common is that they are good people. Seeing the juxtapositional, wide-ranging personalities come to life is a testament to those individuals and, again, the directors.
With all of that being said, however, I believe that Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat has the potential to be a tad boring. In order to appreciate the film you have to be able to develop a personal connection with the people on screen–and if you can’t do that the film will certainly be lost on you. I don’t think Matoso or Zohoori (or anyone attached to this film for that matter) wants to pressure viewers into feeling a certain way, and I don’t think that they believe that they will appeal to everyone either.
This team has set out on a mission to shed some light on the industry, and whoever is willing to come along for the ride is more than welcome. This is honestly another reason why I like Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat. It’s alright with just being what it set out to be, nothing more, nothing less. It’s accepted that some people will love it and others won’t be able to appreciate what is being said and done. Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat is a wonderful documentary that transports viewers to a world that I’m not sure many have ever had the time to explore. It showcases a number of stellar individuals and will likely appeal to a majority of its viewers. More documentaries need to play out like this one.
Written & Directed by Gary Matoso & Cameron Zohoori.
Starring Bill Bullard, Jenna Dunbar, Victoria Androyna, Alan Michi, Shari Michl, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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