Romance And Celebrity In The Art World

With her innovative abstract photographs, Cindy Sherman has gained a great deal of celebrity and influence within today's art world. That fame, however, ultimately contributed to the demise of her years-long romantic relationship with artistic commentator Paul H-O, who has also risen to prominence with a new documentary, "Guest Of Cindy Sherman."

Through the lens of H-O and Sherman's union, the film explores the prolific evolution in the artistic community over the last 20 years. H-O spoke with CBS News about his launch to the silver screen.

"The film is based on the changes that the art world went through during the time that I started documenting it. That's what happens in the film. We go back and we feed into that historic element," said H-O, who served as co-director along with filmmaker Tom Donahue.

With a vast array of celebrity interviews from the likes of Danny DeVito and John Waters, and a telling exploration of the complexities of romance, "Guest Of Cindy Sherman" has a little bit of everything for a wide array of viewers.

This is not a movie specifically for artists or enthusiasts, as Donahue and H-O set out to tell a story with broader interests.

"I'm not in the art world, so I wanted to make a movie that would appeal to a general audience. … I saw it as a love story and a story about the power relationship between men and women," Donahue said.

The co-director, who worked with Spencer Tunick (the photographer known for his shots of masses of people in the nude), noted that this documentary ultimately serves as an exploration of dynamics between men and women.

"Paul had felt that, in this relationship with this super star artist, he had suddenly lost his identity and he wanted to get it back. We felt like we should make a movie that explores this idea of a man who's a plus-one to a powerful woman," Donahue explained of the failed relationship between the two artists.

"A lot more women in middle America are becoming the bread winners of the family. And a lot of guys are having a hard time dealing with that role swap," he also noted.

The title of this documentary further conveys this theme. "We went to a well pointed dinner party and then I couldn't find my place card at the table," H-O explained.

When he did find his seat, several tables away from Sherman, "My place card said 'Guest of Cindy Sherman,'" he said. "Cindy and I had been together for a few years at that point and this was one of these moments of anger."

It was at this moment when H-O felt as though he had lost his identity had been eclipsed by his girlfriend's celebrity.

Sherman herself has seen the film, and had final approval over the end cut, though H-O and Donahue both said that she has formally disavowed herself from the film.

"I think that was her way of telling people that she doesn't want to talk about it," Donahue said.

And, despite a painful breakup, H-O still views Sherman with high esteem. "She's one of the best people I've every known in my life. She's the best girlfriend I've ever had in my life. She is the best artist, so I have no reason for animosity," H-O said of his former companion.

"Guest Of Cindy Sherman" opens March 27 in limited release.
By Ken Lombardi