Collecting memorabilia and trading cards have become a big industry in the US. Billions of dollars are generated each year in the sports memorabilia and trading card industry, but who are the buyers and sellers? What is the actual value of what is being sold? Written and directed by Michael Dault, Hobby Hustle dives deep into this subculture, interviewing a variety of players in the industry as well as peeling off some of the mystery that this industry has accumulated as a whole.
Michael Dault decides to focus on three unique stories here. One is a kid who has become famous both online and offline for collecting and selling sports memorabilia and has now set his sights on starting a brick and mortar hobby store. Two, we follow a man and his family who found millions of dollars worth of baseball cards in their relative’s attic. We see how they realize the true value of the cards and if it manages to change their lives. Finally, we see how this industry attracts bad players who want nothing more than to make a quick buck at the expense of others; we follow an individual who went to prison for 6 years for forgery- a master con man who sold fake memorabilia he signed to thousands of victims. There are little stories of other collectors and aspects of the hobby woven in between these main stories.
A documentary should be first and foremost entertaining and this is where Dault’s film manages to mark its first of many successes. From its narrative pacing to its laying out of the plot, Dault ensures each aspect keeps the viewer’s attention. It also helps that most of his interviewees are energetic and to see them vividly explain the industry is a treat in and of itself. Thus, the rewatchability factor here is off the charts.
For those who know very little about the industry, Hobby Hustle is a fantastic introduction. From the perceived value of the memorabilia to how certain aspects may make or break its value, the documentary does a fantastic job of explaining it all. Equally impressive is how passionate the people connected to this industry are; they are willing to go the extra mile, each day every day to create value and then cash it out.
From a technical aspect, the editing and pacing are on point, keeping the flow of the story in check. As a result, there is not a single dull moment to be had here. Equally impressive is the direction that gives equal weightage to both the characters and the story. Both are intertwined and Michael Dault succeeds in a film where both characters and story work well in the service of the narrative.
Thus, Hobby Hustle is a documentary that manages to entertain whilst hitting you hard. This might be one of the only well made docs about the hobby hustle culture and it manages to present this subculture in such a fantastic way that I wanted the story to continue by the time the film ended. Director Michael Dault manages to create a film that fires on all cylinders and manages to be a lot of things. We are eagerly awaiting for Dault’s next project. It’s clear that the man has a singular vision and we would like to see more of it.
