Check out this compelling documentary about Eli Porter and the much-publicized “Iron Mic” freestyle battle. “People’s Champion: Behind The Battle” is directed by Walker Warren & Trent Babbington. Here’s what Trent had to say about the film:

It was hard to wrap my head around the Eli Porter phenomenon, at first. People were obviously sending the video around for the purpose of clowning him, and I didn’t want to join in on that. But I couldn’t deny the clip had an addictive kind of oddity to it, especially after the remixes by helios2003 that took the surreality to a whole other level.

Over time I think, or at least I’d like to think, that Eli has earned a sort of respect from the public (even if that respect is still partly tongue-in-cheek), and that he’s gone from butt-of-a-joke to a sort of underdog hero. And I hope this film helps brings a bit more of that respect to Eli Porter–the actual human being–and helps make this whole viral phenomenon end up as a positive experience for him. Even if I still wish he had more enlightened views on certain social issues, such as Rosie O’Donnell’s attendance at bridal showers. (Ill Doctrine)