# John Wilson's concrete obsession becomes a feature film > The documentary filmmaker turns a cracked foundation into a sprawling meditation on cycles, Hallmark movies, and why concrete matters. - Title: John Wilson's concrete obsession becomes a feature film - Summary: The documentary filmmaker turns a cracked foundation into a sprawling meditation on cycles, Hallmark movies, and why concrete matters. Wilson's method of… - Keywords: john wilson, the history of concrete, documentary, how to with john wilson, sundance film festival, hbo, ridgewood queens, filmmaking, michael imperioli, jack macco, a24, bronxburgh - Source: Rolling Stone — https://rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/john-wilson-history-of-concrete-interview-1235624055 - Author: Elisabeth Garber-Paul - Published: 2026-09-16T16:37:12+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: john wilson, the history of concrete, documentary, how to with john wilson, sundance film festival, hbo, ridgewood queens, filmmaking, michael imperioli, jack macco, a24, bronxburgh ## Wilson's voice finds profound in mundane The documentarian speaks in philosophical tangents, starting on one topic before taking exit ramps to unexpected subjects, then circling back with deeper meaning. > If you spend enough time with anyone, something's going to happen. ## How to with John Wilson took off Launched in 2020, each episode ostensibly covers a tutorial before exit ramps pile up. A battery recycling episode spirals into reincarnation, sanitation safety, toy recalls, and Nazi flags. ## The History of Concrete premiered at Sundance The film plays like an extended episode of his HBO show, but without the 30-minute guardrails. Wilson pitched it as a standard documentary about concrete with twists and turns. ## A24 rejected it because of another concrete film A24 passed on the project, saying they already had a concrete movie coming out. Wilson found this logic absurd, comparing it to limiting action movies or rom-coms per year. > That's like saying you can only have one action movie or rom-com in a calendar year. ## A cracked foundation sparked the whole thing Wilson owns an apartment building in Ridgewood, Queens. When the foundation cracked, instead of calling a contractor, he read books about concrete to understand it on a molecular level. ## He investigated cycles of renewal Wilson wanted to explore whether cyclical behavior is a primal impulse that keeps us productive, or a crutch we need to break free from. ## Hallmark movies reveal cyclical patterns Wilson took a Writers Guild class on writing Hallmark movies and found deep connections to how we consume entertainment and tell the same stories repeatedly. ## The Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race An annual event in Jamaica, Queens where participants run around the same block for 52 days straight. Founded in 1997 by spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy, it exemplifies cyclical behavior. ## Travel expanded the film's scope and budget Wilson traveled to Rome to see the oldest concrete building, Las Vegas for a concrete convention, Los Angeles, and Ohio to find the oldest concrete road in America. ## Michael Imperioli appears in the film The Sopranos star and Ridgewood resident gives a quick interview about filmmaking and concrete. He's one of several unexpected characters Wilson features. ## Jack Macco became the film's heart Wilson met Macco at a liquor store while filming potholes. The musician became a central character, and they spent a year and a half together following his band to dive bars and festivals. ## Macco's optimism countered Wilson's self doubt Throughout filming, Wilson spiraled in self doubt. Macco's unwavering belief in his music and pursuit of personal satisfaction provided the counterbalance Wilson needed. ## No filing system, just chronological chaos Wilson shoots daily with a Sony FS5 and dumps footage into one chronological sequence. When stuck, he scrubs through it frantically to spark ideas and rescue forgotten shots. ## He rejects the creator class plague Wilson criticizes social media filmmakers for centering themselves in environments. He finds it wasteful and identical, preferring to capture the world around him instead. > They're filming their face in the middle of an environment. They're putting themselves in the center of something, and I just find it to be such a waste of an image. ## Impossible subjects drive his creative challenge Wilson deliberately picks subject matter that's extremely hard to make funny. When people tell him he can't do something, it only increases his determination. > I like to pick subject matter that's extremely hard to make funny. ## Key takeaway Wilson's method of following tangents and capturing everyday oddities transforms mundane subjects into profound explorations of human behavior and meaning.