Max Hey Captures Chaos and Humanity in Now! More! Yes!

https://youtu.be/sLyGfMpWBmI

At the Milwaukee Film Festival, filmmaker Max Hey presents a documentary that feels as unpredictable as life itself.

Now! More! Yes! follows T.W. Hansen, a Milwaukee creative whose life spirals into chaos after a bizarre decision — purchasing an ambulance online while drunk.

What begins as a strange story quickly becomes something deeper.

A portrait of resilience, instability, and the blurred line between creativity and survival.

A Story That Found Him

Unlike traditional documentaries, Now! More! Yes! didn’t start with a structured plan.

Hey already knew T.W. Hansen through Milwaukee’s creative scene.

But it wasn’t until that unexpected ambulance purchase that something clicked.

There was a story here.

And not a small one.

From that moment, Hey began documenting a life that was constantly in motion — one that didn’t follow a script.

Filmmaker vs. Friend

One of the most difficult parts of the process was navigating his relationship with the subject.

T.W.’s life included moments of real struggle.

Moments that could easily become exploitative if handled the wrong way.

Hey made a conscious decision not to film everything.

Some of the darkest moments were left off camera.

Not because they weren’t important.

But because they were too personal.

That choice reflects a deeper question within documentary filmmaking:

When do you stop recording?

Capturing a Life That Never Stops

T.W. Hansen is not a static subject.

He is constantly moving.

Creating.

Working.

Spiraling.

Rebuilding.

For Hey, the challenge wasn’t finding moments to film.

It was deciding which moments mattered most.

Because with a life like T.W.’s, there is always another scene.

Another story.

Another moment that could become a film.

The Creative Struggle

The film also explores a reality many creatives understand.

The tension between art and survival.

Between pursuing passion and maintaining financial stability.

Hey admits that while documenting T.W.’s journey, he found himself facing similar questions.

How far do you go for your art?

Where do you draw the line?

And what happens when that line disappears?

The Cream City Perspective

As a Milwaukee filmmaker, Hey sees the local creative scene as something unique.

There is a raw authenticity to it.

A sense that people are creating not for fame or money, but because they genuinely love the work.

That passion comes with challenges.

Limited resources.

Multiple roles.

Long hours.

But it also creates a strong sense of community.

A shared understanding of the grind.

Imperfection as Inspiration

For Hey, inspiration came from unexpected places.

Films that revealed their imperfections.

Moments where the illusion broke.

Watching movies like The Toxic Avenger made him realize something important.

Filmmaking doesn’t have to be perfect.

It just has to be honest.

That philosophy carries into Now! More! Yes! — a film that embraces chaos rather than trying to control it.

A Story Still Unfolding

Even as the film reaches audiences, the story isn’t over.

T.W. Hansen’s life continues.

The chaos continues.

And in many ways, the film feels like a snapshot of something ongoing.

A moment captured in time.

But not the final chapter.