ziggy timber

Ziggy Timber, 108 min, 2004

Martin Heart, Ziggy Timber, a young man with narcolepsy and a history of feeling haunted by the "afterbirth of television," works as a waiter while grappling with existential questions. He is deeply empathetic, which leads him to be noticed by Gloria, a producer who casts him as the host of a talk show. The show focuses on people with traumatic experiences and dark impulses, and as Martin listens to his guests' stories, he is increasingly overwhelmed by the suffering he encounters . His deep empathy causes him to experience their pain as his own, leading to emotional outbursts and breakdowns. He begins to see the show and television itself as a force that exploits human pain.

As Martin's popularity grows, so does his disillusionment. He feels betrayed when he learns that one of his guests lied about her story. He grapples with the nature of truth and deception, and begins to believe that television is a destructive force that manipulates and consumes people's lives. His discomfort with the show escalates when one of his guests commits a mass shooting, and the media blames Martin for "spurring him on"  He tries to quit the show but is pressured to stay on by Gloria and Rich, who are now looking to make a national star out of him.

Seeking answers, Martin tries to connect with the mass shooter, visits his estranged father, and has a brief affair. His experience of the hyperreal world of television leads him to question everything and try to make sense of what's happening to him. Ultimately, Martin decides to give up the talk show and "go through the looking glass of television," choosing to expose the artifice of the medium. He plans to reveal himself fully on-air and embark on a new, more authentic life.