A new documentary feature film, "Presenting Princess Shaw," follows the life of Samantha Montgomery, a New Orleans singer and elder care nursing assistant, as she goes from her own obscure YouTube channel to starring in a video by international music mashup artist Kutiman.
Since 2012, Montgomery has posted videos to YouTube under her online persona Princess Shaw. Those run the gamut from a capella singing sessions to venting about her busted car and sharing painful emotions about a difficult childhood.
Filmmaker IdoHaar's "Presenting Princess Shaw" tracks the discovery of these videos by Kutiman, an enigmatic music producer and YouTube mashup artist in Israel, who takes Montgomery's vocals and makes them the centerpiece of several songs, fleshing them out with music played by other YouTubers. It's only when his work goes online that Montgomery learns she's been an unwitting collaborator, and heads to Israel to record and perform with Kutiman.
The film premieres in New Orleans May 31, 7 p.m. at the CAC. A performance by Princess Shaw follows.