Jarvis Cocker and Garth Jennings Discuss New Pulp Documentary What Do You Do for an Encore

Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore?, a feature-length documentary directed by Garth Jennings, premieres on MUBI Sept. 25 following a worldwide theatrical screening on Sept. 24. The 90-minute film captures the band’s elaborate arena production during the tour supporting More, their first album in 24 years, and features 20 songs alongside four decades of previously unseen archival footage.

Formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in 1978 by Jarvis Cocker and original guitarist Peter Dalton, Pulp released seven albums during their initial classic era from 1983 to 2001, including the 1995 masterpiece Different Class. The band split in 2002 before returning for a touring run between 2011 and 2013, followed by another decade away from the stage.

Production Hurdles and Creative Evolution

Director Garth Jennings, whose credits include Son of Rambow, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and the Sing films, first collaborated with Pulp on the 1997 music video for Help the Aged and a 1998 clip for A Little Soul. When Jennings heard rumors of a reunion in 2022, he texted Cocker to offer his services as a filmmaker, a gesture that eventually led him to direct both the live arena shows and the documentary itself.

The project faced significant obstacles when an initial attempt to film the reunion shows in 2023 collapsed after financing fell apart. However, the disruption ultimately benefited the final product once new financing was secured and Pulp recorded More. Jennings told SPIN that the delay allowed the project to expand beyond a standard concert film.

We found some new financing and they came out with a new album, and the whole thing just became much better as a result of falling apart,

Jennings told SPIN.

It was a beautiful ending to the process.

Theatrical Ambition and Archival Integration

The documentary incorporates four decades of archival footage, a creative direction chosen by Jennings that initially surprised Cocker. Cocker noted in interviews that seeing clips featuring family members who have passed away provided a deeply personal perspective, likening certain sections of the film to seeing his life flash before his eyes.

The live production utilizes rising platforms, a string section, and a large velvet curtain. Jennings noted that the band’s current motivation differs markedly from their earlier output, describing an absence of pressure to prove themselves.

No one’s trying to prove themselves or kickstart something or reinvigorate something,

Jennings told SPIN.

They’re doing it because they love it and the people want it.

Future Outlook and Live Legacy

The documentary aims to appeal beyond the band’s dedicated fanbase by pairing live performances with the personal journey of its members over four decades, according to Jennings. As audiences prepare to view the film in theaters and on streaming, Pulp stands as a portrait of musicians celebrating their enduring catalog without commercial pressure.