Inside Every Time You Lose Your Mind: Priscilla Chavez-Scott on Capturing the Legacy of Failure

LOS ANGELES, CA-  If you’ve ever lingered near a photo pit at a rock show in Los Angeles, chances are you’ve seen Priscilla Chavez-Scott—camera in hand, eyes locked in on the moment. I’ve known Priscilla for years through these kinds of serendipitous encounters. And in between sets or shots, she’d sometimes mention an ambitious, long-brewing project she was working on—a documentary centered on her husband’s band, Failure.

That project is now a finished film.

Every Time You Lose Your Mind, a decade-in-the-making feature directed by Ken Andrews and co-produced and edited by Ken Andrews and Scott, tells the story of one of LA’s most influential cult bands. Failure’s sonic DNA—equal parts heavy, heady, and haunting—has shaped multiple generations of artists. The film, streaming June 27 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, dives into the band’s rise, disbandment, and rebirth with unflinching honesty and reverent care. It features interviews with everyone from Hayley Williams to Steve Albini, and explores themes of addiction, artistry, and resilience.

Ahead of the film’s premiere, I caught up with Priscilla to talk about her experience crafting this story, what it meant to her both personally and professionally, and why this documentary is ultimately for the fans as much as it is about the band.

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How did you first get involved with the Every Time You Lose Your Mind documentary, and what drew you to telling this story—especially one that hits so close to home?

I’ve been shooting photos for Failure since they reformed back in 2013. I was asked by Ken Andrews back in 2021 if I would be interested in working with him on this film, shortly before going out on the Wild Type Droid tour in 2022.  

As both the producer/editor and someone deeply connected to the band, what were some of the emotional or structural challenges in shaping such a personal and decades-spanning narrative?

Probably that I wouldn’t be able to express everything I wanted to. I knew going in that the this wasn’t 100% my film, and that Failure isn’t my band. So I did the best I could at rolling with the punches. 

The film features a stacked list of interviews—from Hayley Williams and Butch Vig to Jason Schwartzman and Margaret Cho. Was there a moment in those conversations that surprised you or resonated in a lasting way?

My most memorable interview was with Steve Albini. I was so honored and proud to speak with him. In terms of the interviews, that was done much later, July of 2023. I was very impressed with Steve’s growth as a man, his honesty, and his self awareness. He was very eloquent, expressive, and so hilarious. It’s such a tragedy that he is no longer with us. But he’ll never be forgotten.

I really love that the talking heads in this film all know Failure either personally or they know them creatively very well. The way Butch Vig is able to speak on their creativity was beautiful to me. I adored Margaret Cho’s interview. It was full of substance paired with her charming personal experiences with Failure. Shawn Daily conducted Butch Vig’s and Margaret Cho’s interviews. I also interviewed each band member of Failure a few times which was a lovely experience for me as well.

From a producer’s lens, what do you think was the biggest hurdle in bringing this decade-in-the-making film to the finish line?

I think the biggest hurdle that I can speak on is that you can always keep going. This film kept growing and growing over the years. There was so much happening behind the scenes as well. There could have been a documentary about the making of this documentary. But at some point you have to stop filming and stop collecting information. As long as the band exists you could truly keep shooting, the story just keeps continuing. It was also challenging editing it down to a 2 hour cut. So much wasn’t able to make it in. 

The LA premiere with the acoustic set at Harmony Gold feels like such a full-circle moment. What does this milestone represent to you personally?

It doesn’t feel quite real yet? As I give you these answers I haven’t yet experienced the premiere. It’s happening 2 days from now. I’ve done nothing but love and support this band since 2013 and it feels great to see my work with Failure being represented in this way, through film. I am a massive lover of film, huge. So it means so much to me experiencing it in this way. This is my first feature film.

What do you hope this documentary communicates to longtime fans—and to those who may be discovering Failure for the first time through the film?

I agreed to work on this film for two reasons. One, because I love Failure and I love what they do creatively. Two, I have so much love for Failure fans. They’re some of the most kind hearted, deep people I’ve ever met. Their love and respect for the band is so special. Not all fans of bands are like that. I’ve seen it and experienced it from shooting other bands and being at their shows. I truly hope the fans experience or learn something from this film that they haven’t before about Failure. And for those who are unfamiliar, I hope they enjoy the story of Failure and get interested in their music, Failure has such an incredible body of work. I’ve spoken to so many people over the years who have no idea who Failure is and it feels great to be able to point to this film and say, “I helped make a movie about them, you can go check that out”. 

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As someone who’s spent years both behind the lens and behind the edit timeline, Priscilla Scott brought more than just technical mastery to Every Time You Lose Your Mind—she brought heart. This isn’t just a film about a band; it’s a film about surviving the machinery of the music industry, about connection, and about never giving up on the things that move you. For Priscilla, for Failure, and for fans who’ve waited years to see this story told on screen, the documentary is more than a retrospective. It’s a tribute, a time capsule, and a love letter all in one.

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