Documentary

Trailer for Capturing Reality: The Art of Documentary - ”...

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:08:59 -0400

Trailer for Capturing Reality: The Art of Documentary - ” Errol Morris, Werner Herzog and over 30 of today’s top documentary filmmakers provide an in-depth look at non-fiction filmmaking and the steps to making a documentary. These masters of the craft reflect upon the nature of documentary as a form of storytelling and offer insight into their approach to the ‘truth.’ “

Plus 163 clips with filmmakers featured in the film here. You can search the clips by topic or filmmaker using the tabs at the bottom of the page. There are also links to an education guide and Director Q and A. Can’t deeplink because the interface is flash.

The DVD is available on Amazon.

Looks really good.

Immersion: Porn by Robbie Cooper - Created for wallpaper.com -...

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:58:00 -0400

Immersion: Porn by Robbie Cooper - Created for wallpaper.com - highly voyeuristic, intense and possibly disturbing. People talking about their experiences with porn intercut with you watching them watching porn. You don’t see any of what they are watching, there is a subtitle telling you what it is. Yet, it seems more intimate than porn, an up close look at what is generally personal and private.

Article about the project here.

Robbie Cooper’s website here.

Previous projects are Alter Ego (photos of gamers and their in-game avatars) and Immersion (kids filmed while playing video games).

Found this via Kottke who notes this is “NSFW because it turns out that watching people watching porn at the office is no easier to explain to your boss/co-workers than actually watching porn at the office.”

All In This Tea A feature documentary by Les Blank that follows...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:40:00 -0400

All In This Tea

A feature documentary by Les Blank that follows world-renowned American tea importer David Lee Hoffman to some of the most remote locations in China in search of the rarest tea. Hoffman seeks to link the farmer right with the tea drinker.

If you are interested in learning more about loose leaf tea or frequently drink great tea visit http://lightlycaffeinated.com and contact one of the contributors to be added as a group member.

Bumfights are a series of videos where vulnerable homeless men...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:12 -0400

Bumfights are a series of videos where vulnerable homeless men are coaxed into performing abhorent acts in exchange for money.

The first video, Bumfights: A Cause for Concern, was produced by Ryen McPherson, with friends Zachary Bubeck, Daniel J. Tanner, and Michael Slyman, as Indecline Films. Shortly after sales began to escalate, Indecline Films sold the rights to two investors who went on to produce three sequels.

The videos immediately gained criticism from mainstream organizations. The US-based National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has stated that the Bumfights videos disseminate hate against the homeless and dehumanize them.

It’s disgusting how someone is able to coerce ex-veteran, alcoholic homeless individuals to hurt themselves and permanently mark themselves with Bumfights logos, while inebriated. But to make a profit by permanently scarring the vulnerable is just not human.

What’s worse? The kids who directed and produced these videos defend their product with no remose, or any emotion for that matter.

Above is the first part of the documentary that depicts the exploitation, Bumfights - A Video Too Far. Here is 2, 3, 4 and 5.

What’s worse worse? The offspring videos these Bumfights series inspired.

The Baseball Card Movie is a 10 minute documentary about Joe...

Sun, 24 May 2009 22:39:47 -0400

The Baseball Card Movie is a 10 minute documentary about Joe Rock and his store the Baseball Card Dugout in Brooklyn. I used to collect baseball cards as a kid, but apparently there are a lot of adults that still take it seriously. via kottke

In the early 1980s, the Canadian metal band Anvil wrote the...

Sun, 24 May 2009 15:36:18 -0400

In the early 1980s, the Canadian metal band Anvil wrote the thrash blueprint for followers like Anthrax, Metallica, and Slayer. While those bands went on to become metal titans, Anvil faded into obscurity–so much that decades later, the band’s core members–guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner–work menial day-jobs even as they continue to churn out little-heard records and dream of rock-star success. Director Sacha Gervasi (who was once a roadie for the band) chronicles the duo’s efforts to regain their ’80s glory in the funny and touching documentary.

Official Website

IMDB

Stop frontin! We each have a favorite Disney movie. I actually...

Fri, 22 May 2009 16:43:00 -0400

Stop frontin! We each have a favorite Disney movie. I actually was also all about the cartoons that were on after my little sister and I came back from school. Remember ‘Duck Tales,’ ‘Goof Troop,’ ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Dark Wing Duck?’ Hells yeah!

Whether you realize or not, or accept it or not, the Disney conglomerate has had a gigantic influence on our culture for generations. ‘Mickey Mouse Monopoly: Disney, Childhood & Corporate Power’ tries to break down the negative influence that company has had.

The doc primarily focuses on how big the reach is of Disney, distortion of history, negative reinforcement of female self-image, and the reinforcement of racial stereotypes.

Above is the first of the five parts it is broken down on YouTube. Link: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

"As I saw the smoke from the burning building and people jumping to their deaths, I turned to my..."

Mon, 18 May 2009 23:16:00 -0400

“As I saw the smoke from the burning building and people jumping to their deaths, I turned to my police commissioner, Bernard Kerik and said, ”Thank God, George Bush is our president.’””

- Rudy Giuliani (via thetimelime)

From “Giuliani Time” — (Part 1, Part 2). Also a little trailer.

Filmmaker Jenny Abel explores the life and career of her father,...

Sun, 17 May 2009 22:46:00 -0400

Filmmaker Jenny Abel explores the life and career of her father, Alan Abel, the infamous prankster who has pricked the pomposity of the media and aroused the public with his seemingly nonsensical ideas for over forty years.

The World According to Monsanto - Full Documentary

Sat, 09 May 2009 17:41:00 -0400

The World According to Monsanto - Full Documentary:

An in-depth documentary that looks at the domination of the agricultural industry from one of the world’s most insidious and powerful companies.

via ostermayer

Don’t most of you tumblr kids live in Canada? Then how...

Tue, 05 May 2009 21:58:35 -0400

Don’t most of you tumblr kids live in Canada? Then how come no one mentioned anything about the Hot Docs festival?

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market. Each year, the Festival presents a selection of more than 150 cutting-edge documentaries from Canada and around the globe. [link]

150? Damn! I’d make a trip out there from Jersey for that event alone.

Here is a list of all the docs being screened this time around (April 30th- May 10th). And here’s their YouTube channel.

Above’s a trippy doc I’d love to see if I got a chance. This chick’s bad ass.

vastandgrand: If you are in Chicago and like documentary check...

Tue, 05 May 2009 15:25:36 -0400

vastandgrand:

If you are in Chicago and like documentary check this out. RSVP to: rsvp@stopsmilingonline.com

Cracked Quarters (2008, Sawbuck Productions) chronicles a...

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:35:19 -0400

Cracked Quarters (2008, Sawbuck Productions) chronicles a matriarchal ‘family’ system comprised of dispossessed, marginalized, drug addicted people who struggle daily to achieve a balance between their individualistic pursuits and the need to rely on each other for survival.

A longer cut re-titled The Family At 1312 will be screening at STIFF (Seattle True Independent Film Festival) in June.

Before the Music Dies is a 2006 documentary film that criticizes...

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:23:46 -0400

Before the Music Dies is a 2006 documentary film that criticizes the American music industry and the increasing commercialization of the art of music over the past thirty years. The film features interviews and performances from such musicians and groups as Doyle Bramhall II, Erykah Badu, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Branford Marsalis, and My Morning Jacket. It was directed by Andrew Shapter, produced by Joel Rasmussen, and co-written by Shapter and Jasmussen.

There is a certain amount of “kids today…” and “back in my day…” mentality that I don’t think is actually true to life, just a romanticizing of the past, but all in all I really enjoyed this doc. It touches on a lot of important points about modern music (the death of radio, the internet revolution, commercialization of music). It’s worth a watch. Also, take note of a few artists you might want to check out afterwards.

The Future Of Food offers an in-depth investigation into the...

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:49:00 -0400

The Future Of Food offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.

After watching, I found this documentary to not only be a disturbing look at genetically modified food, but also of patent law when it comes to patenting living things. The Future of Food does a great job of touching on the major points that seriously need to be debated, considered, and brought to our awareness when it comes to genetically modifying food.

mattmcinerney: Mies van der Rohe - Visions of Space is a 2003...

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:41:29 -0400

mattmcinerney:

Mies van der Rohe - Visions of Space is a 2003 BBC documentary about legendary mid-century architect Luudwig Mies van der Rohe. The documentary takes on a critical tone that I don’t happen to share, but I did enjoy watching it and learning more about Mies. Above is part 1 of 7. Links to the the rest: Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

Keeper of the Kohn is a documentary about Peter Kohn, a beloved...

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:06:06 -0400

Keeper of the Kohn is a documentary about Peter Kohn, a beloved collegiate lacrosse field manager who is believed to be autistic. Whether you care for Lacrosse or not, it’s a touching portrait of a man who has dedicated his life to the sport.

The Cool School is about the Ferus Gallery in L.A. It showcased...

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:44:00 -0400

The Cool School is about the Ferus Gallery in L.A. It showcased work from such contemporary artists as Andy Warhol and Clyfford Still. The film talks about what was going on in L.A. to produce the Ferus Gallery and the role of edge artists in the larger art scene…

And, it has Dennis Hopper in it, which is real funny.

Rottentomatoes
Wiki
PBS

Haze is a documentary about binge drinking in college and...

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:55:00 -0400

Haze is a documentary about binge drinking in college and focuses on the story of Lynn “Gordie” Bailey Jr who died of alcohol poisoning. I found this on Hulu today and was kind of shocked to find it. I was shocked because I went to high school with Gordie. I wasn’t aware that this documentary had been made, but I certainly remember the day that my high school heard the news that Gordie had died. He had only been in college for about a month when it happened. It was an incredibly sad day. I don’t think anyone could quite believe that something like that could happen.

It is a very sad story but it’s a great thing that his parents are trying to do everything they can to hopefully save someone in the future.

poortaste: The Haight Street Kids Short clip about the Haight...

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:33:08 -0400

poortaste:

The Haight Street Kids

Short clip about the Haight Street kids living in San Francisco.

Thank you Mr. Phibbs for posting this.