Now screening at NYC’s IFC Center (and at limited engagements elsewhere) and coming to DVD next Tuesday, September 6: REBIRTH
Jim Whitaker’s directorial debut premiered at this year’s Sundance, and follows the nearly decade-long journeys of five individuals personally affected by 9/11.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
Dear Documentary Filmmakers: I didn’t realize I was watching SNL. Why are there skits in your film?
Depending on your documentary’s topic and approach, it can be challenging to create visual interest. If you’re mostly employing talking heads, you may find yourself with a fairly boring looking film, even if what your interviewees are saying is riveting. Typically, a filmmaker will try to mix things up with some appropriate b-roll, possibly some graphics/animation, or archival footage in order to break the monotony. However, another “solution” to this issue that has been cropping up more often in recent years is, in my opinion, such a bad idea that I’ve decided to devote this post to it: using skits to illustrate or comment upon points raised by your subjects.
Filed under Dear Documentary Filmmakers, Documentary, Film
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, September 6: THE ARBOR
Clio Barnard’s unusual and affecting hybrid doc, on the tragic story of a British playwright and her daughter, enjoyed an award-winning festival run and a limited theatrical release this past Spring.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, August 30: IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT
After its successful premiere at Sundance, where it claimed the jury prize for Best Documentary Editing, Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman’s indepth look at the so-called eco-terrorist ELF traveled the festival circuit before having a limited theatrical release earlier this summer.
I profiled the film before its world premiere here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
Summer’s coming to a close soon, so this week’s indieWIRE-curated Hulu documentaries take the opportunity to bask in the sunshine while we still can with a selection of films capturing the season. View all of these docs for free now!
For more information about the selections, see my iW article.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Indiewire @ Hulu Docs, Recommendations
The makers of BAG IT turn their attention from the environmental impact of plastic to the potential rebirth of uranium mining in a Colorado town.
Paradox CO has seen better days. A once-thriving mining town, its population is down to 242. In the hopes of encouraging population growth through the creation of new jobs, there are plans for a new uranium mill, reversing a trend away from uranium mining of more than two decades. Despite the environmental legacy of radiation-related health problems from the uranium industry in the past, many residents are supportive of the project and for the boost the new mill would bring to the local economy. For others, it’s not a welcome change. Director/producer Suzan Beraza and producer Michelle Hill live in the vicinity of the proposed Pinon Ridge Uranium Mill, giving them a personal stake and intimate access to others who stand to be affected by the project.
Filed under Documentary, Film, In the Works
Coming to theatres next Friday, September 2: RESURRECT DEAD: THE MYSTERY OF THE TOYNBEE TILES
Jon Foy emerged as a director to watch after debuting his investigation into a decades long mystery earlier this year at Sundance – where he also picked up the jury award for best directing in a doc. The film has screened at numerous notable festivals in the months since and now comes to NYC’s IFC Center to begin its theatrical run.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Dear Documentary Filmmakers: A chorus of talking heads in agreement can weaken your film rather than bolster your argument.
While I’ve touched upon my general views on talking heads before, this DDF is less about talking heads and more about how you make a point. The point you’re trying to make could be taking a particular side in a controversial issue, or it could be something much less argumentative, such as establishing a sense of your protagonist’s personality via interviews with friends and family. How you choose to make that point can mean the difference between swaying a skeptical viewer to your way of thinking or pushing her completely to the opposite viewpoint.
Filed under Dear Documentary Filmmakers, Documentary, Film
Coming to cable as part of the Oprah Winfrey Network’s Documentary Club this Thursday, August 25: LIFE 2.0
I previously wrote about Jason Springarn-Koff’s documentary on Second Life, which world premiered at Sundace last year, here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to theatres (as part of the International Documentary Association’s Oscar-qualifying DocuWeeks) at NYC’s IFC Center and LA’s Laemmle Sunset 5 this Friday, August 26: PHNOM PENH LULLABY
Director Pawel Kloc’s debut – a raw portrait of a sorely mismatched couple – has screened at Krakow, Visions du Reel, Hot Docs, and Sheffield.
I included the film in my coverage of Hot Docs here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
