what (not) to doc

Coming to NYC’s Quad Cinema today, Friday, August 2 and to HBO as part of their Summer Docs series this Monday, August 5: CASTING BY

Tom Donahue’s tribute to the underappreciated role of the casting director made its debut last year at Toronto. It went on to screen at the New York Film Festival, Los Angeles, Sarasota, Montclair, Denver, Cleveland, Ashland, Provincetown, and RiverRun, among other events.

Little understood and often dismissed as an afterthought – perhaps because of its long primary association with women in the role – casting has never achieved the recognition that other duties behind the camera have enjoyed. As the last section of Donahue’s film points out, there is no Oscar for best casting, a contentious subject addressed here by both proponents of such an award – a parade of A-list stars who credit casting directors with their careers – and opponents – well, mostly only Directors Guild of America president Taylor Hackford, who argues, unconvincingly, that the director is ultimately the decision maker on the cast, negating the need for a separate award. The numerous examples provided in Donahue’s love letter to the art of casting put the lie to Hackford’s assertion, demonstrating how casting directors like Lynn Stalmaster and Marion Dougherty left an indelible mark on the films and television programs on which they worked. Indeed, Dougherty’s story is wisely used as the thread that pulls Donahue’s film together, saving it from simply being a nostalgic (albeit engaging) series of inside Hollywood anecdotes. Recognized as a pioneer in the craft, Dougherty developed her eye for talent in New York City, away from the Hollywood studio system and its tendency to typecast, helping to give scores of unlikely and now celebrated actors their shot to transition from stage to screen, while also mentoring future generations of women to take on the job. She’s the heart of the film, and her storied career may very well make viewers take special notice of the controversial “casting by” credit the next time they watch a film or television program.

Coming to theatres this Friday, August 2: RISING FROM ASHES

TC Johnstone’s look at the development of a Rwandan athletic team made its debut at last year’s Hamptons. Its fest circuit has included Denver, Bahamas, Dallas, Austin, RiverRun, and Santa Barbara.

At the outset of the Rwandan genocide, the possession of a simple bicycle as a means of escape literally meant the difference between life and death for many. More than a decade after the violence, the rebirth of competitive cycling in the nation may hold the promise of reconciliation. At least that’s the hope of Tom Ritchie, one of the creators of the mountain bike, and an initially hesitant Jock Boyer, a former Tour de France competitor, who set out to form and train the Rwandan National Cycling Team, composed of both Hutus and Tutsis. Johnstone’s inspirational and beautifully shot film chronicles their six-year mission to get the team in shape to compete at the London Olympics, profiling various athletes and the personal impact their country’s tragic past has had on them. Demonstrating the power of sports to bridge deep-set cultural and historical divides, the talented young men bond as a team, across ethnic lines, at times even poignantly sacrificing their own glory for the good of a would-be traditional “enemy” turned ally.

Coming to CNN this Thursday, August 1: OUR NIXON

Penny Lane’s behind-the-scenes tour through Nixon’s administration had its world premiere at Rotterdam earlier this year. Additional fest slots included SXSW, New Directors/New Films, Los Angeles, Ann Arbor, Nantucket, Seattle, AFI Docs, and Traverse City, among others. The film will also receive a national theatrical rollout beginning at the end of August via Cinedigm.

I previously wrote about the doc out of SXSW here.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, July 30: RADIO UNNAMEABLE

Paul Lovelace and Jessica Wolfson’s portrait of a WBAI radio legend debuted at Full Frame last year. Its fest circuit also included berths at Silverdocs, Big Sky, BAMcinemaFest, and Sarasota, among others. After a limited theatrical release, the doc comes to iTunes, XBOX, and Playstation via FilmBuff.

I previously wrote about the film out of Silverdocs here.

Coming to NYC’s Film Forum this Wednesday, July 31: SMASH & GRAB: THE STORY OF THE PINK PANTHERS

Havana Marking’s exploration of the notorious jewel thief gang had its world premiere at IDFA last year. It went on to screen at Sheffield and the East End Film Festival.

I previously wrote about the doc out of Amsterdam here.