Recommended Documentaries

Sugar Man blew my mind.

In reply to Jason Boone's post on Sat 13 Oct 2012 :

For those of us who enjoy the work of Ken Burns, "City of Gold" was the film that deeply inspired him in his youth as to how still images could be fully incorporated into the documentary genre.

This film is what inspired Ken Burns to incorporate what came to be known as the "Ken Burns Effect" so extensively in his work.

Also available to view on the excellent National Film Board of Canada website

Nice moment at 5:13, the first instance of the "Ken Burns effect," it's a near-seamless dissolve from a live footage tilt-and-pan to a tilt-and-pan across a still.

Another nice KBE at 12:49, with a tilt-and-pan across the photo, before cutting to a wide shot of the full photo.

I agree Summers, it was a revelation to stumble across this pioneering film, which still has some of the finest examples of the technique I have seen. A real master class.

Those are two great exemplars you mentioned. And it's interesting how at 13:15 it's a jump cut to the wide shot in its entirety, which is done very well.

And John is correct. The entire catalogue of the National Film Board of Canada is really quite a treasure trove of free clinics with the masters.

That was really great- thanks for posting it. What a gem having that old guy nattering with his mates with a saw in his hand. I love the shooting that they did up there in 1958 and plan on channeling it.

I originally saw this in school and still feel that it is quite near perfection.

In reply to Jason Osder's post on Thu 7 Feb 2013 :

Beautiful film!

Also available here in a higher rez version.....

http://www.nfb.ca/film/paul_tomkowicz_street_railway_switchman

What a treasure trove. I enjoyed the switchman too. And this one about Paul Anka by the same guy that made City of Gold Wolf Koenig http://www.nfb.ca/film/lonely_boy

They are all shot so well, super solid and they hold their shots forever which has to be every editors dream and a great reminder to do the same.

another great NFB film, Corral by Colin Low

http://www.nfb.ca/film/corral

French legend Agnes Varda, streaming for free at Doc Alliance till February 17th...

I'm addicted to the Canadian National Film Board archive. Thanks for hooking me up. This one is a 15 minute gem that we watched with our daughter. Its about a family in canada with 12 kids....12 kids.......yikes!

It's Just Better

Keeping the Higgins clan entertained. A job well done.

BTW the NFB also has a free iPad/iPhone App which you can use to stream movies to your TV

http://www.nfb.ca/free-downloads/nfb-ipad-app/

Done.

I'm really inspired by the shooting in these older c1950/60's short films. They're shot so deliberately and they seem to hold their shots forever (the number one criticism from every documentary editor). I'm guessing part of the reason is that in the 50's the only folk that were commissioned to go out and shoot on film were the ones that had really done their time in the trenches. I'm lapping up Director/DP Wolf Koenigs work.

The Area...Amazing and powerful work from the good folks behind "The Grid" project, based out of Chicago. Dont know who did what on this one, but Brian Ashby who did scrappers was one of the people involved. So gritty and real, and I love the style and the voices that are featured, definitely check this out...https://vimeo.com/59895906

wow John, thanks so much for posting the "Landfill Harmonic" trailer. Incredibly inspiring.

Documentary/Metafilm/Musical/Ididn'tknowthisshithappend/itsbizarre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQhIRBxbchU

see dir.cut/longversion

The Act of Killing which I saw on Sunday at NDND is excellent filmmaking though I have major qualms about giving voice to the perpetrators without any voices of the victims. In a way, it felt like propaganda for the victors with only a few moments that reveal the insanity, e.g. the scene with the talk show host.

Here is a full set of links to the seminal 70's BBC series of John Berger's "Ways of Seeing", directed by Mike Dibb.

In reply to Robert Goodman's post on Tue 26 Mar 2013 :

Word around the campfire says, that they will start production off part two soon... the victim's point of view

Not sure that's true. Given this was 7 years in process and it's still not safe there for victims. I think the thought is there to do something.

Fascinating film about American Roma, more commonly refereed to as "Gypsies". There are quite a few documentaries about Roma including Roma in America, but this is perhaps the only one made by a Roma filmmaker.

You can see the full version at www.vimeo.com/ondemand/4thnail

Here's a classic for anyone who loves the movies: Angela Christlieb & Stephen Kijak's CINEMANIA

Don't just take my word for it:

We loved it! These characters in Cinemania, have clearly crossed over some line and can no longer be considered normal or sane. After watching your film, we are ready to cross that line ourselves. (D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus)

It's for free on Vimeo, but if you enjoy it please make a contribution to their tip jar

More information in hidden section

http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/oppenheimer-developing-act-of-killing-follow-up/5054716.article?blocktitle=Latest-News&contentID=1846In reply to Robert Goodman's post on Thu 4 Apr 2013 :