Tag Archives: documentary

What to watch this month: ‘House of Cards,’ ‘Daredevil,’ ‘Bates Motel,’ ‘The Americans’ & more

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Spring is fast approaching as we enter the month of March and typically this would mean that most shows begin their sprint to the May sweeps and then hibernate until fall. That’s still true, but today we live in a different TV landscape where networks are prone to promote and debut new and returning series throughout the year, not just in September and midseason. Throw in streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and this March all of a sudden is the new September in TV land. Preview the many must-see shows premiering this month after the break. Continue reading What to watch this month: ‘House of Cards,’ ‘Daredevil,’ ‘Bates Motel,’ ‘The Americans’ & more →

Steve Jobs documentary examines the multifaceted trendsetter

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“Bold. Brilliant. Brutal.” That’s the tagline for Alex Gibney’s documentary focusing on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Gibney, who directed the critically-acclaimed HBO scientology doc Going Clear, picks away at Jobs’ sheen he accumulated over the years as he helped build Apple into a major technological innovating machine. By the end of the trailer you get a sense that Gibney aims to shine a light on the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding Jobs’ rise to iconic status and yes, emotions run high. Apple exec Eddy Cue publicly denounced the film calling it “an inaccurate and mean-spirited view of my friend.”

Apple fanboys and fangirls will get their opportunity to conjure an opinion about Gibney’s doc when Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine hits theatres and digital platforms (including iTunes and On Demand) September 4.

“This is a story that’s amazing,” Jobs exclaims in the trailer. “Its got theft, stolen property, extortion, there’s sex in there. Somebody should make a movie out of this!” It’s already been done…and then there’s this doc…and coming this fall is another movie based on his life. Steve, whether or not you stand by them up there in the clouds, movies are being made about you and your wish is coming true.

New documentary explores “the art of running a TV show”

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If you watch a ton of television like I do, you must be at least a little interested in how it’s all made. Well, a new documentary is here to satiate your curiosity. It’s called Showrunners and it explores the creative teams and decisions that go into the making of a formidable TV program. The docu features exclusive interviews with some of the most successful producers, writers, and creators around including J.J. Abrams (Lost), Jane Espenson (Once Upon a Time), Hart Hanson (Bones), Mike Kelley (Revenge), Robert and Michelle King (The Good Wife), Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers), Jonathan Nolan (Person of Interest), Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman (Fringe), Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory), Joss Whedon (Firefly), and many more.

Director Des Doyle’s Showrunners promises to be an intriguing and informative look behind the scenes at what it’s like to build television drama and comedy, from a percolating idea to production to premiere. Learn more about the doc here, or head over to iTunes today to stream and watch.

‘Watch the Throne’ documentary unearthed by creative Robert Lopuski

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Though this docu dropped over a year ago, Paradigm Magazine’s recent interview with filmmaker Robert Lopuski successfully launched the ten-minute behind-the-scenes look at the making of Kanye West and Jay-Z collab album into the wild for the masses to finally witness. The interview, which can be read in full here, tells the story of how Lopuski randomly bumped into West in New York City and how that act of fate fashioned the opportunity for the filmmaker to collaborate with the musician in Sydney, Australia during the production of Watch the Throne. Lopuski was forced to shoot most of the video with cheap Flip cams but the result is quite grand. West is known for his secrecy, and this is an exciting (even if very brief) glimpse into his life as he’s amongst friends (Jay, Beyonce, Russell Crowe, other producers) and making music. The best part, however, is when we get to see Kanye’s life-long mentor Jay in a rapper’s predicament as he practices his verse from “Why I Love You”; this starts at the 7:30 mark.

Lopuski shines a candid light on the typically private life of these rappers and the final product is definitely worth a look. The video attempts to bring things full circle as the WTT footage is mixed with archived clips from the early days when Jay was helping producer Kanye elevate his game as a solo rapper. Says Lopuski, “In the world of hip-hop, anybody who does something different is a genius, anybody who does something successful is making history; you know it all becomes these exaggerated, bombastic endeavors. And so, for me, I was not interested in that; I was more interested in the smaller moments. The quiet power of talent.”

[Via Paradigm Magazine]

‘South Park’ docu goes behind-the-scenes with creators Parker & Stone

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Tonight (10/9) Comedy Central is airing a South Park documentary called “6 Days to Air: the making of South Park.” Show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone allowed documentarian Arthur Bradford to sneak a peek behind the scenes at the making of a full 22-minute episode. The doc was shot over the course of three months at the South Park Studios in Los Angeles. According to the press release, “Viewers will get a look at Parker and Stone’s thought process as they approach a new episode and the 24/7 grind they subject themselves to each time the show is in production. The documentary also includes in-depth interviews with Parker and Stone about their working partnership and reflections on highlights from their careers, such as the making of the original short, “The Spirit of Christmas,” as well as their memorable appearance at the 2000 Oscars when they walked the red carpet in drag.”

“We wanted to make something that would appeal to both the hard-core fans and the casual viewers,” said Bradford. “Trey and Matt are two of the most interesting people I know and the way they make ‘South Park’ is completely fascinating and inspiring.”

Hop after the break to watch Parker and SNL player Bill Hader voice characters from the recent episode “You’re Getting Old” (it’s a riot!) and click here to watch some more previews.

6 Days to Air: the making of South Park airs tonight–that is Sunday October 9 at 10PM on Comedy Central.

[Via SouthParkStudios] Continue reading ‘South Park’ docu goes behind-the-scenes with creators Parker & Stone →

Documentary trailer: Showrunners

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Are you an aspiring writer, producer, or director? If so, you’re not going to want to miss this upcoming documentary titled Showrunners. The feature length documentary film takes you behind the scenes and into the minds of TV’s most popular showrunners. It features in-depth interviews with showrunners, actors, network execs, casting directors, and many others with intention to explore the making of modern American television.

According to the official Facebook fan page participants include Damon Lindelof (Lost), David Shore (House), Jeff Pinkner & J.H. Wyman (Fringe), David Eick (Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome), Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Caprica), Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy), Robert & Michelle King (The Good Wife), Dean Devlin (Leverage), Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus Vengeance), Mark Schwahn (One Tree Hill), Janet Tamaro (Rizzoli & Isles), Pam Davis – writer (House), James Duff (The Closer), Mike Royce (Men of a Certain Age), Matthew Carnahan (House of Lies), Russell T. Davies (Torchwood), Anthony LaPaglia – actor (Without a Trace), Jamie Tarses (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Mad Love), Michael Wright – Senior VP TNT/TBS, and Ben Silverman – creator/producer (Ugly Betty, The Tudors).

Directed by Irish filmmaker Des Doyle, Showrunners releases next year. Enjoy the nearly three-and-a-half minute trailer that sits above.

BBC presents another fascinating look at our world with ‘Human Planet’

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After examining our world’s oceans in The Blue Planet (2001) and the intricacies of nature in Planet Earth (2006), BBC is preparing to unveil its next big documentary that “marvels at mankind’s incredible relationship with nature in the world today.”  It’s called Human Planet.

Uniquely in the animal kingdom, humans have managed to adapt and thrive in every environment on Earth. Each episode takes you to the extremes of our planet: the arctic, mountains, oceans, jungles, grasslands, deserts, rivers and even the urban jungle. Here you will meet people who survive by building complex, exciting and often mutually beneficial relationships with their animal neighbours and the hostile elements of the natural world.

The production crew behind the upcoming doc filmed in around 80 locations using state-of-the-art HD cameras.  So you can expect the visuals to be stunningly beautiful, but isn’t that the norm for BBC/Discovery documentary series?

Human Planet will air in eight parts.  It began broadcasing January 13 on BBC One in the UK and an international release will follow shortly after the series ends there.  Watch the trailer for it above, and look after the break for two more sneak peeks.

[Via Gizmodo] Continue reading BBC presents another fascinating look at our world with ‘Human Planet’ →

YouTube documentary ‘Life in a Day’ premieres January 27

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Remember that crowd-sourced documentary film attached to filmmakers Kevin Macdonald and Ridley Scott I was telling you about back in early July?  Well it’s almost complete and ready for us to enjoy!  Here’s a quick refresher if you need it.  Life in a Day is described as “a historic cinematic experiment to document a single day on Earth.”  Director Macdonald and producer Scott asked people all around the world to film their day on July 24, 2010.  Over 80,000 video clips of people’s lives were submitted (over 4500 hours of footage), and a team of editors managed to whittle it all down into a 90 minute documentary film “that gives an honest and inspiring glimpse of our world.”  Of the 80,000 clips originally submitted, 1,125 of them made it into the final cut.  One of these chosen clips is embedded above; the beautifully shot clip called “Slim Up” was shot by by Toniu Xou and Patricia Martinez del Hoyoa of Spain and features a young girl climbing a human castle in the small town of San Jaume dels Domenys in the Spanish province of Tarragona.  This is just a sneak peak into what the film will encompass.  The film “really gives you a flavor of what it was like to be alive on 24th July 2010,” says Macdonald.

Life in a Day will premiere January 27 at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and it will be broadcasted live on YouTube for everyone to see that day at 8PM EST.  Following the premiere the director of the Festival will conduct an interactive interview with Macdonald and the 20 top contributors of the film.  Starting Monday, January 24 you can submit questions and maybe yours will get picked when the interview is streamed after the film.

Bookmark the Life in a Day YouTube channel and check back there on the 27th at 8PM to watch what promises to be an exciting and curious look into a single day of humanity.  Look after the break to watch a recent and informative interview with Macdonald and editor Joe Walker.

Update: National Geographic has partnered up with YouTube to acquire the rights to bring the doc to the States. If you missed Life in a Day when it streamed online, it’s expected that Nat Geo will release it in theatres on July 24, 2011; yes, that is exactly one year after all the footage was shot.  A DVD release with bonus content will follow.

[Via YouTubeBlog; Deadline] Continue reading YouTube documentary ‘Life in a Day’ premieres January 27 →

Documentary teaser: “Turning Into Gods”

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From the inquisitive mind of filmmaker Jason Silva comes Turning Into Gods, “a new feature length documentary exploring mankind’s journey to ‘play jazz with the universe’… it is a story of our ultimate potential, the reach of our intelligence, the scope of our scientific and engineering abilities and the transcendent quality of our heroic and noble calling.”  “Featuring interviews with the world’s most interesting minds, these luminaries will paint for us a picture of the world beyond the looking glass. The world we are creating.”

Sounds interesting, hm?  Silva’s asking the tough questions and one sticks out: What is the meaning of life?  Watch the teaser trailer above to get a taste of what’s to come in this riveting, thought-provoking doc that’s “coming soon.”

[Via Gizmodo; Vimeo]

Want to take part in the Whedon/Spurlock Comic Con doc?

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Back in February E! News spilt the details of a Comic Con documentary to be developed by Joss Whedon (Dollhouse) and Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me).  Now we have an official press release that instructs how you can take part in the doc.  Here’s the pertinent details:

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, producer Thomas Tull, comic book icon Stan Lee, writer/producer Joss Whedon, and film guru Harry Knowles have joined together to bring audiences the feature-length documentary COMIC-CON EPISODE FOUR: A FAN’S HOPE – a documentary celebration of all things con-tastic!

We are looking to cast original, eccentric, funny, touching, and mildly obsessive people that will capture the excitement, enthusiasm, joy, and passion of comic book, anime, sci-fi, and fantasy lovers everywhere.

If Comic-Con International will be the highlight of your year and you have a story to share about your passion, let us know. Join the fellowship, take part in this epic documentary, and write us at ComicConDoc@gmail.com. Include your name, phone number, a picture, and tell us your story.

Do you think you have what it takes to star in a such a doc?  Then watchareya waiting for?  Send that email off to the powers that be and keep your fingers crossed!  Look after the break for the full PR.

[Via AintItCoolNews] Continue reading Want to take part in the Whedon/Spurlock Comic Con doc? →

“NY-Z” is a beautifully shot documentary featuring rapper Jay-Z

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Got fifteen minutes to shave off the day?  Sit back and watch this short documentary featuring rapper Jay-Z.

Continuing to collaborate with creative visionaries, ABSOLUT Vodka presents this new 15-minute short film featuring Jay-Z. The documentary, titled NY-Z, was directed by Danny Clinch and paints a rare portrait of the global hip-hop icon. With unprecedented access to Jay-Z the days and moments leading up to, and after, his legendary September 11th benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, Danny Clinch gives us an intimate glimpse into Jay-Z: his childhood, his motivation as an artist, his passion for music, and his muse, New York.

[Thanks, Tim S.]

BBC’s ‘Life’ captures nature like you’ve never seen it before

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Using camera techniques like time lapse and shooting at 2000 FPS, a documentary film crew captured all kinds of animals and plants in ways you’ve likely never seen before.  In fact, they managed to shoot the growth of plants and actions of animals for the very first time on camera.  Embedded above is a two minute preview.  Life is an 11-part series that premiere on Discovery March 21 at 8PM.

[Via Gizmodo]