Recommended documentary viewing, ref: filmmaking

[miker]

I was highly influenced by the American Film Institute's "Visions of Light", even now when I compose a shot I think back to what it taught me (I direct, I am no cameraman) -- it gets across the grandiose scale of how cinema SHOULD be, ie justify the use of that big screen (or make do and tell a story in 4:3 video)

Also Hearts of Darkness, the making of Apocalypse Now is worth a watch to see the almost amateurish way some of it was shot.

And, of course, the respective Making Ofs each Star Wars film imprinted on me at an early age.

anyone else got anything else they would recommend?

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[deanl]

Hey there.

Check out the documentary about the making of 12 monkeys. I think its called The Hamster Factory. Thats very good.

Full Tilt Boogie is a good one too.

Despin out.

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[acdop]

There's a lot of useful books out there.
1. 'Masters of Light', Conversations with Contempory Cinematographers. D Schaefer & L Salvato.

2.'A Man With A Camera'. Nestor Almendros' autobiography.

3.'Itinerant Cameraman'. Walter Lassally

4.'Cinematography' Kris Malkiewicz

5.'Film Lighting' Ditto.

6.'Art of the Cinematographer'. Leonard Matlin.

Dozens of Focal Press books on lighting, cameras, sound, equipment, techniques, directing, writing, you name it. For down to earth, basic, and useful info on video lighting, I'd recomend 'Basics of Video Lighting' by Des Lyver and Graham Swainson. (Focal Press ISBN 0 240 514 149)

acdop

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[twister!]

So where can we get hold of 'Visions of Light'?

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[miker]

the AFI of course!

;-)

actually I taped it off channel4 I think, eons ago.

there was a docco on The History of Universal Horror (a pun on the film studio name) on Sky or similiar about a year ago which was really good, not sure what the actual title was but it was excellent. Anyone know what I'm talking about? The docco went on about how many early B&W horror had fixation with disfigurement etc cos of the veterans from first WW.

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[twister!]

But the AFI haven't exactly got a shop you can walk into...

I guess I'll just keep a look out for it on TV over the next few years...

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[miker]

http://www.blackstar.co.uk/video/item/7000000033480

don't say I'm never helpful

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[twister!]

Cheers!

Just bought it.

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[This message has been edited by twister! (edited November 14, 2001).]

[miker]

I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.

Didn't realise it was released in 1992, geesh!

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[the big lebowski]

Try and get hold of that series they did on Ch4, Movie Virgins I think it was called. Then you can see how much of an asshole Alex Jovy is! Have any of you seen Sorted? I went to see it because of that TV series just to see how it turned out. I came out ?5 poorer and confused!, how the hell did he
a) Get the budget, or
b) Get a Cinema release???!?!?

I stopped taking the film seriously when Blue Peter's Tim Vincent appeared as the the main characters dead brother!!!

Sorted: My Arse

The Dude



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