Tag: Documentary Film

Classic, Movie Review

A Fitting Tribute to a Legend in the documentary “Burt Reynolds: The Last Interview”

Burt Reynolds: The Last Interview Rating: 9/10 Director and Writer: Rick Pamplin Style: Documentary Time: 103 minutes Trailer: www.imdb.com/video/vi4087333913 Review by Mike Szymanski The first time I was lucky enough to meet Burt Reynolds and interview him as an entertainment journalist, he sized me up and guessed my age and said, “You probably made out during ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’ “ I blushed and recalled my … Continue reading A Fitting Tribute to a Legend in the documentary “Burt Reynolds: The Last Interview”

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Arts

Getting Real ‘22: Flipping the Frame Conference Program Announced

The International Documentary Association (IDA) announced today that Getting Real ‘22, its biennial convening for documentary practitioners, will be held both in-person in Los Angeles and with a virtual audience from all around the world next month from September 27-29. The Getting Real ’22 conference will approach documentary’s foundational quandaries from a new thematic perspective: Flipping the Frame. Traditional power dynamics — between funder and filmmaker, documentarian and … Continue reading Getting Real ‘22: Flipping the Frame Conference Program Announced

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Arts, Movie Review

If You Dream of Getting into The Industry, This is a Must-See: ‘Movie Money CONFIDENTIAL

Movie Money CONFIDENTIAL Rating: 10/10 Director and Writer: Rick Pamplin. Style: Documentary Time: 101 minutes by Mike Szymanski This is a subject I know a lot about. Not only have I taken a lot of classes about the film industry, and have two bookcases full of dusty books about breaking into the business, but I’ve watched the plethora of how-to documentaries that parse out secrets … Continue reading If You Dream of Getting into The Industry, This is a Must-See: ‘Movie Money CONFIDENTIAL

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Arts

“Royalty Free” Tells of Making The World A better Place Through Music And A Dream

By Sherletta Germain  “Royalty Free” is a story of Kevin McCloud and his ability to make the world a better place through his composition of music. I really enjoyed the film because it didn’t just show one layer of who Kevin is. The film showed the ups and downs; the good versus the bad . Kevin’s career was interesting in how he kind of accidentally … Continue reading “Royalty Free” Tells of Making The World A better Place Through Music And A Dream

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Healthy Living, Movie Review

The Need to Grow A Life Transforming Film

By Vernon Nickerson Sometimes the best independent films are life-transforming. Other times watching and listening to an exceptionally well-told story makes the heart sing. From the collaborative team of Rob Herring (Writer-Director) and Ryan Wirick (Director), The Need to Grow is that film. The subtitle, “Save the SOIL, Save the WORLD,” summarizes an intimate journey of a mother and Girl Scout Troup leader (Ms. Monica … Continue reading The Need to Grow A Life Transforming Film

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Arts, Movie Review

Why Haven’t You Had The Luxury Of Discovering This Cool Band? This Doc Tells It All

By Mike Szymanski Luxury, had I known of them in the 1990s, would have become a favorite band of mine in my youth had I known about them. Their influences were the same as mine that I loved as a young teen, when the parents of the up-and-coming band members were giving their children albums from KISS, and Queen, and the Beatles. What may have … Continue reading Why Haven’t You Had The Luxury Of Discovering This Cool Band? This Doc Tells It All

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Healthy Living

An Anti-Vaccine Film Targeted to Black Americans Spreads False Information

By ©Kaiser Health News When a filmmaker asked medical historian Naomi Rogers to appear in a documentary, the Yale professor didn’t blink. She had done these “talking head” interviews many times before. She assumed her comments would end up in a straightforward documentary that addressed some of the most pressing concerns of the pandemic, such as the legacy of racism in medicine and how that … Continue reading An Anti-Vaccine Film Targeted to Black Americans Spreads False Information

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Arts, Movie Review, Social Issues

“Walking while Black L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” – A MUST SEE FILM for Our 21st Century

By Vernon Nickerson Full disclosure: I want the planet to watch this entire documentary from beginning to end as many times as needed so that no human being in America forgets. Specifically, we must never forget the history of our current pandemic of violence at the hands of people who, once upon a time, were universally believed to keep the peace, even when everything else … Continue reading “Walking while Black L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” – A MUST SEE FILM for Our 21st Century

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Arts

Acclaimed PBS Television Series ‘POV’ Announces 34th Season, Reaffirming Public Media as a Platform for the People

Powerful points of view into immigration, economic inequality and racial justice—more than half directed by people of color and women, with a spotlight on Latinx cinema Season premieres on July 5 with CJ Hunt’s The Neutral Ground—all films available streaming with free educational resources POV returns to PBS in July with its 34th season, a slate of films that reaffirm public media’s vital role as … Continue reading Acclaimed PBS Television Series ‘POV’ Announces 34th Season, Reaffirming Public Media as a Platform for the People

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Movie Review

2021 Slamdance Film Festival Review Of “Bleeding Audio”: It Is The Holy Grail Of Alternative Punk Band biography…And So Much More!

By Vernon Nickerson Chelsea Christer’s reality drama-documentary “Bleeding Audio” will be a hot ticket for fans of fan favorite punk rockers “The Matches” as soon as tickets are available. If, like most feature length films in the COVID era, it is streamed, that platform had best be prepared to be shredded. Officially, “Bleeding Audio” is the deep, wide and multilayered story of an Oakland California … Continue reading 2021 Slamdance Film Festival Review Of “Bleeding Audio”: It Is The Holy Grail Of Alternative Punk Band biography…And So Much More!

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Movie Review

“Through The Night” Film Review

By Liisa Cohen “Through The Night”, directed and produced by Loira Limal, captured my heart and attention. Whoa! What is Love? This heart warming and deeply moving film captures the life and soul of an exceptional woman. “Through The Night” is an intimate cinema verité portrait of three working mothers whose lives all intersect at a 24-hour daycare center: a mother working the overnight shift … Continue reading “Through The Night” Film Review

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Arts

AVA DuVERNAY JOINS AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF OSCAR CONTENDER ‘A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION’ NEW SHORT DOCUMENTARY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-DOCS, CO-DIRECTORS BEN PROUDFOOT, KRIS BOWERS

NEW VIDEO RELEASED OF DuVERNAY & BOWERS IN-CONVERSATION FILM TO HAVE FESTIVAL DEBUT AT SUNDANCE 2021 TOMORROWFULL FILM NOW STREAMING ON NYTIMES.COM The new short subject documentary A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION tells the story of virtuoso jazz pianist and film composer Kris Bowers as he tracks his family’s lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Directed by … Continue reading AVA DuVERNAY JOINS AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF OSCAR CONTENDER ‘A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION’ NEW SHORT DOCUMENTARY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-DOCS, CO-DIRECTORS BEN PROUDFOOT, KRIS BOWERS

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Arts

Carrie Lozano Joins Sundance Institute as Director, Documentary Film Program

Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker & Journalist to Lead Support of Nonfiction Field   Sundance Institute has announced that Carrie Lozano will helm its Documentary Film Program, succeeding interim Director Kristin Feeley and prior Director Tabitha Jackson. As Documentary Film Program Director, Lozano will elevate and support nonfiction filmmakers worldwide at all stages of creating and distributing new cinematic work. She will also work to advance and … Continue reading Carrie Lozano Joins Sundance Institute as Director, Documentary Film Program

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Movie Review

Pot Luck film A Fresh, Versatile Perspective On The Cannabis Industry

By Joanna Panayi From Emmy-nominated and award-winning filmmaker Jane Wells, Pot Luck, is a 3 Generations production narrated by Robin Quivers. This documentary takes us on an enlightening adventure across the Colorado state, exploring the normality of the legalization of cannabis. Pot luck is an insightful analysis of the legalization of cannabis’s direct, cultural, and structural impacts on society. The documentary focuses on the pros … Continue reading Pot Luck film A Fresh, Versatile Perspective On The Cannabis Industry

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Arts, Movie Review

“The Prison Within”: The Hurt People. Hurt Other People — Empathy Can Safe Lives And Heal Communities

By Sanyukta Thakare The Prison Within is about taking a long and hard look at yourself and separating you from your actions to gain and better perspective and take on responsibility. The documentary explores the destructive impact untreated trauma has on individuals and communities through the powerful stories of survivors of violent crimes and prisoners incarcerated for murder in San Quentin prison. As a viewer, … Continue reading “The Prison Within”: The Hurt People. Hurt Other People — Empathy Can Safe Lives And Heal Communities

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Arts

2020 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Top Prizes Go To Minari, Boys State, Epicentro, and Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness  Minari, Crip Camp, The Reason I Jump, and Identifying Features (Sin Señas Particulares) Win Audience Awards   After 10 days and 128 feature films, the 2020 Sundance Film Festival’s Awards Ceremony took place tonight, with jurors presenting 28 prizes for feature filmmaking. Honorees, named in total below, represent new achievements in … Continue reading 2020 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED

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Arts

The Journey And History Of The Blond Haired Boy

By Monteque Pope-Le Beau The Amber Light Makes Its US Premiere at Santa Barbara International Film Festival Q&A With Director Adam Park To Follow Screenings   “‘As might be expected, the inspiration for this film came after a rather enlightening evening spent with Dave Broom at his home.” Director Adam Park Director Adam Park’s wonderful documentary “The Amber Light” is a story about Scottish whiskey, … Continue reading The Journey And History Of The Blond Haired Boy

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Arts

Northern Banner Acquires Canadian Distribution Of 2020 Slamdance’s World Premiere Doc SHOOT TO MARRY

    Heartbroken Filmmaker Steve Markle Focuses His Camera On Women To Film A Doc And Find The Love Of His Life.   The Slamdance Film Festival will host the World Premiere of the rom-com doc Shoot To Marry, the long-awaited follow-up to Canadian filmmaker Steve Markle’s cult classic Camp Hollywood. The documentary is part of the Breakouts Selection, which showcases films by feature directors who … Continue reading Northern Banner Acquires Canadian Distribution Of 2020 Slamdance’s World Premiere Doc SHOOT TO MARRY

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Arts, Movie Review

All Aboard for Shoot to Marry, Steve Markle’s 21st Century ‘Love Train’

By Vernon Nickerson “Love is beautiful and painful…what else is there?” Thankfully, there is also Shoot to Marry, a 2020 Slamdance Film Festival selection. Written, produced, and directed by documentarian Steve Markle, Shoot to Marry is a quirky video memoir of one man’s journey (Markle) in search of a life partner.  From a home base in Toronto, Steve introduces the audience to an array of … Continue reading All Aboard for Shoot to Marry, Steve Markle’s 21st Century ‘Love Train’

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Arts

2020 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: 118 FEATURE FILMS ANNOUNCED

Drawn From a Record High of 15,100 Submissions Across The Program, Including 3,853 Features, Selected Films Represent 27 Countries    The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the showcase of new independent feature films selected across all categories for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, from January 23–February 2, 2020. The Sundance … Continue reading 2020 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: 118 FEATURE FILMS ANNOUNCED

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