Comments on: Ten Documentary Films http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/ "Everybody who cares for his art, seeks the essence of his own technique." -- Dziga Vertov (1922) Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:42:38 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David Tames http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-122908 David Tames Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:08:39 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-122908 kathryn, thanks for stopping by and sharing the link, it's very exciting that wiseman's films are finally on DVD and available at "personal" prices for sales to individuals. kathryn, thanks for stopping by and sharing the link, it’s very exciting that wiseman’s films are finally on DVD and available at “personal” prices for sales to individuals.

]]> By: kathryn ostermier http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-122572 kathryn ostermier Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:03:42 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-122572 hi lisa, i was just reading comments - i know it's been two years - but wanted you to know that fred wiseman has released some of his films on DVD, and they're available for purchase to home viewers. I had always wondered myself since i haven't been able to see some of his works. they're $30+. http://www.zipporah.com/calendar/press/9 cheers, kathryn hi lisa,
i was just reading comments – i know it’s been two years – but wanted you to know that fred wiseman has released some of his films on DVD, and they’re available for purchase to home viewers. I had always wondered myself since i haven’t been able to see some of his works. they’re $30+. http://www.zipporah.com/calendar/press/9
cheers,
kathryn

]]> By: david http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-28585 david Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:02:35 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-28585 Sometimes the fiction/doc distinction is valid, sometimes it's just academic. Bill Nichols has an interesting discussion in his book <a href="http://kino-eye.com/store.php/?item=detail/0253214696" rel="nofollow">Introduction to Documentary</a>" in which he argues there are two types of films, documentaries of wish fulfillment (what we commonly call narratives) and documentaries of social reality (what we commonly call documentaries). It's also interesting to note that the history of documentary is closely tied to the history of propaganda. Consider the work of Dziga Vertov and Sergei Eisenstein. Sometimes the fiction/doc distinction is valid, sometimes it’s just academic. Bill Nichols has an interesting discussion in his book Introduction to Documentary” in which he argues there are two types of films, documentaries of wish fulfillment (what we commonly call narratives) and documentaries of social reality (what we commonly call documentaries). It’s also interesting to note that the history of documentary is closely tied to the history of propaganda. Consider the work of Dziga Vertov and Sergei Eisenstein.

]]> By: Harry http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-28485 Harry Tue, 06 Feb 2007 01:45:35 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-28485 Excellent list. Thanks for differentiating Bowling for Columbine as a work of fiction. It's hard for me to watch knowing how many people were deceived by his 'nfortainment'. Excellent list. Thanks for differentiating Bowling for Columbine as a work of fiction. It’s hard for me to watch knowing how many people were deceived by his ‘nfortainment’.

]]> By: Barry Strongin http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-25553 Barry Strongin Wed, 17 Jan 2007 04:31:58 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-25553 Anything made by Chris Marker--especially Sans Soleil! Anything made by Chris Marker–especially Sans Soleil!

]]> By: david http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-11026 david Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:27:59 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-11026 Barbara, You asked about "joris iven’s “rain," I've not seen it, I will add it to my list. Thanks for the tip. Sorry we did not get a chance to catch up at PIFF, maybe sometime soon around MIT. Keeping to 10 films is tough, but I'll have to make another one soon, 10 other films :-) Barbara,

You asked about “joris iven’s “rain,” I’ve not seen it, I will add it to my list. Thanks for the tip. Sorry we did not get a chance to catch up at PIFF, maybe sometime soon around MIT. Keeping to 10 films is tough, but I’ll have to make another one soon, 10 other films :-)

]]> By: barbara http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-10622 barbara Sun, 08 Oct 2006 01:08:13 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-10622 hi dave, happy to find your blog...and glad you included marshall on your list. his writings found in gid's filing cabinet, his prespective on shooting documentary, blew me away. have you seen joris iven's "rain?" i saw it at harvard film archive libraries. i think it is on par with the your list (always tough to keep it to 10). an oldie but stunning. saw you at the plymouth film fest but did not get a chance to catch up. looking forward to keeping up via kino-eye. barbara (ic) hi dave,

happy to find your blog…and glad you included marshall on your list. his writings found in gid’s filing cabinet, his prespective on shooting documentary, blew me away.

have you seen joris iven’s “rain?” i saw it at harvard film archive libraries. i think it is on par with the your list (always tough to keep it to 10). an oldie but stunning.

saw you at the plymouth film fest but did not get a chance to catch up. looking forward to keeping up via kino-eye.

barbara (ic)

]]> By: anindita http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-8653 anindita Wed, 27 Sep 2006 07:31:57 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-8653 Hi! I am the Features ed of a mag called platform based in New Delhi, India. We have a segment called Life's Realities where we feature docu filmmakers frm around the world. If you would like us to feature your work then, please send us your synopsis at contribute@platform-mag.com Hi! I am the Features ed of a mag called platform based in New Delhi, India. We have a segment called Life’s Realities where we feature docu filmmakers frm around the world. If you would like us to feature your work then, please send us your synopsis at contribute@platform-mag.com

]]> By: Lisa Williams http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-5345 Lisa Williams Sun, 03 Sep 2006 06:47:00 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-5345 Ah, so that's what it is. Well, I'm glad I grabbed the chance to go see screenings of the few I've seen when I could. Ah, so that’s what it is. Well, I’m glad I grabbed the chance to go see screenings of the few I’ve seen when I could.

]]> By: david http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-4820 david Tue, 29 Aug 2006 03:18:23 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-4820 Many classic documetaries, including many of Frederick Wiseman’s films, are not available on home video because the bread-and-butter revenue comes from theatrical, institutional rentals, and broadcast. Once something is out on home video, a large percentage of viewers are going to be watching "free" copies of the film. For something of specialized interest, it's the rentals to schools that provides revenue. It's part of a channel strategy. That's my opinion. If you have a film that primarily makes money from institutional rentals and sales, home video would cannibalize those sales. Many classic documetaries, including many of Frederick Wiseman’s films, are not available on home video because the bread-and-butter revenue comes from theatrical, institutional rentals, and broadcast. Once something is out on home video, a large percentage of viewers are going to be watching “free” copies of the film. For something of specialized interest, it’s the rentals to schools that provides revenue. It’s part of a channel strategy. That’s my opinion. If you have a film that primarily makes money from institutional rentals and sales, home video would cannibalize those sales.

]]> By: Lisa Williams http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/comment-page-1/#comment-4811 Lisa Williams Mon, 28 Aug 2006 21:03:53 +0000 http://kino-eye.com/2006/08/27/10-documentary-films/#comment-4811 I love documentaries. I'm a Netflix subscriber mostly so that I can get access to documentaries I couldn't get at local video stores. There's one thing I've always wondered: it seems like it's not possible to get a DVD or VHS of Frederick Wiseman's documentaries. Do you know why this is, or if it will change? I love documentaries. I’m a Netflix subscriber mostly so that I can get access to documentaries I couldn’t get at local video stores.

There’s one thing I’ve always wondered: it seems like it’s not possible to get a DVD or VHS of Frederick Wiseman’s documentaries. Do you know why this is, or if it will change?

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