Site Archive
MassArt’s Summer Film School, 2010Written by David Tames on June 10, 2010
Filed Under Art, Camera, Documentary, Editing, Events & Screenings, Filmmaking
Summer is upon us and I would like to remind you there is still time to register for most of the Summer Film School classes at MassArt. If you don’t live in the Boston area, MassArt is offering an affordable residential option... Continue Reading...
Notables of the Noughties: 35 documentary films, 2000-2009Written by David Tames on January 4, 2010
Filed Under Documentary, Films, Sticky
It’s a special time that comes around every ten years in which we take a moment to reflect back on the past decade and make our “favorite” and “best-of” lists. It was a good decade for documentary films,... Continue Reading...
Seven RSS feeds of interest to New England documentary filmmakersWritten by David Tames on November 7, 2009
Filed Under Documentary, Web
Here are seven RSS feeds that I think will be of interest to New England documentary filmmakers. These suggestions come out of the discussion that took place today during theSocial Media Boot Camp for Film Professionals with Sean Fitzroy... Continue Reading...
Sixty-seven excellent documentaries available through NetflixWritten by David Tames on August 28, 2009
Filed Under Documentary, Featured, Films
Students and friends often ask me for suggestions on what documentaries I recommend watching, and they are often frustrated that many of my suggestions are not easily obtainable. Many classic documentaries are hard to find: they are... Continue Reading...
Flying takes documentary form to new heightsWritten by David Tames on August 27, 2009
Filed Under Documentary, Filmmakers, Filmmaking, Films, Sticky
Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman is an amazing six-hour, six-part, documentary of epic proportions by Jennifer Fox in which we follow the filmmaker as she travels around the world asking her women friends how they construct and... Continue Reading...
Herskovits at the heart of blacknessWritten by David Tames on July 29, 2009
Filed Under Documentary, Events & Screenings, Films
This new documentary examines the role of anthropologist Melville J. Herskovits (1895-1963) in American history and asks important questions about the politics of scholarship and knowledge as a social construct. Herskovits, a controversial... Continue Reading...
Comparison of four professional LED lighting instruments under $1KWritten by David Tames on July 19, 2009
Filed Under Camera, Documentary, Filmmaking, Gadgets and Devices, Lighting, Reviews
Over the past couple of years I’ve had a chance to use or take a close look at various LED lighting instruments available in the marketplace. Today you will find lots of inexpensive lights suitable for on-camera use available... Continue Reading...
Two documentary classes at MassArt this summerWritten by David Tames on April 12, 2009
Filed Under Documentary, Filmmaking, Video Production
I’m teaching two courses this summer through MassArt Professional and Continuing Education. Interested in documentary video? Documentary Video Boot Camp will give you the foundation you need to get started. Is there a documentary... Continue Reading...
Tom Robotham talks about his Blender LED lightWritten by David Tames on February 9, 2009
Filed Under Camera, Documentary, Interviews, Lighting
LED lighting is changing the way we light, especially run-and-go documentary. There are several units on the market including lights from Zylight, Litepanels, and the new Blender light, designed by Tom Robotham. Several months ago... Continue Reading...
David Leitner is blogging from Sundance againWritten by David Tames on January 21, 2009
Filed Under Art, Film Festivals, Filmmaking
David Leitner is blogging from Sundance again (this marks his fourth year) once a day, Sunday to Saturday. Leitner is known for his informed, sometimes irreverent perspective on the art, technology, and business of independent film,... Continue Reading...


