A new episode of The Hollywood Reporter‘s Behind the Screen podcast features the filmmakers behind The Social Dilemma, a seven-time Emmy-nominated documentary that examines the dark side of social media.
Released on Netflix, The Social Dilemma received Emmy nominations for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special, as well as in the categories for writing, directing, editing, cinematography, music and sound editing.
Director Jeff Orlowski, producer Larissa Rhodes, and editor Davis Coombe are featured in this Behind the Screen conversation.
“Political polarization has become the de-facto output of this [social media] technology and is a threat to our democracy. We can’t have ...
Released on Netflix, The Social Dilemma received Emmy nominations for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special, as well as in the categories for writing, directing, editing, cinematography, music and sound editing.
Director Jeff Orlowski, producer Larissa Rhodes, and editor Davis Coombe are featured in this Behind the Screen conversation.
“Political polarization has become the de-facto output of this [social media] technology and is a threat to our democracy. We can’t have ...
- 8/26/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A new episode of The Hollywood Reporter‘s Behind the Screen podcast features the filmmakers behind The Social Dilemma, a seven-time Emmy-nominated documentary that examines the dark side of social media.
Released on Netflix, The Social Dilemma received Emmy nominations for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special, as well as in the categories for writing, directing, editing, cinematography, music and sound editing.
Director Jeff Orlowski, producer Larissa Rhodes, and editor Davis Coombe are featured in this Behind the Screen conversation.
“Political polarization has become the de-facto output of this [social media] technology and is a threat to our democracy. We can’t have ...
Released on Netflix, The Social Dilemma received Emmy nominations for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special, as well as in the categories for writing, directing, editing, cinematography, music and sound editing.
Director Jeff Orlowski, producer Larissa Rhodes, and editor Davis Coombe are featured in this Behind the Screen conversation.
“Political polarization has become the de-facto output of this [social media] technology and is a threat to our democracy. We can’t have ...
- 8/26/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
When Mark Crawford started working on the recent Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma,” he was originally only working as a sound recorder for the film. “At the beginning I had no expectations that I would become the composer,” he tells us in our recent webchat (watch the video above). While recording he would think about what kind of music to put along to the film, sketched out some ideas and sent them to Davis Coombe, the film’s editor, who put them into some of the scenes which caught the eye of director, Jeff Orlowski. “He kind of stopped and said, “Who did this piece?’ And it always kinda came back to me and so that was where the first initial discussions happened.”
“The Social Dilemma,” which is currently streaming on Netflix, examines the way that social media platforms depend on hooking people into consuming content through their products. The...
“The Social Dilemma,” which is currently streaming on Netflix, examines the way that social media platforms depend on hooking people into consuming content through their products. The...
- 8/20/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
As the new school year begins, Netflix is making the documentary The Social Dilemma available for free on YouTube, through the end of September. After just a couple of days, it’s recorded over 63,000 views, with one viewer commenting, “Literally one of the best and worthy documentaries I have ever watched in my life.”
Television Academy voters have proven similarly enthusiastic. The documentary directed and co-written by Jeff Orlowski, produced by Larissa Rhodes, and edited and co-written by Davis Coombe earned seven Emmy nominations, more than any other single film.
“We were totally speechless and really not expecting any of them, let alone seven of them,” Rhodes tells Deadline of the nominations. “For this team, we just felt hugely proud and humbled by that response and that recognition.”
One person presumably not cheering on the film is Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook. The Social Dilemma argues the world’s largest social media company,...
Television Academy voters have proven similarly enthusiastic. The documentary directed and co-written by Jeff Orlowski, produced by Larissa Rhodes, and edited and co-written by Davis Coombe earned seven Emmy nominations, more than any other single film.
“We were totally speechless and really not expecting any of them, let alone seven of them,” Rhodes tells Deadline of the nominations. “For this team, we just felt hugely proud and humbled by that response and that recognition.”
One person presumably not cheering on the film is Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook. The Social Dilemma argues the world’s largest social media company,...
- 8/20/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Trial of the Chicago 7” got a big boost in its bid for Best Editing at the Oscars with a win at the Ace Golden Eddie Awards on April 17. It prevailed in the drama race at these awards bestowed by American Cinema Editors over two of its Oscar rivals — “Nomadland” and “Sound of Metal” — as well as “Mank” and “Minari.”
Another of the Oscar nominees, “Promising Young Woman,” lost the comedy/musical category to “Palm Springs.” The other contenders in that race were “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot” and “On the Rocks.”
Oscar watchers were sure to be watching Saturday’s virtual ceremony. These kudos have previewed of the 18 out of the last 30 Best Picture winners and a whopping 22 of the last 30 Film Editing Oscar champs. Not surprisingly, the Golden Eddies are also prescient when it comes to predicting the five Film Editing Oscar slots. Four of...
Another of the Oscar nominees, “Promising Young Woman,” lost the comedy/musical category to “Palm Springs.” The other contenders in that race were “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot” and “On the Rocks.”
Oscar watchers were sure to be watching Saturday’s virtual ceremony. These kudos have previewed of the 18 out of the last 30 Best Picture winners and a whopping 22 of the last 30 Film Editing Oscar champs. Not surprisingly, the Golden Eddies are also prescient when it comes to predicting the five Film Editing Oscar slots. Four of...
- 4/17/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The American Cinema Editors guild, which hands out its awards on April 17, has a good track record as a preview of the Oscar winner for Best Picture (18 out of the last 30) and a great one for forecasting who will win the Film Editing Oscar (22 of the last 30). Not surprisingly, it is also fairly prescient when it comes to predicting the five Film Editing Oscar slots. Four of this year’s Academy Awards nominees contend for this cutting prize; “The Father” was snubbed by the American Cinema Editors.
The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. Oscar nominees “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Mank” and “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side against Oscar nominee “Promising Young Woman” are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks” and “Palm Springs.
The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. Oscar nominees “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Mank” and “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side against Oscar nominee “Promising Young Woman” are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks” and “Palm Springs.
- 4/16/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The nominations for the 2021 Ace Eddie Awards announced on Thursday (March 11) include our Oscar frontrunner for Best Film Editing, “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” along with three of the other four films we’re predicting to reap bids in that race: “Mank,” “Nomadland” and “Sound of Metal.” While “The Father” was snubbed by the American Cinema Editors we expect it to be the fifth Academy Awards contender.
The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. “Mank,” “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
In 1992, the Eddies went from three to five nominees (matching that of the Oscars) and in 2000 it split the award in two,...
The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. “Mank,” “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
In 1992, the Eddies went from three to five nominees (matching that of the Oscars) and in 2000 it split the award in two,...
- 3/11/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” have been nominated in the dramatic-film category at the American Cinema Editors’ 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards, which honors the best in film and television editing.
In the comedy film category, the nominees are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
The films that were bypassed in the Ace nominations include “Tenet,” “News of the World,” “The Father,” “Da 5 Bloods” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Over the past decade, 90% of the Oscar nominees for Best Film Editing have first been nominated by the American Cinema Editors. The Oscar nominees are heavily weighted toward the Ace dramatic category, with 34 nominees coming from that category since 2010, as opposed to 11 nominees from the comedy category.
The Ace Eddies’ animated feature nominations went to “The Croods: A New Age,” “Onward,” “Over the Moon,...
In the comedy film category, the nominees are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
The films that were bypassed in the Ace nominations include “Tenet,” “News of the World,” “The Father,” “Da 5 Bloods” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Over the past decade, 90% of the Oscar nominees for Best Film Editing have first been nominated by the American Cinema Editors. The Oscar nominees are heavily weighted toward the Ace dramatic category, with 34 nominees coming from that category since 2010, as opposed to 11 nominees from the comedy category.
The Ace Eddies’ animated feature nominations went to “The Croods: A New Age,” “Onward,” “Over the Moon,...
- 3/11/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
This year’s American Cinema Editors (Ace) nominations include “Nomadland,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of Chicago 7.”
The guild, which will hand out its awards in a virtual ceremony on April 17, has a good track record forecasting the Oscar best picture winner — it has predicted 18 out of the last 29 winners. Last year, best edited feature film – dramatic went to “Parasite’s” Yang Jin-mo, and the film went on to win best picture at the Oscars. It also has a good record for predicting who wins the best editing Oscar — 23 out of the last 29 winners.
Nominees in comedy feature include “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On The Rocks” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
As previously announced, Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Editors Lynzee Klingman...
The guild, which will hand out its awards in a virtual ceremony on April 17, has a good track record forecasting the Oscar best picture winner — it has predicted 18 out of the last 29 winners. Last year, best edited feature film – dramatic went to “Parasite’s” Yang Jin-mo, and the film went on to win best picture at the Oscars. It also has a good record for predicting who wins the best editing Oscar — 23 out of the last 29 winners.
Nominees in comedy feature include “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On The Rocks” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
As previously announced, Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Editors Lynzee Klingman...
- 3/11/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Editors on films ranging from Amazon’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm to Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 have been nominated for the 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards, presented by the American Cinema Editors to recognize the year’s best in picture editing in 14 film, TV and documentary categories.
Winners will be announced during a virtual awards ceremony April 17, where Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award and Lynzee Klingman and Sidney Wolinsky will receive the group’s Career Achievement Awards.
As for today’s nominees, the marquee film categories are split into Dramatic and Comedy. The former features Chicago 7 along with Netflix’s Mank, A24’s Minari, Searchlight’s Nomadland (edited by writer-director Chloé Zhao) and Amazon’s Sound of Metal. The comedy nominees include Borat, Netflix’s I Care a Lot, Apple’s On the Rocks, Neon/Hulu’s Palm Springs...
Winners will be announced during a virtual awards ceremony April 17, where Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award and Lynzee Klingman and Sidney Wolinsky will receive the group’s Career Achievement Awards.
As for today’s nominees, the marquee film categories are split into Dramatic and Comedy. The former features Chicago 7 along with Netflix’s Mank, A24’s Minari, Searchlight’s Nomadland (edited by writer-director Chloé Zhao) and Amazon’s Sound of Metal. The comedy nominees include Borat, Netflix’s I Care a Lot, Apple’s On the Rocks, Neon/Hulu’s Palm Springs...
- 3/11/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Nominees for the 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards include such Best Picture contenders as Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” David Fincher’s monochromatic “Mank,” Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari,” Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” (as a comedy), and Darius Marder’s “Sound of Metal.”
The awards show will be held live on April 17 at 11:00 a.m. Pt.
Overlooked, though, were “News of the World” (edited by “Argo” Oscar-winner William Goldenberg) and “Tenet,” as well as three Black-led dramas, “Da 5 Bloods,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and “One Night in Miami.” However, there’s still the possibility of one or two of these making the final Oscar nominations, along with the buzzy “Minari” and “Promising Young Woman.”
In terms of using the Editing win as an Oscar bellwether for predicting Best Picture, the last time the winners coincided was “Argo” in...
The awards show will be held live on April 17 at 11:00 a.m. Pt.
Overlooked, though, were “News of the World” (edited by “Argo” Oscar-winner William Goldenberg) and “Tenet,” as well as three Black-led dramas, “Da 5 Bloods,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and “One Night in Miami.” However, there’s still the possibility of one or two of these making the final Oscar nominations, along with the buzzy “Minari” and “Promising Young Woman.”
In terms of using the Editing win as an Oscar bellwether for predicting Best Picture, the last time the winners coincided was “Argo” in...
- 3/11/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
It’s no secret that social media has left an indelible mark on the world. Whether it’s more of a positive or a negative mark depends on who you are and how you view its impact. The new documentary, The Social Dilemma, certainly is of the opinion that it’s doing major damage to the world, and in particular, to the youth of the world. In fact, it’s probably more of a fact than an opinion. However, while the Netflix release does make this case, it does so in a rather frustrating and puzzling manner that robs it of most of its effectiveness. Now available on the streaming giant, it’s intriguing, but an ultimately disappointing experience. The documentary is an unusual mix of investigative journalism, expose, and also narrative drama. The subject matter is, of course, the reliance on social media that people of all walks of...
- 9/13/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Coral has a branding problem, if you will. Like a beautiful sunset over a pollution-choked city, some of the most striking images of underwater ecosystems stem from environmental mistreatment. If you’ve ever seen an ocean shot of pristine white reefs contrasting the blue of the water, you might be looking at an impending graveyard. “Chasing Coral” (which follows director Jeff Orlowski’s glacier erosion chronicle, “Chasing Ice”) takes that optics problem head on. In the process, his environmental film becomes something akin to a behind-the-scenes look at a political campaign. How do you meld the larger cause with individual efforts to sway the public into action?
Like other conservation docs (this year’s Sundance has an entire program devoted to climate), “Chasing Coral” features a heavy dose of natural majesty. In addition to the hi-res footage you’d expect from a ocean-centric portrait (clownfish and anemone fans will be...
Like other conservation docs (this year’s Sundance has an entire program devoted to climate), “Chasing Coral” features a heavy dose of natural majesty. In addition to the hi-res footage you’d expect from a ocean-centric portrait (clownfish and anemone fans will be...
- 1/26/2017
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
The creators of Chasing Coral had a key goal: to make an environmental documentary with a personal, non-political approach. As editor Davis Coombe tells Filmmaker below, he and director Jeff Orlowski “had no interest in making a political film.” Their film, instead, focuses on the personal narratives of a group of people seeking to capture the phenomenon of “coral bleaching” on film. Ahead of the film’s six screenings at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, Coombe discusses the task of simplifying a scientific story without dumbing it down. He also lays out how he and Orlowski sought to strip the film of expository passages to create […]...
- 1/26/2017
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
A Lego Brickumentary
Written by Daniel Junge, Kief Davidson and Davis Coombe
Directed by Kief Davidson and Daniel Junge
Denmark, 2015
Documentaries on fandom often end up excessive celebration without any of the self-reflection that the genre usually provides. A Lego Brickumentary is fun, but it may not appeal to anyone who isn’t already familiar with the brand. Lego fans are a passionate bunch, and not just kids anymore. AFOLs (Adult fan of Lego) are taking the bricks and creating a movement for themselves. The Lego Movie took over the world last year, but Lego has been dominating the landscape as the number two toy company in the world for years, thanks, in part, to their super passionate fan-base.
BrickCon illustrates how the Danish phenomenon surpassed the even grandest expectations of executives. Thousands of fans flock to Seattle for such awesome sights as a replication of Rivendell built by the award-winning Alice Finch.
Written by Daniel Junge, Kief Davidson and Davis Coombe
Directed by Kief Davidson and Daniel Junge
Denmark, 2015
Documentaries on fandom often end up excessive celebration without any of the self-reflection that the genre usually provides. A Lego Brickumentary is fun, but it may not appeal to anyone who isn’t already familiar with the brand. Lego fans are a passionate bunch, and not just kids anymore. AFOLs (Adult fan of Lego) are taking the bricks and creating a movement for themselves. The Lego Movie took over the world last year, but Lego has been dominating the landscape as the number two toy company in the world for years, thanks, in part, to their super passionate fan-base.
BrickCon illustrates how the Danish phenomenon surpassed the even grandest expectations of executives. Thousands of fans flock to Seattle for such awesome sights as a replication of Rivendell built by the award-winning Alice Finch.
- 7/31/2015
- by Colin Biggs
- SoundOnSight
South by Southwest, the multi-faceted film, music and technology festival held annually in Austin, TX will feature such upcoming films as Paul Feig’s Spy, David Gordon Green’s Manglehorn, Alex Gibney’s documentary Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, and Ondi Timoner’s Russell Brand profile Brand: A Second Coming as headliners in this year’s film festival lineup.
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Films from notables Nick Cave, Kevin Smith and Terry Gilliam, and another featuring Downton Abbey vet Dan Stevens are helping fill this weekend’s box office, despite studio blockbuster debuts for The Maze Runner and This Is Where I Leave You.
In all, 14 specialty films are debuting this weekend, at the front edge of awards season and the time of year when “serious” films hit the screens left and right. We have The Guest, with Stevens; The Zero Theorem by Gilliam; Smith’s Tusk; Tracks, the latest from the producers of The King’s Speech; and Cave’s doc 20,000 Days On Earth.
And, like a TV informercial, there’s more: the doc Pump, boundary-jumper Stop The Pounding Heart; and Swim Little Fish Swim. Just to fill out the marquees, we also have Tribeca-winning doc Keep On Keepin’ On; Flamenco, Flamenco; Hector And The Search For Happiness; Iceman; Hollidaysburg; and Not Cool.
In all, 14 specialty films are debuting this weekend, at the front edge of awards season and the time of year when “serious” films hit the screens left and right. We have The Guest, with Stevens; The Zero Theorem by Gilliam; Smith’s Tusk; Tracks, the latest from the producers of The King’s Speech; and Cave’s doc 20,000 Days On Earth.
And, like a TV informercial, there’s more: the doc Pump, boundary-jumper Stop The Pounding Heart; and Swim Little Fish Swim. Just to fill out the marquees, we also have Tribeca-winning doc Keep On Keepin’ On; Flamenco, Flamenco; Hector And The Search For Happiness; Iceman; Hollidaysburg; and Not Cool.
- 9/19/2014
- by Brian Brooks
- Deadline
The 13th Tribeca Film Festival has announced its complete lineup for next month’s New York celebration, which runs April 16-27. Culled from more than 6,000 submissions, Tribeca 2014 includes 55 world premieres, 37 first-time filmmakers, and 22 female directors. Half the slate had been announced on Tuesday, with Spotlight, Midnight, and Storyscapes films unveiled today, as well as special screenings. “Spotlight and special screenings are an especially dynamic aspect of this year’s program, both in range of styles and stories,” said Genna Terranova, Tribeca’s director of programming. “Many films feature real-life personalities who’ve accomplished extraordinary feats, while in other films we...
- 3/6/2014
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Vol. I Issue 4
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Directed by Alex Gibney
In Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, Oscar®-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney examines the abuse of power in the Catholic Church through the story of four courageous deaf men who, in the first known case of public protest, set out to expose the priest who abused them. The film follows a cover-up that winds its way from the row houses of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the bare ruined choirs of Ireland's churches, all the way to the highest office of the Vatican.
Like Woodward and Bernstein covering the story of Watergate, Gibney uses the keyhole of the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the Us to show that the Pope knew (or should have known) that there is wide spread child abuse within the ranks of Catholic priests, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. Not exactly a pretty picture. This powerful, beautifully crafted film builds a case that screams out for reform of an institution that, like our military, is run by men with little or no outside supervision. One feels that like Nixon after the proven Watergate charges, the Pope should resign along with others who have allowed this outrageous behavior and its cover up to be so institutionalized.
Gibney’s films have a logical clarity that reinforces their intelligence. Smart, clear and wrenchingly powerful they explore institutions and the people who are part of them. From governors to prison guards he shows little patience for lies and incompetence. The chain he establishes in Maxima Culpa links the victims to the priests to their supervisors and on to Rome to the office formally run by the man who is now the Pope. What can you say? They knew, they had to know, the links are compelling. Why would this institution shelter these men (and women) who were abusing children and in some cases adults? Who would tolerate this behavior? Why would the Church tolerate this behavior? Yet the cover up continues.
In a year of films dealing with institutions, such as government officials slowly trying to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, or the military dealing with women being abused, or the Israel army ignoring the rights of the provocative Palestinians or even government failures to act on global warming, this is the best and it should be one of the nominees.
The Filmmaker
Alex Gibney is the founder of Jigsaw Productions. An Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning producer, he is well known for producing one of the highest grossing documentaries of all time, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.
His work as a writer and director includes the recent hit Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer, as well as the 2006 Oscar-nominated Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and the 2008 Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side. Alex attended the film program at UCLA.
Credits:
Director/Producer/Writer: Alex Gibney
Producers:Trevor Birney, Alexandra Johnes, Ruth O’Reilly, Kristen Vaurio, Jedd Wider, Todd Widler
Executive Producers: Jessica Kingdon, Sheila Nevins, Lori Singer
Writer: Mark Monroe
Cinematography: Lisa Rinzler
Original Music Composer: Ivor Guest
Editor: Sloane Klevin
Production Companies: Jigsaw Productions, Wilder Film Projects, Union Editorial
Distribution: Content Media, HBO Documentary Films, HBO
Paperman a short animated film by John Kahrs
Paperman is an original seven-minute-long short animated film produced by Disney Animation.
It tells the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him.
Director John Kahrs was the animation supervisor on Tangled, an animator on Bolt and Ratatouille, and worked on Pixar’s The Incredibles, Mike’s New Car, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story 2 and A Bug’s Life. Kahrs now gets his break as a director at Disney. 14 years of work in the animation department at Pixar, that’s paying dues! Now, I understand why this “Disney” animation film looks and feels like a “Pixar” film. It’s brilliant, polished, and elegant and, like the Simpson short, silent. Expressive muted black and white images with a slight color tint in this perfect short film dramatizes love at first sight. Tasteful, romantic and above all beautifully executed, I look forward to Kahrs’ feature film debut. A little Pixar goes a long way and this work is expressive of adult feelings that any child could enjoy. No need to dumb the story down, it works for audiences of all ages. A perfect 10.
Original music by Christophe Beck (who has 105 scoring credits) this work is produced by Kristina Reed (from Disney) and Executive Produced by Pixar’s John Lasseter. Written by Clio Chiang and Kendrelle Hoyer, it shows that “less” can be plenty. Short films don’t get better than this!
Credits:
Directed by: John Kahrs
Produced by: Kristina Reed
Executive Producer: John Lasseter
Art Direction: Jeff Tuley
Written by: Chio Chiang and Kendelle Hoyer
Music by: Christophe Beck
Film Editing: Lisa Linder
Produced by: Walt Disney Animation
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Running time: 7:00
Short Notes and Update:
The Invisible War is on the New York Times' and Christian Science Monitor's and Newsweek's 10 Best Films of 2012. The Gate Keepers is on the Wall Street Journal’s 10 Best Films of 2012.
Academy announces 10 animated films shortlisted for the Animation Short Film Nomination
The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all 57 eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in New York and Los Angeles. I’ve seen all of the films and this is one of the strongest group shortlisted in years, from the elegant Pixar/Disney film Paperman to the wildly funny Simpsons’ Daycare. These films are a treat for the eyes and mind. Stunning, moving, original, powerful and frankly amazing they will both amuse and entertain and each of the 10 films is special. The styles range from traditional animation to computer designed. A number of students made it with entries which are testimony to their vigorous programs and their talent. This is a year where handicapping is impossible.
At screenings of the short listed films, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members have selected three to five nominees from among these 10 titles for its nominations.
The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 5:30 a.m. Pst in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Adam and Dog, Minkyu Lee, director (Lodge Films)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/34849443
Length: 16 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Combustible,Katsuhiro Otomo, director (Sunrise Inc.)
Web Link: None available
Length: 13 min.
Language: none
Country: Japan
Dripped, Léo Verrier, director (ChezEddy)
Web Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk9keXSBbhY
Length: 8 min.
Language: none
Country: France
The Eagleman Stag, Mikey Please, director, and Benedict Please, music scores and sound design (Royal College of Art)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/mikeyplease/eaglemanstag
Length: 9 min.
Language: none
Country: England
The Fall of the House of Usher, Raul Garcia, director, and Stephan Roelants, producer (Melusine Productions, R&R Communications Inc., Les Armateurs, The Big Farm)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/5So_E6yPW40
Length: 17 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Fresh Guacamole, Pes, director (Pes)
Web Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMO6vjmkyI
Length: 2 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Head over Heels, Timothy Reckart, director, and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly, producer (National Film and Television School)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/timr/headoverheels
Length: 10 min.
Language: none
Country: England
Maggie Simpson in The Longest Daycare, David Silverman, director (Gracie Films)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/gV-NRwLV2qU
Length: 5 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Paperman, John Kahrs, director (Disney Animation Studios)
Web Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsoiEpuvTeQ
*note this about the technology in this film, but not a true trailer
Length: 7 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Tram, Michaela Pavlátová, director, and Ron Dyens, producer (Sacrebleu Productions)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/a_QT-JaDswY
Length: 7 min.
Language: none
Country: French
______________________________________________________________________
Errata
Volume 1 Issue 3 In Chasing Ice the film was edited by Davis Coombe (and not Mark Monroe); Distributor (Us) Submarine Deluxe (not National Geographic).
______________________________________________________________________________
Block Doc Workshops in Los Angeles
The International Documentary Association will be hosting Documentary Funding and Documentary Tune Up Workshops with Block on February 9/10. http://www.eventbrite.com/org/169037034
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
______________________________________________________________________
©2012Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
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Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Directed by Alex Gibney
In Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, Oscar®-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney examines the abuse of power in the Catholic Church through the story of four courageous deaf men who, in the first known case of public protest, set out to expose the priest who abused them. The film follows a cover-up that winds its way from the row houses of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the bare ruined choirs of Ireland's churches, all the way to the highest office of the Vatican.
Like Woodward and Bernstein covering the story of Watergate, Gibney uses the keyhole of the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the Us to show that the Pope knew (or should have known) that there is wide spread child abuse within the ranks of Catholic priests, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. Not exactly a pretty picture. This powerful, beautifully crafted film builds a case that screams out for reform of an institution that, like our military, is run by men with little or no outside supervision. One feels that like Nixon after the proven Watergate charges, the Pope should resign along with others who have allowed this outrageous behavior and its cover up to be so institutionalized.
Gibney’s films have a logical clarity that reinforces their intelligence. Smart, clear and wrenchingly powerful they explore institutions and the people who are part of them. From governors to prison guards he shows little patience for lies and incompetence. The chain he establishes in Maxima Culpa links the victims to the priests to their supervisors and on to Rome to the office formally run by the man who is now the Pope. What can you say? They knew, they had to know, the links are compelling. Why would this institution shelter these men (and women) who were abusing children and in some cases adults? Who would tolerate this behavior? Why would the Church tolerate this behavior? Yet the cover up continues.
In a year of films dealing with institutions, such as government officials slowly trying to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, or the military dealing with women being abused, or the Israel army ignoring the rights of the provocative Palestinians or even government failures to act on global warming, this is the best and it should be one of the nominees.
The Filmmaker
Alex Gibney is the founder of Jigsaw Productions. An Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning producer, he is well known for producing one of the highest grossing documentaries of all time, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.
His work as a writer and director includes the recent hit Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer, as well as the 2006 Oscar-nominated Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and the 2008 Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side. Alex attended the film program at UCLA.
Credits:
Director/Producer/Writer: Alex Gibney
Producers:Trevor Birney, Alexandra Johnes, Ruth O’Reilly, Kristen Vaurio, Jedd Wider, Todd Widler
Executive Producers: Jessica Kingdon, Sheila Nevins, Lori Singer
Writer: Mark Monroe
Cinematography: Lisa Rinzler
Original Music Composer: Ivor Guest
Editor: Sloane Klevin
Production Companies: Jigsaw Productions, Wilder Film Projects, Union Editorial
Distribution: Content Media, HBO Documentary Films, HBO
Paperman a short animated film by John Kahrs
Paperman is an original seven-minute-long short animated film produced by Disney Animation.
It tells the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him.
Director John Kahrs was the animation supervisor on Tangled, an animator on Bolt and Ratatouille, and worked on Pixar’s The Incredibles, Mike’s New Car, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story 2 and A Bug’s Life. Kahrs now gets his break as a director at Disney. 14 years of work in the animation department at Pixar, that’s paying dues! Now, I understand why this “Disney” animation film looks and feels like a “Pixar” film. It’s brilliant, polished, and elegant and, like the Simpson short, silent. Expressive muted black and white images with a slight color tint in this perfect short film dramatizes love at first sight. Tasteful, romantic and above all beautifully executed, I look forward to Kahrs’ feature film debut. A little Pixar goes a long way and this work is expressive of adult feelings that any child could enjoy. No need to dumb the story down, it works for audiences of all ages. A perfect 10.
Original music by Christophe Beck (who has 105 scoring credits) this work is produced by Kristina Reed (from Disney) and Executive Produced by Pixar’s John Lasseter. Written by Clio Chiang and Kendrelle Hoyer, it shows that “less” can be plenty. Short films don’t get better than this!
Credits:
Directed by: John Kahrs
Produced by: Kristina Reed
Executive Producer: John Lasseter
Art Direction: Jeff Tuley
Written by: Chio Chiang and Kendelle Hoyer
Music by: Christophe Beck
Film Editing: Lisa Linder
Produced by: Walt Disney Animation
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Running time: 7:00
Short Notes and Update:
The Invisible War is on the New York Times' and Christian Science Monitor's and Newsweek's 10 Best Films of 2012. The Gate Keepers is on the Wall Street Journal’s 10 Best Films of 2012.
Academy announces 10 animated films shortlisted for the Animation Short Film Nomination
The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all 57 eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in New York and Los Angeles. I’ve seen all of the films and this is one of the strongest group shortlisted in years, from the elegant Pixar/Disney film Paperman to the wildly funny Simpsons’ Daycare. These films are a treat for the eyes and mind. Stunning, moving, original, powerful and frankly amazing they will both amuse and entertain and each of the 10 films is special. The styles range from traditional animation to computer designed. A number of students made it with entries which are testimony to their vigorous programs and their talent. This is a year where handicapping is impossible.
At screenings of the short listed films, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members have selected three to five nominees from among these 10 titles for its nominations.
The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 5:30 a.m. Pst in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Adam and Dog, Minkyu Lee, director (Lodge Films)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/34849443
Length: 16 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Combustible,Katsuhiro Otomo, director (Sunrise Inc.)
Web Link: None available
Length: 13 min.
Language: none
Country: Japan
Dripped, Léo Verrier, director (ChezEddy)
Web Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk9keXSBbhY
Length: 8 min.
Language: none
Country: France
The Eagleman Stag, Mikey Please, director, and Benedict Please, music scores and sound design (Royal College of Art)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/mikeyplease/eaglemanstag
Length: 9 min.
Language: none
Country: England
The Fall of the House of Usher, Raul Garcia, director, and Stephan Roelants, producer (Melusine Productions, R&R Communications Inc., Les Armateurs, The Big Farm)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/5So_E6yPW40
Length: 17 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Fresh Guacamole, Pes, director (Pes)
Web Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMO6vjmkyI
Length: 2 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Head over Heels, Timothy Reckart, director, and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly, producer (National Film and Television School)
Web Link: https://vimeo.com/timr/headoverheels
Length: 10 min.
Language: none
Country: England
Maggie Simpson in The Longest Daycare, David Silverman, director (Gracie Films)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/gV-NRwLV2qU
Length: 5 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Paperman, John Kahrs, director (Disney Animation Studios)
Web Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsoiEpuvTeQ
*note this about the technology in this film, but not a true trailer
Length: 7 min.
Language: none
Country: USA
Tram, Michaela Pavlátová, director, and Ron Dyens, producer (Sacrebleu Productions)
Web Link: http://youtu.be/a_QT-JaDswY
Length: 7 min.
Language: none
Country: French
______________________________________________________________________
Errata
Volume 1 Issue 3 In Chasing Ice the film was edited by Davis Coombe (and not Mark Monroe); Distributor (Us) Submarine Deluxe (not National Geographic).
______________________________________________________________________________
Block Doc Workshops in Los Angeles
The International Documentary Association will be hosting Documentary Funding and Documentary Tune Up Workshops with Block on February 9/10. http://www.eventbrite.com/org/169037034
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
______________________________________________________________________
©2012Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
- 1/3/2013
- by Mitchell Block
- Sydney's Buzz
Annie Eastman is the director of the documentary “Bay of All Saints,” which won an Audience Awards at the South by Southwest Film Festival.
I didn’t make “Bay Of All Saints” because I was a filmmaker. Rather, I became a filmmaker in order to make “Bay Of All Saints.”
Thirteen years ago, from the third-story window of a school where I was volunteering, I first saw the palafitas; a network of shacks built on stilts in the ocean bay...
I didn’t make “Bay Of All Saints” because I was a filmmaker. Rather, I became a filmmaker in order to make “Bay Of All Saints.”
Thirteen years ago, from the third-story window of a school where I was volunteering, I first saw the palafitas; a network of shacks built on stilts in the ocean bay...
- 3/14/2012
- by WSJ Staff
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, left, and Daniel Junge pose with their awards for best documentary short for "Saving Face" during the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
A very proud nation Pakistan woke up to a jubilant Monday morning as news flashed of film-maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s triumph on becoming the first Pakistani to win an Oscar at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center, Hollywood, California. Her film ‘Saving Face’, based on the appalling incidents of acid attacks on women in Pakistan, brought home the first Oscar for Pakistan by winning in the Best Documentary (Short Subject) category.
A former journalist, Sharmeen walked the red carpet accompanied by co-director Daniel Junge, dedicated the win to the women in Pakistan working for change. In her acceptance speech she added, “Don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you!
A very proud nation Pakistan woke up to a jubilant Monday morning as news flashed of film-maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s triumph on becoming the first Pakistani to win an Oscar at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center, Hollywood, California. Her film ‘Saving Face’, based on the appalling incidents of acid attacks on women in Pakistan, brought home the first Oscar for Pakistan by winning in the Best Documentary (Short Subject) category.
A former journalist, Sharmeen walked the red carpet accompanied by co-director Daniel Junge, dedicated the win to the women in Pakistan working for change. In her acceptance speech she added, “Don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you!
- 2/29/2012
- by Pooja Rao
- Bollyspice
The Oscar winner for Best Documentary Short, "Saving Face," will debut on HBO March 8. On the Oscar red carpet, I spoke to filmmakers Daniel Junge and Pakistani Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy -- the first Pakistani to be nominated for an Oscar, much less win one -- about the horrific practice of men throwing acid into the faces of women in Pakistan (see below). The disfigured women have one saviour, Dr. Mohammad Jawad, a plastic surgeon who tries to help them move on with their lives. During filming, Pakistani women parliamentarians showed testimony of victims of acid violence, and successfully enacted legislation to punish these perpetrators more severely, with life imprisonment. This is yet another case of a movie helping to change the world. The film was produced by Davis Coombe, Daniel Junge, Alison Greenberg, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Sabiha Sumar and exec produced by HBO Documentary Films' Lisa Heller and Sheila Nevins. (My...
- 2/27/2012
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
(Sundance Film Festival — January 26, 2012) Submarine Entertainment announced today that National Geographic Channel (Ngc) has purchased television rights for the feature documentary Chasing Ice by Jeff Orlowski from Exposure, LLC following its Sundance Film Festival screening in the Us Documentary Competition category. It was announced tonight by Ngc Executive Vice President of Programming Michael Cascio and Josh Braun & David Koh of Submarine Entertainment. The deal was negotiated by Braun & Koh of Submarine and Wilder Knight and Anne Atkinson of Pryor Cashman Llp on behalf of the Producers and Director along with Lisa Truitt, President of National Geographic Entertainment Cinema Ventures. The film was Produced by Jeff Orlowski, Paula DuPre’ Pesmen, and Jerry Aronson; Written by Mark Monroe; Associate Produced by Stacy Sherman and Billy Ray; Music by J. Ralph; Cinematography by Jeff Orlowski; Edited by Davis Coombe. When acclaimed photographer James Balog asked, “How can one take a picture of climate change?...
- 1/26/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
The Oscar-nominated documentary, "The Last Campaign Of Governor Booth Gardner", debuts October 27, on HBO2 :
"...In 1994, a year after serving two terms as one of the most popular governors in modern Washington State history, Booth Gardner was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In 2008, as his health continued to deteriorate, he returned to the political spotlight, this time as the driving force behind a ballot initiative that would legalize one’s choice to die..."
Oscar-nominated in the category 'Best Documentary (Short Subject)', "The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner", chronicles the man's controversial crusade, looking at both sides of this debated issue.
"The Last Campaign Of Governor Booth Gardner", was produced by Henry Ansbacher/Davis Coombe and co-produced by Andy Schocken.
Click the images to enlarge...
"...In 1994, a year after serving two terms as one of the most popular governors in modern Washington State history, Booth Gardner was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In 2008, as his health continued to deteriorate, he returned to the political spotlight, this time as the driving force behind a ballot initiative that would legalize one’s choice to die..."
Oscar-nominated in the category 'Best Documentary (Short Subject)', "The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner", chronicles the man's controversial crusade, looking at both sides of this debated issue.
"The Last Campaign Of Governor Booth Gardner", was produced by Henry Ansbacher/Davis Coombe and co-produced by Andy Schocken.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 10/25/2010
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
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