Interview with Joseph Sousa, co-director of "Live from Bethlehem"

First off, I just want to say how cooperative Mr. Sousa was with my tedious and lengthy questions and overall what an awesome guy he was to interview. It was unfortunate that he was unable to attend the festival in person. He was one man of the two-man crew that filmed the documentary "Live from Bethlehem" which explored some of the media struggles going on in the Palestinian Territories and went into some of the lives of the individuals trying to jump-start the media in that area. So here are my rather complex questions and Mr. Sousa's excellent responses to them:


What inspired you to become a film director? Any people in particular?

I saw "Apocalypse Now" when I was about 13. It was the first time I remember feeling actively engaged by a film. That film revealed to me that cinema is more than a past time; it's a linguistic code: an alternate language with myriad subtexts. So if there was a moment that inspired be to be a director, I think I would have to say it was the after seeing Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" for the first time.


How long have you been into film, both as a viewer and as a person who works with their production?

I've actively sought out interesting films to watch as a viewer since I can remember; I first started watching 'art' films and docs when I was about 13 or 14. I've been in the business since graduating college in 2003, so 6 years.


What is the most significant piece you have directed in your career?

I'd probably say "Live from Bethlehem."


Now a few questions about the film...

How was living in the Palestinian Territories and how long did you film there for?

I stayed in Bethlehem for three weeks in the summer of 2007, while my co-producer and the film's principle cinematographer Matt Sienkiewicz was there for three months of the summer of 2007 and about a month in the summer of 2008. I should be clear here that we work very much as collaborative co-directors and he certainly did the lions share of field production.


How long did the film -- filming, editing, and production -- take to complete?

Shooting happened over two summer with editing starting in fall of 2007. So this was about a two year process.


Were there any extreme difficulties that you encountered, such as getting the material you wanted, or controversies that were created in that area because of your filming? Did anyone directly oppose to your filming?

I was by and large surprised at how well we were received. It helped that the doc covered people in media, so they had an understanding and appreciation of the nature of production. It also helped that these are people that are very conscious of how they are viewed and vitally interested in changing the way they are perceived by American media.
We shot verite, though, so there were a few times when we would be shooting without people being aware that the camera was rolling. This is always a tricky thing to navigate. On the one hand, as a documentarian you want to get your story and you want to go everywhere and hear everything without restriction. But you also have to be careful to respect people's space and integrity. Hopefully we successfully navigated that very sensitive terrain.


How did the locals treat you and your crew, and what was their overall response to your presence?

First off, there was only two of us. So we weren't much of a crew. That was actually tremendously helpful as we could more or less mix in with the people we were covering. Bethlehem is also a tourist town and still has a significant Christian community, so it is a tolerant place with people that appreciate outside visitors. One of the things that is so fun about making a documentary is that you parachute into people's lives and experience life from a totally new perspective, and it goes beyond what you put on camera. There's hookah bars, the late night conversations about a range of subjects, and all the other little rich moments you get when you are traveling and everything is new and dangerous and exciting. But we were blessed to encounter people who were kind and welcoming.


Just a few more...

Did you learn anything, about the people, yourself, ideals, etc., throughout the filming process?

After this experience I feel that the Palestinian people could be major partners and ambassadors in the current divide between western societies and Arab/Muslim societies. This is not something that I'm trying to push with the film. But its something that I learned myself from my experience working on this project.
By and large, Palestinians are more educated than I expected, more tolerant than I expected, and Palestinian women seemed more assertive and had a larger and more active role in the public sphere than I expected. They are literally at the nexus of Europe, Africa, and Asia and there are countless ideologies and belief systems all struggling with one another within this relatively tiny group of people. They therefore have a huge and complex world view. That is not to say there are not dangerous and brutal extremists within that society, but I think too much emphasis has been placed on that very, very small segment of the people. We should seek to empower the moderate voices over there, not just battle the extremist ones.
If we can see this as fundamentally a conflict over land -- and somehow sideline the religious extremists on both sides that now dominate the debate -- then I think Israelis and Palestinians should be able to come to some sort of accord. Palestinians would then have the potential to be important partners for peace in the wider global struggle.


What made you aware of the media struggles in that area and what compelled you to capture it?

My first boss and mentor, Charlie Stuart, made a film called "Hollywood and the Muslim World," for AMC (American Movie Classics) which I am a big fan off and was one of the reasons I sought him out and got a job with him. While with him, I helped out on another film called "Ex-Extremists." So since being in the business I've done a number of things in this general territory.
I found the subjects of this film in particular through my association with Charlie as well. He was invited by an American NGO to go to the West Bank to train and consult with journalists at this fledgling independent Palestinian network called Ma'an. I was his associate producer at the time. When he got back he was so impressed with these journalists that he wanted to do a project on them. His idea was to do a short form segment on Amira. We developed a project proposal and pitch. But ultimately it was a very un-sexy project for networks: no explosions, no one getting killed, just a lot of people doing the gritty work of trying to lay the foundations for democracy. At the same time Matt and I had just finished a collaboration on another film and were looking for a new independent project to bite into. So when no networks bit, I asked Charlie if Matt and I could take it on as an independent project. He said go to town, so we did.


What message, if any, did you hope to convey through means of the film? Do you feel like you accomplished what you set out to do?

The images we see of Palestinians in American media almost always fits one of two molds. The first is the victimized, suffering masses. Arab terrorists is the second. That portrait is not only incomplete, it's also inaccurate. Our goal was to try to give a fresh, new portrait of who the Palestinian people really are through the lens of a struggling independent media outlet that has come to represent the hopes, dreams, and contradictions of the Palestinian people. But I hope this film shows Palestinians as they are: mothers and fathers, employees and business people. They are people with the same personal struggles and many of the same values as Americans. I hope American and western audiences are able to see these images and come away from this film with a new depth of understanding of Palestinian people to counter balance the stereotypes that are so dominant in our media today.


Anything else you would like to add?

I just want to emphasize that the above answers are my own personal take aways. And even though I was one of the filmmakers, I'm sure other folks who watch it will take away completely different things. In a way, I actually hope they do. I think that different scenes will mean drastically different things to different people. What we tried to do is make this as balanced and complete as possible in respect to the very loaded ideas that are covered in this film. I hope audiences feels like we accomplished this goal.

Inside Deep Throat

This film was very interesting from my perspective. I have heard of the film "Deep Throat," but I never realized how controversial it was when it had been released. This documentary reveals the controversy behind the film as well as how important this film was to society. It started a new era in what is socially acceptable in the US, and tore down boundaries that was never thought to be possible in that day and age. What baffled me the most was even though this movie was a huge hit no one received revenue except the Mafia. Over all a good movie if you don't know much about the movie "Deep Throat."

Interview With Ron Tippe

Where were you residing before coming to Roger Williams University?

- I live in Los Angeles full-time with my wife, costume designer, molly maginnis and my son, sam, 17. my daughter, annie, 21 is a senior this sept at NYU Tisch .


What is your film/production background?

-PRODUCER: Imagi Entertainment. GATCHAMAN. January 2008 – Aug. 15, 2008. Creative supervisory pre-production responsibilities included all story and character development, visual design, music and EFX, marketing, while handling financial, human resource and administrative duties.
-PRODUCER: - 20th Century Fox. EVERYONE’S HERO. Creative supervisory responsibilities included all story and character development, visual design, music and EFX, marketing, while handling financial, human resource and administrative duties. Managing a crew of 200 artists, technicians and managers. September 2004 – September 2006.
-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Sony Music Soundtrack Album – EVERYONE’S HERO. September 14, 2006 release.
-PRESIDENT/CO-FOUNDER: Woof! Entertainment. Oversaw all creative aspects of company specializing in branded projects. September 2002 – September 2004.
-VICE PRESIDENT OF CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT: Route 66 Productions, Inc. Oversee creative development for film production and event producing company that specializes in marketing for the major Hollywood Studios. January 2001 – 2004.
-EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF CREATIVE AFFAIRS/CO-FOUNDER: Digital Character Group – an animation studio that specialized in CGI animation and development of new properties. January 2000 – January 2002.
-PRODUCER: Universal Pictures and Industrial Light & Magic. FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN. Oversaw production for digitally animated (CGI) feature film. Supervisory responsibilities include story and character development, sculpting and visual design elements, while handling financial, human resource and administrative duties. Managing a crew of 100 artists, technicians and managers. January 1999 – January 2000.
-PRODUCER: Warner Bros. - Supervised pre-production of THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET, a combination live action, visual fx and CGI feature length film. Supervisory responsibilities included story and character development, sculpting and visual design elements, while handling financial, human resource and administrative duties. Managed a crew of 45 artists and technicians. January 1998 – January 1999.
-PRODUCER: DreamWorks SKG - Supervised pre-production of SHREK, a CGI feature length film, including voice casting, script and character development, sculpting and visual design elements, while handling financial, human resource and administrative duties. Managed a crew of 70 artists, including a software development team and supporting technicians. January 1997 – August 1997.
-PRODUCER: Warner Bros. Feature Animation - Produced 2D and CGI animation for the hit movie, SPACE JAM. Creative supervision included story, casting, character development, visual design, dialogue recording, music composition, sound fx, visual and special fx, editorial, post production supervision and marketing. Managed film production in a highly accelerated eight-month production period with 1,485 crew members, working at 15 separate studios in 5 different countries. 1996.
-PRODUCER: Walt Disney Feature Animation - Produced the Academy Award-nominated Mickey Mouse short, RUNAWAY BRAIN. Creative input included story, casting, character development, visual design, dialogue recording, music composition, sound fx, 2-D and CG animation, special fx, editorial and post production supervision. Simultaneously managed Disney’s Paris, France, animation studio for eight months while producing the film with a crew of over 400. Duties included general day-to-day studio management, international recruitment, artist training, finance and human resources.
1994 -1995.
-SCREENWRITER: Wrote screenplays, situation comedies, MOW’s, episodic tv shows for various Hollywood companies. Worked for Imagine Films Entertainment, Danny Arnold, Steve Tisch, Jack Harris, Saban-Sherrick, among others. 1988 - 1994.
-FILM DIRECTOR: Freelance Director of over 100 industrial, educational, documentary and rock video productions. Clients included, Pan Am, Volkswagen of America, Citizens Bank, AFL-CIO, IBEW, the Four Tops, to name a few. Extensive experience in film and video production, and post production. 1981 - 1988.
-ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: IN A SHALLOW GRAVE, an American Playhouse, PBS feature length film. 1987.
-PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/WRITER: CLOSE CALL. A fifteen-minute, 35mm dramatic short - on location in Newport, R.I. 1986.
-STAGE DIRECTOR: Freelance Director of 25 stage productions in London, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston. 1979 - 1981.
-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: The Incredibly Far Off-Broadway Ensemble Theatre. Founded and artistically guided a non-profit, experimental theatre company that specialized in producing new and classic plays in environmentally compatible locations. Directed 25 theatrical productions. Responsible for all casting, script, set, costume, sound and music decisions. In addition, oversaw all financial, fund raising and administrative tasks for a company of 55 artists and technicians. 1974 - 1979.


What Productions have you been involved in?

-SPACE JAM, SHREK, EVERYONE'S HERO to name a few


What is your affiliation with Roger Williams University?

-Alumnus and Visiting Professor of Communications 2008/09 school year.


Did you feel this years first ever RWU Roving Eye Film Festival was a success?

-yes, since we were able to introduce the school to what a film festival might might do for the university and students.


What are your career plans for the future, either in the production world or at Roger Williams?

-I hope to be producing another movie when i return to LA in 3 weeks. no further plans to teach at RWU yet.

Boogie Man: the Lee Atwater Story

This film delved into the life of a very popular and controversial man who played a large role in the government. The film gives mixed emotions. It shows all of the sides of Atwater: peoples' opinions of him and all of the various shenanigans he gets himself into. Judging by the interviews of the people, which were mostly government officials that made contact with Atwater, the man is a complete douche and an under-handing scumbag. But just by looking at him and public and some of the stunts he pulls, such as jumping on stage and performing music by singing and playing the guitar, he seems like a good guy who can't do much wrong. Overall, the film gives an unbiased view that causes the general consensus to be that the man is a bad, corrupted person who just looked after himself and his own selfish goals. However, the ending of the film almost changes this outlook by drawing sympathy from the viewers; it shows Atwater as just a man who is suffering from a terrible disease, not a kniving politician who tries to screw people over. This film was effective in the sense that it was about a subject that poses no interest to me (politics), and yet it created a piece that was very interesting and caused some emotions.

Sitting Down with Filmakers Christine and Bruce Johnson

For the first time here on campus Roger Williams University had their Roving Eye Documentary Film festival which al the Documentary film students were able to be a part of. My classmate and I both chose to be ambassadors for two visiting filmmakers attending our first film festival. We chose an amazing couple, Christine and Bruce Johhnson.
Christine and Bruce Johnson are a couple from New York who directed, Transcending: the Wat Misaka Story. My classmate and I went to meet the Johnsons as they were entering into the Roger Williams University campus. As we walked over to the car a woman stepped out to greet us and introduce herself as Christine Johnson, who was accompanied by her husband Bruce. Interestingly, both Christine and I were wearing orange dresses and we immediately had something to joke about together. The couple had amazing personalities and was very easy to talk to. It was no wonder Wat Misaka felt comfortable sharing his story with the them.
Transcending: the Wat Misaka Story is about an Asian-American basketball player growing up during the Japanese-American War. During this time the government had set up internment camps which housed the Japanese Americans living in the United states in one area. They were treated differently in schools and by the country because of the current events. Wat Misaka was a talented basketball player and so was his brother. Bruce and Christine were able to gather a decent amount of newspaper and historical information. They also did numerous amounts of interviews with Wat, family friends, and coaches. This helped them gather as much information about his life as possible. The documentary showed his amazing basketball talents as well as his positive outlook on life. It also portrayed the challenges that he was faced with and how he overcame these challenges with a generous peace of mind.
This film was amazing and inspirational in many ways. It took Bruce and Christine two years to make the film and they did most of the work themselves. In fact, Bruce did a lot of the editing right from home. They both described Wat Misaka as very modest and shy. Christine describes their inspiration to make the film from a picture on the wall that they had seen while Bruce was doing lighting and Christine was singing for a performance. When they went to the NBA HAll of Fame they notied that Wat Misaka was not featured there. Bruce expressed that it was also hard to find him in any history book. They made the film because they believed his story was important and should be told to the world. Neither knew how many people would be amazed and touched by Wat's story. When they first appproached Wat with the idea he was surprised and didn't think that his story was very important.
This film was also important for the Japanese Americans who had been put in the internment camps during the war. The couple discuss how many of the people in the internment camps felt that it was their fault and some even felt shame. They also express that Wat had been treatd like a "trivia question." Wat Misaka's story is very important and his story has caught the eye of many all over the world which is what Christine and Bruce wanted to achieve. Before I met with them they had just gone to Hawaii for the film and after they made plans to go to San Francisco. Sports Illustrated had also contacted them for a feature on Wat Misaka. Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story will also be featured in the 2009 Rhode Island International Film Festival. This is exactly what they wanted the film to achieve. Christine and Bruce are both wonderful people as well as filmakers and it is amazing to here their story of the inspiration their film has brought.

Easy Rider/Raging Bulls

Easy Rider/Raging Bulls was a documentary about famous actors and directors during the 70's. This documentary was good but it was very lengthy. I believe that the film could have been shortened because after exceeding 2 hours the attention of the audience was lost. I enjoyed seeing the relationship of the people in Hollywood and watching them go through their lives. The small film clips were helpful in determining the work they did. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of where they stood in their relationships towards the end. Unfortunately it was too long and maybe a little bit more editing would have been useful. The film had very good quality and was shot well. They utilized good coloring and archival information. Also the variety of people interviewed made it very interesting to watch. There were only a couple of parts that were a litltle jumpy but the film was enjoyable with a good selection of people to use in the documentary.

Interview with Katie Hery (Dream Works, Kung Fu Panda Bear 2)

What is it like working for Dream Works?

Working for Dreamworks Animation is great because they really treat their employees well. We have full benefits as well as a 401K and bonuses each year. There is free parking, free breakfast and lunch as well as a Starbucks on the lot. There are many different activities on the lot through out the week such as, lunchtime yoga, special speakers, Monday night movies, discounts on different activities and events around LA, discounts on cars, computers and of course there is a gift shop. 

Creativity is important at DreamWorks and everyone including assistants like me is encouraged to make notes on screenings and submit them to the director and producer to look over. I had previously worked in live action as a production assistant (PA) and when I was running around giving out waters and call sheets I never felt I was making a true effort because I was expendable. They could easily fire me and grab another recent college grad hungry to break into the biz. The constant fear that there are millions of others like you graduation each May looking for a job in Hollywood makes it easy for production companies to take advantage of a “green” PA (green meaning new). At DreamWorks I don’t feel like im just another PA or just another faceless young kid with a head set calling out “quiet down we are rolling”. I feel that Im a part of something and also enjoy all the perks that come with working at such a great company.

What does your job entail? 

I arrive at work at 8:15am and usually leave by 7pm. These are un heard of hours in the business because when I was working in live action I would typically work from 5am to 10pm, with a 1 hour lunch in between, and I worked through lunch. Iam the producer’s and director’s assistant on Kung Fu Panda 2. I schedule meetings, answer phones, and im also the liaison between the talent’s managers and agents and the production staff. I schedule records and pitches with the talent. In addition to phones and scheduling I also prepare presentations, file, copy, fax etc etc. I also plan crew parties, book travel, plan crew gifts, help with setting up for meetings and screenings. Although im just an assistant now I know there is room to improve as DWA generally promotes from within, so applying as an outsider is difficult.

Do you feel like you use some of the skills you learned at Keene State being a film major?

When I worked in live action I did use a lot of the skills I learned at KSC. I mainly learned at KSC is to always say YES that can be done and then figure it out later. When you’re on set and they ask can you get me 50 copies of this? And you know for sure that the copier in the office trailer is broken and instead of saying “well I can do it but it may take awhile as the copier is broken” you just say YES that can be done. I also learned that its all about thinking ahead. For instance if a the camera guy asks you for two rolls of film you bring 3, if they ask for a bottle of H2O you bring a room temp one and a cold one, if they ask for copies of the sides (the parts of the script they are covering that day) you bring the smaller version and the 8.5 X 11 version. Its all about thinking ahead and again that goes for Animation (where Iam now) too. When I get things ready for a meeting I make sure to plan ahead and make enough copies of things, plus one, make sure they have the option of food or no food at the meeting. The main goal as an assistant or as a PA is to make sure that the director or the producer thinks about nothing else but creativity of that said project they are working on. They don’t need to know why you chose this conference room or that one they just need the meeting to happen, where they want it, when they want it and have everything there that they need. They do not need to know about the journey just the end.

What is it like working on Kung Fu Panda 2? (Kung Fu Panda NOT kung fu panda bear)

Kung Fu Panda 2 is GREAT! I love working on this project because it’s a film that everyone loves to much and the crew members that are on this show are very involved with the characters and make it an enjoyable creative process to work in. KFP is a great addition to the family DVD collection and so will KFP 2..


What is it like knowing your working on a sequel to a movie that did very well?

It’s a comforting feeling that we have already done so well, over 600 million world wide! However it is a bit scary because you don’t want the second one to suck. Animated films generally take about 3 or 4 years to make or more, a sequel takes less time because the base of the story is already there.

What does the future hold in store for Katie Hery?

I would love to work at DreamWorks for awhile and im thankful that in a tough economy I still have a job. My plan would be to work here and get up to an associate producer level and possibly move into live action as a producer. Live action is where my hear is, I love the fast paced rhythm and the constant unknown if your going to make the day (get all your shots done for that day). It’s the pressure and the intensity that gets me but the hours were just insane. The hours will be intense when im a producer and most likely they will be longer than 50 hours a week but I will have a more creative role and of course be paid more so the time I spend on my job will be worth it. I would love to try and live in NYC for a bit and work as a producer there as well but again Hollywood is where the jobs are. Many people will say NYC is booming and Boston is booming for business but that fluctuates with the economy and right now it’s crappy everywhere. Although there will always be more opportunities in Hollywood. Life in the movie business allows you to travel as well because one day you can be on location shooting an action scene in LA and then you’re on a plane headed to Boston to shoot at Boston University.

When you start in the film business you are looking for anything, just to get your foot in the door. You hustle and hustle for no money and just a copy of the movie, credit that you worked on it and lunch, (copy, credit, and lunch). Then you slowly, slowly work your way up if you’re on set as a PA you can work your way up to be the AD (assistant director, or a line producer). If you are more creative its best for you to work as a PA, make the money and then work on your writing or your directing. Its so cliché to say but it really is who you know, not what you know. 

Escape from Luanda

Escape from Luanda was an inspiring story of people in poverty learning music and educating themselves because they wanted to be inspired. These students documented were all different ages. Two of the women featured in this documentary also have children and want to be inspired by and for them. One of the girls in the film did not have custody of her children and this experience at the musical school gave her inspiration. The documentary gave me a new outlook on the lifestyle in Luanda. Included in the film were the peoples family life which I felt was important to provoke the emotional aspect o the film. This made the audience feel a connection to the people of Luanda. They also experience a series of economic tribulations which the film incorporates well. It keeps your attention and completely wraps you into these people lives and you want to see what will happen to them.

Transcending: The Wat Misakka Story

Transcending: the Wat Misaka Story is inspirational and very informative of the prejudice against the Japanese Americans during the Japan American war. Christine and Bruce Johnson are very nice people that have made a documentary that has given Wat Misaka amazing exposure. The film includes great interviews from Wat Misaka and his family and friends. Using real photographs and video footage was helpful and getting a perspective on the Japanese American. Newspaper clippings also added a god touch because it gave you a sense of environment and the attitude during that time. My favorite aspect of the film was how the video played inside the news clipping, which I thought was creative and entertaining. The sound quality and picture of the film was was very good and was edited well. Also the music went well with the tone and story line of the film. It was also consistent with the time frame. The film is inspirational and an important story to be shown.
* There is also an interview posted.

Interrogate This

Interrogate This was an interesting topic of interrogation in the war and the involvement of the APA and the government. There were many interviews to try and explain what was happening during the film. It was very informational but at times it was a little slow. There could have been a little more of an emotional aspect. The reenactment added a good touch to the film but I believe there could have been a little bit more. It was also important that there were a lot of information from the members of APA. I enjoyed the interview of the military psychologist and I believe it added a different dimension. This film was difficult in keeping the attention of the audience and at some parts it was hard to follow.

Man on Wire

Man on Wire was an interesting documentary because I honestly did not now that a man even walked across the World Trade Center on a tight rope. The documentary was well shot with a good amount of interviews from the key players in the film. Philipe Petit was very eccentric and while telling the accounts in the interviews. I was very surprised to see how he handled the attention at the end and disregarded all the people who helped him achieve his dreams. The film was both informative and entertaining because I did not know very much about tight rope walking and to see that done in multiple countries was very different to watch. It was also beneficial to see the story in sequential order and see how they arrived to that point.

Garbage Dreams

Garbage Dreams brought a new perspective on waste management. This film displayed the lives of three teenage boys living outside of Cairo. I enjoyed how the film was able to bring out the different levels of potential that the boys displayed. There was a great deal of information of their poverty stricken lifestyle. These boys were collecting trash to recycle and many of them were insistent on recycling the maximum amount they could. It is amazing that they recycle about 80% of the trash they collect. The film also discussed how the bigger waste companies are taking a lot of their work by picking up the trash in Cairo and most of it is not recycled. The larger companies have become dominant in the global workforce and globalization has affected even some of the poverty stricken communities. The film was well shot with great footage. The only thing I would have hoped to see was ore about the perspective of the family members of the boys. The film was able to keep your attention and follow these bys in their journey.

Inside Deep Throat

Inside Deep Throat was not only about the film called Deep Throat but it also included a story of a changing era. There were different values and lifestyle that were evident in this film. I also was interested in how they included the cut of money that the director ended up receiving. I believe this was reflective of how there was an unfair distribution of money to the players involved. I do not believe that the actor in the film should have been sent to jail and received a harsh sentence in court for the film. The film had some revealing elements in which case the film would just have been rated appropriately. The film had so many great elements and was constantly bringing you to a new issue in the story line. This I believe helped the success of the documentary; I constantly wanted to know what would happen next. I enjoyed the film I thought it was well shot with well placed side points and it set the tone to the past decade when necessary. It gave you a good sense of the environment that was being shown.

This Film is Not Yet Rated

This Film is Not Yet Rated incorporated two themes. The two themes are private investigation and the rating system. It was very graphic but made the point in a humorous way. Although it was very graphic it also broke up the repetitive story line of constantly searching for the viewers with side notes and sound bits. It reminded me of one of the popup videos where a fact bubble would pop up in the middle of the video. It was informational while graphic but entertaining in a sense that you felt you were on this mystery also to find the reviewers. I think a little more input or interviews could have been included by the filmmaker hired by the private investigator. The film was interesting and included information on the MPAA that many probably did not know. As the film sowed a bias against the MPAA, I do believe that there should be a rating system. Although I believe that there should be a fair rating system.

Art and Copy

This was an amazing documentary, i thoroughly enjoyed it and the content.

I liked learning about the people behind these advertising campaigns that i know so well. I have always been fascinated by ad campaigns and their purpose, as well as how they tie into the psychology of consumers. 

This makes me want to work in advertising because they make it seem like this think tank of ideas with free support of artists and the creative mind. I like that the film maker allowed this movie to flow from one thing to the next making it cohesive and pleasant to watch.

Thank you Professor! it's been a great semester

Easy Rider Raging Bull

As  student with immense film interest, i felt this film was important for me to see. The history of film and how it has evolved over the years is vitally important to understand if i am to get into this business.

I thought it was well put together and flowed from one story to the next with clear organization. The interviewees were also equally fascinating to listen to and to hear their stories felt like you were sitting across from them at the dinner table asking about the good old days. 

I enjoyed the content describing the feel of hollywood when the directors had full creative freedom over the studios, and you could feel how everyone supported each other like a family and helped cultivate the great directors of today.

I felt the length was a bit excessive, but aside from that this was a great success. It made me feel like i was connected again to the people and their stories. 

Interrogate This

This movie was terrible.

let's start with the environment. I walked in and immediately felt freezing... this continued for the rest of the 2 hours we sat there. This particular room that we were to be viewing this movie, was also conveniently within view of the sunny beautiful day outside. These were my issues with the environment.

It started okay, explaining the issue, which is pertinent to our current situation abroad and even within our own country concerning torturing techniques. A constant controversy, it is important to examine both sides of the issue, however i felt that this documentary was not objective on the subject, but subjective from the point of view of someone who feels that psychologists should be present for these interrogations. The animations and smaller clips within the film were not beneficial to the visual interest of the audience and instead made us laugh at some points due to their ridiculousness. 

Once the film got going i learned a lot about the two sides of the argument for whether or not psychologists should be present during interrogation processes, and what these events generally consist of.

overall, the movie was disjointed and did not flow well together, or keep my interest. I stayed out of respect for the film maker who clearly had interest in the topic and put a lot of work into it. I would have enjoyed it more if it were cut around the hour mark, and if i had a more personal interest in the subject.  

Man On A Wire

This film was interesting because of the act itself. I have never seen the event itself and only heard about it from other people, but i was interested to learn the full story about the people behind it and what inspires this level of thrill-seeking behavior. 

I was moved by their story from the beginning, and the way that they were all selflessly supporting their friend's dream and sacrificing a lot to help him achieve that goal. His achievements themselves, being able to focus so hard that he can flawlessly walk across a wire without so much as a second thought. 

That said, his easy going nature about walking across a wire so far above a major city, illegally, blows my mind. The operation was seemingly impossible and yet they all seemed to pull it off with barely a flaw, in fact with flare, i can't believe how many times he went across and how he even lay down in the middle. I'm not sure i could stand on the top of a building that tall and feel comfortable. 

I was surprised how easy it seemed for them. After they were captured, i was touched by how many people were touched by his one action, like he was some god of a higher consciousness. After he had completed this fantastical achievement, he forgot all about the friends that got him there, and his girlfriend and got lost in the fame of it all. This sort of ruined the feeling for me, i wished that he was a more respectable person, and that there was a happier ending, but in the end he was just as full of himself and egotistical as he always was, he never planned on bringing his team along for the ride because he believed only in himself and thought only about his own achievements. Maybe this is the personality it takes to walk across a wire from one world trade center to the other. 

I was on edge for this entire movie. It made me uncomfortable, moved, sad, frustrated and nervous at times, and therefore i felt was a major success because it evoked emotion in me, and as I'm sure, the other people in the audience who saw it. 

Garbage Dreams

This was a beautiful documentary with a beautiful story.

I felt a connection to each and every character and their families because of the way the director followed their stories. I was touched by how hard each member of the family worked as a team to help the family as a whole. The city must smell of garbage and not be hygienic, but i was interested to find out that they have a person in charge of hygiene for the city, and that she is also involved in their lives and relationships with each other. 

I felt that some of the older children had become selfish with their aspirations, but i can't blame them since they have worked their whole lives for their families and they aren't even old enough to go through puberty. I felt sad for the families whose main providers had been sent to jail for trying to work for their family. 

I was shocked and impressed by the amount the town recycles for the city, 75% is a huge percentage since we only recycle around 20% and use more expensive machines as they showed with the recycling plants in Manchester. We should be paying these people big amounts of money to recycle all the materials in the world and we would all be much better off. 

Deep Throat

I found this film quite humorous. In the past when sex was essentially outlawed by society, it is interesting to see their reactions to such a ground-breaking pornographic movies, as opposed to what the reaction would be now. 

It was also interesting to see the quality level of pornography and how things have changed. i was also fascinated by the way in which town and cities have tried to close down so called "red light" districts since then but that society has surprisingly become more accepting of the ever-evolving pornography culture.

It sometime baffles me how at any given moment some element of culture can shock the world and therefore push society to accept this new culture and evolve with it. There is always an inciting incident. 

overall it was very well-made and maintained my interest due to the nature of the programming and its level of controversy. 

This Film Is Not Yet Rated

I loved this film. 

it maintained my interest for the full length of the movie, and made me think about the legitimacy of these types of organizations, and how much trust we put into their rating abilities knowing nothing about it. I liked the position the director takes and how interactive he gets with the "investigation" into the identities of the ratings board. I also enjoyed the side plots of the characters like the private investigator who was homosexual and therefore enhanced the arguments the director put forth about the types of sexual acts that are prohibited for release. It gives the audience a more personal relationship with the characters in the film. 

I also liked the arguments put forth about where these people are hired from and why they have the expertise to judge and comment on the appropriate nature of films. I felt bad for the filmmakers who were not able to release their films to wider audiences because it was blocked in the ratings board. 

I do however feel there should be some sort of ratings system as a guide for parents, but there should be some kind of selection process for this "ratings board" that provides a diverse group of people to make important decisions regarding this art form. It is in my opinion a commentary on the way our world works, for example politics.....

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story, discusses not just Lee Atwaters life but also many different aspects insid politics that I was unaware of. I do not know a great deal about politics to begin with and never actually have been interested in it but this documentry kept me interested through the entire film. Lee Atwater was constantly nervous about his position in the political structure, it seemed he always wanted to be accepted. The film gave a perspective of politics being evil and and mnipulative. There was a good variety of people interviewed that brought up different issues of poitics. The end was emotional to see him battle canceer like that and this definitely provoked an emotional aspect from the audience. The film took a complete turn from resenting the bad things that the politicians did to feeling bad for him during his battle with cancer.

Triumph of the Will

Triumph of the Will was a fimed directed by Leni Rienfenstahl, which also was a propganda film. athe film was well shot and gave numerous images to create a propaganda film. Although the quality of images in the film was impressive I did not find myself intriqued by this film. I found it rather slow with a loss of a storyline . I also would argue that it is hard to see Hitler in a positive light after the Holocaust. Altought the march was very impressive that they used all those people without digitally multiplying the people.The music in this film was also very bold and strong which also set the propaganda tone of the movie.It is sad that she claimed she had no idea what ws happeneing. The film made it clear that she had a certain level of respect for Hitler for the fct that she made a propaganda film and setting him as strong with good intention which clearly was not the case.

The Last Word

THIS FILM WAS AMAZING. I got to MNS 200 to see that there were only a handful of people there. This didn't bother me at first, but after the film it did. I wished that everyone had a chance to view this picture. It was a tragic story about a mentally challenged male being the scapegoat for a murder. All the facts and evidence pointed away from him, but he was represented terribly. Malpractice and attorney misconduct were some of the holes poked in this poor kids case, also sleazy Texans had a lot to do with it. As a criminal justice student this film amazed me. You always do case briefs and hear about a lot of this kind of stuff, but to actually see the kids mom was crazy. I also loved how they used the head of InnocenceProject.com to speak. That site is run really well and is encouraged to be used by many of my classes. Out of 10 I would give this movie an 11. Off the scale. GO SEE IT!

Easy Rider, Raging Bull

This movie was the biggest let down of them all. It wasn't the worst movie, far from it, but I came into it with high expectations. Easy Rider is one of my favorite movies and that whole mentality that was happening in the film industry during that time was amazing. This film took a topic that could have made for a phenomenal movie and didn't follow through. The movie was too long to start. There were no seats in the room, I was ecstatic about the turn out. It wasn't long before people started leaving. The movie was just too dry in parts and focused on movies that nobody cares about, like George Lucas's THX-1000. I ended up leaving early myself and wished this movie had left a better impression on me. Out of 10 I would give it a 6 just because of the topic. 

Interrogate This

This film in my opinion was a total flop. If the panel wasn't there to answer questions and add insight it could have really been a disaster. The film was drawn out and seemed very biased, even though people kept commenting on how unbiased it was (confusing). There was at least a good show for this film, it being the first of the festival, and the popcorn and cheese and  crackers were a nice touch. Other than one random guy in the back ranting about whatever he deemed important, i thought the panel was done very well and intelligently. Out of 10 I give this movie a 3 :(. 

Art and Copy

Art and Copy is a beautiful look into the world of advertising. It fit right in with the topic of propaganda we have been covering this year. The images in this movie were spectacular, absolutely amazing shots. But the topic was a little dry in parts. I thought the turn-out was okay for the film but what kept people in their seats were the images. Out of 10 i would give this movie a 7.

Inside Deep Throat

This was a very uh interesting documentary that explored one of the most famous pornos ever created. The most interesting part of the film is when they actually showed the "money shot," as I did not expect it to actually be in the film. Anyway, besides just going over that porno and showing the revolutionary scene, the documentary explored many social issues, such as what is appropriate in the film industry. This film was one of the first of its kind and inspired the creation of many other pornos, so obviously much controversey and problems developed as is with all new concepts. That single film changed the world and the film industry (and now the internet) forever. It also explored the situation of the male star of that porno, whom all of the blame of the controversey the film created was put upon, as he was the only one who was vulnerable. This documentary was on a subject that appeals to most people 18 and older and surprisingly was more than just talking about sex and nudity in film and provided much interest.

Prisoner of Paradise

The concept of this film is terrible: the Nazis forced a Jew, who's people were being massacred and tortured at the time, to film his brethren and attempt to make it seem humane to the rest of the world. It shows how the Nazis abused propaganda techniques by creating the false images of the camps for the rest of the world. It also shows the extent at which the Nazis would go to reach their goal without the care of life. However, not all of the blame can be put on the Nazis, the film director, Gerron, consiously chose to film the death camps and put a humane "slant" to it in exchange for a better life and exemption from the camps. This completely backfired on him, as he was put in the camp anyway on top of creating a false image of the camps, where he died. The film also explores his life as a director before the Holocaust and how successful and talented he was, which makes it more of a shame that he had to die such an ironic and early death.

This film is not yet rated

This film was very interesting, as it explored a subject that few people consider. It's weird to think about the ratings system as a sort of secret society that determines the fate of the success of the movies it rates. They have the potential to cause a film to lose millions of viewers if they rate it one rating level higher; and they do it all behind closed doors. This is why Kirby Dick, the director, decided to investigate this and create a film mocking the whole system and showing the many fallacies in their logic; there are several double-standards that they apply and judge based mostly on opinion and judgement. It was interesting the way the film shifted between explaining the ratings system and its flaws and the investigation it had going. The detective woman was very strange and her methods were questionable at best. Overall this was an enjoyable film that explained and showed a lot about a subject I was relatively unaware of.

Review of Accelerating America

This film was about a school locally, in Providence, RI, called UCAP that assisted under-privileged kids being raised in a poor neighborhood. The film followed three students, Yazmine, America, and Jason, along with school principal Robert DeBlois. The film displayed how DeBlois interacted with his students and his attempts to pointing them in the right direction. He does all of this while being a quadriplegic, which is an amazing story itself. This film displays miracle stories as well as depressing stories. This is a documentary that really should gain popularity. This was one of my favorite films of the year. I give this a 4 out of 5.

Review of Inside Deep Throat

This film was about the creating and controversy of the famous pornographic film entitled "Deep Throat". This film was simply a time line of the occurrences during the making and release of this controversial film. It was quite humorous receiving in-depth analysis of a porno, regarding ticket sales, directing, and the actual acting. It was also interesting to view how the government went and attacked this film because of its obscenity. However this film did drag on. I kept viewing people saying how controversial it was, and I got the point. They didn't need to keep repeating the fact. I give this movie a 3.5 out of 5. The .5 was added for the awkwardness of the "money shot" actually being shown during a class haha.

Review of This Film is Not Yet Rated

This was a great film about the MPAA system, which has a group of parents that rate today's movies. Invented in the 1960's, the MPAA members remain anonymous. This has confused numerous movie makers, especially those who received NC-17 ratings. Who were the film makers supposed to speak with regarding the ratings of their films? The director of this film, Kirby Dick, made his movie extremely intriguing when he hired a private investigator to find out the true members of the MPAA. Along with this mission, Dick spoke with several film makers to gather their opinions regarding the rating system and what can be done to fix it. Also, the film provided several film clips that added to the entertainment of explaining the rating system. This film was highly entertaining and educational. I give it a 4 out 5.

Review of Prisoner of Paradise

This film was about a famous actor/director living in Germany during WWII. However, he was a Jew who was one of many victims of the Holocaust. The film basically reviewed the downfall of a influential human being due to the simple fact of his religion. Probably the most interesting part of this film was displaying how a video was created for the members of the Red Cross to portray that the concentration camps were a great place to live. It was even more ironic that the Jewish director in which the film focused on directed the film for the Nazis. Even though he directed a film for them, they killed him anyways. A depressing movie, yes. But when it comes down to it, it was quite repetitive. I give the film a 2.5 out of 5

Escape from Luanda

i really enjoyed this film. it was young and fresh. the students were easy to relate to and their cander about their situation was honest and refreshing. They interacted as any friends would. It presented them with a drive for the arts, not a cry for pitty or help. They had excepted their situation and surroundings and were doing the best they could with it. it was very respectable. the image of luanda itself was one that i know to be true, but rarely see. the flies on the meat  was a powerful image. watching the woman barter for insect ridden meat for her family was very sad. A mother out of an abusive relationship with children to provide for is something that isn't exclusive to women from africa. It provided some hope for people who ca think they are all alone, when really things reoccur all over the world. The girl was positive and as a viewer it was easy to believe in her, and hope for the best. this movie was easy to sit through but I felt the measure of the desolation they lived in. 

Interrogate this

This film was far from cohesive, entertaining or intimidating. I felt a biased message throughout. Broll from a conference of psychiatrists flipping papers and sitting indian style in a Marriot lobby could put anyone to sleep. Just because you add cartoons doesn't make a film witty or funny, apparently just confusing; even immature when considering the weight and relative nature of the topic. I thought that even though the research was done thoroughly it was an ill attempt at a well rounded view. Even in the panel discussion she knew nothing outside of her one interviewee. It was too large a topic for one representative who legally couldn't say too much. it lacked emotional weight and a connection with the audience. my mind wandered consistently, it was a nice day out i was bummed i missed it.

Art & Copy

Art and Copy was by far my favorite film from the festival. it was an experience. It was shown in the right setting in ARCH and it made it that much more powerful. My mother and friend came with me to this screening as well and left impressed. It was inspirational. I am a communications major and have relatives that work with Weiden and Kennedy. this film only made me feel more positive about my major and my career path. It was beautifully shot and filled with advertising legends. The interviewees gave concrete commentary that showed grit and grace. they all worked hard for where they are now , but were honest in that there is a reason for the select few. it takes a lot of effort time and vision to get to their level but they started off as surfers and business men and women from all over. I loved this movie so much i bought it, that if i ever really think that my field is to vaque to break into, or uninspired to continue, this movie could be helpful.

Inside Deep Throat

Linda lovelace and her performance in Deep Throat catapulted the porn industry into the mainstream billion dollar industry that it  is today. They pushed the limits on censorship. Since deep throat "sex" in films has become something that has to be contained and monitored. Deep Throat was unique and raw, and will never be permitted to happen again in the US unless in a specific adult viewing only theater. But is human sexuality so unrealistic that it should not be put into film? yes, it has been taken to another degree now with the commitment to the industry as a marketable equity but part of me sees it as any other human interaction. Is violence so much easier to see? This interpretation of such a scandalous film and theme was thought provoking and i liked the film. 

Garbage Dreams

I was not able to view this screening, but from reading other blogs the topic sounds unique and original (people who work almost exclusively in garbage and the mastery of such an obscure craft)- yet hard to present in a film setting worth viewing for an extended period of time once the point is made. the overall feel was slow and that seems reasonable its a dry subject. I would have liked to see it.

Prisoner Of Paradise

"Just leave already!" was the only thought going through my mind. His presence, connections and talent could have gotten him to the United States even to the top of the Hollywood scene with many of his colleagues. he created such an artistic haven for friends and family. The transitions he made through his life though sad, were almost a gift. He was able to see and appreciate life from so many different shoes. His work was the only constant in his life, and i believe kept him living so long. The image of paradise that the Nazis tried to portray is paralleled in the Boy in the Striped Pajamas. If you allowed yourself to believe that the grass was greener, it led to your demise.

This Film is not Yet Rated

once again all the industry is run by the man. the big cooperations are money driven and power hungry. convinced that they can dictate what society thinks it needs. I felt that the points made by visionary filmmakers were infallible. Women are put in degrading weak positions constantly yet social quams are put on pleasure and love. Pressure is put on the "voters" to sustain the same out of date patterns of ignorance. rather then an open mind and love of art, it was apparent that the secrecy of the industry was misquided. Rather then for the "safety" of children's exposure it is more for the mind set of the parents to hinder their world views. I think its admirable that the creater of this movie and its concept took it all the way to the exposure of these supposed rule makers. No one has the right to pass judgement on someones vision, that is for the public to decide. I thought this movie was inspired, shot with a cohesive story line and honestly put.

Man on Wire

Man on wire was an interesting piece. To accomplish something to that degree is admirable, but saddening that the preparations required to pull off the walk prior to the event didn't reflect the result. I really believe that talents ought to be shared but his cavalier attitude towards the commitment of his friends was disheartening in his character. it called upon everyone in his life to constantly be the bigger person in every situation. He put people who loved and respected him in danger and in emotional toil. The film itself was shot well. i liked the angles that really showed the height and difficulty of what he accomplished. The reenactments weren't distracting but helpful. They were presented in a light humorous manner that was easy to follow with the interviewees narration. I liked that the Man had a dream and carried it out. it was his vision and his goal, his talent. So on one hand, I do see how it was so easy for him to disregard his help once it was over, what more was there to do other then continue to perform alone - selfishly it does make sense. But in reference to another film - "Funny Bones" - it reminded me of a happier sequel. Same situation in fantasy and film. Only in Man on Wire, there is no retribution, no later contact. But so is life. 

Man On Wire

This was one of my favorite films we have viewed all semester. It was very engaging and entertaining to listen to and view the mind of a man who was so determined. Due to his crazy and weird obsession with wire walking and the Twin Towers it made you want to keep watching and listening to him because he really was so crazy. It is amazing to think that him and his team were ever able to actually pull of setting up something like this. As we talked about in class i still am left puzzled as to where he got all the money to constantly be planning this event and how he seemed to have all this spare time to just wire walk in a field all day. It would be interesting to know more about his childhood and his parents to see if any of it had an impact on his obsession with wire walking and what seems to be finical freedom. The ending of the film was very sad. It was sad to see how emotional many of those who helped him were in reflecting on the past. They were the major part of why he became famous and in the end he dropped them after using them to accomplish his goal of walking the Twin Towers. The actual production and filming itself was very good. Its amazing that they had actually footage filmed during all the actual planning and events that took place. It makes you wonder why all of a sudden all these years later this film has been made. There must have been an original plan do to something will all the footage, but once he split the group up and ditched them for fame those plans were also forgotten and lost. Overall very interesting film on a topic which may seem very boring and weird.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

I never thought I would come so close to crying watching a film. When one can see the Holocaust through the eyes of a young boy it shows you how stupid Germany was at the time, and how powerful and destructive propaganda can be. This film gives you many perspectives of what Germany was like through the eyes of a child, teen, mother, military father, and a Jewish boy. The mother in this film struggles with the war aggainst the Jews because like her son she is not as strongly influenced by the propaganda ,but because her husband is a high ranked officer she is blinded in the beginning of the film. She soon lets her heart do the speaking and understands for the safety of her children then she must take them with her out of the house. The father struggles with himself in that he he must make the decision to lie to his wife about who he really is. He doesn't fully understand who he is until the very end of the movie when his son has been killed and the blood is in his hands. I highly recommend this movie and can guarantee anyone who watches it will not leave their seats until its over. Its a beautiful way of understanding how the German people felt about the war and the holocaust and brings to new light that not everyone in Germany at the time was blinded by propaganda they just chose to look the other way for their own safety.

This Film is Not Yet Rated

A very funny documentary, but at the same time gave it viewers a strong sense of how ridiculous our rating system is in cinemas. I never realized how protected the raters of movies are and i have never been so irritated with a system in my life. I stand by the directors and producers of films that receive a NC-17 and want to know answers as to why. I feel it is complete bullshit that the raters won't sit down with the producers and directors and collaborate together at what is suitable and what isn't. It really makes me wonder how many movies out there could have been a masterpiece, but never got screened properly because of the rating system. Overall I felt the documentary was well done and I enjoyed the scenes with the detective and her friends daughter as they snooped around looking for clues, and revealing the raters names and background information.

Man on Wire

Absolutely stunning documentary that takes its viewer's through a compelling story of desire, love, and determination. Philippe had the desire to walk tight ropes, not for the circus or for financial gain but for the shire joy of being on top of the world. He and his friends, which is where the love comes into place, would rig tight wires between high structures illegally all over the world. Philippe would walk the wire until the streets filled with people. Him and his friends would be arrested and for the most part let go with warnings and trespassing fines. What was so beautiful about this documentary was how Philippe lived his life around so many people that loved him and wanted to see him complete his dream of walking in between the Twin Towers. Philippe would have never amounted to what he is today without his friends, and yet his stardom still engulfed him ruining all of his friendships. It almost seemed like once he walked between the Twin Towers he left a huge part of him on the wire and the only thing left once you have reached the top of the world is the fall. Though Philippe never fell from the wire that day a part of him fell into the crowd of people below watching, and it truly broke the hearts of the people that made him.

Man on Wire

Man on Wire is a very interesting film that has many more elements to it than first seen with the untrained mind. The focus of the film was the idea that Philippe was a "live life on the edge" guy who traversed many tall, some famous structures, on thin wires, just because he felt compelled to do it. That idea alone made this documentary interesting. However, instead of simply exploring Philippe and his stunts, the documentary went into the personal lives of everyone involved with the Twin Towers wire walk and incorporated many interesting elements. It was interesting and effective the way the film switched time periods; it jumped back and forth between the Twin Towers wire walk, Philippe's rise to "stardom," the plans for the final act, and explored everyone's lives and how they were related to Philippe. These jumps really kept the viewer awake and made it much more interesting to see how the Twin Towers act was all pieced together.

There was one element, at no fault of the film makers, that makes this piece a bit unsettling, though. Although Philippe is such a unique, entertaining, and interesting character, it is hard to respect a man like that for what he did. After he and all of his friends, including his girlfriend, many of which were childhood friends of his, assisted Philippe with completing his act that was for Phillipe and Philippe alone, he abandoned them -- all of them. Despite the fact that they were helping Philippe mostly only out of the kindness of their hearts and they sacrificed so much for him, Philippe simply ditched them all for fame. He became consumed by stardom and his own ego that he forgot how much his friends meant to them. Which raises the point that maybe he only pretended to befriend them and was only using them to complete his self-centered goal of walking between the towers. Either way, it is a very sad element to a film and an act that were so great and inspiring

Final Project on Mr. G Wayne Miller

Mr. G. Wayne Miller is a writer and producer, working for the local Providence Journal for more than 27 years. Born in 1954, Miller is a graduate of Harvard College, class of 1976, and has won many awards in journalism with the reputation as a “writer’s paper.” Along with winning several Pulitzer Prizes, Miller was also a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for his coverage on The Station nightclub fire in February 2003. That fire was one of the most traumatic experiences Rhode Islanders have faced, and Mr. Miller’s coverage of the event won acclaimed status. Miller is also the author of a novel and six narrative non-fiction pieces, including Toy Wars, Men and Speed, King of Hearts, Coming of Age, The Work of Human Hands, and The Xeno Chronicles. His passion for Stephen King inspired him to get into the field of fiction writing and he sold his first book, Thunder Rise, in 1988 to William Morrow. With his slicked-back graying hair and calm demeanor, Mr. Miller presents himself as a down-to-earth, relaxed spirit with a certain poise and confidence.
The first thing you notice about Mr. Miller is his do-it-yourself attitude. He seems to want to accomplish so many things, and all those things he wants to do himself. He seems very driven, wanting to go beyond his acclaimed journalist position. Collaborating with David Bettencourt, Mr. Miller has now delved into the world of Documentary film, creating On the Lake: Life and Love in a Distant Place and the upcoming Behind the Hedgerow, “a new film about old money Newport, those who live in great wealth.” (Mr. Miller) Miller met Bettencourt while writing Coming of Age, who was creating You Must be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park. Miller was intrigued by David and his passion for filmmaking, and the two began to work together and founded Eagle Peak Media, a movie, internet, and book company. Overall, Miller has wither written, produced or screen wrote 10 films, with two more due out soon. His resume is quite extensive, with much success in almost every field of journalism, fiction writing, and screenplays.
Mr. Miller always seems to be up for a laugh. Even in a formal setting, he continues to make small comments that make the crowd smile. He also can laugh at himself, showing he enjoys life and takes each day as it comes. He also points out that “you do it (documentary film making) for love, not money. As you get better you have the hope and expectation to get more money.” In terms of funding for films, we can learn a lot about the business from talking with Mr. Miller. He says that “you pay for the movies out of pocket for the most part unless brands will contribute something.” It is incredible how expensive it must be to pay for a film out of pocket, and how much dedication and faith you must have in yourself to take on such an endeavor. He also points out that without a “track record and reputable past,” it is hard to get money to fund a film. You have to rely a lot on volunteers and interns that you don’t have to pay because when you start out in filmmaking, “you start with your credit cards.” (Mr. Miller) When discussing the budget for Behind the Hedgerow, we find out that grant money is available for new films, but Miller is hesitant to apply for them for this film because they are very “time consuming and dubious.” Instead, Miller and Bettencourt are trying to go to individuals and some private institutions to get some funding for the film.
When comparing the two documentaries he has worked on with Bettencourt, Mr. Miller said the two differed in that in On the Lake, you “stumble on things.” He and Mr. Bettencourt had an idea of the story to work on the film, but they didn’t know where it would take them. They posted websites and asked people to bring them their stories, and from that the film unfolded. In Behind the Hedgerow, on the other hand, they already had the stories through all the diaries of this woman on Bellevue Ave. They just have to sift through all the interviews and diaries to tell the story, but they basically already have the film.
In terms of interviewing for the different films, in order to get the interviewee to tell the story you must do a pre-interview through the phone or email to make them comfortable. Mr. Miller also suggests that “you ask them if they have any questions of you and make sure you seem credible. The key is to make the people feel comfortable and make sure your not assholes, employing humor also helps.” He also compares the interviewing process in films to that of print. After 30 years of print interview practice, Miller shows that print interviews are very different from when someone is put in front of a camera. He points out that on film interviews “you can prompt people to say what you want them too.” At another point in the interview, Mr. Miller says that “Some people are very good (on camera), such as Barbara in On the Lake. In writing, you can have lots of ‘uh’ and ‘um’ that you can take out to make it legible but you can’t do that in film so lots of good interviews and stories have to be put on the cutting room floor.” The shooting time for interviews varies, but the longest interview for On the Lake was around one hour but “it’s a process, its fluid” because lots of times you need to go back and flesh aspects of an interview out that you didn’t catch during the initial interview. However, the challenge in Behind the Hedgerow is the fact that their main interviewee is dead so they cannot go back.
Lastly, marketing of the documentaries was discussed. Miller believes that “you can’t operate without the presence of the web to get revenue.” In fact, Miller and Bettencourt have created blogs, opened a twitter account, and have a Litserv to promote their films. “Were very open about filmmaking,” Mr. Miller said. “We post everything we do on our blogs etc. to allow people to see out whole filmmaking process.” They also put up some ads for the premiere of their films but do most of their marketing through the internet. For On the Lake they had a strong “niche mark, the public health field” because the film deals with leukemia patients. Therefore, they showed the DVD to places such as UMass, University of New Hampshire, New York Medical Hospital and Harvard for free in “a sound theory that the medical officials will see this, and see how powerful it is and will buy it from there for educational purposes.” They also price the DVD differently for those that will use the movie for educational purposes and those that will have it for individual use.
Overall, Mr. Miller is well versed in almost every aspect of the journalism world. His immense experience has provided him with many opportunities in his life that have pressed his career even further. However, this success has not gone to his head as he is a very down-to-earth and easy to get along with. His hometown, friendly personality makes him feel more like a friend or neighbor rather than an acclaimed writer, journalist, and filmmaker.

Review of Man On Wire

I missed the tail end of this film because I had to go make up a test I missed for the film festival. I was disappointed because I had been waiting in anticipation throughout the whole film for him to walk across the twin towers and missed it! However, I thought the film was impeccably made and produced. It held my attention the entire time and almost played as a feature film rather than a documentary. I really liked the fact that the film built our suspense the entire time to keep us intrigued until the end. I like that it kept flashing back and forth between giving us the biographical information and the event of the tightrope walk itself. I think this choice the filmmaker made kept our attention the whole time because we didn't feel bombarded with biography nor given the end result of his endeavors right away. The guy was nuts but the film was beautifully crafted and can see why it won such a prestigious award. I really enjoyed this documentary and think it was my favorite one we have watched in our class over the semester because I can now appreciate how the film was crafted and can see why it was so compelling.

Review for Man on Wire

Man on wire was a great film. It was obviously well done and prepared for, although this is not explained in the documentary. It almost verged on a narrative film because the story was so well prepared. The emotional effect on the people that worked to get the project was touching and meaningful, though the beauty of his Philippe Petit’s actions is destroyed slightly because he left them all behind. The reaction of almost all that saw him walking however was beautiful. As we discussed in class, Petit managed to rebel in the form of only his passion, not hurting anyone in the process. His determination is almost unreal; I have never seen someone so dedicated to something I did not think have a deeper meaning. The topic for the documentary was unique in that sense, and kept my attention.

Interview of Bruce and Christine Toy, creators of The Wat Misaka Story

I had the amazing opportunity to spend time with the makers of the film Transceding: The Wat Misaka story. Bruce and Christine Johnson, a couple from New York discovered Wat through a picture on a Wall. When they learned of his achievement being the first person of color to be drafted to an NBA team, they wondered why his story hadn’t been told already. Christine herself is Japanese, andshe and Bruce noticed a lack of Japanese stories in the media.So they set out to get his story out there. Both Bruce and Cristine have a background in theatre, Christine makes her living as an actress and Bruce as a photographer. They worked on a short film, but consider this their first real film. For being new to the film scene, they worked quickly with a low budget. They spent two years on the project, compared to the ten to twenty five years some of their fellow film makers spent on their documentaries. Working from money donated by grants, their equipment was limited. But these two are thrifty; since they could not afford a dolly, they bought their camera man a pair of roller skates so that he could pan shots. They did wonders with the limited amount of material they had. Theier crew was just the two of them, with help from a few others. Christine joked about how for the credits of the film, they put people that had worked just a few hours on the project to make the list of names longer than just their own two names.
I asked them how difficult it was to get the old footage that included home movies and basketball games. The University of Utah allowed them access to Wat’s basketball footage, but Christine spent hours poring through movies in a library to pick out the clips of Wat’s young adult life.
These two turned Wat’s story into more than just a “trivia question.” Because of the publicity from the film, Wat gained a place in the NBA Hall of fame just a few months ago. The filmmakers are pleased with their project, and are surprised about how far it has come. Christine expressed excitement at the fact that people were inviting them to show their film. They never imagined that the message of their film could reach so far. According to Christine, in the beginning of the process, Wat said that no one outside of Utah would care about the story, but this film is proving him wrong. Bruce and Christine traveled to Hawaii, Arizona and Utah and are heading down to California in the next week to show their film. They have been chosen out of thousands to be featured in RIIF this coming summer. The pair deserves to be honored for this film, because of all the work they put into it and the story it tells.

My Interview with John Lavall

Before the last day of Roving Eye began, I got a chance to talk with John Lavall, who was showing clips from his upcoming documentary about refugees from Africa living now in Rhode Island.  He also talked about his other film about the dangers of LNG tankers in Rhode Island.

How long have you been working on the LNG project?

I have been working on the LNG project for six years now, making it the longest project that I have worked on.  I have 100 hours of footage but I'm just having trouble coming up with an ending to it.

How did you get involved with this project?

I was at a high school basketball game, when I ran into the Attorney General.  He wanted me to make a public service announcement about the dangers of LNG tankers in Rhode Island.

What are the dangers of LNG?

For an LNG tanker to come through Narragansett Bay, everything must shut down in the surrounding area for it to pass.  This could do some harm to the state's economy if everything has to shut down for them to pass.  LNG isn't compressed, so it can't explode but it is highly flammable.  If there was a leak and someone was smoking on the shore, you could get 2nd degree burn in a one mile radius.  Thousands could get burned if there was a leak. 

What are some possible ways to end this project?

It's an editorial decision to keep going.  You never know what's going to happen next in this case.  The last thing that I have shot is a protest on a boat in the middle of Narragansett Bay.

Tell me about the film were going to be previewed "Home Across Lands"?

I have just finished filming "Home Across Lands", which deals with refugees from Ethiopia and get to live in Rhode Island and start a new life.  It shows what it is like to live in one of these refugee camps and how bad they are.  It then shows the process of how those who get to live in Rhode Island adjust to living in the United States. 

Were there any problems tackling this project?

Yes there were some problems.  People in the Ethiopian government said I couldn't shoot it at first.  Even after they agreed that I could do this project, I still had problems getting into the camps.  The weather conditions also proved to be a factor, we could only shoot at certain times, because it would get too hot to be outside at certain times of the day.  We needed an umbrella over the camera just to keep it cool and not have it overheat. 

This Film is Not Yet Rated

This movie was awesome. A combination of scandalous scenes from movies and interesting interviews. They gave you an in depth look at the rating process which until I saw this movie was very mysterious to me. The person who created the movie even sent it in to be rated, which i thought was ingenious and hilarious at the same time. I found the private investigator and her daughter to be a little annoying and crazy, but over all the movie kept you in your seat. The movie was made very well and was very creative. I loved how it used clips from well known movies as examples and how it uncovered the rating process for the bullshit it is. I give this movie a 9 out of 10. 

Triumph of the Will

Triumph of the Will was a film made to promote the Nazi party during their election. Shots of Nazi boys having the time of their lives and German families with food on their table were some of the center points of the film. The film ushered in a new era for Germany full of evil and hate. The propaganda used in the film despite its intent was phenomenal. This film could sell living on the streets as a positive thing if it was directed at that. Its interesting that the director moved on to shooting animal footage after this product. Interesting film and shot very well for black and white. I would give it a 6 out of 10 for the quality not the content. 

Inside Deep Throat

This was actually the second time I have viewed this documentary. The first time was for a law class so that I could use the example of Deep Throat as what people viewed as obscene so I knew what I was getting myself into. The story of Linda Lovelace is a tragic story of a porn star who became probably the most well known name in porn (at least for the time). The movie captures your attention the whole way through, and has very captivating and well done interviews. Its crazy to see Linda lobbying against porn later in her life when she was such a catalyst in the future of porn. Over all a very well done piece, I would give it a 9 out of 10.

Garbage Dreams

Garbage Dreams is the story of a group of people who live solely off working with garbage. They have been able to survive by becoming experts at working with garbage. The separate everything and eventually turn it into raw materials. I found the topic very interesting but at the same time there were a lot of slower parts of the film. It also didn't help that it was impossible to get a hold of Mai the director of the film for an interview. Over all a well shot film with an interesting message but not my favorite. I would give it a 5 out of 10. 

Man On Wire

This movie was great. Excellent story on how a tightrope walker wanted to span the twin towers on a wire. It was like Mission Impossible meets carnies. The only thing that really got under my skin in the movie is how after the guy walked the span of the twin towers he ditched all his close friends for fame. These are people that without their help this never would have been possible and he used them to launch himself to stardom. Other than that I thought the movie was shot incredibly well and the reenactments were well done. Out of 10 i would give this movie a 8 and suggest it to anyone really. Very gripping piece. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRo8Idi64H4&feature=channel_page

Man on a Wire

This documentary was very well done and depicted something extraordinary but crazy at the same time.  It showed this French man who successfully cross the twin towers back in the early/mid seventies.  The film was mix of recreation and actually film shot by those involved.  The film should something extraordinary, but there was a dark side to it.  The French man, who became famous, left all his friends and associates behind, some of whom still in emotional pain for the betrayal.  This might not have been the underline theme of the movie, but it was one that I saw and took to mind after seeing this documentary.

Easy Rider, Raging Bull

This documentary was to be the main and final event at the Roving Eye Film Festival.  I was really looking forward to this one, because it explained how some of my favorite movies were made as well as how that whole time in American history really fascinated me.  For most of it I liked it, especially about movies like Easy Rider and the Godfather.  However, the film I thought was a bit too long and dragged in some parts, especially showing some of the films that these film makers made that were not that successful or very low budget.  I was probably expecting more of a faster paced documentary, instead it kind of just moved along slowly, with most of the films I was interested in viewed more near the end of the two hour film.  I thought that if it was cut down to an hour and a half, it would have been much more interesting and easier for the audience to be captured into it.  

Art and Copy

This film dealt with how advertisers come up with the catchy slogans or ads we see on TV. It goes into the history of some of the most famous ideas for advertising and marketing, such as the Budweiser frogs and the "Just Do It" for Nike. It also gives background to the people who come up with their ideas and it shows how they really think outside the box with everything, even how an office should be setup. This was another film I really liked because it was really interesting how these people come up with the ideas to lure us into buying a product and how determined they are that it will work and even become a sort of cult sensation. In the end of the film, I was thinking about what the next great adveristment was going to be.

The Last Word

The Last Word, which was my favorite film at the festival, dealt with a murder case in Texas in the early Eighties, involving a mental challenged man falsely accused of murder. The film shows how the trial and sentencing went on, which was completely unfair to the defendant and how the prosecutor just wanted to convict him and didn't show all of the evidence in the trial. They had a lawyer, who started a foundation to help those falsey accused, and he went on to say that most of the real crooks in this case were the prosecutor and the judge. The films ending was what really made the film having the man on death row placing a curse on all those who had him executed. The eerie thing is that it actually happened and everyone involved with his death either lost their job, someone close to them died, or they themselves died. This film shows how messed up Texan courts were back then and how this poor person was used for political reasoning only. It's powerful message of justice really came true in the end.

Interrogate This

The first film I saw at Roving Eye was Interrogate This, which was about the use of psychologists to define what is torture or not. The film talked about not being biased, but there was still an agenda set in this film about the use of torture. I thought that the film was a bit too long and not that interesting. The film jumped too much around, with the random clips with the cartoon punisher and the child in hiding from the soldiers that the theme was sort of lost throughout the film. The only good part was the discussion board at the end, debating one of the most controversial subjects in our country right now.

Man on Wire

I enjoyed this las film for a number of reasons. As the film progressed I felt the music se the mood the the scenes. The story kept building up and the music built the anticipation along with it. Compared to other films we have watched I liked the reenactments of the day of the stunt. The story its self it wild, and the films followed the Frenchman's past and motivation to create his greatest performance. Another aspect of the film that I enjoyed was how each character involved in the task was introduced. each person was not just brought up, they were introduced as like a character in a ocean's eleven movie. Each have some sort of nicknames and personality. The film as a whole was inspirational, but as we talked about in class, you realize how the main characters attitude changed your view of him after he basically dropped his lifelong friends and girlfriend. As a fellow New Yorker it was great to see such magnificent shots of the World Trade center. It makes you realize how amazing those buildings were and with that how crazy his stunt was. I would agree with the academy that this film deserved the academy award for best documentary of the year. Out of all the films we saw this semester, it was the best at keeping your attention and interest into what will come next. 

Art and Copy

The documentary film “Art and Copy” takes its viewers on a ride through the development of advertising. This documentary draws the underlining truth in advertising in that it is a form of art. In order to have a good advertisement one must understand the consumer’s wants, needs and most importantly their emotions to create a connection to the viewer. What I learned watching this film was that the strongest advertising that has ever to hit the market are the simplest. The slogan “Got Milk” exploded the milk industry with only two words. The importance of good advertising is a necessity in the marketing world. Since the beginning of advertisement the demand for it has never dropped, it is an industry that will always be needed. The man in the beginning and end of the movie explains how his father and grandfather all changed billboards for a living and never ran out of work even during the Great Depression
Advertising has become part of our culture and will continue to advance with the times; it is an important tool in marketing and without it a business will not survive. I felt this documentary was a little to long but other than that beautifully done.

Interrogate This

An interesting subject to make a documentary about but I feel it was a little too long and dragged out, which made it hard for me to stayed focused on. Yet I was very surprised when the director, Maryanne Galvin, mentioned during the panel discussion that she shot the whole film by herself and that it took years to complete. It was also shocking to say she made a documentary film during her "spare time" while being a full time psychologist. Therefore, I will admit that her work on this film was exceptional and extremely well put together. I found that a lot of the information in the film was repetitive, so that is why it seemed to drag on and on. On a good note though, the reenactments of the interrogations seemed so real that I didn't know they were recreations until Maryanne mentioned it. The panel discussion following the film was great though. It was enticing to have people that work in the psychology field answer any questions that were asked about interrogation and engage in conversation with the audience. The best was to have the filmmaker there herself and directly talk about her film. All in all, this wasn't one of my favorites of the festival but I will say it was a decent film.

Prisoner of Paradise

I found that I could not really get into this film considering we had already viewed several films about the Holocaust prior to this one, but I have to say that it was somewhat interesting to me. This film followed well know Jewish film director/actor Kurt Gerron throughout his career. I was intrigued by all the vast amount of films he had directed and also starred in. What was surprising to me was that even though he was a celebrity at the time it didn't matter to the Nazis because he was a Jew and that's all that mattered. I couldn't understand out of all the opportunities he had to escape from Europe and retreat to America he didn't go, which clearly foreshadowed what was to come in the documentary. He was eventually sent to a concentration camp where he was forced to write and direct a pro-Nazi propaganda film. Even though he initially was treated better than the other Jews at the camp it eventually came down to that he was just the same as the rest no matter if he was famous or not. I felt that the film was well put together and surprised at how many people the directors were able get to interview. This documentary was a nice portrayal of what Hilter was doing and how he corrupted so many people at that time in history.

Inside Deep Throat

This documentary details the making and response by the public of the most famous porno film ever made. It interviews the director, some of the cast members, and others who were part of the production of the film that brought porno into regular theaters. It includes scenes from the movie, including "the money shot" and how America reacted to it. With a bizarre of mixed opinions of the film, it finally became a legal issue involving one of the male stars, for he was the only one they could pin anything on. The question what is appropriate for us to see is brought up and shows how far the sexual revolution of the 1960s-1970s went. The film shows what happened to people involved in the film and where they are now, many of them are quite bizarre.

This Film is Not Yet Rated

In this entertaining documentary, the notion of censorship is question. What makes a movie an R-rated movie and what makes it PG-13 or something less than that. One filmmaker, with the help of some private eyes, try to figure out who is on the ratings board, something that be kept anominous up until now. The film also interviews directors who have had to censor their movies to avoid an NC-17 rating and how they feel the present system is messed up. One thing especially is how violent movies could receive a PG-13 rating and movies with sex scenes or nudity get an R rating. They also explain how vague these board is with what is appropriate or not and how they have all these rules and regulations to allow them to have all the say, and none really to the directors at all. The message of this film is how our idea of censorship is off skew and its about time that we change it.

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas

This narrative film had a powerful question to address, how far are we willing to believe what our government is telling us? In this film, it shows a young German boy named Bruno, who's father runs a local concentration camp. Unaware of his father's evil deeds, he befriends a Jewish boy named Shmuel and the two begin a friendship, unaware of what is really going on. The film shows how someone like Bruno chose not to follow what the authoritarian figures in his life say and do what he feels is right. It also shows how his mother was unaware how far her husband was going with dealing with the "Jewish problem", and becomes disgusted with him. The ending of the film is what really gets under your skin and one should ask was it due to karma for what his father was doing or was it how it showed how under the Nazi party, all hope and everything good was completely destroyed.

Prisoner of Paradise

The documentary "Prisoner of Paradise" showed how Jewish people in Europe, especially Kurt Gerron, a German director who was Jewish and was a big named celebrity before the Nazi took control over Europe. It shows his story as a struggling director and actor as well as some of the films he directed and stared in. The movie shows how he left Germany because of the rise of Nazism and how he did side projects all over Europe before being captured by the Nazis. As part of their propaganda, the Nazi had Gerron direct a film that depicted the Jewish people in Germany treated well by the Nazis and that the places that they were held in did not seem inhumane at all.
The film really showed how manipulated the Nazis were to the rest of the world and how they used people to do their dirty work for them. Gerron did this because he thought he and his family would get good treatment while the Nazis were in power, which he knew would only last for a lit while. Unfortunately, he was betrayed and sent to a death camp after the film was complete and he did not survive to see the fall of the Nazi party in Germany.
Propaganda is the underline theme of this movie and how because films like this were made, it was not until allied forces came to these camps that they finally understood the horror that went on in Europe, many of whom probably could not fathom it at first. Even today, there are cases around the world were evil governments manipulate the world on how they treat people they see as inferior and it is important for us to really look at these places and not just see what these countries want us to see.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

This was a very emotional film, although different from the traditional documentary. It was interesting to see the parallels between the lives of Bruno and the boy. One of the most intriguing parts of the film was when Bruno discovered the camp and met the boy, and he told the boy that it was not fair that he [Bruno] was "trapped" in the confinements of his house while he [the boy] was able to wander about and "play." It showed how naive Bruno was and how he, along with most of the young German population, were unaware of the atrocities that took place; this time very near to his own home. This idea is also portrayed through the Jewish character whom Bruno claims is a "farmer." He has no idea that the man is a part of the camp. When Bruno gets hurt and the man helps him, and the man claims to be, or once have been a doctor, Bruno does not believe him because he does not understand that the man is a slave. Another interesting part of the film was when Gretchen was exposed to the young officer and the Nazi party, and immediatly went under the influence of it, as she trashed her old life of dolls and youth and replaced it with Hitler and Nazi movement. These two children of the the Nazi officer are both unaware of the reality and are both directly affected by their father's profession.

This film is very well done in all aspects, it shows how Germany was trying to keep it's terrible secret behind closed doors while at the same time showing how both Jewish and German lives were being affected by Nazism and the concentration camps. It also shows how cruel the Nazis truly were and the fear they instilled upon not only the Jews, but German citizens as well. Bruno is exposed to this when the boy is inside Bruno's house and Bruno offers him food, and when the young Nazi officer questions if the boy stole the bread, he lies out of fear and claims that he has never seen the boy, who he became friends with, before. Overall this movie gets a strong message across and gives an alternate view to the Hitler era -- it primariilly shows how the German youths were affected along with the Jews.

Garbage Dreams

This was a very sad, yet inspirational film that opened my eyes to a society that I had know idea that existed. It's depressing to realize the poor lives that these people live and whose work involves the handling of trash with their bare hands. It's amazing to see how much garbage was actually in that city. Since they have no official garbage pickup, there is literally trash everywhere, and to think about the smell and atmosphere of that place is just awful. The Zaballen depend upon this garbage to make their living and to survive. As shown in the film, since the Zaballen do their work entirely by hand, they are able to sort out the garbage. This leads to a great deal of recycling (80% of all material), especially when compared to the recycling done by garbage pickup corporations (20% material recycled)

It was interesting to see the different members of that society and how the kids all have different aspirations -- some want to follow their fathers and work with garbage, others want to be something more "useful," and one doesn't want to work at all. The film did a nice job of showing the differences between Egypt and England; the differences in music, camera angles, and scenes used made England seem much more glorious than Egypt. The film really does a terrific job of revealing how awful the lives of the Zaballen are, but at the same time, giving the viewer a sense of hope for not only the future of the workers, but for humanity in general. As the title indicates, the film does a great job of going into the lives of these people and revealing how they live: through garbage and through hope.

Easy Rider, Raging Bulls: How Sex, Drugs, And Rock'N'Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

This film was somewhat long, but i thought a good way to end the film festival. It was also much different than any other film screening during the festival. There were a lot of things i never knew about some of the famous producers and actors which were featured within the film. It was interesting to hear about the stories and the ups and downs of the industry during that time period. Its amazing how care free everything and everybody was and how the industry itself ran compared to how the industry runs today. Some of the stories were funny to listen to the way they were told and talked about. One of the people they did interviews with was a woman (i forget her name) and she seemed like she was still on drugs with her weird responses about people and her reactions. It added some good humor to the film which overall was funny but interesting as well. It is also scary though how much drugs, especially cocaine, became such a main part of every ones lives. It was almost as if some couldn't function without it anymore and became so dependent on it for everything. These people are what created the industry and made it what it is today. What was really sad but also somewhat peaked my interest was the brutal murder of Sharon Tate that they briefly talked about. She was one of the many who they said wasn't involved in the whole drug scene and its almost ironic that she was killed and others who were doing drugs didn't. Overall i really liked this film and am interested in viewing it again, because i feel like there is a lot of information that i missed which i would love to know about.

Accelerating America

This documentary was very eye opening. All my life i have been provided very easily with a strong education and exceptional school systems. Now I'm ending my educational career at a small private and very financially expensive University. Its hard to imagine that for some all of this doesn't come easily and never has and maybe never will. Whats even more scary is that the realization this film brought to me and the fact that what its about is only 15 min away from me in Providence. Its always amazing the way each student takes their opportunities and either runs with them or fights against it. We had a METCO program in my high school for inner city kids to be bussed into the small suburb of Concord, ma to get a better education than the public schools on Boston can provide. Some of the students took great advantage of the opportunity they were being given, while some didn't care and threw away most of the help that was being given to them. This film for sure was an eye opener to how lucky i have been in my life to be given the education i have and how easily it has always been given to me. This is a film i would definitely be able to view again and recommend to others.

Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story

I really enjoyed watching this film. It was interesting how this man who played such an important role in the sport of basketball is so unknown. Its so great that Bruce and Christine Johnson were able to take something that peeked their interest and run with it and produce a great film about it. My dad was a long time basketball player and involved on College sports as well and as soon as i finished viewing the film i called him up to ask him if he had ever heard of Wat and he didn't. It goes to show how sad it is that the first person of color to be drafted in the NBA, especially a NY team, has gone unheard of. The accomplishments that Wat overcame through growing up a Japanese-American to playing college ball then getting drafted into the war and coming out of it and going back into basketball is amazing. Whats even more amazing is that he was only 5'7" i kept forgetting this during the movie because of the great motivation and persistent Wat had for the game. I think its great that a documentary like this exists and its bringing to light a man who deserves to be known. In terms of the video itself, the editing was wonderful. I loved the music choices and the flashing of old newspaper articles and old pictures of Wat.

Interrogate This: Psychologists Take On Terror

I though this was an interesting topic to make a documentary about and one which obviously entails a topic that needs to be discussed and looked into. This however wasn't one of my favorite films which we have viewed all semester and throughout the films shown during the film festival. I give Maryanne Galvin extreme credit for all the work she put into producing this film. Iv worked with movie editing programs and its a long and challenging process, not to mention she went out and did all the field work and filming herself as well. For me though one thing that stood out which i disliked was how long the interviews were with some people. They lasted for such long periods of time that i almost stopped listening to what the person had to say. It would have been nice to have more video and pictures while they person was talking verse just starring at their face for a long period of time. Due to the topic though i guess it could have been difficult to create images and other visuals to show. It was very creative however when she did the reenactments of people being interrogated. Overall i give her a lot of credit for the production of the film, however it simply just wasn't something i would ever watch again.

Prisoner of Paradise

The film portrays the life of a famous Jewish Director trying to survive in the Holocaust. The entire Holocaust is a sad story which would make it difficult to portray a positive tone in any of the documentaries of the Holocaust. It was interesting to see how the Holocaust affected the famous Jewish people and not just the average citizen. I was interested to see what would happen to them and if the wealth made a difference. Apparently it would have because he had a couple of opportunities to leave the country but unfortunately he did not take them. Unfortunately once he was in the camps, his wealth did not make any difference. The only thing that made a difference was that he could perform. This film also included the use of propaganda and how Hitler and the soldiers were able to trick the world. It was specifically meant to portray the life of the Jewish in the concentration camps and how everyone was affected. There was good use of interviews and archival history which helped set the tone of the film and gives a more accurate description of the story. They also allowed the audience to connect on an emotional aspect. The film was well put together and was consistent in showing his life in sequence.

The Boy in The Striped Pajamas

This film was both emotional and informational. A lot of films that are seen on the Holocaust usually are primarily shown of the people in the concentration camps. What was interesting about this film is that it gave you both the perspective of the soldiers and their families while including the people in the camps. It was also possible to see the interaction between the two. The music and the coloring of the film were both reflective of the tone which was dark and saddened. It was constantly keeping your attention of what would happen next. I believe this film also displayed the parallels of how society affects our decisions in children and adults. One example of this was when the soldiers son got the boy from the camp in trouble. Except for that example the boys had a loyalty which they took to their death. This ending of the film was both shocking and very emotional.