A list of campaign and election docs to divert yourself from Decision 08.
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There's a scene in Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men where Willie Stark, the Huey Long character running as the reform candidate for Governor of Louisiana, suddenly realizes that he's been set up to siphon enough votes away to ensure victory for the corrupt New Orleans machine's candidate. Building to a rage in front of a crowd of heretofore bored farmers, drawn to his rally by the prospect of free food, he calls them "hicks" for those who rule the state. And he calls himself one too. It's the electrifying turning point in one of the greatest books in American literature. But on film
As American Experience celebrates its 20th Anniversary, one of the greatest legacies of the compelling, multiple-award-winning history series has been its comprehensive profiles of American presidents. So it seems fitting that this major milestone arrives during one of the most exciting and decisive presidential elections in many decades. To mark the occasion, American Experience, a production of WGBH Boston, launched The Presidents in May with a new two-part biography of President George H.W. Bush from Emmy Award-winning producer Austin Hoyt. In total, the programming block includes seven
The interest and excitement generated by Barack Obama's bid for the White House would be unprecedented, if not for a certain Catholic candidate who took office in 1961. While the spectre of John F. Kennedy looms, it is, despite continuing revelations, a fairly fixed impression. In 2008, the media has changed so dramatically that impressions of Obama are as fluid as quicksilver. There are currently four Obama documentaries in production and one, released in 2007, that is available for purchase. Bob Hercules' Senator Obama Goes to Africa , described as "part personal odyssey and part chronicle
By Taylor Segrest Regardless of your party affiliation, whether you remember him as the most evil man in America, a great American, or just plain don't remember him at all, Lee Atwater changed your life. The jaunty, blues-loving godfather of modern presidential campaigning paved the way for the Bush Dynasty, pioneered our existing standard for unethical electioneering and mentored Karl Rove. Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story is the timely debut feature from Stefan Forbes that pointedly and comically examines this maestro of manipulation's Icarus-like ascendance and tragic, untimely demise. In
While many bemoan the state of theatrical documentary distribution, filmmaker and political activist Robert Greenwald has turned the situation to his advantage. Uncovered: The War on Iraq (2004), his nonfiction directorial debut, was originally distributed via nationwide house parties organized in conjunction with MoveOn.org, screenings hosted by the Center for American Progress and independent online DVD sales. He continued exploring alternative distribution methods with subsequent projects, including Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004). Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
Political conventions are a natural subject for documentarians. High stakes, inherent drama and charismatic characters are just a few of the attractions these events offer. While it can be tempting to simply grab a camera and show up, there is an overwhelming amount of action unfolding at a national political convention. Careful planning and focus are necessary to ensure getting a cohesive story. Filmmaker Robert Bahar ( Made in L.A.) spent a whole summer filming at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in 2000. He says, "The thing about conventions is that they seem incredibly important
A look back at The Man from Hope
Bruce Conner, the San Francisco-based artist best known for his experimental films such as A Movie, passed away Monday at age 74. During the heyday of the San Francisco Bay Area counter-cultural scene—from the West Coast chapter of the Beat Generation in the 1950s to the Haight-Asbury Summer of Love era to the San Francisco punk rock scene—Connor was a mainstay, venturing into different artistic disciplines, and blending them together. While he probably wouldn’t have categorized himself as a documentary filmmaker, he did utilize documentary and newsreel footage in works such as A Movie (1958)
Seven Up! By Stella Bruzzi BFI TV Classics 126 pages black & white and color photos The British Film Institute once again proves itself to be an invaluable institution with the publication of Seven Up!, Stella Bruzzi’s book-length analysis of Michael Apted’s landmark British television documentary, The Up Series. This small volume is part of the collection TV Classics, a new counterpart (the first volume was published in 2006) to the BFI’s longstanding Film Classics group. The intent of both collections is to take an individual title, or in the case of television, a series, and subject it to a