Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

I thought Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story was a good conclusion to our semester in documentary film. It was a little bit lighter than the Holocaust section (though still thoroughly horrifying), but it also seemed to tie together all of the different concepts that we learned about over the last few months. Similar to the Big Bird movie, Boogie Man took a relatively unknown man (who was actually quite prominent in the political world) and delved in to the details of his upbringing, his career, and his demise.
I think something that many films have had in common throughout the semester, such as Going Clear, Boogie Man, and Merchants of Doubt, is that some of the most powerful and influential people in the world fly completely under the radar of the general public. I think it is really eye-opening how Atwater could accumulate so much power, and influence among Washington elites, through such questionable methods. Money was more of a factor in Merchants of Doubt, as it is clear that politicians and major corporations dictate the direction of the climate change battle, but the element of power was largely the same in Boogie Man.
Atwater was basically a conman who worked himself in to the most powerful circles in the United States, and it is reminiscent of Going Clear in the sense that Scientology strikes me as a con as well. I thought the most telling part of the whole Boogie Man documentary was the last sentence when the man revealed that Atwater had never opened his Bible. Much like L. Ron Hubbard, Atwater was literally conning people right till the grave.

A LEGO Brickumantary

The early parts of this film seemed less like a documentary about LEGO's and more like a really long commercial for LEGO products, or perhaps even an after-the-fact promotional trailer for the product's movie. But as the film continued, it got more interesting, more historical, more informing, and an overall good time. The origin story of the company, with the multiple fires and changes of heart, was compelling, and getting to watch the creativity of employees and fans alike unfold on screen was an awesome experience. The film gave me large pangs of nostalgia, and in the night following the viewing of the film, I searched online for some old school LEGO sets I used to own. I think the real beauty of this product is that no one is telling you specifically what to do with the pieces you get; the community has become a sort of open-source idea haven of creating any piece you want out of simple blocks; it's like the Internet of toys! Anyways, the film was very good, full of quirky and friendly people and quirky and friendly quips from the cartoon narrator. The scene of the troubled young boy being amazed at the giant LEGO X-wing is touching and really shows the power these toys have over the world.

Going Clear

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief was one of the most interesting documentaries we have watched this semester. It tackled a subject that many people are familiar with but don't really know the details of. Personally, I liked learning about the history of L. Ron Hubbard and how the religion came to exist. I also like having a better understanding of what the actual belief system behind scientology is. I was less interested in the question of whether scientology was a business or a religion. I think the answer is pretty obvious.
Anyone who steps back and looks at the actual beliefs of scientology, as they do in this film, should be able to identify that it is all a hoax. L. Ron Hubbard was literally a struggling science-fiction writer who needed a new idea to support himself financially. After he wrote a particularly outlandish piece of science-fiction (Dianetics), and developing something of a cult following, he developed a way to monetize this set of strange theories he had created. L. Ron Hubbard locked Scientology behind a paywall, and made it clear that the more his followers paid, the more access to "knowledge" they would be granted with.
If you think about it, selling religion isn't any revolutionary concept. In the 16th century, the Catholic Church fell out of favor with many of it's followers for selling indulgences; essentially a reprieve from sin, for a price. In that way, one could argue that all religions are a business to some extent. As stated previously, I'm not so concerned with whether or not scientology is a business, but more so with the fact that it is a scam created by sociopaths who draw in their followers and make it extraordinarily hard for them to leave.

I Am Big Bird

I was not expecting much from a documentary about a member of Sesame Street, but I was happily proved wrong when I Am Big Bird sent me through a roller coaster of emotions. Carroll Spinney is the actual Big Bird, and a seemingly wonderful human being, at that; you could relate to his childish nature, the pain he felt through life struggles, the anxiety and passion of doing what he loved to do, etc. There were too many touching moments within the film to count, but the most touching to me was Spinney singing "It's Not Easy Being Green" at Jim Henson's funeral memorial service; if you didn't cry at that scene, I am impressed by your resolve or lack of emotion. What's really sweet about this documentary is that not only does it look at the world through Spinney's, it also take the perspective of the world looking back at Spinney through the decades. It shows how he and Big Bird (and let's not forget Oscar!) affected the world around them, from simple things--like bringing happiness to children around the world--to much bigger things--like warming China up to American culture and saving PBS from an attack on its funding. Big Bird is a massive cultural staple in the United States that people tend to forget about once their childhood innocence begins to fade; this film, I think, reminded us just why we all loved him in the first place, and why he'll always be around.

Jewish Experience ~ Holocaust

In the second week of November, our class was part of a special event that acted as a sort of memorial for the Jewish lives affected by the Holocaust. We viewed four films of varying length, tone, and backstory, all of which had relevance to the tragedies the Jewish people faced in the 1930's and 1940's.
At the End of the Line was a music video that told the story of the Kindertransport program that saved a multitude of Jewish children before they could be taken away by the Nazis. Although the story itself is certainly interesting, I didn't find the film to be all that fantastic. I didn't find the music to be very good, the stylistic direction of the video was a tad cheesy, and I just think it did a bad job of gripping the story in a cohesive manner.
Picking Up the Pieces does a much better job at telling a story, probably because it isn't trying to be too artistic. This film tells the often overlooked tales of child survivors of the Holocaust and how they are living today. As a journalist, a story that is not usually told is a story that naturally interests me, so I was instantly captivated. A very emotional piece, Picking Up the Pieces did a great job of creating that childhood innocence each survivor must have had when they were taken away; this allows the viewer to easily empathize with each individual interviewed.
Never Forget- A March of the Living Story chronicles the "Young Adult March of the Living" program, which sends people of Jewish heritage on a trip to both Poland and Israel, in an effort to not only capture the historical and cultural significance of the Holocaust, but also to commemorate the founding of Israel as a nation. This film is from the perspective of both the director and the many young adults on the trip with him; they are all emotionally connected as they make their way through the ghostly camp of Auschwitz and--in a much more joyful occasion--through the festive streets of the Jewish homeland. Never Forget interested me greatly and has made me think about visiting the concentration camps to gain a better understanding of them; it really showed the importance of witnessing history firsthand so that you can never let go of its importance.
The Kozalchik Affair was the last film and, in my opinion, the best one. Unlike the other three films, this one followed an extremely specific story to the point where it could just be considered a feature. Itzik, the film's narrator and primary character, goes on a journey to discover his late father's hidden and controversial past; Jacob--Itzik's father--had been a kapo in Auschwitz, forced to aid the Nazis in the camp. However, at any chance he could, Jacob would save his fellow Jews and Pols from death, and put his own life on the line to do so. This film was heartfelt and touching, and I was honored to be able to follow this man through a very personal and obviously taxing journey. When Itzik finds some resolve in the film's end, I feel like I too found some resolve deep down.

I Am Big Bird

I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story is exactly what I look for in a documentary. The best documentary, to me, is a piece that elaborates deeply on some random tidbit of information that you never knew you wanted to know so much about. That is exactly how this documentary played out. I can't even remember the last time I thought about Big Bird, or Sesame Street--I didn't even know there was only one guy playing Big Bird-- but from the moment this documentary started I could tell I would be captivated.

The documentary is primarily a happy one, showing what a great and talented guy Carroll Spinney is, but there are a few dark moments. I think that the light-nature of the documentary (and dealing with a childhood memory for most of us) makes the dark moments that much more dark. I found the sad parts of the documentary (Spinney's first wife, the young girl, Hansen, etc.) as hard to watch as many of the things we have seen this semester.

However, aside from a few key moments, this documentary should bring sheer happiness to it's viewers. It's so refreshing to see and find out that the people behind Sesame Street are basically just as up-beat as the characters that they created. The behind the scenes footage of Hansen and Spinney (and other cast) are a lot of fun to watch. I've mentioned this documentary to a lot of friends and families mentioning that it's a great watch if they have a spare hour or two. I can't see anyone not enjoying it!

A LEGO Brickumentary

I believe that this, along with I Am Big Bird, are my two favorite documentaries of the year so far. I'm not ashamed to admit that during this documentary I went on my phone, on to Amazon, and started looking for LEGO set's that I could buy. I think that this happened for two reasons: one, the film perfectly captured the fun and innocent appeal of LEGO's. As a toy dedicated to building, there is really no reason that they should be limited to children. LEGO's employ basic problem-solving, engineering, and architectural skills, and that is useful for any adult.

The second reason why I couldn't wait to get online and order my LEGO's is because the documentary played out a little bit like an advertisement. It is funny how even the LEGO Brickumentary fit the mold that has been with us all semester of propaganda. Even a happy film based around a childhood toy appears to have a hidden agenda beneath the surface. In my case, it absolutely worked because I got online and started checking out LEGO's (until I saw the price).

With that said, I still think the film was effective and a joy to watch. Even beyond the LEGO-porn itself, the people featured in the film were just quirky enough to be likable but not so nerdy that you couldn't connect with them. It was also just interesting to learn about LEGO's rise to power, and how they have managed to stay on top despite periodic dips in sales. The fact that they have started crowd-sourcing their new sets is a really innovative idea and I think it has become more of a trend in the toy industry following LEGO.

Whitey Doc vs. Black Mass

I am generally a much bigger fan of narrative films so I though that I would like Black Mass much more than I liked Whitey but it was not the case. 

Black Mass is by no means a bad film it has great performances from Johnny Depp and especially Joel Edgerton who I thought stole the show. The film was solid but the documentary was much more compelling and interesting. It gave much more of the actual story but I think this is expected from a documentary or at least that is what you would hope. The narrative film mostly just focused on Whitey's rise to power and a little bit of the fall but abruptly cut off their. The documentary mostly focuses on the trial of Whitey and how he affected so many people in his reign over South Boston. This part of the story was much more compelling and further developed because the end of Black Mass it really just gives you a couple of lines of what had happened to the people involved. To actually see all the real players have talking head interviews was very interesting especially knowing how many people they had all killed and how dangerous they all were. It was also very interesting to see that the most major hit-man of them all was out of prison already because he rolled over first so he was made a deal. 

Overall I liked the documentary much more than I like the narrative film and I expect that to be a rarity for me considering how much I love narrative storytelling. 

Triumph of the Will

This film although extremely dry and hard to get through I think as a piece to study for documentary film is a very important. Although not a documentary in the true sense of the word many people that saw it thought it reflected reality. This is a propaganda film in the truest sense of the word and may very well be the first one of its kind.

The way that Leni Riefenstahl really brought this film to life and crafted this film in such a way is a spectacle and a sight to see. I can understand why this film was banned in the United States because of the effectiveness of it. I like the story that Professor Marshall told in class about when Leni was asked why she made this film she responded that she was forced but then she was asked why she did such an incredible job. What I really liked most in the film was the fact that you could see the elevator system that they made that attached to the columns so they could film better. I thought this was interesting as it really showed how much effort and time when into the filming and staging of this piece.

This film really shows how a documentary does not always have to be "true" and even the most well intention ones have a bias. This film really set us up for what would follow in this class and I think that this film is really the measuring stick that we can use to compare other documentaries.

I Am Big Bird

This film I found to be very interesting and was really a closer look at what is a more famous character than I knew. I knew Big Bird was a cultural phenomenon but not to the level that this film has portrayed. I grew up in an era where Elmo was the centerpiece of Sesame Street and Big Bird was always number two; so to see this film and see what Big Bird meant to pop culture was interesting. More interesting the character of Big Bird himself is the man that has portrayed him over the many years.

Caroll Spinney is the man behind Big Bird and this film is very much the portrayal of how Big Bird and Spinney are one and the same. I think that it achieves this goal excellently as it really captures the spirit of a kindhearted man who really loves being something that brings joy to so many people all over the world.

The film itself I think is very strong and the way it was told with interviews like a standard documentary but it was very effective. It was even more effective because they had an extensive interview with the man himself. I think the most effective part of the film in terms of content was him barely missing dying the Challenger explosion. That moment with his wife and Caroll not saying anything after it happened was very effective. Overall this is very effective film that really lifts the human spirit and is fun to watch such passion.

A LEGO Brickumentary

This is honestly my favorite documentary that we have watched this year in this class. It was much different than the other things that we have watched so far. It had a positive and upbeat tone and was entertaining through its run time. I really connected to me on a personal level too because I was always into Lego as a kid and I still enjoy building them to this day. I love the fact that Phil Lord and Chris Miller were in the film talking about The Lego Movie which I adored and I also think they are two of the best young filmmakers working today. I always said that when I made enough money because Lego is in I would buy giant sets and build them in my basement. It was insanely cool seeing how much Lego means to so many people. The film itself though I thought was very well made and i particular like how they handled that narration. I liked the fact that they used a mini fig with the voice of Jason Bateman to narrate the action. My favorite part of the film in terms of content is seeing the lady who built the gigantic Lego Rivendale from Lord of the Rings win the peoples choice contest because I could see the amount of detail and work she put into building in. This is definitely my favorite documentary we have watched all year and that is due to the fact that when watching a documentary I rather be inspired then depressed.

Man On Wire

I unabashedly admit that I thought this documentary would be rather boring. While the event it chronicles--the story of a young French man named Philippe Petit, who walked across a tightrope hanging between the Twin Towers--is certainly exhilarating and unique, my mindset was: how much content could the director possibly muster for such a small feature?

Thankfully, my judgment was misplaced, because the film was fantastic and captivating. Philippe was quite the eccentric person to follow; every time he was on screen, I couldn't help but smile at his multitudes of quirky micro-antics. Not only that, but the supporting players in this tightrope fiasco were pretty engaging and relatable. I especially connected with Philippe's brother, who seemed to be the only one without a few loose screws; he was certainly the voice of logic throughout the whole ordeal. A side note: I felt really bad for the Philippe's girlfriend throughout the documentary. Her needs and aspirations were basically ignored by Petit for the entirety of their relationship, and then after he accomplished his goal, he cheated on her and left her! Low blow, Philippe...

The build up for the film's climactic moment--Philippe walking across the Twin Tower gap--was well executed. It was told in a way that made it seem some like mystical folk tale passed down through generations. The music helped create that feeling; I was ecstatic with the use of Erik Satie's "Gymnopedie No. 1" in the actual tightrope scene. It's one of my favorite songs of all time, and the dreamy chords in that tune add to the surreal experience that the film offers.

Man on Wire

Man on Wire is a very well made documentary and it is a lot different then the other films that we have watched this year. This piece is a lot lighter and fluffier than what we have been doing most of the year which is watching propaganda films or films about propaganda. Philippe Petit is a cray man and an eccentric who you have to give credit to for accomplishing his dreams. I thought the most interesting part of this film was how the filmmaker recreated the scenes of them hiding in the twin towers with the voice over from the actual people involved. The film was extremely well made and i thought it was a very interesting character piece. The only thing I did not like about the film was how they glossed over the end pretty quick. I wanted to know a little more about how once Petit accomplished his dreams he moved on not only from wire walking but from all the people that helped him get there. I thought this part of the film was a little to rushed and could have been developed a little more. Overall I think this a very good film that is very interesting and it makes me want to see the narrative take in The Walk.  

"Man on Wire"

Watching the film “Man on Wire” was a welcomed distraction from propaganda films. Especially after viewing for the first time the ending of “The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas” I could not handle much more emotion that day.

I think what made the film “Man on Wire” as interesting as it was, is the fact that they had original footage. Majority of the film was not still interviews with the characters but footage that showed the group’s formation and the early days of practice for Philippe. If the film did not have this I don’t think it would have been as captivating as it was. The audience was able to see the idea evolving and even before the idea was an idea. I think this helped the audience participate in the journey to his dream to walk between the World Trade Towers.

Also, without this footage I don’t think the story would be as believable as it is with the evidence. Philippe is a very extravagant character and very animated in his story telling. This made me skeptical of how much of the information he was providing was factual or stories he was exaggerating. Anyone that is that animated or extravagant I am weary of and the footage helped me trust what he was saying.

There were a few surprising parts of the film for me. One was how he said he did not realize he was on the wire for over 40 minutes and had crossed as many times as he did. For me, that is not something you wouldn’t realize when you’re a quarter of a mile above the ground with no safety nets. When he said that he did not realize this it made me wonder how many other things he did not realize during this process and only fueled my skepticism of his storytelling. At the end of the film I was surprised that he split ways with all the people that helped to get him to that point. He called it a clean break but it looked more like he used them and their mission was done and they were dismissed. I especially felt bad for the woman who was dating him because of the amount of concern she must have had for him during this process and then he just leaves.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas

This is a very good movie not really a film I wanted to see for a second time because of the heartbreak that it brings. Asa Butterfield is great in this film as he has the very difficult task of getting the audience to care and getting the audience emotionally invested. Vera Farmiga is also another stand out from this film as she brings a real gravitas to all of her films. Though this movie is not a documentary I think it was a good way to tie up our propaganda section because of how propaganda is worked into this narrative film. I like the way that this film shows the effects of propaganda especially on young and impressionable youth. The fact that the main character Bruno is mostly unaffected by the propaganda that is constantly being taught to him but his sister who is only a few years older is affected on an extreme level. The scene where the soldiers bring in the film equipment to project a film and Bruno looks over the door to watch it reminded me a lot of the films that we have seen in class. The film showed happy people jumping on the stones and this was just a lie just like the film that Kurt Gerron was making in Prisoner of Paradise. 

Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Thankfully, this was the second time I've seen The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, so I was not hit with a tidal wave of emotion at the end of the film. I will admit, though, that no amount of preparation can keep you from feeling bummed out once the credits roll.

This movie allows the viewer to empathize with characters from all sides of the story in a way not many films can. From the beginning, you're siding with the son of a Nazi officer; while he's just a boy full of innocence, he does make some terrible mistakes (getting Shmuel beaten for eating food in the house). You even learn to understand that young, cruel soldier before he's sent to the front line; he acts so outwardly anti-Semitic to make up for his father's disliking the Nazi regime.

The music in the film is also fantastic. The classical score just carries you through the plot rather gently, until the ending climax, where the composer throws everything he's got at you. The one, shrieking sustained note that's held as Bruno and Shmuel meet their fates is absolutely bone chilling, and will never fail to move me. I firmly believe that without that perfectly created piece of music, the scene would not have been as powerful as it was.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The film, “Boy in the Striped Pajamas” solidified the semester long conversation regarding propaganda. It was not a documentary like the majority of films we have viewed this semester. However, it took all the concepts of the propaganda documentaries and presented them in a heartbreaking, relatable example.

The story focused on a young boy growing up in Nazi Germany with a father in the military. He is forced to move from Berlin to the country and unknowingly lives next to a concentration camp. By the filmmakers focusing on the young child it gives a different narrative to the story that is rarely discussed. It is telling the story from the point of view of a young boy who has no option but to listen to his father and mother and who is visibly lost by the events happening. This method of focusing on the boy evokes more empathy in the viewer because it is apparent how innocent he is and how little he knows of the events happening. If the focus was on the father or the mother, the film would not be as effective because they are older characters who understand what is happening and are making a conscious decision to support the Nazis.

By following the story of the boy through total innocents to beginning to understand the events happening, the viewers grow with him and become attached to him. This is why the ending is as effective as it is because it strikes in the blind spot taking an approach the viewers are not expecting or can’t believe will actually happen.

It is also important to point out the themes that allow everyone to connect to the story. Some of those are friendship, innocents and human nature, things everyone has experienced at one point and can relate to within Bruno’s story.

Man on Wire

The film Man on Wire turned out to be very different than what I was expecting. The story itself is obviously very remarkable, but the documentaries retelling and analysis of the event is equally remarkable. It's use of partially real footage and partially acted footage from Philippe Petit preparation is nearly seamless. The inclusion of the real-footage makes the acted-footage seem so much more believable and effective.

I thought the most powerful part of the film was hearing the interviewee's talk about experiencing the actual wire-walk, and also the after math of it. The fact that Petit's relationship with all of these people ended almost immediately after the event took place is really thought-provoking. On one hand, it is easy to think that Philippe Petit used these people as a means to his end, and as soon as he achieved it and reached a level of stardom he ignored them. Petit clearly thinks a little differently than most people, so it easy to point the blame at him.

On the other hand, I think that his crew is equally at fault for the post-wire-walking lack of communication. I believe that they realized, over the course of their preparation, who delusional and absorbed Petit was. I think that they stuck with it only because they had dedicated so much time, effort, and money in to the project, and they wanted to see the fruit of their own labor as well. They were able to be a part of the event and then walk away and have Petit out of their lives.

Petit's perception of wire-walking as an art form is very interesting, though I do agree with it. To me, it is the same as any form of modern exhibitionist art. It is a physical and interactive form of art. It is clear by the interviewee's reaction that seeing him performing is an extremely beautiful sight. I do wonder, however, whether random pedestrians who see Philippe in the act find it beautiful, or artistic, or if it provides them with more a thrill. I don't think their immediate reaction would be to consider this art.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a World War II film based on the novel of the same name. It focuses primarily on Germany and the holocaust. The story begins when Bruno, the 8-year-old main character, and his family must move to the countryside as a result of his Nazi father's promotion. I was struck by the pace of the film; it moves very slowly, building a dramatic tension from the start to the tragic climax. Knowing that it was not a happy story, I found myself wondering throughout the film what exactly would go wrong for Asa and his jewish friend Shmuel.

I thought the highlight of the story, which may be more credited to the book than the film, was the unbelievable complexity of each of the characters. The story is masterful at making you feel both sides of every character. Even though you just want Bruno to be happy throughout the film, there are times when you are extremely angry at him, like when he doesn't accept responsibility for Shmuel eating their food in the house.

Even the unlikable characters, such as the father, Ralf, and Lieutenant Kotler have moments that make you feel for them. Even though Ralf could be held accountable for the death of his son, Bruno, his crippling grief when he learns what has happened is extremely difficult to watch. Additionally, Lieutenant Kotler is initially presented as a heartless, scary, and mean character, but as the film progresses you see a much more human side to him.

Lastly, the score in the film was absolutely haunting. I didn't notice it as a point of particular emphasis until the climax of the film. Not that the climax needs music to be powerful, but the music absolutely amplified the tension and the horror of the situation. After Bruno's death, when all is silent, is one of the most chilling moments in film I can remember seeing.

Response to Triumph of the Will

Watching this was a very interesting experience.  I valued it for the sake of getting a better understanding of history, and I could really appreciate the quality of directing and camera work.  Yet on the other hand it is Nazi propaganda.  Professor Marshall told us to watch Hitler’s face as he gave his last speech so we could see a moment of hardly contained self-aggrandizement and contentedness with his position of power flash across his countenance.  This was the one moment that truly gave me chills.  The whole film was eerie and unsettling given the context, disgusting even, but only that one smug look on Hitler’s face was what moved me to anger and fear.  This alone made me feel guilty for liking the rest of the movie technically and in terms of fabrication and achieving its goal.  I decided I should not hate the film, the film is inanimate and does not possess any intention or emotion, it was simply a tool.  Instead I feel I should direct my anger and disgust toward the people who commissioned it and used it as a sort of social weapon to go on to do horrible things.

Reshad Kulenovic

I enjoyed this guest speaker very much.  Reshad had a very nice voice and some intelligent things to say, he was easy to listen to.  I learned a lot from him; he had some good practical pointers that I have yet to hear anywhere else, like to always have three projects ready, how to be prepared for a pitch, and he gave us an idea of the differences between American and European markets.  I appreciated his sound advice and his friendly, earnest delivery thereof.  I also really enjoyed seeing the clips of his documentary, they were all well shot and I liked hearing about his process from start to finish.

Jesus Camp

I have always been wary of extreme religion, blind religion, and this documentary reaffirmed that fear.  But what really made watching this difficult was a conflict of beliefs.  This film’s contents were unsettling given the blatantly dangerous agenda of the Evangelical Church, so that instills in me distaste and fear and a desire for this brainwashing to stop.  Yet I believe each parent has the right to raise their own children in accordance with their beliefs and values.  So what should be done about this situation, how should I feel?  The things we saw in the film were dramatic, but was it really child abuse? (I know there was that one pastor who was a pedophile but I’m not sure he reflected the values of the entire congregation with those actions.) Maybe one could make a case for emotional trauma but that would be a long debate.  This film was very well made and it got its points across very well while also managing to raise some moral and ethical questions.

Resad Kulenovic's Discussion

I took a lot out of Reshad's discussion with us last Tuesday. As a journalism major focused on multimedia and digital reporting, and as someone who wants to film feature documentaries in areas of conflict (especially in the Middle East, especially in Palestine), I feel like I really learned a lot from him. Not only did he go through the processes of storyboarding, filming, traveling, budgeting, etc., I like to think he also boosted my confidence in doing work like this. It's a dangerous job, I doubt anyone questions that, but Reshad definitely gave us a feeling of feasibility when describing how he went about making this film. I mean, he's not much older than us, yet look how much he's already accomplished! That gives me a lot of hope for my future.

I saw a lot of parallels in the difficulties he went through in filming with the difficulties I found when on a school trip to the D.R./Haiti last winter. Most notably, the idea of armed authority being ever present, and locals not being too keen on having their faces on camera.

Reshad Kulenović

Last week's speaker Reshad Kulenović shared a lot of gripping information about filmmaking with the class. I found it especially thrilling to hear from him what it was like filming in a war zone, and his experiences that are not shown in his film "100 Million Dollar House". One of those stories was what would have happen if he had been arrested for filming there and how international law does not recognize the group in power. Kulenović also spoke about when he arrived one source would not allow him as much access as previously agreed upon. Therefore, he had to negotiate for interviews in order to still get the story he wanted because he could only stay there for a limited time due to the conflict. 

Speaking with Reshad Kulenović after class he was able to answer many of my questions on physical production of the film which was helpful to learn about as well as the rights he has (or doesn't) now that he sold the film to another organization.

Finally, it was interesting to hear what it was like for him to make a documentary since his focus has been on fiction films. He discussed how it was difficult to have less control over the situation and what would happen. He concluded by saying he is returning to fictional films for a while.

Reshad Kulenovic

This I think was a very interesting and informative interview with Reshad. He is an exciting young filmmaker that just hearing him speak makes me excited to see his next projects. His film "100 Million Dollar House" is very interesting due to where it takes place in Hebron. The fact that Hebron is a conflict zone is what makes this film very interesting. From what we saw of his film I think that Heborn being a conflict zone is well represented and hearing his personal stories about being there is even more interesting. Seeing the scene in the film where the guard tells him to shut off the camera and the scene where the tear gas roles in is powerful moments in the film but even more powerful from Reshads first hand telling of it. He told the story of how they were arrested and held until their release was negotiated by one of the subjects they were filming. Also it was really interesting hearing about the completely foreign idea to us that having a veteran of the Israeli Army with them actually made their life more difficult because he was treated as a traitor. I found listening to Reshad very interesting and I am excited to hear more about the upcoming projects he has in the works especially the one he talked about with a pretty well known producer.  

Reshad Kulenovic

Reshad Kulenovic was one of the most interesting people I have listened to talk. Even excluding his ridiculous life experiences to this point, it's worth listening to him just because he seems so precise in his word choice and as a result sounds so knowledgable when he speaks. Reshad has his masters degree from Boston University and is a part-time professor at the University of Rhode Island, but his true identity is that of a film maker. He won a student Academy Award in 2010 for his debut/thesis film, Snovi, and it seems to have been all up hill for him from there.
Reshad's time with our Documentary Film class consisted of a nice mixture of tips and anecdotes from his experience as a film maker, geographical and political analysis (particularly of Jerusalem and Israel), and clips from his new film, "100 Million Dollar House". Although I don't see myself becoming a film maker, I was extremely interested to hear about Reshad's various experiences. I really liked hearing about his various meetings to secure funding. He spoke like a veteran of the process even though he has only done it a few times himself.
It was also really interesting to hear Reshad discuss his time in Hebron, filming "100 Million Dollar House", so casually. As he repeatedly said, Hebron is an active conflict zone, and himself and his crew frequently found themselves staring down the barrel of a loaded assault weapon. However, Reshad never spoke about this, or his arrest, in a showy way but rather just a recount of his experiences.
Another thing that was maybe the most interesting to me was Reshad's discussion of the ethics and trials of making a Documentary film. It made me realize how extremely fine of a line you have to walk to portray your characters ethically, while also following the story accurately, AND producing a sense of drama and story to keep the audience engaged. It made me respect what Reshad has done even more. Even in the brief clips of his new film that we saw, I could tell the high level of attention that Reshad leant to each one of these factors (ethics, accuracy, and drama). If anything, drama seemed to be the least important thing to Reshad, and in a Documentary film that is not a bad thing.

Response to Jesus Camp

Jesus Camp probably ended up being much scarier than any other movie that has come out in the last decade. Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing provide a relatively objective look at a Christian summer camp and the evangelical Christian community in North Dakota. The film bounces back and forth between a rational Christian radio broadcaster, who provides a counter argument throughout the film, and the kids and counselors of the "Kids on Fire School of Ministry" camp. The most alarming part of the film is how it reveals what a huge influence a group of people, no matter how crazy their ideology, can have over government and policy. The film in particular illuminates the evangelical Christian community's support for particular candidates in all political offices, all the way up to the supreme court, and their influence on policy. They are among the most vocal skeptics of global warming, and personally I find that pretty horrifying.
Equally horrifying is the way that the counselors and leaders of the community are essentially brainwashing the children. They are intentionally raising them to act, think, and feel exactly the same way as they do. They are basically ensuring that the next generation will carry on acting the same way as they do. Additionally, through methods such as home schooling, they are ensuring that the children are never exposed to any other conflicting views. With these kids growing up learning nothing but what they are being taught by their parents and counselors, the cycle is bound to continue.

Response to Jesus Camp

This film is insane but very well done. I knew that evangelicals existed in this country but I did not know that there we camps where they brain washed generations of kids to have what I consider to be a very backwards way of thinking. It is startlingly similar to that of the Hitler Youth Camps.  It is actually quite frightening that there is such a radical group like this that believe that the common science is a lie and that worship George W Bush. Now also this is nothing new as their extreme factions in all parts of society but they are always the minority that do not represent all the people in that faction of society.

Response to Jesus Camp

The film Jesus camp honestly scares me. These kind of people in this world are the reason I believe things don’t always progress as planned. I understand what it’s like to believe in a religion being a Christian myself. However believing in a religion to this degree where you legitimately don’t believe scientific fact makes no sense to me. This film to me is almost comical. I look at it and think this isn’t real there’s no way. At the same time though it is very much almost disgusting. It makes children the most moldable minds in human existence and it manipulates them to “connect with God” by means of speaking tongues and even convulsing on the floor while feeling “the holy spirit”. Now I’ve gone to church and am a confirmed Christian and from what I know about my faith if you want to say anything to God it’s as easy as praying. 

Reflection of Jesus Camp

I had known for a long time that our country has had a right-wing, radical Christian problem, but I guess I wasn't aware of just how bad the problem was until we watched this documentary. I was expecting the worst from the content, though I still wasn't prepared enough. I found myself at times humored, at other times disgusted, and at all times with a general feeling of awe. It's hard to believe that these families could just send their kids off to a propaganda camp (essentially) and disguise political indoctrination for religious duty. Professor Marshall had already made the comparison clear before the showing, but the similarities with these "Jesus camps" with the Hitler Youth of Nazi Germany truly are staggering.

Welcome to the Blog for the Fall Semester 2015 of Documentary Film at Roger Williams University.

This year, we will be viewing a number of new, cutting-edge works along with some classic examples of the genre.

This Blog is designed for you to share your responses to what you see in class and to provide feedback to those who post on this site.

George T. Marshall
Professor