Art Videos - The Documentary Network

The Deepest Depths of the Burrow – Urban Art & Graffiti

Documentary.net staff — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 07:03:32 +0000

Nychos is an illustrator, Urban Art- and Graffiti artist who became known with his street concept RABBIT EYE MOVEMENT (REM) 10 years ago. The icon of the movement is a white rabbit, which has been breeding since then and has been popping up in the streets all over the globe for the past decade. This is exactly what Nychos thrives for – he travels the world to spread his art and his REM concept. Within the last two years Nychos was accompanied by filmmaker Christian Fischer who recorded these journeys to create a full lenght movie. ”The Deepest Depths Of The Burrow” is a documentary about art, lifestyle and subculture. The movie captures the experiences of Nychos and other members of RABBIT EYE MOVEMENT within the last several years. Exceeding the Austrian scene, they flew from Berlin to San Francisco to Copenhagen to Hawaii and many more places to visit artists who all provide a unique view into their (street) culture – They lead Nychos through the streets of their home cities and show them the deepest depths of their burrows. ”Travel to paint, paint to travel” is the motto,which runs like a golden thread throughout the entire movie. Words, which catch the spirit of RABBIT EYE MOVEMENT. ”The Deepest Depths Of The Burrow” shows images which highlight the contrasts between Urban Art and Graffiti from various angles and captures the mutual passion for Urban Art in an unique way. Interviews with: BUFF MONSTER I BUSHWICK COLLECTIVE I CONE THE WEIRD I CURTIS I DRASTROCK - LORDS CREW I DXTR THE WEIRD I JASPER WONG - POWWOW I JESSE CORY I LAMOUR SUPREME I LOOK THE WEIRD I NYCHOS I THE YOK I TRISTAN EATON I VIDAM THE WEIRD Featuring: 123 KLAN I ANGRY ROBOTS I BASK I BONES I DABS AND MYLA I FRAU ISA I GALO I HRVB I INSA I JEFF SOTO I JERSEY JOE I KID CRAP I LONDON POLICE I LOWBROS I MADSTEEZ I MAXXER I MEGGS I REKA I RON ENGLISH I ROOKIE I SHEPARD FAIREY I SHERYO I SMITHE and more… Soundtrack: COLOUR HAZE I MY BABY I THE HEAVY MINDS I TORSO I VIDUNDER I WAXOLUTIONISTS I SUCCOPUSS and more... TDDOTB on IMDB: imdb.com/title/tt4948902

Going Dark: The Final Days of Film Projection

Documentary.net staff — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 06:32:01 +0000

Hollywood is forcing theaters to either go digital or go dark. Studios have decided they will no longer send out film prints of new releases after 2014, eliminating the need for a 35mm film projectionist in most theaters. Going Dark profiles two projectionists during their last days on the job. Going Dark was shot in Oklahoma City, OK at the Penn Square Mall over the course of one month in Oct. 2012 by a crew of two on a micro budget.

Style Wars – NY street culture and subway graffiti art of the early ’80s

Documentary.net staff — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 04:20:00 +0000

The film is regarded as the indispensable document of NY street culture and subway graffiti art of the early '80s, the filmic record of a golden age of youthful creativity that exploded into the world from a city in crisis. The documentary shows both the young artists struggling to express themselves through their art, and their points of view on the subject of graffiti, as well as the views of then New York City Mayor Ed Koch, one-armed, now deceased graffiti writer Case/Kase 2, graffiti writer Skeme and his mother, graffiti "villain" Cap, now deceased graffiti writer Dondi, Seen and Shy 147, graffiti documentarian (and co-producer of the film) Henry Chalfant, breakdancer Crazy Legs of Rock Steady Crew, police officers, art critics, subway maintenance workers, as well as several "people on the street". It won the Grand Prize for Documentaries at the 1983 Sundance Film Festival and continues to gain a following. Get the filmposter, bonus stuff and the DVD/bluray at shop.stylewars.com

The Valley of Dolls

Documentary.net staff — Sun, 25 May 2014 14:43:04 +0000

Ayano Tsukimi (64) is living in Nagoro, a village in eastern Iya on Shikoku, one of the four main islands of Japan. Not many people are still living there. For those who die or move away, Ayano Tsukimi is making lifesized dolls in their liking and puts them in places that were important to them. The dolls are scattered around the whole valley. She is married, but her husband and daughter are living away from her in Osaka. She's living alone with her 83 year old father in the house of her family.

The Courtroom Sketch Artist

Documentary.net staff — Thu, 22 May 2014 11:25:08 +0000

Gary Myrick was once the go-to artist for television news station — millions regularly viewed his work on the networks. Starting with the Dallas school desegregation trial in 1976, he sketched courtrooms that featured famous politicians, serial killers, professional athletes, international arms merchants, housewives-turned-killers, victims’ families, rapt juries and napping judges — all rendered with an empathetic gaze and understated wit. His work conveyed the tragedy and folly of the courtroom experience, while avoiding sentimentality and snap judgments about his subjects. His human touch captured what cameras never could.

Fishhooks – Taxiderma Artist At Work

Documentary.net staff — Sun, 04 May 2014 12:42:51 +0000

A documentary short about taxidermy artist Becca Barnet. From intricate drawings to delicate sculptures, Becca Barnet's artwork explores why humans have the tendency to try to hold on to the fleeting corporeal.

Cosplay – Wearing costumes to represent a specific character

Documentary.net staff — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:43:12 +0000

With TV shows dedicated to it, and pictures and videos all across the internet, cosplay (short for "costume play") has now officially entered the public consciousness. All over the world, enthusiastic fans dress up as their favorite characters and show off amazing homemade costumes at conventions and in inspiring photography sessions. But beyond the glamour is a powerful story of personal transformation. Dressing up helps many cosplayers subvert cultural norms and experiment with new identities. For some, it makes them feel more comfortable in their own skin. A practice that on the surface seems just for fun, in fact can have a profound effect on the cosplayer, revealing another side to this intriguing contemporary movement. Featuring: Robin Rosenberg, Phd Clinical Psychologist Jill Pantozzi, journalist & cosplayer Frenchy Lunning, Phd Professor & Author

The story behind the Image most viewed

Documentary.net staff — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:46:56 +0000

The one thing everybody will always remember of Windows XP is desktop image 'Bliss', with it's green rolling hills and bluer than blue sky. Doesn't the most viewed picture of all times asks for a worthy goodbye? We certainly think so! That's why we hopped on a plane to Los Angeles and went to visit the photographer Charles O'Rear. He told us the incredible story behind the famous desktop image.

Star Wars Featurette: The Birth of the Lightsaber

Documentary.net staff — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 18:49:59 +0000

George Lucas recalls that Star Wars was influenced by pirate and swashbuckling films of the '40s, which showcased the romantic side of fighting, illustrated in characters like Errol Flynn's Robin Hood. With Jedi, who were heroes in this tradition, the director needed a weapon that would match their ideals. In a clip from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, the lightsaber is introduced by Obi-Wan Kenobi, who says it's "not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age." Thus, the lightsaber also became a symbol for more peaceful, honorable times, representing what the galaxy was like before the Empire. Originally, Lucas says, Jedi were meant to fight with just swords. But to give the weapon a technological edge, they became "laser swords," able to deflect incoming fire -- which made sense, character-wise, as Jedi were not meant to be warlike, aggressive fighters. The choreography and duels started simple, but became more emotional and complex as the series went on. Mark Hamill states that Lucas originally envisioned lightsaber hilts as being very, very heavy, always requiring two hands. But with a desire to make the sword fighting faster and more intense, they slowly moved away from the two-handed form. The technology used to create the glowing blade of lightsabers also changed as the series progressed. In rare behind-the-scenes footage from Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker battles Darth Vader, and Hamill explains that metal poles were required so that the actors could have a realistic battle. Otherwise, one wouldn't know where to stop their hands and finish a strike. Ben Burtt says that the lightsaber was the first sound he created for the film. Upon hearing the hum of an old film projector idling, he felt it was the perfect, saying it was "musical, in a way. 'That's probably what a lightsaber would sound like.'" Burtt wanted another element -- the iconic whooshing sound -- which he accidentally created through electronic feedback. In discussing the intensity of the lightsaber duels, Lucas says it changed with each film, often times reflecting the emotions of Luke and the ongoing story. Still Luke was not trained as a Jedi in the classic sense. It wasn't until Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace that audiences would see Jedi battling in their prime; the duels were more aggressive and acrobatic than anything seen in the original trilogy, and only grew in scale and intensity as the series continued.

Font Men – Jonathan Hoefler & Tobias Frere-Jones

Documentary.net staff — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 13:09:50 +0000

You may not have heard of Jonathan Hoefler or Tobias Frere-Jones but you've seen their work. Before their recent split they ran the most successful and well respected type design studio in the world, creating fonts used by everyone from the Wall Street Journal to the President of the United States. Font Men, gives a peek behind the curtain into the world of Jonathan and Tobias. Tracking the history of their personal trajectories, sharing the forces that brought them together and giving an exclusive look at the successful empire they built together.

Justin Boyd: Sound and Time

Documentary.net staff — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 17:08:41 +0000

Justin Boyd, Department Chair of Sculpture and Integrated Media at Southwest School of Art, shares his connection with sound and how he uses it to create original works of art. Inspired by his sensitivity to sound at a very young age, Boyd has been recording and working with sound and music since the mid 90s. Boyd actively captures field recordings for integration of sound with found objects.

The Sound of Motion Picture Gravity

Documentary.net staff — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 16:16:14 +0000

In this video we talk with Director Alfonso Cuarón and Re-recording Mixer Skip Lievsay about the sound teams work to create a dramatic sound scape to a dark and vast outer space environment. Academy Award® winners Sandra Bullock (“The Blind Side”) and George Clooney (“Syriana”) star in “Gravity,” a heart-pounding thriller that pulls you into the infinite and unforgiving realm of deep space. The film was directed by Oscar® nominee Alfonso Cuarón (“Children of Men”). Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone—tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space. “Gravity” was written by Alfonso Cuarón & Jonás Cuarón, and produced by Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman (the “Harry Potter” films). Chris deFaria, Nikki Penny and Stephen Jones served as executive producers. The behind-the-scenes team includes multiple Oscar®-nominated director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki (“Children of Men,” “The New World”); production designer Andy Nicholson (art director “Alice in Wonderland”); editors Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger (VFX editor “Children of Men”); and costume designer Jany Temime (the “Harry Potter” films). The visual effects were handled by Oscar®-nominated visual effects supervisor Tim Webber (“The Dark Knight”). The music was composed by Steven Price (“Attack the Block”).

Frame By Frame: The Art of Stop Motion

Documentary.net staff — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 07:53:09 +0000

The magic of stop-motion animation has enthralled audiences for over a century, but with the advent of CGI, many thought it was at risk of extinction. Yet despite these fears, animators all over the world continue to manually create unique stories out of physical materials, be it clay, sand or paint, puppets or people. The amount of time and meticulous effort these animators commit makes stop motion uniquely impressive and refreshingly organic in a digital age, and have driven the art form's resurgence in film and commercials. Featuring: Dean Kalman Lennert, Animator, Professor at NYU Hayley Morris, Animator Mathew Amonson & Jeremy Bronson, Studio Nos Meagan Cignoli, Vine Animator

The Art of Portrait Photography

Documentary.net staff — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 14:23:57 +0000

Humans have been creating likenesses of each other for thousands of years, but with the introduction of photography, a new language developed for capturing the human image. Photography created opportunities for not just for biography and documentation, but also depth, empathy, and experimentation. Many portrait photographers today elevate their work from mere photo to art, communicating ideas and capturing the human subject with dignity, all while exploring the meaning and potential of portraiture. Featuring: Matt Hoyle, Bex Finch, Jamie Diamond, Ethan Levitas

Momentum – Dancing: Perfect Synopsis of Body and Soul

Documentary.net staff — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:43:24 +0000

For some it is just an ordinary party snack but for Patrick, who tells his story, a tortilla chip started his moment of self-discovery. With exuberant dancing and magical passion he shares his inspiration and invites everyone to participate. Even his mother. With the score by award-winning composer Ralf Hildenbeutel, this award-winning film (winner of the „Dioraphte Cinedans Jury Award" - the highest for dance film worldwide) explores the concept of spontaneous authenticity and the perfect synopsis of body and soul - through a tortilla chip and dance.