I've just finished watching this and I loved it. It's good to get a closer look at the making of a great movie. I've no doubt it's sanitised but I like getting an insider's view of something I'll never be involved with.
So let me ask you hubski.
Can you recommend me any documentaries about making of specific movies. I'd also be interested in documentaries around movie making in general if you have any of those too.
I can search myself for recommendations, but I'm more interested in getting opinions from people who put some thought into it.
I own Robert Rodriguez's film Once Upon A Time In Mexico which really kinda sucks. But the reason I bought it was for the DVD Extras, which - to me - is one of the finest discs of extras ever produced. This was one of the very first all digitally-produced films, and Rodriguez did it in his house. One of the DVD Extras is him walking around with a hand-held camera, demonstrating how every detail of the film is made. Editing. Sound design. Even the DVD screen you are currently looking at! It is a personal tour of the filmmaking process, done by the director himself, and it is fantastic. In addition, the DVD Extras have him teaching bachelors how to cook. Seriously. He has a cooking show on there! He covers the staples you should always have in your kitchen, and all the stuff you can make on the spot with those basic elements. He then walks you through making Puerco Pibil: an amazing roasted pork dish that is a central element of the film. And again, all of this content is him, alone, with a hand-held camera, talking directly into the camera - directly to you - about this stuff he is totally passionate about. Buy the DVD. Throw away the movie. Watch the extras. They are fantastic.
Rodriguez's Mexico Trilogy was a lot of fun for me, though I think Once Upon a Time . . . feels a little dragged out. That said, I don't think he's a strong director in a lot of ways, but I think what makes his movies enjoyable (even Planet Terror) is that he really enjoys making movies and telling stories. Somehow his enthusiasm is there in almost every shot. So it doesn't surprise me to hear that passion comes across so easily in his behind the scenes on the DVD.
Thanks, I could have sworn that was about the making of The African Queen!? I've no idea where I picked up that notion...
I've got a few suggestions. Heading out for the rest of the afternoon though, check this later tonight for an edit with suggestions. bhrgunatha: Jodorovsky's Dune. This one's about a film that wasn't made, but talks about the process leading up to that point, and leaves you wondering what could have been. Amazing film. Burden of Dreams. The making of Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo, and shows the extraordinary lengths that the crew went through to realize this film. Pretty sure Fitz almost killed Herzog. American Movie. Documentary about the attempted making of a low budget film. Kind of like the Joe Dirt of film-making documentaries. That's what I got, between those and the Apocalypse doc you should be set, all are in my opinion great pieces of film in and of themselves.
Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time. It might take some weeks but I'll get round to watching them all. For example I haven't seen Fitzcarraldo yet so I'll have to watch that first. Jodorovsky's Dune: Santa Sangre is one of my all time favourite movies. There is no better love story. It always has such a profound effect on me even after watching it 10 times or more. The trailer for Dune is so intriguing. Gotta love Jodorovsky. Two other strong suggestions that caught my attention: Overnight about the making of Boondock Saints and Lost in La Mancha - Terry Gilliam's unmaterialised dream project.I didn't read Dune. But I have a friend who say me it was fantastic