Seattlest: Think Documentary Filmmakers Are Humorless, Self-Important Twits? Well, You're Right

annie

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:59:30 -0800

Hey Sean, did you get this from Slog? 'Cause somebody's accusing me of stealing from you, and that ain't right. The best documentary of the year has obviously never been correctly decided by the Academy. I'm certainly glad, however, that the Academy requires eligible docs to have theatrical runs, because that encourages filmmakers risk a little and seek theatrical runs instead of resigning themselves to 54-minute docs for PBS. (This wasn't a problem for Spike Lee, obviously, but that's because he's Spike Lee.) Whatever his difficulty in modulating his tone, Sinno has a point w/r/t the increase in required screens -- that serves no purpose whatsoever.

MvB

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:35:50 -0800

James fucking Longley! Hey, "Iraq in Fragments" is fan-freaking-tastic. One of the best things I dragged myself out to last year. And that's "things I dragged myself to" in general, not just films.

JL

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:21:31 -0800

For my part, I thought Seinfeld's introduction was pretty funny. But, like David said, what do I know? Anyway, even if Seinfeld wasn't at the top of his form, his comments hardly took anything away from documentary film. It's good to have a sense of humor. So I think you're on your own with this one, John. -- James Longley Director, Producer, Co-Editor, Composer, Cinematographer of "Iraq in Fragments"

David F.

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:17:36 -0800

Documentaries are an important form, he's right about that. And he may be right on every point (what di I know?), but his tone and the humorless approach of this letter undermine any truth he had to tell. He needs a blog or something. And some humility.