Comments on: Is MSNBC Redefining Documentary?

By: T.Holly

T.Holly — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:38:32 +0000

Wonder if Jennifer Venditti will vote this year, being that she’s a filmmaker.

http://www.cinemaeyeawards.com/awards/voters.html

By: T.Holly

T.Holly — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:45:19 +0000

The problem isn’t what makes a good film or who votes. The problem is the categories: Debut Feature, Graphics and Animation, Cinematography, Editing, Production, Audience Choice Award, International Feature, Direction, Nonfiction Filmmaking. Someone needs to think it out better.

By: T.Holly

T.Holly — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:49:25 +0000

Claim your “space between truth and fiction, between documentary and narrative”, embrace “stylistic tool(s)… especially… animation and graphic design”, claim your award.

By: Karina Longworth

Karina Longworth — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:23:05 +0000

T. Holly wrote (both here and on Jeff Wells site, in a context that made no sense): “Cinema Eye became Bert Parks channeled through Sarah Palin this year.”

I don’t know what that means.

By: John

John — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:45:35 +0000

MSNBC is right. Apart from sex,violence is the only thing that sells well.

By: T.Holly

T.Holly — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:59:23 +0000

But what if the exploitative schlock is so well crafted? Under the heading, Goldstein’s Oscar Criteria, at Hollywood-Elsewhere (Karina gets mad if you plant the link) I pressed Glenn Kenny into service and asked, Ah Glenn, maybe you could go to the Cinema Eye Honors this year and lend a critic’s voice. (In my mind’s eye,) Cinema Eye became Bert Parks channeled through Sarah Palin this year, to wit ,”Another thing is the extraordinary craft in the film, particularly in the cinematography and editing, which creates this sense of fragility and beauty.” What? When you’re done shaking your head, heed the rally to “realize the movement” and lay claim to the genre’s “return to its roots” via a “Nonfiction New Wave.”

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:28:38 +0000

To follow up, I’d agree with Erin D that this is a bad strategy for MSNBC if they ever want to be taken seriously as a news network.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:27:21 +0000

I’d argue that audiences *do* make a distinction between well-made documentaries and exploitative schlock. This simply sounds like spin and a pretty transparent version of it, as well. But I also applaud the efforts of the Cinema Eye awards in educating the audience and promoting films that viewers might not encounter otherwise.

By: The Chutry Experiment » New Year Links

The Chutry Experiment » New Year Links — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:24:24 +0000

[...] Karina, responding to a Kansas City Star column by Aaron Barnhart, takes a look at MSNBC’s use of documentary as cheap off-hour programming and asks a useful question about [...]

By: Bob Alexander

Bob Alexander — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:32:50 +0000

Hi T. Holly! I thought we were pretty much above board on the Cinema Eye thing. I didn’t say anthing we haven’t said elsewhere. But maybe we need to be more explicit. A good resolution for the New Year? Best wishes, all.

By: Erin D.

Erin D. — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:29:33 +0000

I’m all for widening audience interest and access to documentaries but it seems like MSNBC Films is really watering down their own brand by lumping in the Caught on Camera and Lockup franchises with festival purchases.

This disagreement in the comments section above illustrates there’s no single definition or expectation for docs.

By: T.Holly

T.Holly — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:00:14 +0000

Close-minded much?

By: Karina Longworth

Karina Longworth — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:08:00 +0000

T. Holly, I’m confused. What do you consider to be the “bias” of the Cinema Eye Honors? And what does that post on Poland’s blog have to do with this discussion, other than that you similarly hijacked it in order to throw accusations at AJ Schnack?

By: T.Holly

T.Holly — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:48:48 +0000

Bob Alexander (who sponsers A.J. Schnack’s fest coverage and seems to single handedly support his site) makes no bones about the bias of the Cinema Eye Honors. Schnack should only be so forthright and straight forward and make no excuses about it.

http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/archives/2008/12/dp30_man_on_wir.html

By: Bob Alexander

Bob Alexander — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:37:26 +0000

This is, yet another (!), thought provoking post that I can’t let pass by. MSNBC is perhaps trying to change the meaning of “documentary” because (in my view) they are an audience driven, advertiser supported, commercial broadcaster. On the other hand, Cinema Eye Honors is also trying to change the meaning of “documentary” by emphasizing “non fiction filmmaking” and focusing on excellence in filmmaking craft. There may well be films that would be awarded a Cinema Eye Honor that could play MSNBC. But there would be few films in their “doc bloc” that would make the Cinema Eye short list. Honoring filmmakers for “excellence in the craft of non-fiction filmmaking” is the right thing to do, but it may have limited impact without building an audience for their work simultaneously. Can Cinema Eye take on MSNBC?