Let’s review Front Row’s top 10 documentaries about filmmaking.
(in no particular order):
Film critic Leonard Maltin has described Lost in La Mancha (2002) [Amazon Link] as one of the best films about the process of moviemaking. A follow-up to this documentary, He Dreams of Giants, was released in 2019.
Director Terry Gilliam had a very hard time making his Don Quixote movie, which he started on in 1989 and finally released in 2018 as The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. All the trials and tribulations associated with finally getting this movie made are documented in these documentaries, which stand on their own as fascinating documents of the filmmaking process.
Burden of Dreams [Amazon Link] is a 1982 "making-of" documentary film, shot during and about the chaotic production of Werner Herzog's film Fitzcarraldo.
Filming on location in the jungles of Peru, the crew (unsurprisingly) experienced challenges with the extreme heat and other weather issues. Herzog’s determination to literally have a steamship manually pulled over a steep mountain also proved challenging – but it all makes for amusing viewing.
The production faced numerous setbacks, including cost overruns, significant retakes, bad press, and rumours of Cimino's allegedly authoritarian directorial style. It’s all on display in this fascinating making-of doc – “warts and all”.
The Making of "The Shining" [Amazon Link] is a 30-minute documentary directed by Stanley Kubrick's daughter Vivian. Kubrick fans will find this making-of doc particularly fascinating, as it includes footage of Kubrick actually directing on set. It is included as an extra on the regular movie DVD.
Another related documentary is Room 237 [Amazon Link], which is an entertaining and often amusing exposition of the many interpretations of this much-discussed horror film.
American Movie [Amazon Link] is a humorous document of the 1996–97 making of Coven, an independent horror film directed by American filmmaker Mark Borchardt.
Coven experienced numerous setbacks, including poor financing, a lack of planning, and overall ineptitude from the friends and family Borchardt hired as his production team. However, this often-comical ineptitude is what makes the movie funny and memorable.
This documentary utilizes Evans' narration interspersed mostly with photographs from Evans' life, brief film snippets, and interviews to tell the story of his film producing career.
It would make sense to watch this in conjunction with the aforementioned The Kid Stays in the Picture, since Bob Evans produced some of the notable ‘70s-era movies discussed in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, including the masterpiece Chinatown.
This documentary includes some interesting interviews with Tarkovsky, and examines his meticulous creative process and uncompromising vision. The focus is not so much on Tarkovsky's career, but on the man himself – his thoughts, ideas and personality.
This production company was known for creating “schlock” films but some cult classics also, including Runaway Train (1985), The Delta Force (1986) and Charles Bronson’s Death Wish series.
Electric Boogaloo pays tribute to this era of “schlock” filmmaking with a nostalgic look back that's arguably more entertaining than much of Cannon's own “B movie” product.
Notable directors who make appearances in this documentary include James Cameron, Sean Penn, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Quentin Tarantino.
If you’re watching documentaries about filmmaking, chances are that you’re a filmmaker or planning to be one. And if you’re a filmmaker, you’ll want to consider insuring your valuable filmmaking gear and film productions. Consider Front Row Insurance:
US-based filmmakers can view Front Row’s US policies here.
About: Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc. is an independent insurance broker that specializes in the entertainment industry – specifically, the film industry. Front Row has 51 staff in 8 offices that have a combined 530+ years of experience serving the film industry. Front Row is the largest film insurance broker in Canada. Front Row works hard to provide insurance protection for the lowest possible cost. Should a claim occur, Front Row ensures that clients receive the money they are owed per the insurance policy, as quickly as possible.
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