Never let it be said that STS rests on it’s laurels- we also actively seek out and promote new filmmaking talent. In the first of an occasional series, Quincy PHD introduces the singular work of urban legend Doug Pray…
Doug Pray is a filmmaker who’s movies explore dominant artistic cultures in modern society. Scratch* is the best documentary on hip hop and turntablism ever made, and I can’t recommend Infamy as a fascinating alternative take on the graffiti art scene enough. I’d also urge people to watch Hype which covers the Seattle grunge scene in a way very few have managed since.
His new movie ‘Art & Copy’ looks at the advertising boom of 60’s America and the creative minds of some of the most recognisable product branding in the world. Far from being a love letter to commercialism, it looks like a serious exploration of both the positive and negative aspects of advertising and the highs and lows of creating such memorable imagery.
Count me in.
* Incidentally – the link to Scratch is the full movie. If you have the time check it out – it’s amazing.
Another week, another slick indie coming-of-age tale with a ‘dark edge’. What is it with the American film industry and ‘dark’? Maybe the California sun is too much for some Execs. Or maybe the audience are pretentious morons. Either way, the opening YouTube montage reeks of bad teenage poetry, images of Saddam being lynched, people being strangled – don’t panic, keyboard cat’s in there as well…
You got it. It’s a teenage movie dealing with… like.. the effects of the media man…
In the world of politically-orientated documentary-makers, The Yes Men reign supreme. Despite the high-profile vigilantism on display in their previous big-screen outing, it appears big money corporate types still haven’t cottoned on to their unique brand of mayhem, meaning this follow up contains some very funny and, in many cases, very expensive pranks – resulting in egg splatting upon the faces of some of the world’s largest corporate bigwigs.
A world record attempt to swim the entire length of the deadly, dirty, crocodile (and worse) infested Amazon sounds like a great subject for a documentary, but Big River Man really pulls out a trump card in the form of Martin Strell, an overweight, ageing alcoholic who also happens to be an endurance swimming champion, who may well be the oddest fish of the lot.
