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What is you favorite 3 movies about making movies?


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One of my favorite sub genras is movies about making movies. I feel like I've seen 'em all (but hope there are a bunch more I have yet to discover) everything from The Bold and the Beautiful to Living in Oblivion. I could change my mind tomorrow but for today, THESE are my top 3 movies about making films:

 

OK I'll start with the one EVERYONE will probably include The Player. :D

 

Number two is just one I love, Bowfinger.

 

Number three is another I just love, The Deal.

 

What are your's??!! B)

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You guys already listed my top three, so just to keep it different…

 

State and Main

 

Woody Allens very underrated Hollywood Ending.

 

And a doc…

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse

 

This is a TV show, but the whole Project Greenlight series is a fantastic romp for any aspiring filmmaker or anyone thats ever been on a low budget set.

 

James,

 

I’ve never heard of “The Deal” and there are nineteen of them on IMDB. What year was it? Like you, I’m a bit of a junky for movies about movies.

 

Thanks.

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When I'm feeling down I put in "American Movie". Some people find it depressing, but I love how Mark's passion for film keeps him going.

 

To round out the three... "Ed Wood" and "Day for Night".

Edited by Tristan Noelle
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"Living in oblivion" - everyone who's ever been to a low budget indy set will feel with steve buscemi's character .. this movie also is full of little jokes and situations that your non-film business friends won't laugh about.

 

"Lost in la mancha" - not sure if a documentary counts as movie, but it sure is big drama! seing terry gilliam up close and personal while his close-to-his-heart-project goes down the toilet always makes want to quit amd get a normal job. still i can enjoy this docu.

 

 

cant thing of a nr. 3 right now. maybe later.

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1) "Burden of Dreams" Les Blank's documentary on the making of Werner Herzog's "Fitzcarraldo"

2) "Sherlock, Jr." Okay, it's not about movie making, but it's one of the earliest, and one of the best movies to deconstruct filmmaking. Buster Keaton at his apex.

3) "Man Bites Dog" Remy Belvaux's brilliant pre-"Blair Witch" mockumentary that explores the role of a filmmaker in his own work.

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Imamura Shohei's: The Pornographers (1966)

"It tells the story of porn filmmaker Mr. Ogata, whose business is under threat by thieves, the government, and his own family."

 

Inland Empire (2006)

David Lynch's wonderful movie about the making of a movie called "On High in Blue Tomorrows"

 

The Bad and the Beautiful (1962) dir. Vincent Minelli

with Lana Turner and Kirk Douglas

"There has been much debate as to which real-life Hollywood legends are represented by the film's characters. Jonathan Shields is thought to be a blending of David O. Selznick, Orson Welles and Val Lewton"

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Check out "Ready when you are Mr McGill", a tv movie that perfectly sums up the UK tv drama on set experience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRKLPNb7v4g

in multiple parts on youtube

 

Thanks Stephen! Never seen this, Absolutely spot on! I worked 3 month stints over 2 years on outside broadcast at the BBC as camera assistant, brings it all back!

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You guys already listed my top three, so just to keep it different…

 

“State and Main”

 

Woody Allen’s very underrated “Hollywood Ending.”

 

And a doc…

“Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse”

 

This is a TV show, but the whole “Project Greenlight” series is a fantastic romp for any aspiring filmmaker or anyone that’s ever been on a low budget set.

 

James,

 

I’ve never heard of “The Deal” and there are nineteen of them on IMDB. What year was it? Like you, I’m a bit of a junky for movies about movies.

 

Thanks.

 

It's Steve :) and The Deal I'm talking about is this delightful little movie:

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848281/

 

released in 2008

 

You know one I missed, Incident at Lock Ness. Funny movie

Edited by James Steven Beverly
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Guest Stephen Murphy

Not yet mentioned, the documentary "Audience of One". Church donations, 65mm intended for projection @ 60fps, a nearly decapitated DP, space travel... I could go on but it really needs to be seen to be believed.

 

great suggestion sean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnqacgbuYZQ&ob=av1n found it on youtube. incredible train wreck tv. religion has a lot to answer for.

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great suggestion sean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnqacgbuYZQ&ob=av1n found it on youtube. incredible train wreck tv. religion has a lot to answer for.

 

I just watched this one. As a portrait of religious zealotry it's downright terrifying...yet I have to admit, I'd sure love to see those two completed shots...65mm showscan! Say what you will about the man, but he has damn fine taste in image formats! :)

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Yeah, "Audience..." is really something to marvel at. Not sure where you saw it, but the DVD has the 2 completed 65mm clips in full. About two minutes in total, and appearing in slo-mo due to the standard, secular telecine... Very nice looking footage though, the DP was certainly good. Check out the Pastor singing on the special features too, he seems to be doing a very good Eric Burdon impression...

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  • 4 weeks later...

How could this one be forgotten:

 

Camera Buff: (Polish: Amator, meaning "amateur") is a 1979 Polish film written and directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski about a humble factory worker whose newfound hobby, amateur film, becomes an obsession and transforms his modest and formerly contented life

 

Fantastic movie!

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I was going to mention "Ed Wood" but I think it's already gotten a dozen nods. Does that mean it wins? :D

 

 

I was reading about this the other day, and shocked to find out it wasn't a commercial success. Maybe there actually was something to the studio telling Burton that a B&W movie would never sell. . .

 

My favorite character in the whole film is the sleazy film distributor/producer (forget the character's name): "Fine fine fine. Just make sure it's six - reels - long." "Ed, I don't make quality movies here. I make crap."

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