Comments on: A CALL TO RECOGNIZE THE BEST PERFORMANCES IN NONFICTION FILM https://www.hammertonail.com/editorial/a-call-to-recognize-the-best-performances-in-nonfiction-film-by-robert-greene/ What to Watch Sat, 05 Dec 2020 15:16:58 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Christian Jensen https://www.hammertonail.com/editorial/a-call-to-recognize-the-best-performances-in-nonfiction-film-by-robert-greene/#comment-15896 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 02:55:00 +0000 http://www.hammertonail.com/?p=20905#comment-15896 I’m so glad this is being discussed. I think the contributions of social actors in front of the documentary camera are extremely under appreciated and overlooked. As the documentary form becomes increasingly hybridized (thanks to many filmmakers, including Herzog) I think the line between traditional performance and documentary performance is going to become even more blurred. What is the difference, for example, between a “non-actor” being directed by Vittorio de Sica in a neo-realist film, and James Marsh directing (or being directed by) Phillippe Petit in “Man on Wire”?

As for getting a Best Performance for a Documentary Filmmaker into the Academy Awards… there’s not way in hell. The Screen Actors Guild would collectively crap their pants and throw a fit until the idea was summarily dismissed.

]]> By: Christopher Campbell https://www.hammertonail.com/editorial/a-call-to-recognize-the-best-performances-in-nonfiction-film-by-robert-greene/#comment-15894 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:50:00 +0000 http://www.hammertonail.com/?p=20905#comment-15894 An interesting part of docs to discuss, certainly, and I’d like to note that performing reality goes back much further than Nanook. Look at any of the old “nonfiction” works shot at Edison’s Black Maria. Blacksmith’s performing their jobs, etc. Meanwhile, how many docs are really only as good as their subjects being interesting. Like Winnebago Man or Paul Williams Still Alive, maybe. Plus there are classics by great filmmakers that are best remembered because of the subject performance, such as Grey Gardens and Don’t Look Back.

As for the award part, though, I think that could be tricky. If performance is encouraged then there’s a chance that more subjects will perform even more instead of being genuine. If Kati thought she could get an award for starring in your film, would that change her reality even more than just having the camera on her? I don’t know. But it’s possible.

]]> By: David Redmon https://www.hammertonail.com/editorial/a-call-to-recognize-the-best-performances-in-nonfiction-film-by-robert-greene/#comment-15893 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:58:00 +0000 http://www.hammertonail.com/?p=20905#comment-15893 I recommend creating a category for Best Performance of the Year as a Documentary Filmmaker.

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