The 8 1/2 thread made me think, "I really like dramatic films about filmmaking." My top three are 8 1/2 , Day for Night, and Entropy, with CQ being the runner up.

So, what are some other good films about filmmaking?

I'm shooting a documentary about the filmmaking process. But I've acutally never seen a movie about filmmaking...

The closest thing I've seen to that is things like "The Movie Hero" and stuff.

- C. Davis
YELLOW HAMMER PRODUCTIONS

My #1 is unquestionably "American Movie," which was a documentary by Chris Smith that screened at Sundance '99.

Go see it if you haven't already. Trust me.

Mule Skinner Blues and They Shoot Movies Don't They? are great films about filmmaking.

"You may have seen more movies than me, but I've MADE more than you."

Yeah, I like Mule Skinner and They Shoot Movies. I didn't like American Movie. It almost felt a little too expoloitative to me--but most people I know liked it.

Other documentaries about filmmaking that I like are Lost in La Mancha and Full Tilt Boggie. I separate these from fictional films about filmmaking, however, because normally fictional films about filmmaking use filmmaking as a backdrop to tell another, more important story (often with a selfactualization type theme).

Keep em comming.

quote:

---

Originally posted by joren:
I didn't like American Movie. It almost felt a little too expoloitative to me--but most people I know liked it.

---

I can see where you're coming from, but I think the film was meant to be like that. I've listened to the director's commentary, and the film isn't actually about filmmaking, per se. It's more about this guy's life. Period. The direct met him at film classes and decided to make a film about his life. So I think it was meant to be exploitative. Whether you like that or not, the film achieved it's goal, which I think deserves at least some credit.

state and main, my favorite mamet movie. funny funny s hit. to me atleast.

if youre looking for a witty signature, youre looking in the wrong place.

Dont forget Bowfinger...very funny movie about doing anything it takes for your movie! I think we can all relate in one way or another...

-Thomas Chalifour

Writer/Director/Actor Extrodinaire
Tommy Boy Productions

The Creative Process

Oh yes, and how could I forget Get Shorty?! Awesome movie.

They Shoot Movies Don't They was great. It had my jaw dropped at the ending, then I had to go online to find out the whole story. Then I truly appreciated it. Great movie.

------------------
http://www.alandenton.com
------------------

JW, it's funny, because I normally love exploitation films (go see Dolemite if you haven't), but I just felt so bad for watching that guy go through the proccess, knowing he was either going to make a horible film or just fail completely. I guess it made me uncomfortable. LOL, maybe it hit too close to home. Definatly a well done film, though.

Bowfinger! Steve Martin rocks. Get Shorty is sweet too. I totally forgot about these. State and Main has a great ensemble cast--except for the Baldwin. Bill Macy was great.

Any one see "lost in la mancha"? That was really entertaining...some of the footage of the flooding was CRAZY!!!!

I have to agree with JW on this one - "American Movie" is one of the all time funniest movies that I have ever seen.