UK
NR, 30 min
NR, 30 min
There were a few reasons I titled this list 20 DVDs that inspire. For starters, I didn't want to limit myself to some Great Movies of All Time when those list tend to be a bit boring and repetitious. There are tons of collections that have been released over the years that show how far a good story and excellent visuals can go. Speaking of which, back in 2003 Palm Pictures released a new series of DVDs created by some of the top music video directors of the time. This series, titled Directors Label, began by releasing collective works from 3 of the best directors in the business. Although all 3 are note-worthy, it was the collective works of one director in particular which was unlike anything every to grace MTV. Chris Cunningham is a music video film director, as well as a video artist, who's works have shown other artist they have it all wrong. Using a mix of in-camera and digital techniques, Cunningham brings his darker vision to the small screen. These videos not only compliment the chosen song, but also become a part of each tunes legacy, having graced the covers of the singles and sometimes even the full album artwork.
In the past, certain songs have been trimmed to create accessibility to a broader range of MTV viewers, however Cunningham's videos sometimes lengthen the song in order to complete his storytelling vision. Having done videos for international artist such as Bjork, Apex Twin & Portishead, his videos complimented each song as well as exceeded expectations of fans all over the globe. Cunningham has also done a handful of commercials, in his signature style, for companies such as Levis and Sony.
Random Trivia: On the video select menu on the DVD, the loud sounds are samples from each music video playing simultaneously. When a video is selected the sounds stop one by one until only a sample of the chosen video remains.
Memorable Scene: You know it already...
Memorable Quote: "Come To Daddy."
Memorable Scene: You know it already...
Memorable Quote: "Come To Daddy."
USA
Created by Rod Sterling
NR, 156 Episodes
Even if your not a genre junkie like me I'm sure you're aware of Rod Sterling's small-screen masterpiece. To be honest, one of the few things I miss about having cable is the celebrated Twilight Zone Marathon, which I think plays a few times a year now. Thanks to the miracle of DVD and (Netflix Instant) I don't have to worry about that anymore. Although there were a few incarnations over the decades, the original 156 episodes is one of the (if not THE) best anthology series ever made. The series itself was a mixture of comedy, fantasy, horror, sci-fi and basically every other genre you can image. Also, not only was The Twilight Zone one of the first mediums to utilized the "unexpected twist", but the entire series was also a bit of a social commentary, forcing people to think outside the norm.
Some of my favorite episodes force the viewer to question the perception of their own reality. Episodes like "The Eye of the Beholder" tells the story of a woman undergoing surgery to look "normal". By the end of the episode we, the viewers, realize (by typical standards) the woman is beautiful, but her world is full of disfigured, pig-faced humanoids who are all appalled by her appearance. These themes carry over in many episodes and raises questions on what we consider to be acceptable within the comforts (and conforms) of our own society. Considering these episodes aired before some of our parents were even born, Rod Sterling and crew were definitely on to something here.
This is on my list for many reasons, but the majority of inspiration comes from the mixed pot of storytelling within the series. Episodes like "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" deal with an aging actress who lives a life of seclusion in her screening room, clinging desperately to old memories. While episodes like "One for the Angels" take the comedic approach about a salesman who makes a deal with the Death to continue living until he makes one final great pitch. This mixed bag that is The Twilight Zone will continue to be remembered as the first series to make you question your own environment.
Random Trivia: CBS wanted Orson Welles as the narrator/host, but the producers felt that he asked for too much money.
Memorable Scene: If I was to choose just one, currently "Perchance to Dream" (S1:EP9) is one of my favorites.
Memorable Quote: "You are about to enter another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, the Twilight Zone!"
16. Wholphin (2003)
One of the best parts of this DVD Magazine is the range of submissions. While some are submitted from well-know directors (Spike Jonze) and others from up and comers before their first theatrical release (July Miranda), the range of media itself is impressive. Some shorts are simple Black & white, dialog-based scripts, while other are fully animated, mind-melting films. Wholphin also has a tendency to show versions of American shows remade in other countries such as the Russian Married with Children and the Japanese Bewitched, which are all quite amusing.
Although maybe some of these shorts are hit or miss, it truly depends on the individual. We have a great time discussing the themes in these shorts and each volume (13 in total as of 2011) continues to inspire. Wholphin is able to find some of the best student and professional films all over the world and put them in this very cool package. Check out "The Writer" directed by Carson Mel below and you'll see the range of stuff we look forward too every week when we sit down for another issue.
Random Trivia: It took Jeroen Offerman 3 months to teach himself how to sing "Stairway to Heaven" backwards.
Memorable Short: Two Cars, One Night by Taika Waititi
Memorable Quote: "Are you the favorite person of anybody?"
USA
Published by McSweeney's
NR, 13 Issues
I have seen quite a few short film collections over the years, but very few have inspired me in the way this one has. Wholphin is a DVD Magazine which contains a selection of short films from all over the world. Created by Dave Eggers and Brent Hoff of McSweeney's publishing house, Wholphin aims to give exposure to short films which have had little or no exposure elsewhere. The format of the DVD alone is quite interesting, as the DVD menu itself (when left as is) contains a strange short as well. The films within these collections range from documentaries, art house, sitcom-style comedies and even drama. Also, Wholphin is used as a platform for known actors to get behind the camera and debut works as a director. The first issue of Wholphin is now long out of print, but it is available through Netflix DVD.
Published by McSweeney's
NR, 13 Issues
I have seen quite a few short film collections over the years, but very few have inspired me in the way this one has. Wholphin is a DVD Magazine which contains a selection of short films from all over the world. Created by Dave Eggers and Brent Hoff of McSweeney's publishing house, Wholphin aims to give exposure to short films which have had little or no exposure elsewhere. The format of the DVD alone is quite interesting, as the DVD menu itself (when left as is) contains a strange short as well. The films within these collections range from documentaries, art house, sitcom-style comedies and even drama. Also, Wholphin is used as a platform for known actors to get behind the camera and debut works as a director. The first issue of Wholphin is now long out of print, but it is available through Netflix DVD.
One of the best parts of this DVD Magazine is the range of submissions. While some are submitted from well-know directors (Spike Jonze) and others from up and comers before their first theatrical release (July Miranda), the range of media itself is impressive. Some shorts are simple Black & white, dialog-based scripts, while other are fully animated, mind-melting films. Wholphin also has a tendency to show versions of American shows remade in other countries such as the Russian Married with Children and the Japanese Bewitched, which are all quite amusing.
Although maybe some of these shorts are hit or miss, it truly depends on the individual. We have a great time discussing the themes in these shorts and each volume (13 in total as of 2011) continues to inspire. Wholphin is able to find some of the best student and professional films all over the world and put them in this very cool package. Check out "The Writer" directed by Carson Mel below and you'll see the range of stuff we look forward too every week when we sit down for another issue.
Random Trivia: It took Jeroen Offerman 3 months to teach himself how to sing "Stairway to Heaven" backwards.
Memorable Short: Two Cars, One Night by Taika Waititi
Memorable Quote: "Are you the favorite person of anybody?"
In The End: I love films... it's true, but these days when I feel my attention span dwindling I find comfort in collections such as these. When I'm working on new projects the first thing I take into consideration is practicability. I would never write a story with explosions or a car chase, when I know I don't have the means to film it. All these DVDs offer a practical solution to storytelling, as well as showing the best ways to achieve the most important factor; Beginning. Middle. End.
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