Filmmaker infuses documentaries with personal experience
By Andy Etzkorn
Feb. 18, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Some documentary filmmakers find past wars and Secretaries of
Defense interesting enough subjects for their films. Ross McElwee
prefers ideas he finds in his own backyard.
On Feb. 21, Melnitz Movies and the International Documentary
Association will present the Los Angeles premiere of
McElwee’s latest documentary, “Bright Leaves.”
The film plunges into the North Carolina tobacco industry, but also
explores McElwee’s own family history in this particular
industry.
McElwee, who will also appear at the screening, has been making
documentaries for the past three decades, taking a unique approach
of confronting national issues and adding his own personal touch to
them.
“McElwee takes us on his own personal journey,” said
Marina Goldovskaya, a professor in UCLA’s Film and Television
department and Documentary Salon Series programmer. “He talks
to real people and tells his own story while not losing sight of
the subject at hand.”
After studying film at MIT, McElwee delved quickly into
documentary filmmaking. After several smaller documentaries, he
achieved wide critical acclaim with “Sherman’s
March” in 1986, a film chronicling the post-Civil War effects
of General Sherman’s march of destruction through the South.
But “Sherman’s March” does not merely focus on
Sherman, it also tells the tale of McElwee’s own experiences
with past loves and his personal journey through the South.
This personal way of filming a documentary has become the soul
of McElwee’s work.
“(“˜Bright Leaves’) is a voyage of
discovery,” said Goldovskaya. “Discovery for both the
audience and for McElwee, as well.”
McElwee’s filmmaking style is part of a sudden explosion
in the popularity of both making and viewing documentary film. With
the success of filmmakers like Michael Moore, documentaries seem
poised to make a huge leap into the entertainment world.
“These filmmakers want the audience to feel involved with
specific characters who they can relate to,” said Stephen
Robinson, a third-year film student. “The personal touches
make documentaries more accessible to everyone.”
For McElwee, this manner of creating documentaries has been a
constant in his career for the last three decades. McElwee
narrates, films, edits, and in most cases, stars in his own films.
McElwee develops a connection with his audience, one that is
neither condescending nor preachy.
“The personal touch brings more interactivity with the
audience,” said Goldovskaya.
“Bright Leaves” comes at an exciting time when
documentaries are beginning to be embraced by the mainstream and
not just appealing to certain audiences.
“The real world is more exciting than what Hollywood has
to give us,” said Goldovskaya. “Real things touch us
much more. Through documentary, we discover a new world.”
Ross McElwee’s “Bright Leaves” will be
showing at the James Bridges Theater on Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. McElwee
will be present at the screening, which is free of charge. For more
info, go to http://www.gsa.asucla.ucla.edu/melnitz.
