The Documentary Producer - Blessing that has built Maysles career.

More advice… He doesn’t take anytime to start shooting, he just jumps in… he has the confidence that he can gain his subjects’ trust and knows he will never betray that. Take Grey Gardens… Little Edie LOVED the film after seeing it and Big Edie said, on her death bed, that she had nothing else to say… it was all in the movie. It is all about staying true to his story and the subjects.  It is not about injecting his opinion into the film. His goal is to have his subjects say at the end “at least it’s honest.”

Contrast this with some of the more recent film and filmmakers such as My Kid Could Paint That. Amir Bar-Lev strayed from making a “Direct Cinema” film to an opinionated search for a truth that should have/could have been left up to the audience to decide. Does this film work? That is for you to decide.

All in all, there is an enormous amount to learn from The Master and in my final plug … check out his website at www.mayslesfilms.com.

This weeks recommendation – My Kid Could Paint That.