Unique insights and actionable ideas from The Darnell Works Agency’s daily quest for greatness.
As announced by Director Michael Lippert, Executive Producers Stephen Barefoot and L. Taylor Arnold, and Producers Donna Campbell and Georgann Eubanks, “Sloane: A Jazz Singer” will debut on https://kinema.com on October 1st, where it will be available worldwide for video-on-demand, live, and virtual screenings. The film is also available for independent bookings.
Read moreAcclaimed feature documentary “Sloane: A Jazz Singer” set for October 1 release on Kinema
While I have never had the pleasure of working directly with award-winning writer, producer, director, author, and creative executive James Sweigert – nor have we ever met in person – we have become well-acquainted over the past 15 years or so. The paths we’ve forged individually have never quite overlapped, and yet, through an incredibly vast shared network, our virtual connections have generated sparks.
Read moreJames Sweigert and Friends, Thanks for the Inspiring N-Men Documentary
Last October, Netflix released a feature documentary directed by Jonah Hill. It instantly leapt to my attention through the platform’s recommendation engine, but its buzz reached me from all directions. Still, it took my wife bringing it up in January for us to make the time and screen it together. For the record, it has changed my life.
Even in the trailer, Hill acknowledges the oddness of “a patient making a documentary about his therapist” (his words). Beyond that, I find Hill to be a fascinating and multi-talented person, and Dr. Stutz to be a bona fide gem. Even more specifically, with his process and his tools, the good doctor has helped the filmmaker immeasurably. To bring those tools to the attentions of others and facilitate understanding, Hill presents them methodically, then uses his own experiences to bring the lessons home in some surprising and authentic ways.
Read moreJonah Hill, thanks for the life-changing “Stutz” documentary
My deep appreciation for the talents of acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Sam Jones are well-documented in this site. To be honest, for any subject Sam chooses to make a film about, I will be on the edge of my seat. As you may have heard, Sam’s new HBO documentary, “Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off” premieres tonight on HBO Max.
Read moreSam Jones and friends: Thank you for the spectacular Tony Hawk documentary
That is the scene writer-director Josh Swade and his collaborators plunge us straight into, turning deep admiration and their all-seeing camera toward the world famous Ricky Powell, who lived that feverish dream until leaving us a year ago today at the age of 59. On film,
Read moreJosh Swade and Friends, Thanks for the Inspiring Ricky Powell Documentary
For American high school students of the mid-80s, “cable” and MTV radically impacted our perceptions of the world – and of the realm of possibilities. Driven, determined, ambitious, and male, my own dreams of success (focused in aerospace – and/or show business) took high-contrast form under the spells of John Hughes, Randal Kleiser, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg. “Risky Business” was another phenomenon of time-space that refracted my aspirations. When the bold “Real Genius” and the ridiculous and ballsy “Top Secret!” appeared on HBO, I was star-struck. Next came “Top Gun,” and the alchemy of Cruise, Kilmer and their like cinematically orchestrated by master storytellers subconsciously seized control of my outlook.
Thus inspired, I brought my A-game to the film and television industry. Along the way, through digitalization, cameras became more accessible. Despite not being in position to direct my own “National Lampoon,” I could shoot stuff for fun, experiment, and document my life.
It winds up, while he was living the life millions dreamt about, heartthrob and “Einstein of the 80s” (according to the “Real Genius” poster) Val Kilmer was also shooting stuff for fun, and documenting his life.
Read moreTing Poo and Leo Scott, Thanks for the Val Kilmer Documentary