Angus Wall and Friends, Thanks for the Inspiring Eddie Murphy Documentary

August 27, 2026August 27, 2026 by Roger Darnell

The era when I launched The Darnell Works Agency in LA in 2000 was certainly one of the luckiest times in my life. Introduced by my Terpin Group pal Addie Bua to Angus Wall and his fellow owners and leaders of West Hollywood creative editorial house Rock Paper Scissors and its sister VFX company a52, we formed a vital professional relationship that lasted over 10 years, and we have kept in touch ever since.

Over this span, I’ve had many opportunities to savor this gentleman’s monumental feats. Those awed feelings were fully present throughout every second of his wonderful Netflix documentary, ‘Being Eddie.’

Acclaimed feature documentary “Sloane: A Jazz Singer” set for October 1 release on Kinema

September 24, 2024September 24, 2024 by Roger Darnell

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.

James Sweigert and Friends, Thanks for the Inspiring N-Men Documentary

May 16, 2024February 5, 2024 by Roger Darnell

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.

Jonah Hill, thanks for the life-changing “Stutz” documentary

May 16, 2024June 8, 2023 by Roger Darnell

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.

Sam Jones and friends: Thank you for the spectacular Tony Hawk documentary

May 16, 2024April 5, 2022 by Roger Darnell

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.

Josh Swade and Friends, Thanks for the Inspiring Ricky Powell Documentary

February 5, 2024February 1, 2022 by Roger Darnell

YouTube commenter “Heckler 220” mentions thinking about this documentary every day since seeing it: I can relate completely. Everyone who grew up in my generation was saturated with exposure to the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, and all the stars deemed famous by the non-stop pop-culture shock-and-awe of our era. Imagine hanging out behind the scenes with one of the wildest party people given total free range among the glitterati, who had the tenacity, gumption, and skill to capture them all through his camera lens.

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,

Ting Poo and Leo Scott, Thanks for the Val Kilmer Documentary

May 16, 2024October 19, 2021 by Roger Darnell

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

Brilliant directors: Ben Strang

May 14, 2024August 24, 2021 by Roger Darnell

Filmmaker and photographer Ben Strang joined the directorial roster of one-stop cross-media production company Sarofsky in 2019. As a director of both scripted and documentary works, Ben’s stories are born from the unique locations and individuals he has encountered as an independent photojournalist for over a decade. His scripted pilot “Beast” won the SXSW Grand Jury Award for Best Independent Episodic, and his latest documentary series “A Mystery To Me” won a 2021 Cannes Lion, and was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick, as you can see here.

Experience the 2021 World Wildlife Day Film Showcase on 3 March

February 27, 2024March 2, 2021 by Roger Darnell

DWA principal Roger Darnell had the great honor of serving as a judge for the 2021 World Wildlife Day Film Showcase: Forests. “It is a wonderful feeling,” he said, “knowing that so many gifted storytellers and supporting organizations are dedicated to informing and educating the world on the importance of forests and conservation.”

Frank Marshall: Thank you for the much-needed Bee Gees documentary

May 14, 2024February 16, 2021 by Roger Darnell

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know how much I needed this film in my life. Expertly directed and produced by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Seabiscuit”) Frank Marshall, “The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” is currently streaming on HBO Max. Chronicling the triumphs and hurdles of the phenomenal brothers Gibb, otherwise known as the Bee Gees, esteemed producers also include Nigel Sinclair, Jeanne Elfant Festa, and Mark Monroe.

I was only about five when Barry, Maurice and Robin had their first number one hit in the USA: “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”