Movie Talk with Alex Gibney
id: 3DD-01-0056
format: HD
Documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney discusses his film Mea Maxima Culpa 2012 about the child sex abuse crisis in Milwaukee USA in a community of deaf children in the 1960's. Gibney discusses the importance of Pope Benedict resigning the office, being staffed by a man, and not a Holy writ. The doco interviews the victims on camera. Gibney wanted to convey the power of their sign language so he lit them in a particular way. Taxi to the Dark Side 2007 explores the American military's use of torture during the Bush administration and the unsolved murder of an Afghani man who was brought into custody for questioning and died. Enron 2005 is the next doco discussed about the financial crisis, ruthless capitalism and three central characters that caused economic destruction. Gibney says there's always an 'abuse of power' theme running throughout his films. He describes it as an organic process - with new discoveries throughout the project invariably leading to narrative changes. Gibney learnt a lot when he produced The Blues, a set of documentaries directed by 8 of the best directors at the time including Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood. They all brought their individual visual point of view. Gibney advises the to be productive you should do you own thing, figure it out for yourself and go ahead and do it. Jimi Hendrix was featured as one of the subjects in the documentary series where previously unseen footage was shown, Gibney admits he's a Hendrix nut! Gibney says docos have evolved, no rules anymore, it's a new golden era of film making. The best ones are still the factual ones but now they are authored, honest and you can sense the person behind the camera. Gonzo 2008 is a film about Hunter S. Thompson narrated by Johnny Depp, the doco uses Thompson's own words throughout the entire film. Magic Trip was his 2011 psychedelic film. He says it was an immersive experience, on the trip with them you feel like they are inventing the Sixties themselves. Lance Armstrong doco 2013 about his doping, it's briefly discussed as he hasn't finished it yet and also there have been new revelations on the case that need to be incorporated. Finding Fela 2014 is the final doco discussed where Gibney is finding out about the pioneering musician Fela Kuti.
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