Like countless others with a DV camera and a computer, I like to think of myself as an “Independent Filmmaker.” Despite what many think, the film biz is not always an adrenaline rush. It’s very much a business, with forms to fill out, boxes to check, and copyright lawyers to pay.

With?Ǭ†a great idea, no money, and no clue how to navigate through the complicated business of?Ǭ†documentary filmmaking, I decided to call the Documentary Channel in Nashville TN to see if they wanted?Ǭ†another intern. Much to my bewilderment, they gave me a resounding, “yes!!”

So far it’s been great. I’ve been writing reviews for the countless films that come in to the station (30-50 per week) for use in their Monster Database, the central nervous system that?Ǭ†helps them organize, license, and catalogue films. For?Ǭ†just the short time I’ve been here (all of three days), I can honestly say?Ǭ†I’ve gleened more tidbits of helpful info on?Ǭ†the business?Ǭ†of film than just about anywhere else.?Ǭ†Thanks Documentary Channel.

Ok. So the title of this blog might be a Top Gun reference but it’s cool, it’s an apt one. Apt because beginning next week Americana month will be drawing to a close and we’ll be kicking off Maverick’s month. All through August we’ll be featuring docs about radical thinkers from Legendary filmmakers like Sam Peckinpah to mind expanding musicians like Bruce Haack. So join in on the rebellion this August only on DOC.

Hello gentle readers. I just had the opportunity to screen filmmaker Gandulf Hennig’s film about the life and death of the father of country-rock Gram Parsons ,”Fallen Angel.” It’s a perfect example of a story too strange to be done justice by a narrative feature. The truths of Parson’s all too brief life are beautifully spelled out by family, friends and fans. I’m a big fan of Gram’s music but i can fully imagine that the film would be just as fascinating to someone who knew nothing of Gram’s turbulent life and tragic death. Hennig hits the nail on the head and is the first filmmaker to blaze the dusty trails of Gram’s life. The film is available on DVD as of a few weeks ago and couldn’t be more worth the effort to check out.

Hello Folks,

Chris here, writing from deep within the well air conditioned bowels of Nashville’s DOC Headquarters. Just wanted to take a moment to again say Happy Birthday to Mr. Nicholas Webster the legendary filmmaker who is the focus of this weeks From the Vault column and will be turning 94 on Monday July 24th. We encourage those who might be new to Nicholas’ work to seek out not only his many films but also his wonderful book “How to Sleep on a Camel.” We hope you will and we hope that the 94th year is the best one yet for Mr. Webster.

A much-deserved round of congratulations is in order to our very own independent theater here in Nashville.?Ǭ† Anyone who is a fan of independent cinema in our fair city knows of course that we are referring to the one and only Belcourt Theater.?Ǭ† The Belcourt was chosen as one of only fourteen theaters around the country to be honored by the Sundance Institute Art House Project for their excellent programming and efforts to promote independent film.?Ǭ† Every other week through the end of November, Programming Director Toby Leonard can get his hands on any of the films-past or present-within the Sundance Film Festival catalogue.?Ǭ† Of course, what we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re most interested in are the documentaries they?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve chosen to show, of which there are quite a few (The Devil and Daniel Johnston, Crumb, the new Leonard Cohen documentary I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m Your Man, and more to come throughout the series).?Ǭ† So here?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s to you Managing Director Steve Small and the rest of the Belcourt staff, for bringing a wide and always entertaining variety of independent cinema to Nashville.?Ǭ† We raise our coffees and Red Bulls in your honor (it is, after all, only the middle of the work day and we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re still at the office). Oh, and did we mention that our fearless leader and CEO Tom Neff was one of the founding members of the Belcourt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Board of Directors? Just thought I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d throw that out there.?Ǭ†