The Five Best Documentaries About Filmmaking

With the advent of the DVD home video format, more and more releases of popular films came packaged with documentaries detailing their production. Some of these documentaries were “fluff” pieces of little to no artistic merit. Everyone has seen one at some point – a five minute piece where the director and lead star only talk about how much fun they had and how good they think the movie is. Other documentaries are made by people with a real love of the craft and of the people and films that they are covering. Certain documentaries are better than the movies they actually cover. If you’re an aspiring filmmaker or just have an interest in how hard people work to bring entertainment into your home, there are a few documentaries that you’re not going to want to miss.

Dangerous Days: Making 'Blade Runner'

Produced expertly by Charles de Lauzirika, “Dangerous Days” chronicles the making of Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction epic. The documentary clocks in at over three hours, which is longer than the actual film itself. Every aspect of production is covered in amazing detail, from the original conception to pre-production all the way through the film’s initial lukewarm release and eventual rise to cult status. Nearly every key member of the crew is interviewed at some point, and many are very candid in their responses. This documentary is available on all versions of “Blade Runner” released on DVD or Blu-ray from 2007 onward.

BUY: Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]

Requiem for Krypton: Making 'Superman Returns'

If you want to know what it’s like to make one of the most expensive genre movies of all time, “Requiem for Krypton” is the documentary for you. Produced by Robert Meyer Burnett, this documentary actually begins before director Bryan Singer ever signed on to direct the movie in the first place. The casting process and all the way through the end of production are covered in great detail. What makes “Requiem for Krypton” special is that much of it is told from the point of view of Brandon Routh, the unknown actor plucked from obscurity to become the next Man of Steel for a new generation. This documentary is available on the two-disc “Superman Returns” DVD, the one-disc Blu-ray release and in the “Anthology” collection DVD and Blu-ray sets with the other three Superman theatrical films.

BUY: Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology, 1978-2006 [Blu-ray]

Wreckage and Rage: The Making of 'Alien 3'

“Wreckage and Rage” chronicles the troubled production of the third film in the “Alien” franchise. The movie seemed doomed from the start, as promotional material was being made even before a script was finished. First time director David Fincher (who would later go on to direct “Se7en” and the American “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” remake) must navigate troubled waters and deal with studio interference, a lack of support and more. If you want to find out what can go wrong for first time directors, this documentary is for you. It is available on the “Alien Quadrilogy” and “Alien Anthology” home video releases, as well as in the two disc “Alien 3” DVD release.

BUY: Alien Anthology [Blu-ray]

Full Tilt Boogie

“Full Tilt Boogie” chronicles the making of “From Dusk Till Dawn,” a movie written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriguez. What makes this documentary special is that the “story” of the film’s production is told almost exclusively from the point of view of the crew. People who you would never get to see normally, like the first assistant director or assistants, are put front and center. This documentary is available on the two disc DVD release of “From Dusk Till Dawn,” as well as its own standalone DVD release.

BUY: Full-Tilt Boogie

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse

“Hearts of Darkness” chronicles the immensely troubled production of Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now,” the film that almost cost him his career in the late 70s. Filmed by Coppola’s wife, this intimate portrait shows what happens when a man confronts the worst possible scenario at every corner. Coppola had to contend with one alcoholic star, a crew that was ready to mutiny at any moment and even a nearby war. This is available on the three disc Blu-ray release of “Apocalypse Now” and as its own standalone DVD.

BUY: Apocalypse Now (Apocalypse Now / Apocalypse Now Redux / Hearts of Darkness) (Three-Disc Full Disclosure Edition)  [Blu-ray]