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John Lavall’s Shortlist

Published on February 20, 2010

The Shortlist article series is your opportunity to learn about the films that inspire intellectual, artistic and activist leaders—leaders like John Lavall. We asked John to share his favorite films and his thoughts on the power of documentary to change the world.

So what films make John Lavall’s Shortlist? Keep reading to find out.

Who is John Lavall

John Lavall

John Lavall is an Emmy Award-winning producer and director from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His work has been broadcast nationally, his films shown in festivals throughout the country. His company, Devlo Media, produces commercials, public service announcements, and documentary films.

Recently Lavall produced and directed Home Across Lands, a documentary that explores how a small group of resettled Kunama refugees find support and reestablish their sense of community in a small New England state and now is in post-production with the documentary Leh Wi Tok (Let Us Talk) a film about the power of independent community radio in West Africa as a voice of the voiceless.

John Lavall on the Power of Film

I think that a well done documentary informs, enlightens, and spurs thought and conversation. My responsibility as a documentary filmmaker is to listen to both sides of a story, try to walk in someone else’s shoes and see the world through the lenses covering their eyes. We all have the same eyes—it’s sometimes the lenses that we wear that effects how we interpret that experience. So to me, the power of a documentary film has to always heed to the same warning Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben gave him, “...with great power comes great responsibility.” As much as we try to remain objective, the editorial choices we make have great impact and sometimes great consequence. The power of documentary to change the world starts with taking the time to listen to the world.

John Lavall’s Picks

Fog of War: The Errol Morris interview style, the use of archival material, the editing pace and the Philip Glass score. I love all of Errol Morris’s work this happens to be the last one I just watched.

WAR/DANCE: Written and directed by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine. Beautiful cinematography, great story, amazing compassionate and thoughtful director who, despite being unfairly accused of making it “too beautiful,” was paying great respect and honor to his subjects by doing what he does best.

Spellbound: This documentary turns a national spelling bee championship in Washington D.C. into the Rocky of documentary films. The editing style and pace are fantastic.

Grizzly Man: Werner Herzog resurrects the obscure and solitary life of Timothy Treadwell through the hundreds of hours of footage that Treadwell left behind of his study of the grizzly bears. Amazing and unique story telling.

Little Dieter Needs to Fly: My friend Bill Shuey suggested I watch this Werner Herzog film about Vietnam POW Dieter Dengler. The documentary tells Dengler’s story with stock footage and re-enactments, with Dengler portraying himself in the jungles of Laos, as he relives his harrowing story of survival and rescue.

Startup.com: This documentary is the story of the .com bubble caught right before it bursts!

Street Fight: They say “all politics are local,” well, this film shows just how ugly that it can get. Marshall Curry’s film follows the young political activist and mayoral candidate Cory Booker in a hard-fought primary against the seasoned and corrupt Mayor Sharpe James. Amazing!

This article is available for noncommercial use under a Creative Commons license. It was originally published on MediaRights.org, a project of Arts Engine, Inc. This notice must accompany the article at all times.

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