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Tamara Perkins’ Shortlist

Published on July 26, 2010

The Shortlist article series is your opportunity to learn about the films that inspire intellectual, artistic and activist leaders—leaders like Tamara Perkins. We asked Tamara to share her favorite films and his thoughts on the power of documentary to change the world. So what films make Tamara Perkins’ Shortlist? Keep reading to find out.

Who is Tamara Perkins?

Filmmaker Tamara Perkins

Tamara Perkins is a Berkeley-based independent filmmaker focused on documentaries that inspire dialogue, empower and provide voice for vulnerable communities, and inform policy makers. She founded Apple of Discord Productions in 2006, producing such films as Niroga, which profiles a program reaching incarcerated youth through Yoga, and Totemist, a narrative exploring unresolved trauma. Perkins founded the Wisdom Project and San Quentin Media Project, which continue to train at-risk youth and incarcerated men in filmmaking. Her current documentary, The Trust, began when incarcerated men leading a self-help and community building program in San Quentin asked Tamara to help tell their story. Though still in production, she and her co-producers Jesse Dana and Diana J Brodie received the National Council on Crime and Delinquency’s 2009 PASS Award in recognition of their responsibility in journalism and compelling documentary filmmaking skills. The Trust is slated for release in Fall 2011.

Tamara Perkins on the Power of Film
Film and media preference is such a personal and intimate matter, and one that reflects our background and experience. I am intensely curious about all of the things that affect and define our humanity. Of course, the geek in me loves underground, underdog stories like King of Kong, Scrabylon and the more sophisticated Word Wars. No matter what the subject matter, I am always pulled in by stories that connect me to people, whether it’s an objective narrator talking about historical or scientific revelations, or individuals sharing their vulnerability with someone like me. I am drawn to documentaries that make me laugh, cry or offer a glimpse into a world I would otherwise never have known. At it’s best, film can open our minds and hearts to people and situations in a way that can ultimately transform our entire worldview.

Tamara Perkins’ Picks

War/Dance

Set in a refugee camp in Northern Uganda, Sean and Andrea Fine’s 2007 film masters the three golden rules of storytelling: it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and it makes you feel devoted to the subjects. We meet three children and their teachers as they prepare for a trip to the nation’s capital to perform in a music and dance competition. You can share their triumph as Dominic, Rose and Nancy tell their stories and practice for the competition. The beautiful landscapes and uplifting music—set against the wrenching stories of the children’s pasts—made my experience of this film even more haunting and joyful.

Dark Days

Providing inspiration for the intimate and honest style I aspire to in my current documentary, Dark Days gives an insider’s perspective on life in the Freedom Tunnel, one of the many hidden inhabited tunnels that exist underneath New York City. Filmmaker Marc Singer embedded himself in one of these “cities,” befriending his neighbors and gaining permission to film after living with them for many months. Crewed by the subjects, using only minimal lighting and shot on16mm, this film is the epitome of Indie docmaking at it’s best.

Iraq in Fragments

James Longley’s Iraq in Fragments reveals the power of expert cinematography and storytelling. Shot on a DVX-100, this stunningly beautiful film weaves passionate portraits from three very different perspectives. Another influence on my own storytelling, it is a provocative and eerily timeless film.

Scrabylon

Wacky, fun and eccentric, Scott Peterson’s film takes us into a world of obsession. His focus is Scrabble, but you can see how easily any addiction or obsession could take its’ place. Although the film is not an artistic marvel, the odd yet compelling characters keep you entranced as they come from around the globe to compete in the World Scrabble Championships in Las Vegas.

D tour

Jim Granato’s first feature documentary is a gem. His gritty film employs several mediums to draw the audience in including a small prosumer diary cam used by the main subject. Pat Spurgeon is a rock musician with a failing kidney. His dream of embarking with his band Rogue Wave on a major tour comes true… just as he learns that he needs a new kidney. This is a beautiful story of a man chasing his dreams regardless of the odds. The gritty, intimate style of Granato’s film challenged the linear perfectionist in me, and opened my mind to using whatever means necessary to tell the story.

Brick City

Mayor Cory Booker, police director Garry McCarthy and Central High School principal Ras Baraka join the citizens of Newark to fight an uphill battle against crime, poverty and corruption in the New Jersey metropolis. This Sundance Channel documentary miniseries gives viewers a glimpse into the lives of people like Jayda, a youth mentor and former gang member. The raw honesty shared by the Booker, Jayda and McCarthy drive the stakes of their struggles right through the audience’s heart. Shot with a simple yet edgy verité style, it’s easy to spend a Saturday immersed in Cory Booker’s world.

Girls Rock! The Movie

Who wouldn’t love a movie about a rock’n’roll camp for girls? You know you’re in for a treat when an 8-year-old who’s barely tall enough to reach the mic screams “who’s ready to rock’n’roll?!” The girls have a week to select a band, an instrument they may have never played before, and write a song. Of course, the real story is in what happens when these girls get a chance to be themselves, to like themselves, and to taste the freedom of empowerment.

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hi,
i am prodip from bangladesh. i want to make documentary film ,i like documentary film form. but how can i pros id on . plz tell me. let me keep in touch. bye.

prodip aich
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Posted on 2010 08 13 by prodip aich