The Documentary

Created on 4/2/2006, last active awhile ago.

"A place to talk about the much overlooked genre of the Documentary."

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Z Channel

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paul
Posts 251

4/24/2006 11:36 AM
posted awhile ago

Z Channel

I recently watched Xan Cassavetes doc, Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession and I'm really hankering to talk about it with somebody. It's part biography of the tortured soul who made Z Channel a phenomena in the early 80's, and part essay on what this little cable channel stood for.

Assignment: Please watch it ASAP and get back to me. Message me if you want. I'm here.

paul

Under discussion:

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

spoutgirl
Posts 211

4/24/2006 12:15 PM
posted awhile ago

Re: Z Channel

I too would like to watch this. Did you rent it from some place? How can I see it?

tmoney
Posts 183

4/24/2006 2:54 PM
posted awhile ago

Re: Z Channel

strange enough, my roomates who really aren't that into film rented it from blockbuster a while ago. i just asked them, have you ever heard of z channel? both of them responded "no." "oh wait. we saw a movie about that."

quint
Posts 94

4/24/2006 10:01 PM
posted awhile ago

Re: Z Channel

Here's how spout can be like Z Channel... I can say that Z Channel is absolutely essential and stake my reputation on ensuring that everyone see it. Listen to me or ignore me, but damn it there are things to learn here. Kind of like what you just said. I'm surprised to see how influenced I have been by Z Channel without every having witnessed it directly.

paul
Posts 251

4/25/2006 11:36 PM
posted awhile ago

Re: Z Channel

The DVD just arrived today (I ordered it from spout.com) I'm watching the bonus disc. It's fantastic. And there is a miniature issue of the Z Channel magazine in the case.

Who knew a little local cable channel with a half-crazy programmer and a monthly magazine could still have such a strong but invisible innfluence on the world of film? Really, on our entire culture when you think about it.

ktincu
Posts 6

4/26/2006 10:58 AM
posted awhile ago

Re: Z Channel

I watched it last night. What really stood out in my mind about Jerry Harvey was his pure gutteral confidence in his opinions about films. These are great, these suck, period. Doesn't matter if they're all dressed up in indy/art film finery, or riding on the coat-tails of a master, or what kind of budget went into them. Films are films, the experience is what it is, and Jerry Harvey cut to the chase. I wish we could all look at a lot more things in life that way.