Documentaries and Schlock: 2005 in Review
Sunday, 18. December 2005, 20:11:47
“Documentaries and schlock,” said a friend, “the Pioneer is becoming a home for documentaries and schlock.”
I was offended. We show a lot of important movies! What an arrogant, condescending comment! How dare he! After all, we showed a movie he himself had made! Although, of course, that movie was a documentary, and, the night he made this comment, we were showing two different documentaries. And, come to think of it, the horror, exploitation, and other genre movie screenings have been multiplying like radioactive bunnies.
So, okay, I thought, the Pioneer shows lots of documentaries and schlock. But those documentaries and schlock include some really good movies, don't they? Some might even be (gasp) important! And we do other good stuff, too, don’t we?
About a year has passed since the little exchange above. With this current year ending, let’s look back at the films that we’ve screened, and reflect on some of the better and worse moments of the year. Certainly many of the films discussed in the following articles are documentaries and / or schlock (though few are both), but you will also find some non-schlock fiction, some “experimental” movies, and other assorted sundry in there.
The Pioneer has grown enormously over the last year, bringing in both our largest crowds so far, and the greatest critical acclaim in our young five-year history. These articles take a moment to reflect on some of the movies and events that enabled that growth, from a diversity of perspectives. Writers include Pioneer members as well as staff. Pioneer member Alex Daoundakis focuses on the horror movies. Jeffrey the Projectionist overviews some favorite films as seen from the back booth. After that, I overview our Programming Partners’ Programs, take a personal look at some favorite Pioneer movies this year, and also mention some favorite films seen elsewhere.
Horror Movies, by Alex Daoundakis
The 2005 Pioneer Pio-Year-in-Review, by Jeffrey the Projectionist
Repertory Cinema, by Joe the General Manager
Programming Partners
Programmer’s Perspective
Elsewhere. . .
I was offended. We show a lot of important movies! What an arrogant, condescending comment! How dare he! After all, we showed a movie he himself had made! Although, of course, that movie was a documentary, and, the night he made this comment, we were showing two different documentaries. And, come to think of it, the horror, exploitation, and other genre movie screenings have been multiplying like radioactive bunnies.
So, okay, I thought, the Pioneer shows lots of documentaries and schlock. But those documentaries and schlock include some really good movies, don't they? Some might even be (gasp) important! And we do other good stuff, too, don’t we?
About a year has passed since the little exchange above. With this current year ending, let’s look back at the films that we’ve screened, and reflect on some of the better and worse moments of the year. Certainly many of the films discussed in the following articles are documentaries and / or schlock (though few are both), but you will also find some non-schlock fiction, some “experimental” movies, and other assorted sundry in there.
The Pioneer has grown enormously over the last year, bringing in both our largest crowds so far, and the greatest critical acclaim in our young five-year history. These articles take a moment to reflect on some of the movies and events that enabled that growth, from a diversity of perspectives. Writers include Pioneer members as well as staff. Pioneer member Alex Daoundakis focuses on the horror movies. Jeffrey the Projectionist overviews some favorite films as seen from the back booth. After that, I overview our Programming Partners’ Programs, take a personal look at some favorite Pioneer movies this year, and also mention some favorite films seen elsewhere.
Horror Movies, by Alex Daoundakis
The 2005 Pioneer Pio-Year-in-Review, by Jeffrey the Projectionist
Repertory Cinema, by Joe the General Manager
Programming Partners
Programmer’s Perspective
Elsewhere. . .
WIDGETIZE