Had a really interesting discussion at Bafta last night with Ayo Akinwolere, Faraz Osman and one of my former commissioners at the BBC. The Nas Illmatic doc divided us. I came out utterly fulfilled, but as TV makers some of the group felt underwhelmed by the production values, and the way the story was told. On further reflection I can see what they mean, it could have delved deeper. But I also realise what I loved about it: the mood and the atmosphere, two things that I feel are neglected in favour of linear structures, economy and coherence in the way we tell stories through film these days. Its why most of the great music docs come from the 70s, which was a freer, more experimental time. The doc Remember Marvin is the greatest music doc of all time IMO, because it worries less about story archs and more about capturing a mood of a place and time. And thats what Time is Illmatic did for me. It took me to the visual landscape (Queensbridge) that gave birth to one of the greatest Hip-Hop albums of all time.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:09:22 +0000
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