The full-length documentary film is that elusive Hollywood art
form which from time to time rises to the mainstream with releases
such as “Bowling for Columbine” and “The Kid
Stays in the Pictures.”
This weekend, through the School of Theatre, Film, Television
and Digital Media, UCLA students have the opportunity to gain
first-hand knowledge of what goes into making a documentary from
Academy Award winning documentarian Freida Lee Mock, and it’s
free.
“The Strong Clear Vision of Freida Lee Mock” is the
workshop that will take place Saturday, after screenings of
Mock’s two Academy-nominated films.
“Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision,” which took home
the statue in 1995 for Best Feature Documentary, tells the story
behind the artist/architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the impact the memorial has had
on America.
As a documentary of one of the most visited memorials in the
world, Mock’s film may guide artists and architects hoping to
construct a future Sept. 11, 2001 memorial in New York.
“Sing,” Mock’s most recently nominated
documentary short, is about a L.A. community-based children’s
chorus overcoming hardships.
“Both are life-affirming stories, and “Sing”
is actually quite funny,” Mock said.
Mock will focus her workshop this Saturday on the processes that
go into making a feature documentary film. After studying history
and law at Berkeley, Mock has spent the last 23 years making
documentaries, and her filmography is, as she puts it, “all
over the map.” Mock has movies ranging from portraits of
artists to political, and social issues to the art of screen
writing.
“I got lucky right out of school,” Mock said about
beginning her career working on “National Geographic”
and the “Jacques Cousteau” series.
“I am interested in a huge variety of things,” Mock
said. “I am drawn to stories with political and social
relevance, but told through a narrative.”
This is seen through her choice of projects which often focuses
on an individual, or one unified group, representing a storm of
broad issues and themes.
According to Marina Goldovskaya, UCLA professor and coordinator
of the documentary salons, Mock’s films, characters and
stories influence people’s attitudes, lives and visions of
reality.
This weekend’s workshop promises to explore Mock’s
years of experience as a documentarian.
“The workshop is designed to look at the process of how to
make a theatrical documentary film,” Mock said. “And I
am delighted to be a part of it.”
Goldovskaya, who organizes these salons several times a quarter,
displayed particular excitement for this upcoming event.
“Mock is one of the rare filmmakers and artists who is
extremely sensitive and sensible for the time we are living in, and
who has an amazing feel for topics, stories and characters that
make a difference.”
The screenings will take place Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in the
James Bridges Theater in Melnitz Hall. The workshops will follow on
Saturday Nov. 2 from 2-5 p.m. in 2534 Melnitz Hall. Admission is
free and open to the public.