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Capturing Woodstock
Exactly 50 years ago, 400,000 people traveled to a dairy farm in Bethel, New York for Woodstock. The historic outdoor concert spanned three days and hosted 32 acts including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and Janis Joplin. On its anniversary, the festival's official photographer Henry Diltz remembers his iconic experience in this six-minute short film.
Desolation Center
Before Burning Man, Lollapalooza, and Coachella, there was a series of anarchic punk rock music and art performances in Southern California. The movement pushed boundaries and paved the way for the desert festivals of today. Desolation Center explores the era with appearances from Sonic Youth, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Savage Republic, and more. The documentary will premiere at the Green-Wood Cemetry in Brooklyn on August 15, 2019.
Blink Of An Eye
It's one of the unlikeliest friendships in sports history — Dale Earnhardt and Michael Waltrip. Earnhardt was one of the most respected and talented drivers in NASCAR, and Michael Waltrip hadn't won a race in over 450 starts, but that's who Dale chose to drive for him and his team. Waltrip's first win at the 2001 Daytona 500 would also be one of the darkest days of his life — the day Dale Earnhardt died in a crash during the race.
Shangri-La
Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville heads to Shangri-La — the legendary Malibu recording studio of Rick Rubin — for his upcoming documentary. The four-part series will dive into the creative process of the musical mastermind that's resulted in massive hits for artists from Jay-Z to Adele. Featuring appearances from Tyler the Creator, LL Cool J, The Avett Brothers, and Flea, Shangri-La will premiere on Showtime July 12, 2019.
Jim Henson
He is one of the most prolific, best-loved creators ever; a man who revolutionized television and children's entertainment; and tragically died long before he had exhausted his creativity. Defunctland is releasing a six-part documentary on Jim Henson, focusing on six major projects that helped define a generation of film and TV for millions of kids and adults. Watch the documentary here as the parts become available.
Saul Bass Movie Posters
While Saul Bass is widely known for his title sequences, creating openings for Alfred Hitchcock, Otto Preminger, and Martin Scorsese, the graphic designer also produced some of the film industry's most iconic movie posters. A few of his most famous works include art for Vertigo, The Man with the Golden Arm, and Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. In this short profile, Andrew Saladino explores the minimalist masterpieces of Saul Bass.
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Smart Rope Jump Rope
Jumping rope is one of the best ways to burn calories, and now you can train and track at the same time with this smart rope. The rope combines form and function with comfortable 45 degree angled handles to help make this age-old workout more interesting. Other ropes on the market provide tracking, but none have a strand of bright white LEDs that are visible while you're jumping. View jump counts, calories burned, or the duration of your workout as the rope swings in front of you. All the data is then transmitted via Bluetooth to a smartphone app — meaning all you have to supply is some sweat and an epic workout soundtrack.
Sizing:
Medium 101 inches / 258 cm
Large : 107 inches / 274 cmBattery:
Full charge in 2 hours / 36 hours of use / Lithium Polymer Battery
Connectivity:
Bluetooth 4.0 LE two-way communication with smartphone
Ministry of Supply Kinetic Pants
Made from resilient Japanese warp-knit fabric, Kinetic pants combine classic looks with the feel of something you'd wear to a workout. Each pair provides unrivaled mobility and stretch thanks to Primeflex polyester that has the feel and structure of a woven but bends and stretches like a knit. The pants are also water-repellent, moisture-wicking, and wrinkle-free, and are perfect for travel and daily wear, where they respond to your movement and always bounce back.
Presented by Ministry of Supply.
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The Vodka Herd
Ryan Hartshorn and his family are completely flipping the script on Vodka making. Rather than using starches from potatoes or fruit, they're producing the clear liquor from sheep's whey. The Hartshorns own a sheep cheesery in Tasmania and began utilizing the leftover whey as a base for vodka. Their boutique spirit has not only decreased their waste but also created a product that has earned top honors at the World Vodka Awards.
Crafting Instinct Skis
Last year, Al Eagleton founded Instinct Skis. The former shop teacher turned his passion for woodworking and skiing into a business. As the mini-documentary shows, each pair of skis are made from trees harvested from his forest property and handcrafted in his workshop at the base of British Columbia's Red Mountain.
Honeyland
Hatidze is the last female bee-hunter in Europe. Living alone in a deserted village, Hatidze makes her way up a cliff in Macedonia to collect honeycomb from a colony of bees, without gloves or smoke or the trappings of modern beekeeping. But when a migrant family moves in with seven children and 150 cows, things change — and Hatidze has to adapt and educate her new neighbors.
D-Day Narrated By Brian Cranston
On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces landed on the beach in Normandy, France, marking the beginning of the ground assault on Nazi-occupied France and the subsequent push into Europe. One of the bloodiest operations in the history of warfare, D-Day marked the beginning of the end of the European theater of World War II. Brian Cranston commemorates the 75th anniversary of the battle by reading a letter home from Pfc. Dominick "Dom" Bart, one of the soldiers who were there.
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Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story
By 1975, Bob Dylan was no longer the up-and-coming folk singer — he was an American icon and A-list recording artist. To capture the early days of his career and give his fans a more intimate experience, Dylan launched the Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Playing small venues, it was a disaster — and thoroughly documented in sound, film, and print. Martin Scorsese uses interviews and archival footage to tell the story of that infamous tour from the perspective of the people that were there.
Still Ill: 25 Years of Ill Communication
On May 31, 1994, the Beastie Boys released Ill Communication. The band and Amazon Music celebrate the 25th anniversary of the iconic album with a 15-minute documentary. Featuring interviews with surviving members Mike D and Ad-Rock along with archival footage, the short film takes a look back at the creation of the album and its legendary single "Sabotage," as well as earlier releases like Check Your Head and Paul's Boutique.
Above Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the U.S. but also the most sparsely populated. Its vast terrain and lack of roadways mean the primary method of transportation across its rugged landscapes is by plane. In this short documentary, filmmakers Brother and Filson take a ride with the bush pilots navigating the Last Frontier.
Ice On Fire
With climate change becoming a global rallying cry, much of the focus has been on the deleterious effects and not potential solutions. Instead of doom and gloom, Ice on Fire looks at technologies and systems that can have an immediate impact to save the place we call home. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Ice on Fire premieres June 11, 2019 on HBO.
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Veark CK01 Chef's Knife
Created in Solingen, Germany, using a single piece of stainless steel, this chef's knife is ready to be the most important tool in your kitchen. Taking visual cues from the world of traditional metal tools, Veark makes each knife using a drop forging process that leaves the CK01 with a unique pattern on the handle, so no two are alike — while the ergonomic open handle design allows you to hold the knife right at the balance point for an ideal grip. It also has an impressive 58 Rockwell hardness — allowing it to be sharper than most of its competitors, so it's equipped to handle just about any kitchen task you throw its way.
Blade Length: 7.9" / Overall Length: 12.6" / Weight: 7 oz.
Couple Diamonds
Couple has reimagined every part of buying an engagement ring, from sourcing the diamonds to trying them on. They're the first luxury brand exclusively selling lab-grown diamonds- which are ethically sourced and atomically identical to mined diamonds. Couple diamonds are colorless and flawless to the naked eye while being 35% bigger for the price.They also offer an online Diamond Concierge service, where you can consult with an expert one-on-one or customize your own ring design. Once completed, all of their diamonds are hand-set in Couple's NYC studio.
Presented by Couple.
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Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation
Right in time for its 50th anniversary, PBS is going back to Woodstock. The documentary relives the iconic music festival through the eyes of the 400,000 people that attended, rather than the musicians on stage. Directed Barak Goodman, the film will be released May 24, 2019.
Hawaiian Lifeguard Association
The Hawaiian Lifeguard Association is responsible for keeping the coasts of the islands safe. As described by Bradley Young and Brian Phillips in this documentary, the job requires rigorous training on and off the clock to meet the daily demands that come along with patrolling the beach. While navigating the rocky cliffs and the towering swells along the shoreline, the 450 guards trust OluKai footwear to keep them performing at their best on any terrain.
Game of Thrones: The Last Watch
Next week, HBO will air the final episode of Game of Thrones. Season eight has seen feature film-length episodes, larger-than-life battles, and a massive amount of dragon fire. To honor its biggest season yet, director Jeanie Finlay highlights all of the people both behind and in front of the camera with a two-hour documentary special. The Last Watch will be released May 26, 2019.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona is a soccer legend. Regarded by many as the best to ever play, the Argentine-born footballer has the "Goal of the Century" and became the first player ever to break the world transfer fee twice. From the director of Amy and Senna, this documentary is compiled from 500-hours of unseen footage taken from Maradona's personal archive to profile the sports icon like never before. The film will go to theaters on June 14, 2019.
The DIY Astronaut
Like a lot of kids, Cameron Smith wanted to be an astronaut. Smith is an archeology professor at the Portland State University, but his dream never died. Determined to make it, he decided on an unconventional route — doing it himself.
Beams Plus 20th Anniversary
Beams Plus has been putting a contemporary spin on America's post-war fashion since 1999. The Japanese-based label reimagines the traditional workwear, sportswear, military garb, and ivy league classics of the Golden Era into updated garments for this generation. To celebrate two decades of timeless men's fashion, they've released this short film documenting their 20-year history.
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Grass Is Greener
For his directorial debut, hip hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy explores the history of marijuana. The documentary follows America's complicated relationship with cannabis, the racially-biased that fueled the war on drugs, and the influence it has had on the music industry. Featuring interviews with artists like Snoop Dogg, Killer Mike, Damian Marley, Chuck D, and DMC, Grass is Greener conveniently debuts this 4/20 on Netflix.
Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti was an opera legend. The tenor brought main-stream attention to the art form through his iconic performances and unparalleled love for music. In the documentary, Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard pays tribute to life and career of The King Of High C's.
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Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé
Beyoncé becomes the latest artist to be the subject of a Netflix documentary with the release of Homecoming. The film will give a rare behind-the-scenes look at the singer's life while preparing for her epic 2018 Coachella performance. It's scheduled to begin streaming on April 17, 2019.
The Truth About Wasabi
If you think you've ever tried wasabi, think again. Most sushi restaurants serve a concoction of horseradish and Chinese mustard tinted with green food coloring. Even the most authentic sushi restaurants serve the fraudulent condiment. The reason is the real stuff is one of the most expensive crops in the world. In this short document, eighth generation farmer Shigeo Iida shares the tradition of growing Wasabia Japonica.
Our Planet
David Attenborough isn't even close to being done telling you about the wonders of the place we call home — and there's even more to be discovered. Our Planet is shot completely in UltraHD 4k resolution, using the latest in digital film equipment to bring the amazing breadth of life on this planet into your living room. The documentary series premieres April 5, 2019 on Netflix.
Loving Vincent: The Impossible Dream
In today's world of digital everything, from photography to animation to drawing and painting, who in their right mind would do something that's never been done before — hand-painting every frame of a feature-length film? Directors Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, along with 125 painters, spent nearly 10 years making Loving Vincent, an ode to Vincent Van Gogh. Loving Vincent: The Impossible Dream shows what it was like doing something that was nearly impossible over the better part of a decade.
Recapturing the Magic of the Moon Landing
On the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, director Todd Douglas Miller set out to give the best retelling of the story this far, using archival footage and collaborating with the astronauts, engineers, and scientists who were there. In this interview with the New York Times, Miller describes his thought process in designing the shots to include as much information as possible, using split-screen techniques to capture the historic event from both space and the Earth.
What's My Name
The Greatest of All Time. From Louisville, Kentucky, to the pinnacle of sports, Muhammad Ali was one of the most inspiring and polarizing figures in American history. From his success in the boxing ring to his stance on politics and racial injustice, Ali left no question as to where he stood and had no regrets about his place in public life. HBO's two-part documentary on the Champ, What's My Name, is coming May 14, 2019.
