Nothing So Strange

Written by Maura McHugh
Published July 18, 2004
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All the websites linked above create a network of information about these fictional events. This adds depth and reality to the constructed parallel world Flemming creates in which Bill Gates was killed. There is extra footage on the DVD, and more available if you want to use the BitPass system to download the footage for a couple of bucks.

The director's commentary is hilarious. In total deadpan, Brian Flemming describes the making of the film (including some amusing notes about what he hates about directors' commentaries), and then patches Debra Meagher in "live" to describe what's happened with Citizens for Truth in the intervening years. After she finishes, Flemming does the same with David James. James gives his opinion of the film, and how he feels he was portrayed in the documentary. Much is made of the director's ability to pare down the information (80/90 hours of footage) and edit it to give the spin he wants.

What adds yet another dimension to this already multi-faceted film is that Flemming has made the footage of the film open source. While the current edit of the film is copyrighted, anyone can obtain the original footage and re-cut the film to their liking. Flemming has set up a Creative Commons license to facilitate this. It's hilarious to listen to Flemming, on the commentary, encouraging the irate James to edit his own version of the events.

This is independent filmmaking at its best: intelligent, funny, and challenging. The viewer is warned of the dangers of trusting authorities without question, while being alerted that the medium by which we get our information is inherently biased. It's an excellent message delivered with panache and sophistication.

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Nothing So Strange
Published: July 18, 2004
Type:
Section: Video
Filed Under: Video: Comedy, Video: Crime, Video: Documentary, Video: Drama
Writer: Maura McHugh
Maura McHugh's BC Writer page
Maura McHugh's personal site
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#1 — July 18, 2004 @ 14:33PM — Aaron, Duke De Mondo [URL]

Maura, i apologise but i only read the start of your review (im writing my own at the minute and don't want to unintentionally mimic anything you wrote), but certainly fleming is highly adept at forging the conventions of the documentary.
I look forward to reading the rest of your post i get mine finished.
Aaron
Duke De Mondo

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