True Films 3.0 - Kevin Kelly

The way Netflix works is this: the list of films I want to see is kept on
my computer; the films come as DVD discs in the mail; I always hold
3 at home. As I watch them I send them back in the same envelope
(no postage and no late fees) whenever I am done, and they automatically
send me the next one in my queue. The service is amazingly
fast, incredibly intelligent, inexpensive, and the best way to try out
documentaries in a low risk way (it costs you nothing to return a disc
unviewed). Give them a try (each film I review that they carry is linked
to their database from my True Films site). If there is a true film you
want to see that they don’t have, ask them to order it.
Netflix are such great fans of true film fans that they have been releasing
notable documentaries onto DVD themselves, on their own
“label.” These are films that were released in theaters but for various
reasons never transferred to DVD. As of this printing, Netflix has
released 170 such true films. Indeed, if you are the creator of a film
documentary looking for a way to transfer it to DVD, you should contact
them directly.
Still, some true films are hard to find. If you can’t find a listed great
true film for sale on Amazon, or even the used-item section of Amazon,
you should check eBay, which carries a surprising number of
used videos and DVDs. Don’t forget your local public library either. It
is not uncommon for libraries in one region to pool their videos into a
decent video library, yours for the asking. Also, even the saddest video
rental store should carry at least a dozen of these titles. Shopping information
changes rapidly so I’m trying to keep the ordering information
for each film current on my website, at www.truefilms.com. Check
there if you are having trouble finding something.
Tip on watching films:
Almost every film listed here is a film made with the big screen in
mind. Even independent and underground filmmakers intend (and
hope) their work will be projected in a large theater. You’ll get more
out of the film if you can watch it on a sizeable screen. Seven years ago
when we decided to migrate from our tiny 12” screen to something
more appropriate for films, I choose to use a cheap computer projector
shining on a wall screen. In a few years from now extremely large
flat screens should be quite affordable and even better.
I bought the cheapest, smallest, computer projector I could find,