Post by legionnaire on Jan 24, 2008 17:30:18 GMT -5
News
Thursday January 24, 2008
Last update: 02:53 AM PST
daily.stanford.edu/article/2008/1/24/profsDocumentaryGarnersIntlAcclaim
Prof’s documentary garners int’l acclaim
January 24, 2008
By Anneke Nelson
There is Oscar fever in our midst, but one man on campus is right at the heart of the drama. Graduate School of Business Lecturer Bill Guttentag — a former Knight Fellow who now teaches a class on leadership in the entertainment industry — has made a film that was short-listed for an Oscar.
Guttentag’s documentary, “Nanking,” has been a top-grossing film internationally, second only to Michael Moore’s “Sicko.” The film was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. In addition, it is one of only 20 films selected to play in China — uncensored. The fact that the country in which these horrors occurred has left the film uncensored surprised many, including Guttentag himself.
After reading Iris Chang’s “The Rape of Nanking,” Guttentag noticed the words “Forgotten Holocaust” on the book’s back cover. He was vexed.
“I believe the words ‘forgotten [and] Holocaust’ should not be in the same sentence,” Guttentag said. “It was a story that should be told. Not enough people know.”
For six weeks during WWII, the citizens of Nanking, China, were under the reign of the invading Japanese army. Soldiers murdered and raped the populace to a “staggering” degree, according to Guttentag.
But a small group of western missionaries living in Nanking at the time provided a safety zone for the Chinese refugees. Together, these individuals saved approximately 250,000 lives. Their stories are retold in Guttentag’s documentary through a stage reading, infused with actual video footage and photographs taken during the invasion.
In a real story, Guttentag said, there is no distance between the characters and the viewer. The audience is pulled in because the show is not an act.
“When you see these stories, you see that they’re real people,” he said.
Guttentag has produced and directed other documentaries such as “Twin Towers” and “You Don’t Have to Die,” the story of a boy’s struggle with cancer.
“I think you always look for compelling, strong stories to tell,” he says. “You always look for stories that inspire people, that move people. Maybe you can’t change people’s minds, but you can at least start a dialogue and make people think; challenge their thoughts and views.”
Guttentag is already working on his next project: retelling the story of the American Civil Rights Movement through a musical documentary. Though “Nanking” did not make the final Oscar cut, Guttentag has previously won two Oscars for his other films and been nominated for three.
“It’s nice to get recognition for your work,” he said. “But ultimately, at the end of the day, you just make the best film you can.”
“Nanking” is currently playing in 21 cities including San Jose.
For more information, visit www.nankingthefilm.com
Thursday January 24, 2008
Last update: 02:53 AM PST
daily.stanford.edu/article/2008/1/24/profsDocumentaryGarnersIntlAcclaim
Prof’s documentary garners int’l acclaim
January 24, 2008
By Anneke Nelson
There is Oscar fever in our midst, but one man on campus is right at the heart of the drama. Graduate School of Business Lecturer Bill Guttentag — a former Knight Fellow who now teaches a class on leadership in the entertainment industry — has made a film that was short-listed for an Oscar.
Guttentag’s documentary, “Nanking,” has been a top-grossing film internationally, second only to Michael Moore’s “Sicko.” The film was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. In addition, it is one of only 20 films selected to play in China — uncensored. The fact that the country in which these horrors occurred has left the film uncensored surprised many, including Guttentag himself.
After reading Iris Chang’s “The Rape of Nanking,” Guttentag noticed the words “Forgotten Holocaust” on the book’s back cover. He was vexed.
“I believe the words ‘forgotten [and] Holocaust’ should not be in the same sentence,” Guttentag said. “It was a story that should be told. Not enough people know.”
For six weeks during WWII, the citizens of Nanking, China, were under the reign of the invading Japanese army. Soldiers murdered and raped the populace to a “staggering” degree, according to Guttentag.
But a small group of western missionaries living in Nanking at the time provided a safety zone for the Chinese refugees. Together, these individuals saved approximately 250,000 lives. Their stories are retold in Guttentag’s documentary through a stage reading, infused with actual video footage and photographs taken during the invasion.
In a real story, Guttentag said, there is no distance between the characters and the viewer. The audience is pulled in because the show is not an act.
“When you see these stories, you see that they’re real people,” he said.
Guttentag has produced and directed other documentaries such as “Twin Towers” and “You Don’t Have to Die,” the story of a boy’s struggle with cancer.
“I think you always look for compelling, strong stories to tell,” he says. “You always look for stories that inspire people, that move people. Maybe you can’t change people’s minds, but you can at least start a dialogue and make people think; challenge their thoughts and views.”
Guttentag is already working on his next project: retelling the story of the American Civil Rights Movement through a musical documentary. Though “Nanking” did not make the final Oscar cut, Guttentag has previously won two Oscars for his other films and been nominated for three.
“It’s nice to get recognition for your work,” he said. “But ultimately, at the end of the day, you just make the best film you can.”
“Nanking” is currently playing in 21 cities including San Jose.
For more information, visit www.nankingthefilm.com