"American Masters" Sketches of Frank Gehry (2005)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

TV Series:

"American Masters" (1985)

Original Air Date:

10 September 2005 (Season 20, Episode 7)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | History | Music | Romance

Plot:

A look at the life and work of the renown architect.

Plot Keywords:

Artist | Architect | Building | Architecture | Museum

Cast

Charles Arnoldi	...	Himself (as Chuck Arnoldi)
Barry Diller	...	Himself
Michael Eisner	...	Himself
Rolf Fehlbaum	...	Himself
Hal Foster	...	Himself (archive footage)
Mildred Friedman	...	Herself
Frank O. Gehry	...	Himself
Bob Geldof	...	Himself
Dennis Hopper	...	Himself
Charles Jencks	...	Himself
Philip Johnson	...	Himself
Thomas Krens	...	Himself
Peter Lewis	...	Himself
Herbert Muschamp	...	Himself
Michael Ovitz	...	Himself
Sydney Pollack	...	Himself
Norman Rosenthal	...	Himself
Edward Ruscha	...	Himself
Esa-Pekka Salonen	...	Himself
Julian Schnabel	...	Himself
Milton Wexler	...	Himself

Directed by
Sydney Pollack

Produced by
Stanley F. Buchthal	....	executive producer
Cathrine Ellis	....	line producer
Julie Goldman	....	co-executive producer
Ultan Guilfoyle	....	producer
Maya Hoffmann	....	executive producer
Krysanne Katsoolis	....	co-executive producer
Susan Lacy	....	executive producer
Sydney Pollack	....	executive producer
Caroline Stevens	....	co-executive producer
Brainerd Taylor	....	associate producer
Hiro Yamagata	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Claes Nystrom		(as Sorman & Nystrom)
Jonas Sorman		(as Sorman & Nystrom)

Cinematography by
Marcus Birsel
Ultan Guilfoyle
Sydney Pollack
Claudio Rocha
George Tiffin

Film Editing by
Karen Schmeer

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bruce Sears	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Adrian Bell	....	sound recordist
Tom Efinger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Efinger	....	sound supervisor
John Moros	....	sound editor
Sean O'Neil	....	sound recordist
Jon Oh	....	sound
Nicholas Schenck	....	additional sound engineer

Camera and Electrical Department
Marcello Duarte	....	assistant camera
Eric Jennings	....	first assistant camera
Michael Lindquist	....	assistant camera
Steve Mulcahey	....	key grip
Bruce Sears	....	assistant camera
James Tavella	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Patrick Lindenmaier	....	color correction
Michael Weingrad	....	assistant editor
Adam Zucker	....	additional editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer (uncredited)

Other crew
Kiki Allgeier	....	production administration
Heidi Druckemiller	....	researcher
Hope Hall	....	researcher
Sophie Heldman	....	location manager
Melissa Lintinger	....	production accountant
Nicole London	....	production coordinator
Tanit Plana	....	location manager
Heidi Sowards	....	location manager
Keri Wilson	....	assistant to director

Thanks
Dia Sokol Savage	....	thanks (as Dia Sokol)
Laura Stella	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• American Masters
• LM Media
• Mirage Enterprises
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
• SP Architecture
• WNET Thirteen

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Artificial Eye (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Pathé (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Wise Policy (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• BIM Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Andromeda Films  high definition facilities
• Big Sky Editorial  high definition facilities
• Cinetic Media  world sales
• Digit Audio  audio supervisor
• Digit Audio  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:PG | UK:12 | Australia:M | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

Anaheim ICE - 300 W. Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, California, USA

Company:

American Masters

Trivia:

The last film (documentary) directed by Sydney Pollack.

Movie Connections:

References Apocalypse Now (1979)

Let's Get Crankier

Greetings again from the darkness. "Where did that come from?". That is the question Frank Gehry admits to asking himself after some projects are complete. His art should be considered along with the great painters, sculptors and musicians of our time. Gehry's friendship with director Sydney Pollack adds a different dimension to this documentary. Normally the focus should be on the subject, but Pollack actually helps us crawl inside this unique, brilliant man.

Watching the Princeton art "expert" provide the alternative take on Mr. Gehry's creation is actually quite humorous. The art world can't possibly take architecture seriously - especially when they are concerned that the building may be more impressive than the art work inside! One of the highlights is the exploration from design to completion of the magnificent Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain. This is unlike anything I have ever seen and may just motivate me to someday make the trip. Some of his other structures are viewed, but the disappointing aspect of the film is that we don't see enough. What we do see is nothing short of fascinating. His house around his home is mind-boggling. However, what makes this special is the conversation and opening up with Mr. Gehry. He attempts to provide credit to his "team", but we are left with no doubt that the man is a genius.

Some celebs get their chance to spew forth with glowing comments. These include Bob Geldof, Michael Ovitz, Barry Diller and Dennis Hopper. Hopper's interview is disappointing in that we never get a glimpse of the Gehry design. Another interesting aspect is the curious inclusion of Mr. Gehry's long time psychiatrist, the colorful Milton Wexler. Wexler has a twinkle in his eye when discussing Gehry and how the two have been very good to and for each other.

Overall, a very insightful look into the creative process of a giant in the world of architecture. Nice work by first time documentarian Pollack and thanks to Mr. Gehry for opening up.