Documentary

The Gatekeeper.

Shige San is one of the truest examples of a public servant and personal savior. The video below tell the story of a retired police detective that now dedicates his life to preventing deaths at Japan’s suicide cliffs, providing emergency assistance and counseling even as tourists flock to the site, attracted by its notoriety as a popular suicide destination. This is a wonderful short film, that tells an extraordinary story and worth taking 40 minutes to watch it.

I suggest if you have an AppleTV or a smart TV with Vimeo available you watch it on the big screen. The experience is so much better than on your computer monitor or tablet.

Ross Garfield – Drum Doctor.

Music really is a collaborative process. Even a solo artist, playing a song they wrote is collaborating with the person that built the instrument they are playing in a way. The video below is a five minute mini documentary from Media Bird is about “The Drum Doctor”Ross Garfield. This is a compelling little short that shows how this man has helped shape the sound of more recordings then you can imagine. You might not think of drum kits having a specific sound, but they do, and Garfield tells you why. If you want to see just how many people this guy has worked with, go to his Facebook page. It’s pretty damn amazing.

Dustin Cohen’s “Conrad and the Steamplant”.

This morning a friend of mine sent me the link to the video below. “Conrad and the Steamplant” is the product of photographer Dustin Cohen. This is the latest in a series of short films he has produced over the last year or so, and like his previous short films this one profiles an individual in New York with a unique job. It is a striking portrait of Pratt Institute’s Chief Engineer which follows the story of 79-year-old Conrad Milster. Milster started working at the steamplant in 1965 and is one of only four to hold his position at Pratt in its 127-year history. Like all of Choen’s works this is a beautifully shot and edited documentary short that is well worth the watch and a great way to start your work week.

The Art of Making Scissors.

You probably never stopped and really thought about what goes into making a pair of scissors. I know I hadn’t. When you think about it, scissors are actually extremely complex tools. The blades have very low tolerances, and have to be sharp, balanced, and designed to fit a variety of hand sizes. If the blades are to far apart, they won’t cut. If they are to close, they won’t shut. Now, imagine making them by hand. Talk about skills. The video below documents Ernest Wright & Sons of Sheffield England, one of the last remaining hand manufacturers of scissors. Specifically “Putter” Cliff Denton as he makes pair after pair by hand, forging, grinding, and polishing them to perfection.

The Putter from shaun bloodworth on Vimeo.

This Film is part of Storying Sheffield , part funded by the Arts & Humanities department under Professor Brendan Stone at The University of Sheffield . Music and Sound Design by The Black Dog