DECAPOLIS : The Directors Label DVD Series

Title: The Directors Label DVD Series
Label: Palm Pictures
Reviewed by: Christopher Thomas!

Director's Label Series Boxed Set Vol. 2 (Mark Romanek, Jonathan Glazer, Anton Corbijn, Stéphane Sednaoui) Director's Series Vol. 4 - Work of Director Mark Romanek Director's Series Vol. 5 - Work of Director Jonathan Glazer Director's Series Vol. 6 - Work of Director Anton Corbijn Director's Series Vol. 7 - Work of Director Stéphane Sednaoui

In 2003, Palm Pictures began its Directors Label DVD Series with compilations of works by Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, and Chris Cunningham. Palm now continues the series with new compilations from directors Mark Romanek, Stephane Sednaoui, Anton Corbijn, and Jonathan Glazer.

Each disc, packaged and sold individually or as a boxed set, contains a large selection of pieces from each director’s body of work. Showcased almost exclusively is each director’s music video work, but the discs also contain the best pieces in other categories such as commercials, short films, and documentaries. Many pieces include commentaries from the artists and actors who are the subjects of the films, each able to shed a new and profound light on the directors’ personalities, styles, and creative processes.

Even based on the small selection of work presented in the sampler we received, it would be far too involved to address each director individually. Rather, it is more appropriate to comment on the obvious commonalities among the group. Most notable is the craft and professionalism demonstrated by each director as well as the care with which the pieces were chosen and assembled. Each director is of the highest caliber, introducing new concepts and higher levels of creativity than are commonly found in commercial film today. Also, it is important to note that each disc contains a short documentary about the men themselves, all of which provide further insight into the minds and talents of these directors.

Whether or not you will enjoy a particular DVD in this series depends almost solely on your familiarity with the director’s work as well as your interest in the bands and other subjects on which they have focused. However, anyone with an interest in film as art – particularly short film and commercial film – will find every disc a breathtaking and stimulating ride through the minds of some of the most brilliant directors in modern film. I cannot imagine a better executed project than the Directors Label DVD Series.