I don´t see a problem regarding the Africa Cup, just remember that in last year´s cup Team Africa´s matches got the lowest voting participation, since people weren´t even watching the films. The same would happen again if African cinema (or the cinema of Senegal, Mali, etc.) would have to compete with more prominent national cinemas, it´s therefore a fair idea to make people focus on the cinema of a whole continent with a largely unknown and overlooked cinematic output.
“would have to compete with more prominent national cinemas”
True Marc but we also have to consider the factor of the opponents’ popularity. Looking at some of the high voting turnouts of this Cup, we’ve had plenty of lesser-known countries / directors facing extremely popular countries / directors e.g. Godard vs Pintilie or Pasolini vs Nikolaidis or even Allen vs Huszarik! Looking at Team Africa’s opponents in the World Cup, it’s not a big surprise that voting turnout was affected by the similarly decreased popularity of those opponents:
Africa played with:
China
Poland
Turkey
Czech Republic
Iran
India
Considering China and Iran possess a recent mild popularity amidst cine-goers due to 1-2 “acclaimed” auteurs in their folio, I have to say that not only Team Africa was unlucky in terms of its continent’s popularity but had a continuous streak of not-so-popular opponents whereas had it been a Germany or Japan, things might have been more fruitful. It’s not about the type of competition rather the specific fame of those taking part in them.
I claim Joseph H. Lewis and Luis Bunuel for the next one.
“I don’t want to be objective, I just want to explore African cinema with the guidance of people somewhat more knowledgeable than myself.”
I think this is the correct response to any nay-sayers. The only down side I can think of on focusing on particular parts of the world in mini-tournaments is that people might be less inclined to choose those same directors for larger tournaments because they have already been “seen.” Hopefully and inevitably, there will be enough participant turnover from one year to the next, that this won’t matter. If there is an African tournament, I would like for it to include all regions/countries of Africa including South Africa and Egypt.
One more hopeful thought: Any “claiming” of directors now for a tournament that may or may not happen a year from now will have no baring when it comes to official selections immediately preceding a tournament.
“One more hopeful thought: Any “claiming” of directors now for a tournament that may or may not happen a year from now will have no baring when it comes to official selections immediately preceding a tournament.”
I can compile a shortlist here of people who “claimed” directors so far, just to have an idea, what do you say Sir?
Based on the comments here and not elsewhere.
I think it is great to discuss who people want to see in future tournaments, but I think it would be terrible idea to actually see the idle chit-chat here as anything more than that. If managers have disappeared after selecting a director two weeks before this year’s tournament started, imagine how many would disappear in the next 10 months.
If managers have disappeared after selecting a director two weeks before this year’s tournament started, imagine how many would disappear in the next 10 months.
That’s an excellent point. I claim King Vidor, by the way.
i claim Robert Kramer or Mark Rappaport and Garin Nugroho then
Oh, and Abel Gance. I claim Abel Gance and King Vidor. MUHUHAHAHA!!!!!
I claim Elem Klimov, for starters.
“If managers have disappeared after selecting a director two weeks before this year’s tournament started, imagine how many would disappear in the next 10 months.”
HAHA, correct but I’ll do it anyhow ;)
Speculations Outline: (if we agree in up to 2 directors per user)
Jerry Johnson: Joseph H. Lewis, Luis Bunuel
Brady: Roger Corman, Chris Marker
Uli: Sidney Lumet
Yuki: Garin Nugroho (pending Robert Kramer or Mark Rappaport)
BrandUpon: (pending Mikhail Kalatozov, Shinya Tsukamoto, Frans Zwartjes, Shinji Aoyama)
Den: Melvin Van Peebles, Bruce Brown
Jackford — Neil Bahadur: Edward Yang, D.W. Griffith
Joshua W: Robert Wise
CJ Roy: Yoji Yamada
House of Leaves: Elem Klimov
Kurt Walker: Lav Diaz
Kai White: F.W. Murnau, King Vidor
the next DC sounds very interesting already.
Kai: i’d love to watch more silent Vidor aka terrific choice.
JR: and that reminds me to watch more Klimov
You can list these together for speculation’s sake but…when the next DC comes I’ll probably ignore reservations unless you PM me in the week leading up to selections starting…
As Kai says anyone could disappear over the next 10 months. Add to this that you might well change your mind on who you want to manage (10 months ain’t that short a time in filmwatching terms – imagine all the stuff you’ll have discovered by then!) and…attempting to reserve now is only really that useful for speculating over how utterly awesome the next Cup will be.
“You can list these together for speculation’s sake but…when the next DC comes I’ll probably ignore reservations unless you PM me in the week leading up to selections starting…”
Sure Cecil, I’m absolutely positive that if the members above agree to it, they’ll follow your game ;)
Heh, I’m not trying to be a nuisance or anything, just I think it makes more sense that way :)
Though the thought of Mark Rappaport and Lav Diaz does sound quite exciting! They both sound fascinating based on what I’ve heard!
I agree that we should keep it at two per user for the next cup. I want more fresh perspectives, different suggestions from users who might not even be on this site yet. And I’m already flip-flopping. I want Murnau. I’ll drop Gance, and I’ll use him in Directors Cup 3.0.
Note: If I disappear in the next ten months everyone needs to check Burchett’s alibi!
My Bunuel films will be Mexican studio only, except for one exception:
Subida al Cielo
Illusion Travels by Streetcar
Susana (Devil in the Flesh)
El
The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz
Las Hurdes
If I disappear in the next 10 months, House, I’m telling you now, it was my wife with the candlestick in the dining room.
My claims:
Jose Luis Guerin OR Otar Iosseliani
Kira Muratova OR Darezhan Omirbayev
Haven’t read through all the pages here, but would like to see a mini cup/tournament concentrating on documentary/non-fiction that gets such scant attention compared to fiction films. And, we could have managers volunteer and choose films instead of representing auteurs or regions. This is primarily because many well known auteurs have made excellent documentaries/non-fiction films which are hardly discussed or talked about as much as their fiction work. Such a cup might not have as many takers as the DC, but I’m sure that quite a few people here would love to dig the goldmine that is out there.
as today is the first Fasting Day of the Ramadhan Month, I’d love to ask forgiveness from all of you if there are any of my words or action has offended anybody on the site. I hope every good deeds u’ll do are going to be blessed.
@CB: hooray for Guerrin, oops gotta submit Innisfree now
@ Yuki
And, I need to watch Innisfree :)
ChasingButterflies – please, please, PLEASE take on Muratova. I really need to see more from her, and that would provide a great excuse.
Has anybody grabbed either Fritz Lang or Robert Altman for next year’s Cup? I’d love to stake a claim on one of them.
You guys are out of control.
I call, ahem, Jackie Chan and Otto Preminger ;)
@Sir Douglas
Wishes are horses… :)
Dimitris Psachos
Yes, the films above have been used twice counting in their previous usage, I did count the new Varda and Erice films of Round 2, coincidentally, two already used films will cancel each other out, hehe.