Awesome Documentaries

A brief profile on a group of toy sculptors. Jason Frailey, Adrienne Smith and their colleagues make prototypes and molds of action figures, bobbleheads, busts and other toys and collectibles. Filmed by Anthony Ladesich.

76-year old artist Bobby Jaber is a retired chemistry and physics teacher. He creates mesmerizing sculptures inspired by science and mathematics. Be sure to stick to the very end for a funny scene. Filmed by Dave Altizer.

(NSFW: Language) It’s not a martial arts film, but The Mystery of Flying Kicks is still worth watching. It explores the urban custom of throwing shoes up on power lines and the various reasons for and reactions to it.

A documentary about a man who became obsessed with collecting Beanie Babies, thinking that the little stuffed toys would be a foolproof investment in his kids’ future. Though they are probably worth more than our Pog collection.

A documentary about Micke, a cassette tape enthusiast. He’s not particularly interesting or talented. Then again, who is? A documentary about us would at most be as mundane as this one. And that’s why we couldn’t look away.

Directed by Cullen Hoback, Terms and Conditions May Apply shows how the phrase “Internet privacy” has lost its meaning in light of the data gathering activities of online companies. Learn about privacy tools here.

NPR’s Planet Money visited a recycling plant and a bottle manufacturing facility in to see how used bottles are recycled. They found out that it takes less energy to turn recycled glass into bottles than if raw materials were used.

“I can’t say that there’s things I can’t do. Just things that I haven’t done yet.” Richie Parker is an automotive engineer at NASCAR racing team Hendrick Motorsports. He also has no arms. ESPN shares his story with us.

97-year old Hal Lasko makes very detailed digital paintings using Microsoft Paint, which was introduced to him in the late 90s. Despite being partially blind and deaf, Hal still paints up to 10 hours a day. Buy his prints here.

A documentary about Jesse Heiman, aka the World’s Greatest Extra. The film is about Jesse’s unusual claim to fame, and the biggest question of his career: should a professional nobody try and become somebody?

Joel Allen Schroeder’s Dear Mr. Watterson explores the legacy and the influence of Bill Watterson and his comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, not just with his readers but with fellow cartoonists and artists as well.

Dan McComb’s short profile on coffinmaker Marcus Daly, who began making coffins due to a tragic personal incident. This moved him to treat his profession as a meditative and deeply personal experience. Vote for it here.

PBS Off Book talked to a variety of experts about one of mankind’s most exciting and frightening endeavors: developing artificial intelligence. Watch the video to find out some of its challenges, rewards and risks.

Tim Harris has Down Syndrome. He’s also a restaurant owner and an accomplished athlete. You can often find him at his restaurant, Tim’s Place Albuquerque, mingling with customers and giving away free hugs.

The documentary I Know That Voice features a who’s who of voice actors, including Tara Strong, Nolan North, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. The movie is already finished; check its Facebook page for the release date.

A promotional documentary about Ernie Adams and his collection of dwarf cars. The cars are street legal and modeled after classic cruisers. Ernie built all seven cars by hand and helped start a dwarf car racing scene.

A documentary by Zachary Heinzerling about the “chaotic 40-year marriage” of accomplished artists Ushio and Noriko Shinohara. Cutie and the Boxer looks at the evolution and endurance of their relationship.

A film about the Solar System by Stephen van Vuuren. In Saturn’s Rings was made by stitching together over one million photographs taken by various satellites as well as from spacecraft, observatories and more. Best watched in HD.

An educational primer on tabletop RPGs – from its militaristic origins to its offshoots and effects on pop culture. Even if you don’t play tabletops RPGs, if you enjoy fantasy fiction or games, you owe it to yourself to watch this video.

An Oscar-winning documentary by Bert Haanstra, Glas is about the glass industry in the Netherlands during the 50s. It forgoes narration, opting instead to augment footage with music and quick camera cuts. A masterpiece.

The street fashion scene flourished as a reaction to the rise of supermodels. But it’s becoming a parody of itself, threatening to turn into an endless echo, where people yearn to be seen, and bloggers become each others models.

After reading contradictory press coverage about Williston’s oil boom, Colin Archdeacon and Skyler Swezy journeyed to North Dakota to find out what’s really happening. Good mix of interviews and befitting cinematography.

“I don’t call ’em cats. They’re little people.” Do you consider yourself a cat lover? Filmmaker Andrew Lang would like you to meet a few people. These folks really love cats. And they don’t care if the feeling isn’t mutual.