Documentary Motion Picture Shorts

Seriously Gratuitous: The Making of Gratuitous Violence

May 22, 1992
By
Direction and Editing by Paul Matz and Mark S. Meritt; Videography by Paul Matz; Music by Mark S. Meritt; 29 minutes, color, VHS

This documentary short motion picture is a behind the scenes look at the making of Gratuitous Violence. It was shot on a VHS camcorder and edited with the camcorder and VHS VCR. True to its name, it is notable for being longer than the movie that is its own subject.

View the YouTube Video

The digital video was captured by Allan Meritt in January 2007 and posted by Mark on YouTube on January 22, 2007. You can watch the entire video right here by just pressing the Play button immediately below — all parts will automatically play in order. Or, you can visit YouTube to see the video or post a comment.

The Score

  • You Could’ve Been Something Special (Love Theme from Gratuitous Violence) (Instrumental) — An extended instrumental version created especially for this documentary — Listen to .mp3 sample from Original Soundtrack Recording:

Music © & Circle P - Phonorecord Copyright 2007, 1992 Mark S. Meritt

Kornell Kinema

March 31, 1992
By
Direction, Production, Cinematography, Editing and Music by Mark S. Meritt

This documentary motion picture short was produced for a course in filmmaking with filmmaker Marilyn Rivchin at Cornell University during Mark””s undergraduate studies. A study in contrast, the piece plays with filming techniques to explore the Cornell University campus through different kinds of motion. The title is also a play on the name of the school’s film exhibition program, Cornell Cinema.

View the YouTube Video

The video was created by projecting the film on a wall and playing the soundtrack on a stereo system while recording with a VHS camcorder. The digital video was captured by Allan Meritt in January 2007 and posted by Mark on YouTube on January 22, 2007. You can watch the video right here by just pressing the Play button immediately below. Or, you can visit YouTube to see the video or post a comment.

The Score

  • Kornell Kinema – Complete Score — Listen to .mp3 sample:
  • Kornell Kinema – Main Theme — Listen to .mp3 sample of the main theme from the score, with no “slow parts” to break it up:

Music © & Circle P - Phonorecord Copyright 2007, 1992 Mark S. Meritt

Makin’ Magic

June 9, 1990
By
Developed by Mark S. Meritt and Ed Budd; Assisted by Rob Gianotti, Rich Hack and Adam Hurst

In 1990, the Masque and Mime Society celebrated its 25th anniversary as the drama club of Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers Falls, NY. A gala celebration was held, including dinne and a nearly 4-hour live retrospective of selected scenes from the organization’s past performances. Made for the event and shown at the beginning of the dinner, this documentary motion picture short was produced over several months during the 1989-1990 school year, tracking the entire process of creating the 1990 Spring musical production of 42nd Street. The piece was shot with only a VHS camcorder and edited using two home VCRs and a basic editing deck.

View the YouTube Video

The digital video was captured by Allan Meritt in March 2007 and posted by Mark on YouTube on April 23, 2007. You can watch the entire video right here by just pressing the Play button immediately below — all parts will automatically play in order. Or, you can visit YouTube to see the video or post a comment.

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