Documentary Filmmaking: Redux
Encyclopedia
"Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" is the eighth episode of the third season
of the U.S. television series Community
. It was originally broadcast on November 17, 2011 on NBC
.
In the episode, Dean Pelton directs a new commercial for Greendale College, with members of the study group as actors and crew members. The entire episode is an in-universe documentary
made by Abed, who is seeking to emulate the success of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse
. Production of the commercial gets out of control as the Dean becomes insane and Abed is forced to abandon his objectivity to save the commercial.
"Redux" was written by Megan Ganz
and directed by Joe Russo
. It was released in the same week NBC announced that the series would be placed on hiatus in the mid-season, which prompted fans to mount an Internet campaign to prevent the show's cancellation. The episode received positive reviews from critics.
) $2000 to shoot a new commercial for the college. He enlists the help of the study group, which agrees. Abed (Danny Pudi
) declines to participate, but instead shoots a documentary about the commercial's production. Throughout the episode, Abed asks to remain "invisible" to reduce interaction with the subjects of his documentary.
The Dean makes himself director of the commercial with Annie (Alison Brie
) as script supervisor
. The rest of the group play roles in the commercial, including Jeff (Joel McHale
) (with a bald cap
) as the Dean himself. Pierce (Chevy Chase
) becomes a diva
, demands a trailer, fails to get one, rents one on his own and locks himself in it, "'til I have the one I don't have!" Jeff asks to shoot his scenes in front of the school's Luis Guzmán
statue, hoping that Guzmán's lawyers will force his scenes to be cut due to image rights restrictions. Instead, Guzmán, who turns out to be a Greendale alumnus, decides to play a part in the commercial, to the delight of the Dean.
Dean Pelton decides to overhaul the entire script and production to make it far more elaborate and expensive. Production shuts down all school activities, and other students are chosen to participate in it as well. The Dean becomes overly demanding with the actors, including forcing Britta (Gillian Jacobs
) and Troy (Donald Glover
) reshoot a hugging scene for 12 hours. Production goes way over budget while the Dean becomes increasingly erratic. Despite predicting that this would happen, Abed declines to intervene to avoid interfering with his documentary's story. Eventually, the actors and crew crack under the Dean's demands and abandon him.
Weeks later, Guzmán arrives at Greendale to shoot the commercial. However, upon seeing the Dean's initial cut, he decides not to be in the commercial. While admonishing Guzmán, the Dean inadvertently insults Greendale, which he instantly regrets. He films a video in which he addresses his insecurities about being dean. He invites the Greendale Board members to view it, but instead a different video—a professionally made Greendale commercial—plays. The board members are impressed.
Abed reveals himself to be the one who made the commercial. In his documentary's closing statement, Abed says that documentarians are supposed to be objective to avoid having any effect on the story, yet they have the most effect because they decide to tell it.
Finally, the Dean apologizes to the group, which they accept, leading to a group hug. When everyone walks away, Britta and Troy remain hugging. The trailer which Pierce locks himself in ends up in Hollywood for Jeff Garlin
's use. In the final scene, Pierce storms out as Garlin approaches the trailer, stunning Garlin. Garlin then locks himself in the trailer while demanding a new one.
, her third writing credit for the series. It was directed by Joe Russo
, his 19th directing credit.
Series creator Dan Harmon
previewed the episode by tweeting
: "AND, tonight, celebrate Community’s unschedualization with the least accessible, least marketable episode in its alienating history!", referring to the show's impending hiatus.
Luis Guzmán
guest starred as himself. Jeff Garlin
appeared in a brief scene at the end.
of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse
, a documentary about the troubled production of the 1979 film Apocalypse Now
. The episode title is a reference to both season 2's "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking
" and Apocalypse Now Redux
.
References are also made to the documentaries Burden of Dreams
and Lost in La Mancha
.
Guzmán made a reference to the film Boogie Nights
, in which he acted.
In a turbulent week for the show, Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
described Abed's abandonment of objectivity at the end as the show's way of embracing its small, fervent fanbase: "And isn’t that why we tell stories in the first place? We want to share some part of ourselves that’s important to us... Stories are about entertaining other people, yes, but they’re also functionally about being part of something greater than yourself, about tapping into a community that gets excited by the same stuff you do and wants to listen to the same tales of excitement and woe. Community—one of the fan-service-iest shows on TV—has always understood this. It’s always understood that the flipside of being a low-rated cult hit is that the people who love you, adore you." VanDerWerff gave the episode an 'A,' saying that it "created the best possible argument for why it should be allowed to survive."
Alan Sepinwall of HitFix
said "... I don't necessarily see "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" as the key that's going to unlock a bright new future for the series. But I do look at it as yet another inspiring, hilarious, moving, example of why I'm so glad Team "Community" is out there, pushing the outer edge of the sitcom envelope, finding new and strange and brilliant ways to tell stories about this very diverse (minus Hispanics, alas) group of people who came together through a cosmic quirk of fate and now can't live without each other."
Leigh Raines of TV Fanatic gave "Redux" 4.5/5 stars, praising Luis Guzmán
's performance as "the best use of a guest star I've seen in forever." Hollywood.com's Kelsea Stahler said the episode was "unapologetically, unequivocally alienating; it’s an episode only a Community fan could love."
Community (season 3)
The third season of the television comedy series Community premiered on September 22, 2011, and airs on NBC Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET as part of the network's "Comedy Night Done Right" programming block.-Starring:*Joel McHale as Jeff Winger...
of the U.S. television series Community
Community (TV series)
Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
. It was originally broadcast on November 17, 2011 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
In the episode, Dean Pelton directs a new commercial for Greendale College, with members of the study group as actors and crew members. The entire episode is an in-universe documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
made by Abed, who is seeking to emulate the success of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse is a 1991 documentary film about the production of Apocalypse Now.-Synopsis:The title is derived from the source material for Apocalypse Now, the Joseph Conrad novella Heart of Darkness...
. Production of the commercial gets out of control as the Dean becomes insane and Abed is forced to abandon his objectivity to save the commercial.
"Redux" was written by Megan Ganz
Megan Ganz
Megan Ganz is an American comedy writer and former associate editor of The Onion. She serves as a writer on the NBC series Community.-Early life and career:Ganz graduated from Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2002....
and directed by Joe Russo
Russo brothers
Anthony and Joe Russo, known together professionally as the Russo brothers, are Emmy Award-winning American film and television directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland, Ohio, and were...
. It was released in the same week NBC announced that the series would be placed on hiatus in the mid-season, which prompted fans to mount an Internet campaign to prevent the show's cancellation. The episode received positive reviews from critics.
Plot
The Greendale College Board has given Dean Pelton (Jim RashJim Rash
Jim Rash was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and is an American actor, comedian and screenwriter.His most noticeable appearance was when he portrayed Mr Grayson/Stitches, a sidekick to the supervillain 'Royal Pain' in the 2005 film Sky High and as the recurring characters Fenton on That '70s Show...
) $2000 to shoot a new commercial for the college. He enlists the help of the study group, which agrees. Abed (Danny Pudi
Danny Pudi
Danny Pudi is an American actor, best known for his role as Abed Nadir on the NBC comedy series Community.-Early years:Pudi, who is of Indian and Polish descent, was born and raised in Chicago and grew up speaking Polish...
) declines to participate, but instead shoots a documentary about the commercial's production. Throughout the episode, Abed asks to remain "invisible" to reduce interaction with the subjects of his documentary.
The Dean makes himself director of the commercial with Annie (Alison Brie
Alison Brie
-External links:...
) as script supervisor
Script supervisor
A script supervisor is a member of a film crew responsible for maintaining the motion picture's internal continuity and for recording the production unit's daily progress in shooting the film's screenplay...
. The rest of the group play roles in the commercial, including Jeff (Joel McHale
Joel McHale
Joel Edward McHale is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, television producer, television personality, and voice artist. He is best known for hosting The Soup and for his role as Jeff Winger on Community....
) (with a bald cap
Bald cap
A bald cap is a wig-like cap simulating the appearance of a bald or partially bald head. As part of an actor's make-up, it is often used to make a person appear older....
) as the Dean himself. Pierce (Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
) becomes a diva
Diva
A diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna"....
, demands a trailer, fails to get one, rents one on his own and locks himself in it, "'til I have the one I don't have!" Jeff asks to shoot his scenes in front of the school's Luis Guzmán
Luis Guzmán
Luis Guzmán is an actor from Puerto Rico. He is known for his character work. For much of his career, he has played roles largely as sidekicks, thugs, or policemen....
statue, hoping that Guzmán's lawyers will force his scenes to be cut due to image rights restrictions. Instead, Guzmán, who turns out to be a Greendale alumnus, decides to play a part in the commercial, to the delight of the Dean.
Dean Pelton decides to overhaul the entire script and production to make it far more elaborate and expensive. Production shuts down all school activities, and other students are chosen to participate in it as well. The Dean becomes overly demanding with the actors, including forcing Britta (Gillian Jacobs
Gillian Jacobs
Gillian Jacobs is an American film, theatre and television actress, best known for her role as Britta Perry on the NBC comedy series Community.-Personal life:...
) and Troy (Donald Glover
Donald Glover
Donald McKinley Glover is an American actor, writer, comedian, and musician. Glover first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy, and is best known for his role as community college student Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy series Community...
) reshoot a hugging scene for 12 hours. Production goes way over budget while the Dean becomes increasingly erratic. Despite predicting that this would happen, Abed declines to intervene to avoid interfering with his documentary's story. Eventually, the actors and crew crack under the Dean's demands and abandon him.
Weeks later, Guzmán arrives at Greendale to shoot the commercial. However, upon seeing the Dean's initial cut, he decides not to be in the commercial. While admonishing Guzmán, the Dean inadvertently insults Greendale, which he instantly regrets. He films a video in which he addresses his insecurities about being dean. He invites the Greendale Board members to view it, but instead a different video—a professionally made Greendale commercial—plays. The board members are impressed.
Abed reveals himself to be the one who made the commercial. In his documentary's closing statement, Abed says that documentarians are supposed to be objective to avoid having any effect on the story, yet they have the most effect because they decide to tell it.
Finally, the Dean apologizes to the group, which they accept, leading to a group hug. When everyone walks away, Britta and Troy remain hugging. The trailer which Pierce locks himself in ends up in Hollywood for Jeff Garlin
Jeff Garlin
Jeffrey "Jeff" Garlin is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, voice artist, director, writer and author, best known for his role as Jeff Greene on the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm...
's use. In the final scene, Pierce storms out as Garlin approaches the trailer, stunning Garlin. Garlin then locks himself in the trailer while demanding a new one.
Production
"Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" was written by Megan GanzMegan Ganz
Megan Ganz is an American comedy writer and former associate editor of The Onion. She serves as a writer on the NBC series Community.-Early life and career:Ganz graduated from Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2002....
, her third writing credit for the series. It was directed by Joe Russo
Russo brothers
Anthony and Joe Russo, known together professionally as the Russo brothers, are Emmy Award-winning American film and television directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland, Ohio, and were...
, his 19th directing credit.
Series creator Dan Harmon
Dan Harmon
Dan Harmon is a writer and performer. He is the creator and an executive producer for the NBC television comedy series Community, and, along with Rob Schrab, a founder of the alternative television network/website Channel 101....
previewed the episode by tweeting
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
: "AND, tonight, celebrate Community’s unschedualization with the least accessible, least marketable episode in its alienating history!", referring to the show's impending hiatus.
Luis Guzmán
Luis Guzmán
Luis Guzmán is an actor from Puerto Rico. He is known for his character work. For much of his career, he has played roles largely as sidekicks, thugs, or policemen....
guest starred as himself. Jeff Garlin
Jeff Garlin
Jeffrey "Jeff" Garlin is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, voice artist, director, writer and author, best known for his role as Jeff Greene on the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm...
appeared in a brief scene at the end.
Cultural references
The episode is a parodyParody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse is a 1991 documentary film about the production of Apocalypse Now.-Synopsis:The title is derived from the source material for Apocalypse Now, the Joseph Conrad novella Heart of Darkness...
, a documentary about the troubled production of the 1979 film Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American war film set during the Vietnam War, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The central character is US Army special operations officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard , of MACV-SOG, an assassin sent to kill the renegade and presumed insane Special Forces...
. The episode title is a reference to both season 2's "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking
Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking
"Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" is the 16th episode of the second season of Community. The episode originally aired on February 17, 2011 on NBC. In the episode, Pierce pretends to be dying from a drug overdose and takes psychological revenge on the rest of the study group for not taking him...
" and Apocalypse Now Redux
Apocalypse Now Redux
Apocalypse Now Redux is a 2001 extended version of the epic war film Apocalypse Now, which was originally released in 1979. Unlike other new cuts of the film, Redux is usually considered by fans and critics, as well as director Francis Ford Coppola a completely new movie altogether...
.
References are also made to the documentaries Burden of Dreams
Burden of Dreams
Burden of Dreams is a feature-length documentary and making-of directed by Les Blank, shot during and about the chaotic production of Werner Herzog's 1982 film Fitzcarraldo, filmed in the jungles of South America....
and Lost in La Mancha
Lost in La Mancha
Lost in La Mancha is a documentary film narrated by Jeff Bridges about Terry Gilliam's failed first attempt to make The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, a film adaptation of the novel Don Quixote...
.
Guzmán made a reference to the film Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights is a 1997 drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, the script focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic films, and chronicles his rise and fall from the Golden Age of Porn of the 1970s...
, in which he acted.
Ratings
In its original broadcast on November 17, 2011, the episode was viewed by an estimated 3.63 million people, with a Nielsen rating/share of 1.6/5 in the 18–49 demographic.Reviews
"Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" received generally positive reviews from critics.In a turbulent week for the show, Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
described Abed's abandonment of objectivity at the end as the show's way of embracing its small, fervent fanbase: "And isn’t that why we tell stories in the first place? We want to share some part of ourselves that’s important to us... Stories are about entertaining other people, yes, but they’re also functionally about being part of something greater than yourself, about tapping into a community that gets excited by the same stuff you do and wants to listen to the same tales of excitement and woe. Community—one of the fan-service-iest shows on TV—has always understood this. It’s always understood that the flipside of being a low-rated cult hit is that the people who love you, adore you." VanDerWerff gave the episode an 'A,' saying that it "created the best possible argument for why it should be allowed to survive."
Alan Sepinwall of HitFix
HitFix
HitFix, or the HitFix.com is an entertainment news website that launched in December 2008 specializing in breaking entertainment news, insider information and providing reviews and critiques of film, music and television...
said "... I don't necessarily see "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" as the key that's going to unlock a bright new future for the series. But I do look at it as yet another inspiring, hilarious, moving, example of why I'm so glad Team "Community" is out there, pushing the outer edge of the sitcom envelope, finding new and strange and brilliant ways to tell stories about this very diverse (minus Hispanics, alas) group of people who came together through a cosmic quirk of fate and now can't live without each other."
Leigh Raines of TV Fanatic gave "Redux" 4.5/5 stars, praising Luis Guzmán
Luis Guzmán
Luis Guzmán is an actor from Puerto Rico. He is known for his character work. For much of his career, he has played roles largely as sidekicks, thugs, or policemen....
's performance as "the best use of a guest star I've seen in forever." Hollywood.com's Kelsea Stahler said the episode was "unapologetically, unequivocally alienating; it’s an episode only a Community fan could love."
External links
- "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" at NBC.com
- "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" at TV TropesTV TropesTV Tropes is a wiki which collects and expands on various conventions and devices found within creative works. Since its establishment in 2004, the site has gone from covering only television and film tropes to also covering those in a number of other media such as literature, comics, video-games,...