Filming The Trial
Encyclopedia
Filming 'The Trial' is an unfinished making-of
film by Orson Welles
, made in 1981, which focuses on the production of his 1962 film The Trial
.
. That film had mostly consisted of a monologue in which Welles discussed his 1952 adaptation of Othello
. Encouraged by the result, he set out to make a similar documentary/essay film looking back at his own film of The Trial.
after a screening of The Trial
. He had his cinematographer Gary Graver
film the session with a view to editing highlights of the footage into the projected film. Graver observed, "A lot of people were there in the audience that day who are successful filmmakers now", as well as several noted film critics such as Joseph McBride
and Todd McCarthy
.
However, Welles never got round to editing the raw footage. Its only use in Welles' lifetime was by BBC
journalist Leslie Megahy for his 1982 Arena
documentary on Welles; specifically, the documentary features a young man asking Welles whether he would agree he has been persecuted by The Establishment
and the capitalist system, and Welles being somewhat bemused by the question.
, and she in turn donated many of them (including Filming 'The Trial' ) to the Munich Film Museum for preservation and restoration.
In the 2000s the Munich Film Museum then edited together the complete footage into an 82-minute cut of the Q&A session. Since Graver had to change film cartridges approximately every 10 minutes, this created breaks in filming, which are noticeable in the final cut.
The restored footage has been screened at various film festivals, but has never been released on video or DVD.
Making-of
In cinema, a making-of, also known as behind-the-scenes, is a documentary film that features the production of a film or television program...
film by Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
, made in 1981, which focuses on the production of his 1962 film The Trial
The Trial (1962 film)
The Trial is a 1962 film directed by Orson Welles, who also wrote the screenplay based on the novel of the same name by Franz Kafka...
.
Background
In 1978 Orson Welles directed Filming OthelloFilming Othello
Filming Othello is a 1978 documentary film directed by and starring Orson Welles about the making of his award-winning 1952 production Othello. The film, which was produced for West German television, was the last completed feature film directed by Welles.-Plot:Filming Othello begins with Welles...
. That film had mostly consisted of a monologue in which Welles discussed his 1952 adaptation of Othello
Othello (1952 film)
Othello is a 1952 drama film based on the Shakespearean play, made by Mercury Productions Inc. and Les Films Marceau and distributed by United Artists . It was directed and produced by Orson Welles, who also played the title role . The screenplay was adapted by Welles and an uncredited Jean Sacha...
. Encouraged by the result, he set out to make a similar documentary/essay film looking back at his own film of The Trial.
Filming
In 1981, Welles gave a 90-minute question-and-answer session at the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
after a screening of The Trial
The Trial (1962 film)
The Trial is a 1962 film directed by Orson Welles, who also wrote the screenplay based on the novel of the same name by Franz Kafka...
. He had his cinematographer Gary Graver
Gary Graver
Gary Graver was an American film director and cinematographer. He was a prolific film-maker but is perhaps best known as Orson Welles' final cinematographer. Under the pseudonym of Robert McCallum he also directed adult films.Graver was born and raised in Portland, Oregon...
film the session with a view to editing highlights of the footage into the projected film. Graver observed, "A lot of people were there in the audience that day who are successful filmmakers now", as well as several noted film critics such as Joseph McBride
Joseph McBride
Joseph McBride is an American film historian, biographer, screenwriter and Associate Professor of Cinema at San Francisco State University.McBride has published 15 books including acclaimed biographies of Steven Spielberg, Frank Capra, and John Ford. His most recent work is an updated edition of...
and Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy is an American film critic. He wrote for Variety for 31 years as its chief film critic before being fired in 2010. He is currently a critic for The Hollywood Reporter....
.
However, Welles never got round to editing the raw footage. Its only use in Welles' lifetime was by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
journalist Leslie Megahy for his 1982 Arena
Arena (TV series)
Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. It has run since 1 October 1975, and over five hundred episodes have been made. Arena covers all manner of subjects, from profiles of notable people such as Bob Dylan to the Ford Cortina car...
documentary on Welles; specifically, the documentary features a young man asking Welles whether he would agree he has been persecuted by The Establishment
The Establishment
The Establishment is a term used to refer to a visible dominant group or elite that holds power or authority in a nation. The term suggests a closed social group which selects its own members...
and the capitalist system, and Welles being somewhat bemused by the question.
Revival of the footage
After Orson Welles' death in 1985, all of his unfinished films were bequeathed to his long-term companion and mistress Oja KodarOja Kodar
Oja Kodar is a Croatian actress, screenwriter and director, best known as the girlfriend of Orson Welles for the last 24 years of his life.-Life:...
, and she in turn donated many of them (including Filming 'The Trial' ) to the Munich Film Museum for preservation and restoration.
In the 2000s the Munich Film Museum then edited together the complete footage into an 82-minute cut of the Q&A session. Since Graver had to change film cartridges approximately every 10 minutes, this created breaks in filming, which are noticeable in the final cut.
The restored footage has been screened at various film festivals, but has never been released on video or DVD.