The Smart Studios Story

Larger than Life: Reign of the Boybands

November 2024 •English

Highlights boy bands and their rise — and fall — to fame, from The Beatles to Jackson 5 to the Jonas Brothers and One Direction, as well as the K-pop group Seventeen.

Frontrunners

October 2008 •English

A documentary on the competition for student body president at New York's Stuyvesant High School. As the notoriously competitive school's election draws near, the campaign becomes a microcosm for the nation at large, with race, gender and appearance vying for attention with real issues.

Black Sabbath: The Last Supper

January 1999 •English

Filmed live during Black Sabbath's 1999 "Reunion" tour, this historic concert features the original lineup of the legendary metal band

Facing Ali

May 2009 •English

Ten of Muhammad Ali's former rivals pay tribute to the three-time world heavyweight champion.

Latin Grammy Celebrates: Them and Their Music

May 2021 •Spanish

Cinema Veeran

June 2017 •Tamil

An ode to the fighters and stunt coordinators of Tamil cinema, this documentary, with a voice-over by Rajinikanth, showcases the life of these unsung warriors.

Star Trek: Evolutions

September 2009 •English

Star Trek: Evolutions is an 80-minute Paramount Pictures Star Trek documentary compilation which was first released on 22 September 2009 as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection Blu-ray and DVD sets.

Amicus: House of Horrors

October 2012 •English

For the first time on DVD, the Alpha Archives Collection proudly presents a two part feature length documentary celebrating the history of the Amicus Productions film company. Founded in the early 1960s by Americans Milton Subotsky and Max J. Rosenberg, Amicus produced some classic (now cult) horror movies, including Dr. Terror's House Of Horrors, The House That Dripped Blood, Tales From The Crypt, Asylum and From Beyond The Grave. Featuring interviews with key individuals who worked for Amicus (actors, directors, etc.), and with many rare photographs and production designs throughout, this documentary is a must-see for fans of British horror cinema.

Territories

September 2007 •English

Larry Towell is the only Canadian member of the legendary Magnum Photo agency, known for its humanist and universal approach. Towell belongs to this tradition. This documentary reveals the artist and the man through his photography and his thoughts.

Wacken

July 2014 •German

Wacken Open Air is the biggest 3-day-rock- and metal-festival in the world. It's three days of raw energy, non-stop Heavy Metal music at full blast and 80.000 fans on a party frenzy. A true legend, taking place annually since 1990 in the sleepy German country town of Wacken, it attracts fans from all over the world.

Descent Into the Maelstrom: The Untold Story of Radio Birdman

July 2017 •English

Documentary that chronicles the career of the legendary Australian punk band Radio Birdman.

Louis Armstrong: 100th Anniversary 1901-2001

August 2001 •English

A documentary featuring archive footage to celebrate the 100th birth of jazz legend Louis Armstrong.

Iron Maiden: Live After Death

October 1985 •English

Filmed and recorded towards the tail end of 'The World Slavery Tour' over a record breaking four sold out nights at Los Angeles' 13,200 capacity Long Beach Arena. Featuring tracks from their first five albums.

The Movie Palaces

June 1987 •English

A documentary about the great American movie palaces of the 1920s and 1930s. Filmed on location at some of the extraordinary theaters across the country, the program explores the diverse and priceless architecture of such greats as the Atlanta Fox, the Wiltern in Los Angeles, San Antonio's Majestic, Seattle's Fifth Avenue and, perhaps the most famous, Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Also included are stills and vintage clips of classic movies and newsreels of the era that illustrate the historical evolution and mass appeal of the movie palaces. Picture palace organist Gaylord Carter performs a variety of movie accompaniments.

Hype!

November 1996 •English

This documentary examines the Seattle scene as it became the focus of a merging of punk rock, heavy metal, and innovation. Building from the grass roots, self-promoted and self-recorded until break-out success of bands like Nirvana brought the record industry to the Pacific Northwest, a phenomenon was born.

Un instante en la vida ajena

September 2003 •Spanish

Compilation of images of the amateur recordings of Madronita Andreu, Catalan intellectual of the nineteenth century, daughter of Dr. Andreu, famous for its pills and cough syrup.

The Mentors: Kings of Sleaze Rockumentary

April 2017 •English

Documentary on the shock rock group "The Mentors".

Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy

February 1998 •English

A profile of writer-director Billy Wilder

How Weed Won the West

February 2010 •English

While California is going bankrupt, one business is booming. "How Weed Won the West" is the story of the growing medical cannabis / marijuana industry in the greater Los Angeles area, with over 700 dispensaries doling out the buds. As a treatment for a wide range of conditions, cannabis is quickly proving itself as a healthier natural alternative to many prescription drugs.

Dead Kennedys: The Early Years Live

January 1987 •English

An overview of the early years--late 1970s, early 1980s--of San Francisco punk band Dead Kennedys, with clips from some of their live concerts and footage of landmark San Francisco locations of the punk music scene. Jello Biafra and The Dead Kennedys show why they're the kings of satire in 9 live early performances.