D. A. Pennebaker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids D. A. Pennebaker
Pennebaker in New York City in February 2007
Born	Donn Alan Pennebaker (1925-07-15)July 15, 1925 Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 1, 2019(2019-08-01) (aged 94) Sag Harbor, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Yale University
Occupation	Documentarian, author
Years active	1953–2019
Spouse(s)	Chris Hegedus ​ (m. 1982)​

Donn Alan Pennebaker (/ˈpɛniːbeɪkər/; July 15, 1925 – August 1, 2019) was an American filmmaker. He was a pioneer of a style called direct cinema. This style uses a handheld camera and tries to show real events as they happen. Pennebaker often filmed live music and political events.

In 2013, he received a special Academy Award for his amazing work. Many people called him the best filmmaker to capture the "Sixties counterculture". This was a time when many young people questioned old ways of thinking.

Who was D. A. Pennebaker?

Early Life and First Steps in Film

Donn Alan Pennebaker, known as "Penny" to his friends, was born in Evanston, Illinois. His father was a commercial photographer. Pennebaker served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he studied engineering at Yale University. He even started a company that made one of the first computer systems for airline reservations.

But soon, he became interested in filmmaking. In 1953, he made his first film, Daybreak Express. This short film showed the old elevated subway in New York City. It was set to music by the famous jazz artist Duke Ellington.

Starting a New Way of Filmmaking

In 1959, Pennebaker helped start a group called Drew Associates. He worked with Richard Leacock and Robert Drew. This group was very important for creating "direct cinema." They wanted to make documentaries that felt real and unplanned. They used new cameras that could record sound and video at the same time. This meant the camera could move freely with the people in the film.

Their first big film was Primary (1960). It followed John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey during the 1960 election. This film was one of the first to show a political race so openly. It was later chosen to be kept in the Library of Congress because it was so important.

Filming Music Legends and Political Moments

Pennebaker and Leacock later started their own company. In 1965, Bob Dylan's manager asked Pennebaker to film Dylan's tour in England. The film was called Dont Look Back (there's no apostrophe in the title). It became a very famous film about music and the 1960s. The opening scene, where Dylan drops cards with song lyrics, was like an early music video. This film is also kept in the Library of Congress.

Pennebaker also filmed the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. This was a huge music event. He captured amazing performances by artists like the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Otis Redding, and Janis Joplin. These films helped make these artists famous. His film Monterey Pop (1968) is considered one of the best documentaries ever.

He continued to film other music stars like John Lennon, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and David Bowie. He filmed Bowie's "farewell" concert in 1973.

In 1970, Pennebaker filmed the recording of the Broadway musical Company. This film showed how a cast records an album. It became very popular again recently.

Working with Chris Hegedus and Later Films

Around 1976, Pennebaker met filmmaker Chris Hegedus. They started working together and later got married in 1982. They made many films together.

In 1988, they followed the band Depeche Mode on their U.S. tour. The film, 101, showed the band and a group of young fans traveling to their big concert. This film helped start the "reality" TV trend that became popular on MTV.

In 1992, Pennebaker and Hegedus filmed Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. Their film, The War Room, focused on Clinton's campaign team. It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary.

Pennebaker and Hegedus continued to make many documentaries. Some of their notable films include Startup.com (2001), about a dot-com company, and Kings of Pastry (2009), about French pastry chefs.

In 2012, Pennebaker received a special Governors Award from the Academy Awards. This award recognized his entire career.

When did Pennebaker pass away?

D. A. Pennebaker died at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, on August 1, 2019.

How Pennebaker Made His Films

Pennebaker's films often used a handheld camera. He usually avoided adding a narrator's voice or interviews. He wanted to show events simply, as they happened. This was the main idea of the direct cinema style he helped create. He once said he didn't make "documentaries" but "records of moments" or "semimusical reality things."

He was also a skilled engineer. He helped create one of the first portable camera and sound systems. This invention changed how documentaries could be made. It allowed filmmakers to move freely and capture real life.

Pennebaker's Influence on Film

Pennebaker's new ways of filming had a big impact on both documentaries and regular movies. His style influenced many filmmakers who wanted to show real life on screen. His work has even been made fun of in TV shows, which shows how famous his style became.

Filmography

Images for kids

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  The National performing at the BAM in 2010. Pennebaker and Hegedus directed the live webcast.

See also

In Spanish: D. A. Pennebaker para niños