Gary Leva

Filmmaker and film historian Gary Leva has distinguished himself as the creative force behind scores of documentaries, broadcast programs and Special Features, many of them focused on the cinematic arts. His feature documentary, Fog City Mavericks, which highlights 100 years in the history of San Francisco's vibrant filmmaking community, had its world premiere at the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival prior to its continuing life on cable television and disc. Leva's documentaries have made a lasting contribution to the history of film. His award- winning A Legacy of Filmmakers premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and received a New York Film Society screening at Manhattan's Guggenheim Museum. This documentary illuminates the creation of Francis Ford Coppola's landmark film company American Zoetrope, set against the changing landscape of American cinema in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film is now a part of the curricula at several top universities. Leva's celebrated documentaries on the cinema of George Lucas span the entire range of Lucas' career, from his earliest student films to his first feature, THX 1138, to the Star Wars series and beyond. His collections of documentaries on filmmakers Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood and Stanley Kubrick are often regarded as the top anthology on each of these master's works. Having earned a distinguished reputation as a leader in his field, Leva continues to work with the top filmmakers of our time, ...

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Artifact from the Future: The Making of 'THX 1138' (2004)

The Making of feature for the George Lucas movie 'THX 1138'. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: George Lucas • Francis Ford Coppola • Walter Murch • Matthew Robbins

The Making of feature for the George Lucas movie 'THX 1138'. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: George Lucas • Francis Ford Coppola • Walter Murch • Matthew Robbins

North by Northwest: One for the Ages (2009)

A discussion of North by Northwest and its influence. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Curtis Hanson • Guillermo del Toro • William Friedkin • Francis Lawrence

A discussion of North by Northwest and its influence. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Curtis Hanson • Guillermo del Toro • William Friedkin • Francis Lawrence

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style (2009)

Documentary that features interviews with Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson, Francis Lawrence, William Friedkin, Guillermo Del Toro, John Carpenter and others as they discuss the films and style of the Master of Suspense. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Alfred Hitchcock • Francis Lawrence • William Friedkin • Guillermo del Toro

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Alfred Hitchcock • Francis Lawrence • William Friedkin • Guillermo del Toro

Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light (2006)

Film Noir burrows into the mind; it's disorienting, intriguing and enthralling. Noir brings us into a gritty underworld of lush morbidity, providing intimate peeks at its tough, scheming dames, mischievous misfits and flawed men - all caught in the wicked web of a ... (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: John Alton • Drew Casper • Roger Deakins • John Debney

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: John Alton • Drew Casper • Roger Deakins • John Debney

One Soldier's Story: The Journey of American Sniper (2015)

Join director Clint Eastwood and his creative team, along with Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, as they overcome enormous creative and logistic obstacles to make a film that brings the truth of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's story to the screen. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Philip Terrence • Bradley Cooper • Andrew Lazar • Sienna Miller

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Philip Terrence • Bradley Cooper • Andrew Lazar • Sienna Miller

Gone With The Wind: The Legend Lives On (2009)

This featurette discusses why the film is still so important. Also discusses “Windies”, the GWTW fan club. New for the 70th anniversary release. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST:

This featurette discusses why the film is still so important. Also discusses “Windies”, the GWTW fan club. New for the 70th anniversary release. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST:

Super Heros United! The Complete Justice League History (2008)

This documentary tells the rich, 47-year history of DC Comics' favorite team of characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Green Lantern and The Flash. Lavishly illustrated with comic panels and animated clips, the film features interviews with icons ... (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Alan Kistler • Jimmy Palmiotti • Michael Uslan • Mark Waid

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Alan Kistler • Jimmy Palmiotti • Michael Uslan • Mark Waid

Fog City Mavericks (2007)

Fog City Mavericks: The Filmmakers of San Francisco is a compelling exploration of the legendary filmmakers who call the San Francisco Bay Area home including George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Chris Columbus and producer Saul Zaentz. The special ... (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: George Lucas • Francis Ford Coppola • John Lasseter • Sofia Coppola

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: George Lucas • Francis Ford Coppola • John Lasseter • Sofia Coppola

The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (2007)

A look at the visual design of the film The Shining (1980). (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Janusz Kamiński • Caleb Deschanel • Sydney Pollack • John Baxter

A look at the visual design of the film The Shining (1980). (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Janusz Kamiński • Caleb Deschanel • Sydney Pollack • John Baxter

View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining' (2007)

An overview of the making of, and a look at the continuing popularity of, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Jack Nicholson • Jan Harlan • Paul Duncan • John Baxter

An overview of the making of, and a look at the continuing popularity of, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Jack Nicholson • Jan Harlan • Paul Duncan • John Baxter

Great Bolshy Yarblockos!: Making A Clockwork Orange (2007)

In this documentary, we follow Stanley Kubrick as he creates one of the most controversial films of all time, one that retains its power to shock audiences, even after 35 years. At the time of its release, A Clockwork Orange created a firestorm of controversy. ... (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Steven Spielberg • Bernard Williams • Paul Duncan • John Baxter

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Steven Spielberg • Bernard Williams • Paul Duncan • John Baxter

Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick (2007)

He is considered by many the greatest film director the medium has ever known. Yet in a 45-year career, Stanley Kubrick's films number only a dozen. That he strove for perfection is well established. What is less known is that he lavished years of energy on several ... (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Malcolm McDowell • Jack Nicholson • Sydney Pollack • Jan Harlan

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Malcolm McDowell • Jack Nicholson • Sydney Pollack • Jan Harlan

A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope (2004)

A fascinating chronicle of the birth and rise of the radically different independent studio founded by director Francis Ford Coppola. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Richard Dreyfuss • Robert Dalva • Francis Ford Coppola • Steven Spielberg

A fascinating chronicle of the birth and rise of the radically different independent studio founded by director Francis Ford Coppola. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Richard Dreyfuss • Robert Dalva • Francis Ford Coppola • Steven Spielberg

Reimagining Rodan (2019)

A look at the newest version of one of Godzilla's greatest rivals. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Michael Dougherty

A look at the newest version of one of Godzilla's greatest rivals. (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Michael Dougherty

Monsters are Real (2019)

Why does the fear of monsters resonate in every culture and civilization around the globe? Take a deep dive into the chilling world of our primal fears, a world where the myths and legends of history are not merely fairy tales, but proof of reality. Meet real-life ... (more)

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Michael Dougherty

DIRECTION: Gary Leva

CAST: Michael Dougherty