5 things – Liz Danzico

The brief: Tell us about 5 songs *and/or* films. It could be the ones you think are the greatest. Or that move you most. Or that are under-appreciated. Something along those lines.

The people: Webstock speakers and assorted Webstock people.

Today with Liz Danzico.

Apollo 13 (1995)


I’m moved by process. The thing behind the thing. The prototype, the failed sketch. How do people build better, design differently, make their vision real? Sometimes, the process exposed is itself the thing of brilliance.

The Making of JAWS (2000)


However bad your projects have gotten, Speilberg had it worse in 1975. Over budget, over timeline, and at least two shark prototypes over projection, the Jaws team pulled through as we find out in this incredible story of the power of iteration (and faking it).

Jeremy Denk (2012)


Denk reveals Bach’s musical grammar, and in the process, reveals his own process (and genius).

Glenn Gould (~1950)


The humming. You can hear the humming on most of Gould’s albums, but to see him working though it: delightful.

Burden of Dreams (the making of Fitzcarraldo) (1982)


An unforgiving nonfiction tale on not giving up or in on one’s vision.