Non film buffs may not instantly recognize the names involved in this episode, but rest assured they will recognize the titles.  Zemeckis and Burgess have collaborated on such hit films as Forrest Gump (1994), Cast Away (2000), and most recently Flight (2012).  The program begins with both artists speaking about their favorite films and specific scenes from those films that have inspired their art.  Clips are shown from the famous car chase in The French Connection (1971) and a battle scene from Lawrence of Arabia (1962) among others.  Viewers will gain an appreciation for intricate scenes in older films that weren't able to rely on CGI and often times had to be filmed in one continuous shot.

 

My favorite part of the program is something akin to a live commentary track where both men talk about various scenes from their own collaborative work.  Burgess reminisces about filming the Vietnam scene in Forrest Gump (1994)  while Zemeckis remembers a difficult mirror trick from What Lies Beneath (2000).  Both agree that the inverted plane sequence from Flight (2012) was perhaps the most difficult scene of their careers due to the headache of wanting to film from inside the upside-down cabin.  Actors could only hang upside-down for short periods of time, so great preparation was needed in order to get as much on film as possible during each take. The AFI students are then allowed to participate in a Q&A session to conclude the show which may be interesting if viewers were there in person, but comes across as unnecessary on television.  I would much rather hear more from these artists talking about beloved films than listen to students ask about cinematography techniques.

 

Regular viewers of TCM will definitely love hearing the conversations of two cinema veterans.  For other viewers, this is a prime moment to discover some films you may not have been familiar with or rediscover some favorites.  As an added bonus, following this program will be the TCM premiere of the Zemeckis & Burgess supernatural film What Lies Beneath (2000) starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer.

 

Catch AFI's Master Class: The Art of Collaboration on Monday, January 14, at 8 P.M. (ET) on TCM!