D. A. Pennebaker

Donn Alan "D. A." Pennebaker (born July 15, 1925) is an American documentary filmmaker and one of the pioneers of Direct Cinema/Cinéma vérité. Performing arts (especially pop music) and politics are his primary subjects. Pennebaker was born in Evanston, Illinois, the son of Lucille Levick (née Deemer) and John Paul Pennebaker, who was a commercial photographer. In the early 1960s Pennebaker (known as "Penny" to his friends), together with Richard... more

Donn Alan "D. A." Pennebaker (born July 15, 1925) is an American documentary filmmaker and one of the pioneers of Direct Cinema/Cinéma vérité. Performing arts (especially pop music) and politics are his primary subjects. Pennebaker was born in Evanston, Illinois, the son of Lucille Levick (née Deemer) and John Paul Pennebaker, who was a commercial photographer. In the early 1960s Pennebaker (known as "Penny" to his friends), together with Richard Leacock and Robert Drew, founded Drew Associates. In 1963 Leacock and Pennebaker left to found their own production firm. Later he often worked with his wife, Chris Hegedus. Their company, Pennebaker Hegedus Films, has made a number of influential documentaries. Sometimes called "Pennebaker documentaries", these films, shot with an obviously hand-held camera, typically eschew voice-over narration and interviews in favor of a "simple" portrayal of events. less