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 Liza Kindred.

JAY Z and Swizz Beatz // On To The Next One

I move forward / The only direction / Can’t be scared to fail / Search and perfection.

If you can get past the misogyny in the video, the song has a invigorating message. The idea of the track is that once the masses are onto something, he’s moved onto the next big thing. As web workers, there’s a little of that in what we do every day. My friend Lodro Rinzler, author of The Buddha Walks Into a Bar, once even used the video as the basis for a column about overcoming fear as a Buddhist.

The Eye Has to Travel

This is the only movie I have ever in my life watched twice in a row. Venerable fashion editor Diana Vreeland has a reputation for brilliance; this documentary does a beautiful job of explaining why and illustrating how. Her aesthetic was truly ground-breaking; her fiery missives were called the first blog posts. Why not paint your nails red and learn about this legendary woman?

Jiro Loves Sushi

The first sushi chef to earn three Michelin stars is 86 years old and works in a tiny 10-seat shop tucked into the Tokyo subway. His obsession with perfecting his “simple” dishes is an inspiration. After watching this beautiful, and at times heartbreaking, film about his passion for perfection, I felt motivation to take my work to the next level. I may also have cried a little.

Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s

This documentary is not much more than a long-form advertisement for fabled luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman – but oh, what an ad. Full of whimsy, couture, hyperbole, ridiculous personalities, and holiday window porn, it’s a feast for the eyes. I tend to get caught up too often in in pixels and projections, forgetting about how emotionally fulfilling beauty can be.

Who Needs Forever? // Astrud Gilberto (Thievery Corporation Remix)

I have two rules in life: “Never don’t buy shoes”, and “It’s never the wrong time for the Beastie Boys”. To those I should probably add: :Every restaurant should always be playing the Verve Remixed albums”. The storied jazz label released three collections of remixed jazz favorites, and the results are ethereal, elegant, and always appropriate. This song is like lighting a candle and pouring yourself a glass of red wine: an unfailingly good idea.

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.

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 Anne Helen Petersen.

Sunset Boulevard

My favorite movie about Hollywood, bar none. Gloria Swanson is a revelation.

Bright Star

One of my top five movies of the last decade; so quietly beautiful and feminist.

The Notebook

This movie is a schlock-fest. The book is a mess; the dialogue is horrible. But it also shows how star charisma works: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, and the palpable chemistry between them, turn a throwaway melodrama into something of substance and charm. Now I just fast-forward through the old people parts and make myself a near-perfect movie.

Goodfellas (steady-cam shot)

When people find out I study media for a living, they always ask my favorite movie. I have dozens of favorites, but I always say Goodfellas, and this ridiculously impressive steady-cam shot is one of many reasons why. Watch it and be seduced.

Marilyn Monroe on ‘Person to Person’ with Edward R. Murrow

I hate the way Marilyn Monroe has been flattened into a one-dimensional sex object, and always show this clip to my students to emphasize what was so special about her: an ineffable mix of charm, self-deprecating humor, and unspeakable beauty.