Batman, Batman, Batman! with Filmmaker Alex Gray
Batman Image from the documentary “Masterpiece: Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns”
For more information on filmmaker Alex Gray, visit his website www.studiowestpictures.com
Titles profiled in the podcast
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EARLY DAYS AT WARNER BROS.
Alex Gray has been a friend and co-worker since I first met him when I was hired by Warner Home Video in 2007 to produce special features. From the very beginning, I noticed Alex’s passion for the extras as shown by his relentless work ethic, his attention to detail, and his hands-on approach to research and execution, especially when it came to titles in animation and relating to superheroes. So it was no surprise when Alex left Warner Bros. to launch his own production company to produce documentary extras.
Frank Miller in his workspace (image from the documentary “Masterpiece: Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns”).
Over the intervening years, I have been impressed by both the volume and exceptional quality of Alex’s documentaries. But it is Alex’s focus and belief that comic book heroes and their mythology are the perfect storytelling for our time, that most impress me. His ability to realize the psychological nuances in superhero mythology sets him apart and is a key reason why he is one of the foremost filmmakers in Superhero documentary production.
This is exemplified in his film “Masterpiece: Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns”, one of the best documentaries you will find on Frank Miller and his seminal work “The Dark Knight Returns.”
COLLISION WITH THE FUTURE
Filmmakers Mike Brosnan (L) and Alex Gray (M) with Tim Millard (R) on the set of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I had no idea at the time we filmed behind the scenes for the interactive featurette “Collision with the Future: Deconstructing the Hunter Killer Attack” that this was just the beginning of over a decade-long collaboration with both Alex and Mike.
BLUE PILL OR RED PILL
A younger Alex Gray (L) and Jeff Maynard (R) sitting in the Matrix chairs in the production offices of Joel Silver Entertainment (2003). Alex and Jeff first met working on the extras for the box set of The Matrix. Their friendship, and creative collaboration has spanned hundreds of extras over the years.
EARLY DAYS OF DC ANIMATED MOVIES
While an executive at Warner Home Video, Alex was a part of the initial team that developed a new product aimed at the adult DC fan - the DC Animated Movies. He produced the extras for the first release, “Superman Doomsday” and has gone on to produce extras for each of the 40+ films released so far.
PINBALL MACHINE COLLECTOR
Alex is a collector of pinball machines. His favorite game is the monochromatic Centaur, a game popular in the 1980s. Here Alex (R) is at the Stern Factory with well-known pinball game designer George Gomez (L) and his Batman ‘66 pinball design.
All Batman and DC images copyright DC Animation.