This film traces the evolution of Animation from the earliest feature, Winsor McCay's Gertie the Dinosaur, and the genius of Walt Disney to the CGI megahits of studios like Pixar in Animation's Second Golden Age.

While one half of Hollywood is the glitz and glamor of the studios, the other half is the Indie. This film examines the independent auteur, the author of the avant-garde literature of modern American film.

Hollywood has always attracted foreign directors with superb cinematic dreams, including visionaries such as Otto Preminger, Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock and Ang Lee. This film describes the impact of immigrant filmmakers not only on American cinema, but on the story of America, showing Americans who they are from the outsider's perspective.

This production is part of a famous series produced by BBC of all of William Shakespeare's plays. The resulting films, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilized the best theatrical and television directors and brought highly praised performances from leading contemporary actors.. This savage tragedy is one of Shakespeare's most enduringly popular. Told by a trio of witches that he is fated to become King of Scotland, the warrior Macbeth, aided by his wife, in his quest for power murders his king and assumes the throne. The two embark on a guilt-ridden reign of terror.

In the 1970s Hollywood escaped slow financial ruin with the introduction of the summer Blockbuster. This film shows how this idea not only redefined Hollywood, it established one of the cinema's greatest financial marvels - the franchise.

This production is part of a famous series produced by BBC of all of William Shakespeare's plays. The resulting films, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilized the best theatrical and television directors and brought highly praised performances from leading contemporary actors. A huge success in its day, this historical play centers around the character of Richard of Gloucester, a self-proclaimed villain who usurps the crown. Through political marriages and military coups, this play portrays an intricate period in English history.

This production is part of a famous series produced by BBC of all of William Shakespeare's plays. The resulting films, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilized the best theatrical and television directors and brought highly praised performances from leading contemporary actors.. Breaking all conventional rules of drama, Shakespeare creates neither a clear-cut hero nor a Villain. Instead, this great tragedy presents complicated human beings in agonizing conflict with one another, and themselves.. Starring Charles Gray (Diamonds Are Forever, Rocky Horror Picture Show) as Caesar.

This production is part of a famous series produced by BBC of all of William Shakespeare's plays. The resulting films, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilized the best theatrical and television directors and brought highly praised performances from leading contemporary actors.. In the third play portraying England's most admired national hero, Henry V unites his people, invades France, deals with traitors and cements the peace by marrying the Princess of France.. The play examines the qualities that make a successful ruler and show also the isolation and responsibility that leadership entails.

This production is part of a famous series produced by BBC of all of William Shakespeare's plays. The resulting films, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilized the best theatrical and television directors and brought highly praised performances from leading contemporary actors.. Intending to divide his realm among his three daughters, the dictatorial Lear commands each give a testimony of her love. But after the gushing of malevolent Goneril and Regan, loyal Cordelia states: "I love your majesty according to my bond; nor more nor less." She is banished, and Lear's descent into madness begins.

This production is part of a famous series produced by BBC of all of William Shakespeare's plays. The resulting films, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilized the best theatrical and television directors and brought highly praised performances from leading contemporary actors.. In this richly-costumed production, the greatest tragedy ever written maintains all the tension of a murder mystery as it examines the fundamental issues of justice, guilt and death. The director's innovative film technique creates an intimate performance that succeeds extremely well on small as well as large screens.. Hamlet, the most complex of all Shakespeare's characters, is considered the greatest challenge for an actor. Sir Derek Jacobi is a superb choice in the rigorous tradition of Shakespearian acting. Sir Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek) co-stars as Claudius.

The process of documenting ordinary or exceptional events in such a way that they tell a compelling story is the skill set that documentary filmmakers bring to moviemaking. This film describes the genre of short documentaries and experimental films from the 20's and 30's blossomed into the megahit documentary features of the 21st Century.

In the 21st Century, Hollywood has retained the glitz and glamor of its past as well as its great studios. But the genius of American cinema is that it has evolved with the times. Directors have become the creative force behind films, while movies themselves, from documentaries and animation to blockbusters and insightful Indies have taken on the mantle of great literature.. THE GREAT DIRECTORS: THE MAKING OF 21st CENTURY HOLLYWOOD traces the evolution of Hollywood after the studio system failed, from the introduction of the summer blockbuster, to the thought-provoking movies of independent auteurs, to world renown immigrant directors, to the rise of mega-hit documentaries, and to the 21st Century's second Golden Age of Animation.