Leon Gast
Encyclopedia
Leon Gast is an American documentary film director, producer, cinematographer, and editor. His documentary When We Were Kings
depicting the iconic heavyweight boxing match termed The Rumble in the Jungle
between Muhammad Ali
and George Foreman
won the 1996 Academy Award for Documentary Feature
and the Independent Spirit Award. Gast co-directed the 1977 documentary The Grateful Dead Movie
with guitarist Jerry Garcia
. The film captured the band's October 1974 five-night performance at the Winterland Ballroom
in San Francisco. Gast also co-directed the 1983 film Hell's Angels Forever.
A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Gast studied dramatic arts at Columbia University
, and in that same period worked the television series High Adventure with writer and broadcaster Lowell Thomas
. Gast is also known for his still photography which has appeared in such magazines as Vogue
, Esquire
, and Harper's Bazaar
.
Gast's most recently completed project is a documentary entitled Smash His Camera
, a film about paparazzi
photographer Ron Galella
. The film won "Best Director" of a documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival
.
For his next project, Gast is working on his second documentary on a boxing legend. It will focus on the current number one pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, Manny Pacquiao, detailing his rise from poverty to the very top of the boxing world and now congressman in the Philippines.
When We Were Kings
When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The fight was held in Zaire on October 30, 1974.The film features a number of celebrities, including James Brown, Jim...
depicting the iconic heavyweight boxing match termed The Rumble in the Jungle
The Rumble in the Jungle
The Rumble in the Jungle was a historic boxing event that took place on October 30, 1974, in the Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire . It pitted then world Heavyweight champion George Foreman against former world champion and challenger Muhammad Ali...
between Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
and George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
won the 1996 Academy Award for Documentary Feature
Academy Award for Documentary Feature
The Academy Award for Documentary Feature is among the most prestigious awards for documentary films.- Winners and nominees:Following the Academy's practice, films are listed below by the award year...
and the Independent Spirit Award. Gast co-directed the 1977 documentary The Grateful Dead Movie
The Grateful Dead Movie
The Grateful Dead Movie, released in 1977 and directed by Jerry Garcia, is a film that captures performances from the Grateful Dead's October 1974 five-night stand at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. This end-of-tour run marked the beginning of an extended hiatus for the band, with no...
with guitarist Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
. The film captured the band's October 1974 five-night performance at the Winterland Ballroom
Winterland Ballroom
The Winterland Ballroom, often referred to as Winterland Arena or simply Winterland, was an old ice skating rink and 5,400-seat music venue in San Francisco, California...
in San Francisco. Gast also co-directed the 1983 film Hell's Angels Forever.
A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Gast studied dramatic arts at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and in that same period worked the television series High Adventure with writer and broadcaster Lowell Thomas
Lowell Thomas
Lowell Jackson Thomas was an American writer, broadcaster, and traveler, best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous...
. Gast is also known for his still photography which has appeared in such magazines as Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, and Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
.
Gast's most recently completed project is a documentary entitled Smash His Camera
Smash His Camera
Smash His Camera is a 2010 documentary film directed by filmmaker Leon Gast about the life and career of paparazzi photographer Ron Galella. In early 2010, the film won "Best Director" of a documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, began a limited U.S. theatrical release on 30 July 2010 through...
, a film about paparazzi
Paparazzi
Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people...
photographer Ron Galella
Ron Galella
Ron Galella is an American photographer, known as a pioneer paparazzo. Dubbed "Paparazzo Extraordinaire" by Newsweek and "the Godfather of the U.S...
. The film won "Best Director" of a documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
For his next project, Gast is working on his second documentary on a boxing legend. It will focus on the current number one pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, Manny Pacquiao, detailing his rise from poverty to the very top of the boxing world and now congressman in the Philippines.
Filmography
- Our Latin Thing - Nuestra cosa Latina (1972)
- Celia Cruz and the Fania Allstars in Africa (1974)
- The Grateful Dead MovieThe Grateful Dead MovieThe Grateful Dead Movie, released in 1977 and directed by Jerry Garcia, is a film that captures performances from the Grateful Dead's October 1974 five-night stand at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. This end-of-tour run marked the beginning of an extended hiatus for the band, with no...
(1974); as a co-director for Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead... - B.B. King - Sweet 16 (1974)
- Hells Angels Forever (1983)
- When We Were KingsWhen We Were KingsWhen We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The fight was held in Zaire on October 30, 1974.The film features a number of celebrities, including James Brown, Jim...
(1996) - One Love (2003)
- Soul PowerSoul Power (film)Soul Power is a 2008 documentary film directed by Jeff Levy-Hinte about the Zaire 74 music festival which accompanied the Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight boxing championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in October 1974....
(2008) - Smash His CameraSmash His CameraSmash His Camera is a 2010 documentary film directed by filmmaker Leon Gast about the life and career of paparazzi photographer Ron Galella. In early 2010, the film won "Best Director" of a documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, began a limited U.S. theatrical release on 30 July 2010 through...
(2010) - Untitled film on Manny Pacquiao (2012)
External links
- It Was Our Thing, Our Latin Thing: An Interview with Leon Gast
- http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/articlescontent.aspx?articleId=694735&publicationSubCategoryId=69