Errol Morris

Errol Mark Morris (born February 5, 1948) is an accomplished American film director known primarily for his noteworthy contributions to the field of documentary filmmaking, using innovative techniques including the pioneering use of the Interrotron, a device that enables eye-contact between the interviewer and subject. Morris's filmography covers a wide range of unusual subjects and his work has earned him high critical acclaim. The 2003 documentary, 'The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara', won him an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Another noteworthy work, 'The Thin Blue Line' (1988), is hailed as one of the most influential documentaries and was instrumental in proving the innocence of a man wrongly sentenced for murder. His early life was marked by experiences that shaped his worldview and his approach to filmmaking, characterized by the examination of the perception and interpretation of reality. Morris's unique filmmaking style has been attributed to a refusal to conform to the traditional cinema verité style, instead opting for stylized lighting, musical scoring, and heavy use of re-enactments. He combines his talents as a private investigator and his fascination with truth, perception and narration to create films that challenge the conventional understanding of documentary films' relationships with 'reality'. Despite initial resistance from the filmmaking community, Morris's style has set a new standard in documentary filmmaking, influencing generations of filmmakers. His passion for unearthing truth, reflected in his avant-garde techniques, was likewise reflected in his roles as a writer and journalist. Morris is equally known as an accomplished director of television commercials, responsible for creating some of the most popular ads on television.