Documentary filmmaking is incredibly unique in that it immerses not only the audience in its subject matter but also its filmmaker in the process of creating the film. From spending countless hours researching, compiling, and shooting interviews and creating an overall storyline, every step of the way, the filmmaker is involved and learning as the progression ensues. The challenge then becomes how much this filmmaker can include of their newly learned knowledge about the subject and what the best way to shed light on this subject that they have studied is. Stuart Ginsberg’s It’s A to Z: The Art of Arleen Schloss exemplifies this challenge and is greatly successful in how it was overcome. Although the film only runs for an hour, it encompasses decades of information surrounding Arleen Schloss, a notable multimedia artist in the New York City underground art scene in the 70s through the 90s.

The film itself traces Arleen's life from her birth in 1943 until her most recent recognition in the last decade. The highlight of the film is not only its extensive inclusion of interviews and performances/artwork but also Schloss’s presence in the movie. Through the footage of Schloss, we learn more about her as an individual beyond her art, as someone who wanted to explore and be creative but also collaborate and work with others. In addition to the many collaborations she had in her time as an artist, she also collaborated on the making of the film.

It’s A To Z: The Art of Arleen Schloss strays from other documentaries in its tone. The film feels less of a recollection of Schloss’s art but rather an appreciation of her craft. As the film progresses, the audience is taken on an enchanting journey of everything Arleen Schloss did or participated in. Despite the impressive amount of information and events told throughout the film, Ginsberg is precise and careful in how he displays this information, never making it too much for the audience. Instead, viewers are consistently being shown something new and mesmerizing from Schloss. However, Ginsberg’s process for the film being this way was no easy feat. In an interview with New Jersey Film Festival Director Albert Nigrin at EBTV, Ginsberg revealed that in making the film, he and Schloss sat down for hours for many days spanning from May to August of 2007 and watched many VHS tapes spanning up to 6 hours long. While watching, Schloss would pause the video and explain to Ginsberg what was happening and why. By the end of this process and other research, Ginsberg had 600 hours of archival footage to look through and compile into an hour-long film. He accomplished this task exceptionally well, with the film’s final result being one of not only admiration but illumination. Also supporting this tone of recognition is the plethora of interviews surrounding Schloss.

In It’s A To Z: The Art of Arleen Schloss, inter-spliced between a large amount of performance footage are very interesting interviews with those who worked with Arleen Schloss and Arleen herself. The range of interviews spanning decades offers an explanation and a guide through the film of what was happening and why. The decision by Ginsberg to include these was crucial, as they brought new light to the film and helped posit it as something unique. Additionally, having such a distinct span of interviewee subjects creates a more holistic portrait of Arleen and who she is.

It’s A To Z: The Art of Arleen Schloss highlights the expansive and unique artistic journey of Arleen Schloss. The film itself feels like a message of appreciation and value from Stuart Ginsberg to Schloss herself. Ginsberg’s dedication and filmmaking skills are on display within the film, offering audiences the same experience of being immersed in Schloss’ work that he had.

It’s A To Z: The Art of Arleen Schloss screens at the Spring 2025 New Jersey Film Festival on Friday, January 31.  The film will be Online for 24 Hours on this show date and In-Person at 7 PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ. Tickets are available for purchase here.

The 43rd Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between January 24-February 21, 2025. The Festival will be a hybrid one as it will be presented online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VoD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person screenings. Plus, acclaimed singer-songwriter Renee Maskin will be doing an audio-visual concert on Friday, February 21 at 7PM! The in-person screenings and the Renee Maskin concert will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$100; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. 

For more info go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2025.eventive.org/welcome