How Werner Herzog Masters Documentary Storytelling

Filmmaker Werner Herzog's relentless pursuit of "ecstatic" truth.
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This Guy is Sven, an A.C.E. Award nominee who cut for James Cameron, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and James Franco.
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[@UltimateKyuubiFox]

I've heard many things about Herzog. I don't think I ever heard anything that made him feel so human. The way he used inference to drive home how horrific this attack was, all done tastefully to the point of minimalism, really captures how much he didn't want to exploit the tragedy. Yet his brilliance as a filmmaker was utilized in full effect to make you understand its severity regardless. Excellent analysis, and thank you for showing us a side to Herzog a lot of us might be ignorant of. I admire the work of many filmmakers who I'm sure would've handled this subject with far less grace.

[@ThisGuyEdits]

I love this comment. Thank you for taking the time to write this.

[@silentwitness536]

Imagine a hack like tarantino making it instead.

[@agenturensohnDLX]

Herzog is the most dedicated filmmaker in the history of filmmaking

[@waisinet]

Marcel Zager besides jodorowski maybe

[@paul-ky5xw]

@Jörmungandr why?

[@peterkelnerxd7009]

Tarkovsky died because of his dedication

[@BezirksTerm8nator]

One of ... I would say ... but yes he is my favorite artists

[@subversivelysurreal3645]

i love him, but then, one my better qualities is the fact that i share love with ease.

[@jobhd1199]

I think for me why Herzog is so important is because he is in touch with the truth of himself, free of pretense that the movie industry creates and the shallow formulaic storytelling, that accompanied by music to enhance the artificial same old. The fact that he tells the coroner to express his emotions is a simple proof of this. He is like the old man at the campfire thousands of years ago, who just didn't tell the story, but acted it out so that his audience can feel and be on the same journey. He wants you to feel and understand, not what he wants you to, but the truth. I don't know, I don't think I am still explaining it correctly, but its as close as I can get right now. I don't think he is unique though, I've seen great documentaries that made me feel that way too, one that comes to mind is "Born into Brothels"

[@bigcabdaddy]

I want to let you know that while I do enjoy your editing videos, it's ones like this that has me subscribing. I love how you break down a video story or style. I only wish I could find someone who does an equal job with the written story.

[@Terriblysorry]

Hopefully I can help, try the channel 'Lessons from the Screenplay' he's fantastic at breaking down screenplays as a written art and how they progress to visual.

[@ThisGuyEdits]

I love LFTS.

[@glancing.]

I think the closest you can get will be Tales from the Screenplay

[@stringstaffan4]

Perhaps the greatest living legendary filmmaker today!

[@draori2348]

8:25 shitting while fighting another bear? THIS BEAR'S BRUTAL

[@miguelfcervantes]

Herzog is a true master and a true mad man. I couldn't tell you what intrigues me more. I love his work. I appreciate this video and all your work, Sven.

[@ThisGuyEdits]

Thank you :)

[@TheThinkersBible]

Brilliant, moving insight. I learned of Herzog through Masterclass, I bought his film making master class before the website deleted it because they went subscription-only. I got a lot out of the portion I finished and have admired Herzog ever since.

[@ChickenAtomic]

I love Werner Herzog so much and this video does him justice. I also think that the tape listening scene in Grizzly Bear is the most terrifying scene I ever saw, along with that scene in Into The Abyss (by Herzog) where he's in front of a very young prisoner who will be sentenced to death a few days later. He just let him talk, there was nothing to add, and yet this was creepy as hell. When I see the tape listening scene in Grizzly Man, I like to compare it with an other famous scene with a bear attack in the movie The Revenant, in wich you see every detail perfectly in ultra HD and you hear the astonish sound in 5:1 Dolby surround and shit... But whatever the amount of work put in this scene, this will never be as powerful as that freakin grizzly attack in the Herzog's documentary, where you see and hear nothing, and it's just all about suggestion. Cinema is magic.

[@willowicious1]

I completely forgot about the bear scene in "The Revenant" - I guess that shows how forgettable it was. Just watched "Grizzly Man" and it feels like someone stabbed me. Great movie. That scene and then later when you see Timothy just ranting for no reason really shows how similar him and the bears were toward the end of his life. Werners comment on the lifeless eyes of the bears is a powerful ending.

[@DarkAngelEU]

I would call his documentaries 'magical realism', because he sees the magic that cannot be found in fiction with the simple mechanics of cinema. I only saw Fitzcarraldo as a backdrop to better understand The Burden of Dreams, which was way more interesting to see. Already there you can notice Herzog's struggle with fiction, how he is a man of the world - not of the industry.

[@laughingatoms]

Very well said

[@DarkAngelEU]

@@laughingatoms I read back this comment and I am reminded how much Herzog has inspired me in my own work. Thank you :)

[@BOBMAN1980]

From all I can remember, "Grizzly Man" is the first work by Herzog I saw. I had no idea who he was or the significance, really, of the work (and its gravitas), but was moved and disturbed by it--particularly remembering this scene where he's listening to the audio. I'd slowly come around to him, little by little; and while I shamefully admit that I have only seen a few of his works, I don't regret seeing any of them, and wish to know more.

I love listening to the sound of Herzog´s voice. I think it works more like a soundtrack than as a informative text about the images being shown. I don´t know if he is aware of that or not, what do you think? (by the way, I think this would be an interesting topic for a video: the importance of voice overs). Thanks for the video.

[@200_cuentos]

There is something so soothing about it.

[@Experiencetheedit]

I definitely think voice overs can make a huge difference in the audiences understanding of what to focus on. Even more powerful is the sudden lack of voice over where you find yourself understanding seemingly without being told.

[@117neither]

this video is asmr on asmr

[@panccio]

i love Herzog's documentary work. its rare to find so much humanity, and he proves in each how much he cares about the subject. the prologue of "Into the Abyss" stuck me so much...the sensibility of him as a director to make a regular interview so deep in such an easy way. he makes it so personal, that the technical doesnt even matter as how much depth his documentaries have. so glad to see someone else enjoying his work as much, and hope to meet him one day and tell him how much he has inspired me as a filmmaker and as a human as well. great essay, and i think you captured his subtleness so well.

[@bijomaTV]

That bear fight... oh man. That was intense.

[@bongdonkey]

Could you imagine getting attacked by a Kodiak Grizzly?The power they have is scary!

[@ThisGuyEdits]

Joe Rogan has a great commentary on that bear fight on youtube :)

[@AlFooteIII]

The throw at 7:55 almost looks like judo -- just goes to show, bipedal (at least for the moment) bodies all work kind of the same way.

[@AndrewWesthoff]

I could bearly stand it. It was hard to bear.

[@full-timepog6844]

Andrew Westhoff staahhhhhppppp

[@findmestudios]

I've only seen a few of Herzog's films, but Aguirre: The Wrath of God might be the greatest film I've ever seen.

[@mightisright]

My favorites are Little Dieter Needs to Fly and the feature he made later from it. In my opinion his documentaries are better.

[@LukesHomeTube]

Werner Herzog is really talented! Thanks for posting this analysis of his filmmaking!

[@SmileForward]

Hands down the best editing videos on KZbin. Keep it up!

[@drdraw]

This was very insightful. I wasn't a big fan of Herzog's documentaries before, but this really got me to see his personal approach and the philosophy behind his work. Thank you very much for making this. I really want to get into documentary film making and this is a great start.

[@KarenRACHELPealrman]

beautiful work Sven, so much insight into what documentary is and can be!

[@durborough8484]

wow. till today i just heard about werner. its the first time i saw his work. thank you.

[@PlasmProductions]

This is a great and eloquent review, you are able to explain the subtleties very well. I really admire Herzog and am learning so much from him. Thanks again!

[@artofphysics675]

3:30 - 4:30 is an awesome example of how emotions take time to feel, i could feel their pain just by looking at her face. Thanks for not cutting it

[@Timothysmith22]

wow, this had a really powerful effect on me. Great video and thanks for sharing!

[@vnrjn8]

I love Herzog's work. Dude doesn't let fear stop him.

[@Ricadamu]

I really appreciate the thought put into this video. Enjoyed it a lot. Thanks.

[@simianinc]

Burden of Dreams is currently playing at one of my local cinemas. Loved it

[@keithinadhd6693]

This was an amazing video. It helped me see editing in a different light. Thank you.

[@stevegeorge7773]

Powerful, brilliant, gripping and so informative.

[@CriticalEatsJapan]

Great video! You've inspired me to watch more of his films...

[@mentalanime]

Hey man, I really do appreciate this video. One of the best Werner Herzog videos I've seen on KZbin. Subscribed! P.S. I definitely look forward to how you edit in the next video!

[@ThisGuyEdits]

thank you. editing video coming soon.

[@casperes0912]

This was an amazing episode, man!

[@Anophathalm]

I highly admire and praise the work of Werner. Just like you even find his documentaries more fascinating than is films. Eventhough Fitzcarraldo, Nosferatu, Aguirre and Woyzeck are pure outstanding motion pictures. He definitely is one of the most inspiring film makers who crossed many bounderies, laws and mindsets to create works that last forever. For those who see this video and never saw one of his movies, please go and get one of his classics and his documentaries. Sure some might call them slow-paced and too artsy but unlike others he captures essences of life and its surroundings far more realistically as others. His work really shows that he is a very humble and well read personality who is just fascinating to listen to. Thank you for the video, great work as always, mate :)

[@binkymagnus]

Herzog treats everyone, especially the “freaks” and “weirdos” with such respect and dignity.

[@matshanssen2070]

No, he exploites them..😎

[@dimitrisgkioles]

I really admire your work every single video and knowledge you are sharing! The respect and your passion for filmaking inspiring us...thank u for this!

[@DaleRoossien]

Goosebumps Sven!

[@johnthelesserofthethirdoft863]

This man loves his work deeply. And enters the subject and let's it tell the story.

[@matshanssen2070]

He's looking for sensation and he exploites weirdo's.😎

[@virtualrc3120]

Amazing, new to editing and storytelling, great insights here

[@lagattolla]

very interesting and useful analysis, thank you for making it!

[@cainKuri]

This video was awesome... thanks !

[@inner7studios630]

Loved this! Inspired me creatively in so many ways...

[@ThisGuyEdits]

nice.

[@darkhorsefilms8000]

finally someone has done an essay on werner!!!!

[@StevenDivishh]

So much value in your videos, thank you so much

[@EposVox]

Intense episode!

[@millarprescott326]

Great video and tribute to one of the greatest. Thank you. And your self-assessment of his importance in your own work gives me inspiration as a new editor. I must watch a Werner film this evening. For any who are interested, Fandor has a pretty good Herzog library. Well worth the subscription.

[@ThisGuyEdits]

Good one. Grizzly Man is currently on Netflix, too.

[@NICNLV]

Ty for the tip on Fandor! I feel I’ve finally stumbled into something that has always been a part of me, just didn’t have the correct field of vision or comprehension-as well as the lack of confidence to truly follow my gut. I’ve loved W. Herzog for as long as I can remember; most recently for “Happy People” A Year In The Taiga... thanks again for the posts! 🤓

[@Mozz_Films]

Nice! Great as always!

[@seamustheterrible3978]

Outstanding. Thanks for this.

[@philemotion8876]

Loved this video !!!

[@quasarone3083]

The guy managed to work with Klaus Kinski on multiple movies, he has to be some sort of master film maker

[@Watercolordragon]

great work!

[@Northernspiral]

This is incredible!

[@yousefmenem1878]

beautiful video

[@jockoadams3377]

The Herzog Masterclass ad played before this video came on... nice timing. "We are not garbage collectors, we are filmmakers. We are thieves getting away with the loot."

[@canturgan]

A truly mad man.

[@Loki.Lyesmyth]

"Science has not yet taught us if madness is or is not the sublimity of the intelligence." Edgar Allan Poe

[@JasonRamasami]

Excellent. Thankyou.

[@jimkoral3824]

Great analysis.

[@bew7192]

I love your videos. Thank you so much! I learned a lot from you. Grüße aus der Heimat

[@whiskyGerman]

thank you for this!!

[@AlexVoxel]

This video is a really great analysis

[@suzettebooker1887]

I love this man...I would love to meet him

[@brentthomasaustin]

Amazing video

[@jimslav6973]

Love Herzog's catalog. Love even films others seem to hate like Bad Lieutenant with Nic Cage. It's hard to watch sometimes, but magnetic, nonetheless. For many, he's too personal, but that's what I love about it. Good video.

[@visualuniversal]

Great channel!

[@joegeorge8153]

Herzog is a perfectionist and great film maker for sure..

[@Andreas0705]

I first heard of Werner Herzog when I saw one of the most powerful documentaries I've ever seen, "Into the Abyss" the soundtrack is just so fitting. Gives me goosebumps and a heavy heart. I highly recommend it. It's about deathrow and life and death in that perspective.

[@potenvandebizon]

And that's not even mentioning the near fever-dream that is called Aguirre, Der Zorn Gottes.

[@sampsonraysimon]

Great stuff.

[@Ramblingdads]

Great 👍🏻👌🏻📹🎬

[@chipbrandstetter]

Very nice.

[@BeauJames59]

It's a lonely but wonderful road Werner shows us. You simply must spend a lot of time in solitude, far away from any media to find the ecstatic truth...

[@filmnobelpreis]

There is something incredibly powerful about showing people's reaction to violence and suffering rather than violence and suffering directly.

[@bat__bat]

Are you working on a Herzog doc now? I'm sorry I need to catch up on your last few videos. Grizzly Man is one of my favorites. Herzog really made an incredible film out of the raw footage Timothy left. No better person for the job.

[@jaskaransingh1761]

Lovely!

[@jeanleon3537]

Sven...you made me search for the audio

[@DavidFedele]

Great video Sven. I have been wanting to watch Burden of Dreams for a long time, but haven't managed to find a link where it may be available to watch online. Don't suppose you've got any ideas?

[@ThisGuyEdits]

I just rewatched it by renting it on Amazon, should be on itunes as well.

[@DavidFedele]

Brilliant. Just found on Amazon - thanks Sven.

[@nkanyisoinnocentkhwane3752]

That was absolutely amazing. I can't wait until I have the money to get his masterclass

[@ThisGuyEdits]

I listened to his masterclass. No regrets.

[@HackMyControlSystem]

One of my fav MasterClass. Ron Howard's is very good too. You can find another Werner master class (speaking event) on KZbin. Very similar material if your still saving cash.

[@Experiencetheedit]

I think some of the most powerful cinematic moments are those when you don't need to see the thing that is happening but intuitively understand. That is great filmmaking because you aren't forced information but feel like you organically discovered it yourself. Show don't tell! One of my favourites is realising that you are in a dream in Inception! Whats yours?

[@PewPewDave]

Video editing is a complicated profession.

[@yummyjackalmeat]

Werner makes me cry

[@Waadee101]

Wow

[@filmsagainstempires1388]

Nothing is more powerful than drama. Documentaries are as powerful as drama.

[@nfaguade]

2:21 - what movie is that one? "The Wild Blue Yonder"?

[@runlikejosh1364]

The shaky camera-work at the start almost made me miss the great observations that you had to share - just a heads-up for your future camera person's work.

[@MicahSMoore]

the grizzly man death audio scene was so interestingly done. Any other director would have shown the audio and maybe even animated it for more context. But Werner chose to show a reaction to the reaction of the event. Limiting context but also implying that not only is the audio to horrifying to witness, but the initial reaction is also to horifiying so we can only bear to witness it third hand... Woah

[@anthonyzip4176]

I love the opening song! What is it?

[@HuterDerSchwelle]

Popol Vuh definitely helps. (No shot at Herzog, (I love Herzog) mainly stating the importance of music.)

[@BatSTUD]

Werner telling this insane and sad lady never to listen to the tape is something I will never forget. He was both creating a dramatic moment and being honest. Truth and drama is terrifying.

[@worldinfo1014]

steven spielberg may be considered as the greatest but werner herzog is the bravest of all

[@johnthelesserofthethirdoft863]

IMHO Werner is the both the best and bravest

[@rsv3676]

Who the fuck considers Spielberg the greatest? Only a stupid limited person who hasn't seen real films.

[@Developtis]

@@rsv3676 Appearantly The Wise Old Owl considers that. What is a real film?

[@villLe]

what's the piano song at 0:50? Great video btw!

[@ThisGuyEdits]

Funeral March (Chopin)

[@villLe]

thanks!

[@ricimercury9490]

What’s the first musical piece in the beginning of the video

[@sigmundfreude4088]

Whats the name of the piano song arround 0:52?

[@daniellopespvh2]

crying

[@shoenicedeletedvideosx3048]

4:05 May l listen to it again please....

[@nikhil1381]

keep goin on bruhhh,:))))

[@darkarts6903]

What is the intro music ?

[@James-nv1wf]

I wonder in the context of youtube videos if Herzog would display this content.

[@lloroshastar6347]

You know its funny, but I would look at people like Herzog in other industries and think that their actions and attitudes are impulsively dangerous and exploitative. Yet, because he works in an industry I am so passionate about, I can't help but admire him. It's like Napoleon, the man stormed through Europe, casualties were very high (as they always are in war), his actions left a wave of destruction in his wake, yet military men admire him as a genius. I don't think Herzog deliberately wants people to be harmed or anything of course, and he is not incompetent, he knows what he is doing and usually knows when he is going too far. But, I really admire his philosophy, that the only thing that matters is the film, sometimes I feel we have to push ourselves to the boundaries to achieve greatness, even if there is sometimes a cost.

[@a.krishna3924]

what is the music at the beginning?

[@ThisGuyEdits]

it's a piece from audioblocks.com

[@a.krishna3924]

Do you know which one?

[@ThisGuyEdits]

bcc-031814-dark-piano-and-violin-737

[@feminale]

Les was the mind to know- I am lucky. I spent mornings alone with Les- with no pretense. SO Quiet was Les it was necessary...and I feel blessed. I believe most people dont know shit when talking about Herzog- and are projecting...The phenom that is Herzog is so many people...including Maureen Gosling- who you mimic- in your opening.

[@samuelfaict5755]

Damn this is weird, I saw this movie in filmschool 10 years ago, and I could swear I remember hearing Timothy and his girlfriend screaming while being eaten by the bear. The power of suggestion of this movie has created artificial memories...

[@999titu]

Grizzly bear is my favourite. Guess if he had the funding from Hollywood a listers. Bow down this guy is a genius