[Mark Rabinowitz] A "here a doc, there a doc, everywhere a doc doc" survey of what's going on today in the world of documentaries and to be honest, we're all over the place!

IndiePix announces new Studios, Harrington In Charge
indieWIRE reports on the launch of IndiePix Studios and industry vet Ryan Harrington's move from Tribeca's Gucci Fund to the new venture. IndiePIx is the founding sponsor of the Cinema Eye Honors and a shining light in the doc world. For those of you who like documentaries (and face it, if you're here, you like) this is great news. IndiePix has been a staunch advocate for non-fiction cinema and has been at the forefront of exploring new ways to get docs into theaters, homes and online.
DISCLAIMER: IndiePix is a supplier of films to SnagFilms, parent of indieWIRE.
NOTE: According to the indieWIRE story, Harrington will "maintain some role" at the Gucci Fund.

Kanye Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is
According to UK music mag NME (New Music Express), the outspoken star will be visiting "homes of the returned veterans to discuss stories about the war and how they are adjusting to life back home," along with MTV VJ Sway Calloway for a documentary entitled "Choose Or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming." Apparently, West will leave each veteran with a financial gift, be that college tuition, rent money or paying off their debt. Dude. That's seriously cool. I wonder what you would call a larger agency with trillions of dollars whose responsibility it is to take care of America's returning veterans....? Oh right! The U.S. government! Kanye shows up W again.

How Do you Say "Eeeew!" In German? New Doc Claims Genetic Doping In China
Monsters and Critics is reporting that a documentary broadcast on German television network ARD shows proof of genetic doping in China and even reportedly shows a Chinese doctor offering a two week session involving injections of stem cells at a cost of $24,000. So this is good, right? Documentaries can show up shady practices and blow the lid off of corrupt and dangerous practices, right? Right. So then why did it take me reading 5 different articles to find out the name of the film, "Flying High in Middle Kingdom," and why can't I find the names of the filmmakers? Ghettoized again. Mini-rant over.

AJ Schnack: A righteous Watchdog For Docs
Over at All These Wonderful Things, filmmaker and blogger (and Cinema Eye Honors founder) AJ Schnack has posted some of his concerns about the box office performances of docs this year. What really gets my panties in a twist is that if a doc makes $1 million at the box office, it's often considered a "quiet success," but a massive flop like "The Love Guru" still makes almost $32,000,000 even with horrible reviews.