Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: First Run Features
• VHS Release Date: April 13, 1999
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305347972
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #288,377 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hosted by famous illusionists Penn and Teller, this segment in a PBS art primer series for children offers insight into "how depth is created on a flat surface." Using multiple animated and live-action examples, Penn and Teller cattily and chattily illustrate principles of perspective, vanishing point, and composition. From his studio, David Hockney makes a somewhat precious appearance throughout the show to demonstrate how "ways of seeing" and movement can result in a literally distorted drawing of a chair. Looking at the chair more closely, however, reveals multiple perspectives. Vanishing point is demonstrated by a graphic artist using a computer and clip-art animals. Whimsical cartoons show how art can "come alive" through the simple use of basic principles. The series is reminiscent of the vignette style of Sesame Street--live-action sequences, which include children as well as "grown-up" actors, are interspersed with animated shorts with song and music. Grade-school-aged children will enjoy Behind the Scenes the most, but any adult will enjoy the witticisms of Penn and Teller and the cute cartoony reminders that art is all around us. --Gilia Angell

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous video series for children about art., November 16, 1999

By 

One tough cookie (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind the Scenes 1: David Hockney [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video is one of a series of about 8 programs that originally ran on PBS. Hosted by the wickedly clever (and funny) Penn and Teller, each segment focuses on a different medium (sculpture, photography) or concept (color, balance). The Hockney one focuses, I believe, on perspective. Each program is a serious look at art, delivered at a level that is meaningful (and fun) to kids, while still being interesting to adults. We have been watching them since the kids were 4 and 7, and three years later we are all still happy to watch them again and again.

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit young..., October 24, 2008

By 

Lynn Saint-onge (Brighton, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Behind the Scenes 1: David Hockney [VHS] (VHS Tape)

for the high school students I teach, although it's perfect for elementary kids. The video quality was poor although the information is good. Penn & Teller are always good entertainment.