Martin Scorsese wrote…


“When Al is behind the camera, there’s a sensitivity to mood, to space and light, to the energy between people in the room. 


Scorsese said in another piece…


“(Al) is tuned to the most sensitive emotional vibrations.”

Taken in 2013 for an article on film writing (click here for story). I love photos of artists in their work spaces. Very telling…

Albert Maysles is best known for his documentary on The Stones “Gimme Shelter” (1970) that included the infamous stabbing incident in Altamonte, CA.   Although I am not typically a fan of reading Obituaries, the column by Anita Gates today captured my full attention.

Born in Boston in 1926 to middle class family, he studied psychology and received degrees from Syracuse Univ and Boston Univ.  He was 88 years old when he died today.


Maysles said that a learning disability led him to develop intense listening skills.  His acute communication skills proved to be the catalyst for his film making career.


In a NYT interview, Maysles said, “One of the things that makes it easy (for me) is that I have a true love for people, and so I have no difficulty getting and keeping access.”


In 2006 he founded the Maysles Documentary center in Harlem.


FYW Albert…RIP.