z channel a magnificent obsession represent 4 out of 10 represent well they get the obsession part right . jerry harvey be the programming genius behind z channel an independent la cable channel that do help revolutionize the way pay cable show film . he be famous for find obscure film and director and showcasing them to the hollywood elite . he be also a troubled soul with a horrible family history who murder his wife then take his own life . the documentary attempt to tell the two tale intertwine . the latter of the tale seem unfulfilling . reminisces from former friend and colleague be quite frank . ( some and 20 year later and clearly do not forgive him ) but there be virtually no insight into causation . what the latter lack in drama and insight the former lack in scope . jerry actually become program director in 1980 at the death scene of big studio director driven independent hollywood film of the seventy . ( his pal michael cimino heaven gate be the film that inspire the studio coup detat . ) so his influence on independent film be more of a eulogizer than influential promoter . ( cimino and peckinpah and others in his independent circle simply couldn not get work z channel marathon or no z channel marathon . only jam wood ( whose salvador performance be highlight during oscar season ) and paul verhooeven ( who claim he get his robocop job after a z channel marathon of his film ) show a career boost from jerry . so jerry plucked ton of virtually unseen studio film of the seventy as well a foreign film for his channel and use these movie to help fill the twenty four hour a day . the documentary avoids one reason for this ( these film be cheap if not outright free to show ) and barely acknowledge the other reason ( these film have plenty of nudity make them the perfect cable only product ) . the film also avoid answer some simple question such a if it be so popular why do not z channel expand to san francisco or new york . jerry do deserve credit for introduce the now ubiquitous director cut . ( though heaven gate be a really bad movie to start that trend on ) and his love of the obscure can be felt from sundance to netflix . the film do highlight some great obscure film i still haven not see but surprising show no footage whatsoever from the z channel itself . long and talky z channel be a great place to find some obscure film it just isn not that great a story .