Documentary First
Documentary First is a weekly podcast for working and aspiring documentary filmmakers, hosted by award-winning director Christian Taylor. The show features long-form interviews with filmmakers, editors, producers, distributors, and composers from HBO, Netflix, PBS, and the independent doc world. It explores how documentaries get funded, made, and seen, with past guests including Ken Burns and Susan Lacy. Alternating weeks feature Documentary First: The Deep Dive, which expands on insights from recent conversations.
Episodes
Archival Footage: Why Use Home Movies?
What happens to a family's home movies when no one knows what to do with them?Phil Maher was a software engineer looking for a sense of purpose when he started watching his grandfather's family reels and saw his father and his brothers, a big Irish Catholic family in Chicago. He kept going. Some families sold him their reels; others gave them so their family would be remembered. "Everyone's lost t
How Do You Get a Documentary Made? Ask the Woman Who Co-Runs RKO
Do you have a documentary, or do you have a Wikipedia entry?Somebody decides whether your documentary gets made. Sophia Dilley is one of those people. She runs Concord Originals, the division behind Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. on HBO, and she is Co-President of RKO, which Concord bought in June 2025 along with more than 5,000 titles including King Kong, Citizen Kane and It's a Wonderful Life. In this
Beyond Banners: How to Make a Documentary With No Film School
Who finishes your film if you can't?Andre N. Jackson had never made a film. He had twenty years in technology and security, an idea that arrived while he was sitting in a barber's chair, and no way into the industry. He finished the film anyway, and he came on the show with three lessons for other filmmakers. Two more came out while we were talking.In Episode 285, Christian sits down with first-ti
Why Can't Your Documentary Find an Audience? l Deep Dive on Ep. 284
When did your audience stop being people and become a number?Most independent films and podcasts do not fail because the work is bad. They fail because no one ever felt like they belonged to them. This Deep Dive is about how to build an audience for your documentary before it is ever released, and the one ingredient that decides whether people stay with what you make.In this Deep Dive on Documenta
Ep. 284 I How to Fund a Documentary Without the Industry
How do you fund a documentary when the whole industry says no?How do you fund a documentary without film funds, grants, or a commissioning broadcaster, and still reach a huge audience? Dutch filmmaker Jonathan de Jong did exactly that with Human Forever, the most-watched human interest documentary in Dutch cinema history. The government pulled his funding two and a half years into production, and
Who Believed in You First?
Who believed in you before you could believe in yourself? In this Deep Dive, documentary filmmaker Christian Taylor makes a quiet case that we rarely overcome self-doubt on our own. Almost no one finishes anything hard alone. Someone has to see it in you first. This is a reflection on the power of belief, on the kind of encouragement that shows up right when you are ready to quit, and on how a few
Cold War in Philly: Joe Amodei Directs His First Documentary
What happens when a film distributor with more than 40 years in the business finally makes his own documentary?Joe Amodei grew up in Philadelphia watching the Flyers with his parents, sisters and brothers. From the family living room, he watched the team he still calls his heroes beat the Soviet Red Army on January 11, 1976. After decades of releasing other people's documentaries, he decided it wa
Ep. 282 I Finding the Heartbeat of Your Story | A Lesson From Normandy
How do you make people care about your documentary?Facts alone rarely make an audience care. The emotional core of a documentary lives somewhere else. In this episode of Documentary First, filmmaker Christian Taylor tells the story of how she found the heartbeat her film about the Battle of Carentan was missing. It was not in the archives. It was in the memories of a man who was six years old when
Ep. 281 I 13 Letters That Saved a Dying WWII Documentary - on Heroes of Carentan Pt 1
Can thirteen letters from an 88-year-old stranger bring a dead film back to life?For two years, Heroes of Carentan, Christian Taylor's documentary about the 101st Airborne Division and the June 1944 liberation of Carentan, sat on a shelf, half made. In this episode she tells the honest story of why a WWII documentary stalls, what it costs to keep going, and the thirteen letters from an 88-year-old
The Disappointment You Didn't Choose I Deep Dive on Ep. 280
What if the disappointment you didn't choose was the only door to the life you were meant to live?Three generations of one family chased professional baseball, and all three lost it to a career-ending injury. Each one found his calling in the aftermath. That pattern runs through Voices: The Danny Gans Story, filmmaker Andrew Gans's documentary about his father, the Las Vegas entertainer known as t
Danny Gans: The Man of Many Voices Who Lost His Own
How do you tell the truth about your own father when the whole world knew him as the Man of Many Voices?Danny Gans could become almost anyone on stage. He was the first headliner in Las Vegas to sell a $100 ticket, and for years his shows sold out night after night. Offstage, he was living with chronic pain he kept close to his chest. When his son, Andrew Davies Gans, set out to make a film about
When Is Silence Wisdom and When Is It Complicity? I Deep Dive on Ep. 279
When does refusing to repeat a lie become complicity in it?The hardest question in documentary filmmaking is not how to find the truth. It is how to handle a lie. When a false story is already loose in the world, you have two choices that look almost identical on the page: refuse to repeat it, or amplify it by debunking it. The discipline of knowing which is which can decide whether your film tell
Ep. 279 I She Was Here: Heather O'Rourke's Family Debunks the Poltergeist Curse
Was the Poltergeist curse real, or did the world get Heather O'Rourke's story wrong for 38 Years?On February 1, 1988, Heather O'Rourke died at twelve years old. For nearly four decades the world has filled that silence with rumors. She Was Here, the new documentary produced by Brian Pocrass and directed by Nick Bailey, is the first authorized account of what actually happened, told by Heather's mo
The Two Kinds of “Alone” Every Filmmaker Knows I Deep Dive on Ep. 278
What is the difference between solitude and loneliness, and why does every creative person need to understand it?There are two kinds of being alone in creative work, and they are not the same thing. One makes the work great. The other wears you down to nothing. The difference between solitude and loneliness is the difference between sustainable creative life and creative burnout, and most of us ne
Ep. 278 I Adapt or Die: A Working Filmmaker with AI in 2026
Adapt or die. What does that actually look like for a working filmmaker?Chicago documentary filmmaker Armin Korsos has a working filmmaker's answer to the question every documentarian is wrestling with right now. If you're not using AI, you will be losing work to people who do. In this conversation, Armin walks through how he turned 20 hours of pre-production paperwork into 30 minutes, how he uses
Anthropic's $1.5B Mistake. Yours Could Cost More. I Deep Dive on Ep. 277
What does a $1.5 billion AI lawsuit have in common with your unwritten will?In September 2025, Anthropic agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle the largest copyright lawsuit in U.S. history. The reason was simple. They built first and cleared rights later. Documentary filmmakers have been making the same mistake for decades. And in this Deep Dive, host Christian Taylor argues that the lesson runs de
Why Does One Documentary Clip Cost $70,000?
What does the person who cleans up documentary licensing messes wish you had done before you shot a single frame?Teddy Cannon has spent 10 years in what he calls the link in the production line, standing between the filmmakers, the legal team and every vendor whose footage, photos or music ends up in a film. His job is to make sure every third-party asset in a documentary is cleared before it ever
The First Generation to Live Shorter Lives Than Their Parents | Deep Dive on Ep. 276
What if the documentaries no streaming platform will buy are the ones that could save your kid's life?Today's children may be the first generation in American history to live shorter lives than their parents. That's the central argument of The 100-Year Effect, a documentary I watched at the Julian Dubuque International Film Festival the same weekend I watched two other films that turned out to be
Ep. 276 I Robin Canfield on Teaching iPhone Documentary in 20 Countries
Why do documentary subjects freeze for a professional camera - but open up to an iPhone?Robin Canfield shares why he films with iPhones, how he teaches documentary in twenty countries, and the communication skill he says every documentary filmmaker overlooks.Robin joins us from Saigon, Vietnam, during a four-week documentary program with international students. He shares why he switched from Canon
They Wanted My Voice to Train AI - What Thoreau Knew About Living Deliberately in a Revolution: Deep Dive on Ep. 275
Someone tried to harvest Christian's voice for AI training. The pitch was polished, the project sounded real. But when she responded with ten professional questions, the conversation ended. Permanently.In this Deep Dive on Episode 275, Christian connects that experience to her conversation with Erik and Christopher Ewers, the brothers behind the PBS documentary Henry David Thoreau. Chris Ewers arg
Ep. 275 I Erik & Chris Ewers on PBS Funding, AI & Directing Goldblum, Clooney & Streep
Even with Ken Burns and Don Henley attached, funding a PBS documentary is brutal. So what hope do the rest of us have?Erik and Christopher Ewers get real about PBS funding, AI’s impact on filmmaking, and how they landed George Clooney, Jeff Goldblum, Ted Danson, Tate Donovan and Meryl Streep for their new PBS documentary Henry David Thoreau.In Part 2 of this conversation, the Ewers Brothers open u
Erik & Chris Ewers: Quiet Desperation—Competence vs Self-Knowledge: Deep Dive on Episode 274
He edited nearly every Ken Burns film since The Civil War. He still didn't know who he was.Henry David Thoreau wrote that most people lead lives of “quiet desperation.” But what did he actually mean - and what does it look like inside a successful career?That’s the question Christian Taylor explores in this episode of Documentary First: The Deep Dive, after her conversation with Erik and Christoph
Ep. 274 I I Didn't Know Myself - Erik & Chris Ewers on Ken Burns, PBS & Thoreau
He's edited nearly every Ken Burns film ever made. But he couldn't edit himself.What does it take to build a filmmaking career inside Ken Burns's world — and what happens when the hardest part isn't the craft, but learning who you are?Erik and Christopher Ewers are brothers who co-direct for PBS under the Ken Burns banner. Erik has been Burns's senior editor for 33+ years. Chris is a DP who's shot
What Francesca Bridgerton and a D-Day Veteran Both Discovered About Grief I Deep Dive on Ep. 273
In Bridgerton Season 4, Francesca Bridgerton stands in the middle of her husband’s funeral and says something no one expects: “I want to feel joy.”Eighty years earlier and four thousand miles away, a D-Day veteran stood on Utah Beach watching children play in the water where his friends had died—and said something just as unexpected: “That’s why we came.”In this episode of Documentary First: The D
Ep. 273 | D-Day Leadership Academy: Jake Schroeder on WWII Veterans, Normandy & Redefining Success
He sang the national anthem for the Colorado Avalanche a thousand times, coached 4,000 inner-city kids, lost it all, and rebuilt on the beaches of Normandy — where a WWII veteran watched children playing on Utah Beach and said through tears: "That's why we came."Jake Schroeder—former frontman of OP Gone Bad, national anthem singer for the Colorado Avalanche, and executive director of the Denver Po
What If You're Not Actually Failing? Deep Dive on Ep. 272 with Director Quinnolyn Benson-Yates
What if failure isn’t the enemy—but the training ground?That’s the question Christian Taylor explores in this episode of Documentary First: The Deep Dive, sparked by her conversation with filmmaker Quinnolyn Benson-Yates about the documentary Epic Bill. Bill Bradley lost his video rental empire to Netflix, went bankrupt, went through a divorce—and then rebuilt himself through extreme endurance ath
Episode 272 | Quinnolyn Benson-Yates on Epic Bill: Failure, Reinvention & the Filmmaker’s Endurance
Award-winning filmmaker Quinnolyn Benson-Yates made her first feature documentary before film school—and its seven-year journey from short film concept to PBS distribution holds lessons every indie filmmaker needs to hear.Epic Bill follows an endurance athlete who lost everything when his video rental empire collapsed (thanks, Netflix). Bill’s mantra—“show up and suffer”—became Quinn’s filmmaking
Finding The Good Guys | Deep Dive on Ep.271 With Joe Amodei
How do you know if you’ve found a Joe Amodei—or a predatory film distributor?That’s the question Christian Taylor explores in this episode of Documentary First: The Deep Dive, after her conversation with Joe Amodei—filmmaker, 40-year industry veteran, and owner of Virgil Films Entertainment (Supersize Me, Restrepo, Forks Over Knives). What struck her wasn’t just what Joe said about Cat Fest 2026—i
Joe Amodei on Documentary Distribution: Will Anyone Watch?
What does it take for anyone to find your documentary once it's finally out?Joe Amodei has released films since the days of VHS, and he says the hard part of documentary distribution now comes down to two things: alerting people that your film is out there, and giving them a reason to rent it. The print ads, TV spots and reviews in every newspaper in America are gone. In their place, he says, are
Why Viewers Forget 90% of Your Film | Deep Dive on Ep. 270 with Charles Oliver
“People are going to watch your movie for such an infinitesimally small percentage of their life. What they’re going to do is remember it.”That insight from Emmy-winning editor Charles Olivier—who’s cut The Jinx, The Redeem Team, and George Clooney’s Surviving Ohio State—stopped Christian Taylor cold. It cuts right to the heart of documentary filmmaking: your audience will forget most of your film
The Imposter Gap | Deep Dive on Ep. 269 with Jeffrey Roth
Imagine standing in an ancient Egyptian tomb, camera in hand, as a sarcophagus is opened for the first time in thousands of years. For filmmaker Jeffrey Roth, that moment sparked a realization: "No, this is real."This is the first-ever episode of Documentary First: The Deep Dive—a new companion series where Christian Taylor takes one insight from recent podcast conversations, explores it deeply, a
Episode 270 | Charles Olivier on Editing "Surviving Ohio State" for HBO
Emmy-winning editor Charles Olivier reveals how he restructured HBO's Surviving Ohio State and what it's like getting notes from George Clooney.Charles has cut some of the biggest docs of the last decade—The Jinx, Magic and Bird, The Redeem Team. Surviving Ohio State, produced by Clooney and directed by Oscar winner Eva Orner, exposes decades of abuse in college athletics. In this episode, Charles
Episode 269 | Egyptian “Indiana Jones”, Zahi Hawass of “The Man With The Hat”, Interview with Jeffery Roth
Jeffrey Roth has spent his career letting extraordinary people tell their own stories—Apollo astronauts, President George H.W. Bush, and now Dr. Zahi Hawass. In this episode, Christian Taylor inquires about the logistics of independent documentary filmmaking in Egypt: working with fixers, navigating permits, shooting in ancient tombs with one hour of access, and why he withholds narration. Plus: t
Episode 268 | Peter Kelly’s Archaeological Adventure in the Turks and Caicos
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with filmmaker Peter Kelly to explore his remarkable journey from his Mississippi roots to documenting the rich cultural and maritime history of Salt Cay in the Turks and Caicos. Peter reflects on how growing up in a small Mississippi community shaped his storytelling sensibilities, his love of history, and the creative instinct
Episode 267 | Alan Govenar’s New Film, “Quiet Voices in a Noisy World”
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor interviews acclaimed documentary filmmaker, writer, photographer, and cultural documentarian Alan Govenar—a storyteller with a 44-year career devoted to preserving overlooked American lives and histories.The conversation centers on Govenar’s powerful film Quiet Voices in a Noisy World, which examines the struggle for change in Jasper, Tex
Episode 266 | Emmy-Award Winning Producer, Susan Lacy, “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” Interview
Susan Lacy—the iconic creator of PBS’s American Masters and one of the most influential voices in biographical documentary filmmaking joins us. From her early roots in journalism to building a landmark series that reshaped cultural storytelling on public television, Lacy shares the real behind-the-scenes truth of what it took to launch American Masters, fight for ambitious filmmaking, and evolve f
The Price of Milk: Nick Bruckman on the Got Milk Campaign
Why would an oat milk company pay for a documentary that makes dairy farmers the heroes?The Price of Milk follows the money behind the 1990s Got Milk campaign, and its heroes are small family dairy farmers like Joe and Brenda Cochran. Directed by Nick Bruckman and Yoni Brook, the four-part investigative series looks at the USDA checkoff programs behind generic ads like Got Milk, and argues that sm
Episode 264 | Billy Joel: Telling the Story Behind the Musician (with Jessica Levin)
In this episode of Documentary First, Christian sits down with filmmaker Jessica Levin, co-director and producer of the Critics Choice Documentary Awards in the Best Music Documentary-nominated HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Jessica shares what it was like to tell the story of Billy Joel—not just as a legendary musician, but as a human being full of depth, contradiction, humor, and he
Episode 263 | Crowdfunding for Filmmakers — Lessons from the UnScarred Campaign
In this episode of Documentary First, return guest filmmaker Elise Jaffe, first-time director of documentary project: UnScarred, and special guest, Stacie Rae Weir, a tattoo artist and breast-cancer previvor featured in the film join us!UnScarred explores how survivors of trauma and illness—those living with scars from breast cancer, self-harm, and other life-altering experiences—reclaim their bod
Michael Parks and the Making of Long Lonesome Highway
Why would a punk rock filmmaker spend 10 years and his own money telling the story of an actor most people have never heard of?Michael Parks starred in Then Came Bronson, sang its theme song "Long Lonesome Highway" onto the Billboard charts in 1970, and walked away from the kind of career most actors chase. Decades later, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith brought him back in Kill
Episode 261 | Doc First Members Have Entered the Chat
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor opens up with heartfelt personal updates and reflections on the journey of documentary filmmaking. Fresh off a moving trip to Normandy, Christian is joined by team members Peyton Rabb and Todd Anderson to share stories, challenges, and unforgettable moments from the experience.Together, they explore how veterans continue to impact younger
Saving Private Ryan: How to Really Listen to a WWII Veteran
What happens to a World War II veteran when someone finally listens?Ceo Bauer was wounded inside German lines near Metz on the night of November 8, 1944. In Part 2 he picks up the story from his company's outpost. He lay on the floor of a house at the front, cursing, until an officer helped him down to the cellar. There a sergeant named Burns, from Chicago, offered Ceo his own wound tablets: "You
Saving Private Ryan: A 101-Year-Old WWII Veteran's Story
What does a 101-year-old World War II rifleman think when he watches Saving Private Ryan?Ceo Bauer has seen Saving Private Ryan more than once. He thinks the battle scenes are good but "pretty enhanced." In the attacks he joined under artillery fire, he says, soldiers didn't have the freedom to move around that the film shows, and he doubts they stopped for many theoretical discussions. "There's j
Saving Private Ryan: Corey Johnson on Spielberg, and John Williams' Greatest Scores
What can an actor do with half a day on the Saving Private Ryan beach?Corey Johnson's part in Saving Private Ryan took half a day to film. He played the radioman in the foxhole whom Tom Hanks grabs to report that "Dog One is not open." While the camera panned away to Hanks and Tom Sizemore, two crew members pulled him out and slid in a dummy with its face blown open, so the camera could come back
Billy Joel: And So It Goes, From the Inside, Part 2
How does a theater kid who never finished high school end up beside Billy Joel for 50 years?Steve Cohen grew up in Canoga Park, California, cut school to sneak onto Hollywood studio lots, and learned to run sound and lights at the Starwood club on Santa Monica Boulevard. At 20 he started a lighting company with a couple of partners, cold-called every manager listed in the back of Billboard, and la
Billy Joel: And So It Goes, From the Inside, Part 1
How do you make an honest film about Billy Joel when Billy Joel doesn't want to talk about himself anymore?Steve Cohen walked into a rehearsal in 1974 as a 20-year-old lighting guy who didn't much care for "Piano Man." After his first show with the band, Billy Joel poured him a Black Russian by a Holiday Inn pool in Milwaukee and told him the audience had reacted in places it never had before. "So
Episode 255 | Creating Unique Soundscapes -- Scoring for Documentary Films w/ Panu Aaltio
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with Finnish film composer Panu Aaltio to dive into the fascinating world of film scoring. From his early days as a cello player to becoming a successful composer for films and documentaries, Panu shares his unique journey and the challenges and joys of crafting music for the screen. The conversation explores the intricate relat
Saving Private Ryan: Actor Corey Johnson on Filming the D-Day Landing
What was it like to film the D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan, as a young actor with a small part?Corey Johnson was booked for two weeks on Saving Private Ryan. He spent most of the first week on location in Ireland waiting to be called, eating Irish steak every night with the other actors at their bed and breakfast. When the cameras finally rolled on the landing, he watched Irish soldiers, am
Episode 253 | Revitalizing Communities: The Heirloom Project with Josh Nowell & Jim Rasberry
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor and co-host Hunter Taylor are joined by Josh Nowell and Jim Rasberry, the dynamic duo behind The Heirloom Hotel & Cooking School in Laurel, Mississippi. They discuss the transformative power of storytelling, being on HGTV's Hometown, and community revitalization. As serial entrepreneurs, Josh and Jim share their journey of creating Th
Actor Corey Johnson on Anthony Hopkins, The Mummy and Why Acting Is Reacting
What can an actor learn from watching Anthony Hopkins, Sam Mendes and Brendan Fraser at work?Corey Johnson's first film was John Schlesinger's The Innocent, as Anthony Hopkins's right-hand man. He watched Schlesinger struggle to get a menacing line out of Hopkins, then stop to reload the camera, ask Hopkins about Laurence Olivier, let him do his impressions for the crew, and roll while he was stil
Actor Corey Johnson: The Voice Behind Hundreds of Documentaries
How does a theater kid from New Orleans become the voice behind hundreds of documentaries?Corey Johnson decided to become an actor at 16, the spring he broke his knee playing football and watched the school musical from the band. He went from Catholic University's drama department to London, and from London to Saving Private Ryan, The Mummy, Hellboy, Band of Brothers and September 5. Along the way
Episode 250 | Blake Lively’s Hollywood Harassment Showdown – with Entertainment Lawyer Anne Easton
What happens when a Hollywood star stands up to sexual harassment on set? In this episode, entertainment lawyer Anne Easton joins us to unravel the legal and ethical firestorm sparked by Blake Lively’s recent case. Blake Lively made headlines by accusing her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, of sexual harassment — and then faced an alleged smear campaign in retaliation. Anne br
Episode 249 | How Greg Fitzpatrick Became a Stuntman, Part 1
Get ready to ride shotgun through Hollywood’s wild side! In this electrifying episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with Greg Fitzpatrick—a stuntman who’s doubled for Ben Stiller and even put his skills to the test for Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man. Greg's no-nonsense journey from ditching law school to becoming an award-winning daredevil in Tinseltown is full of raw, behin
Episode 248: Deep Talks with an Entertainment Lawyer - Part 1
In this exciting episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor welcomes Anne Easton, a brilliant entertainment lawyer and creative, to the team! Anne brings a wealth of knowledge and a powerhouse combination of legal expertise, creative insight, and deep industry experience to the table. In this lively conversation, they dive into the often-overlooked but crucial role of legal advice in docu
Episode 247 | Eric Gardner, Director of ”Confessions of a CEO”
Are you fascinated by the power of storytelling and the secrets behind captivating documentaries? If you’re into deep dives into reality TV, the creative process, and the art of balancing hard-hitting truths with compelling narratives, this episode is for you.Join host Christian Taylor and visionary documentary filmmaker Eric Gardner as they unpack the making of Confessions of a CEO: My Life in an
Episode 246 | Liz Carpenter, Mover and Shaker in US Politics - Part 2
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with filmmakers Abby Ginzberg and Christy Carpenter to discuss their latest documentary, Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter. The film explores the remarkable legacy of Liz Carpenter—a journalist, author, and women's rights advocate who broke barriers as the press secretary for First Lady Lady Bird Johnson. Carpen
Episode 245 | Liz Carpenter, Mover and Shaker in US Politics
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor engages with filmmakers Abby Ginzberg and Christy Carpenter about their documentary "Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter." The conversation explores Liz Carpenter's legacy as a trailblazer in journalism and politics, the personal journeys of getting into directing, and the collaborative process of producing the documentary.
Episode 244 | Film Entrepreneurship w/ Teddy Cannon
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with seasoned media professional Teddy Cannon, whose 25+ years in the industry span politics, entertainment, and documentary filmmaking. Teddy shares his journey growing up in a foreign service family, transitioning from in front of the camera to behind it, and his deep dive into the world of archival production. They explore th
Episode 243 | Q&A With East Coast Filmmaker Robin Hamilton
In this powerful episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with Emmy-winning filmmaker Robin Hamilton for a deep dive into the art of storytelling, social justice, and the impact of documentary filmmaking. Robin shares her journey from journalism to filmmaking, her passion for uncovering untold stories, and the responsibility filmmakers have in shaping conversations about histo
Episode 242 | Interview with Mt. Everest Explorer: Alex Harz
In this episode, filmmaker and Mount Everest summiteer Alex Harz takes us on a breathtaking journey, sharing how he turned a childhood dream into a groundbreaking dual-format documentary series. Alex recounts his early years in Spain and Germany, his passion for storytelling, and his evolution as a filmmaker with a strong business mindset. Listeners will gain insights into the unparalleled challen
Episode 241 | "A Remarkable 2024" Retrospective Company Update
In this episode, the team reflects on a groundbreaking year in documentary filmmaking. From innovative theatrical release strategies to building community through outreach and merchandise, they share the key moments that defined their success. Highlights include the D-Day commemoration, expanding audience engagement through social media, and signing a new distribution deal to bring the
Episode 240 | Documentary First's Next Steps w/ Jake Taylor
In this episode of Documentary First, hosts Christian and Jake Taylor focus on the journey of "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" so far. They explore the challenges of independent filmmaking, the importance of event screenings, and the value of building relationships with audiences. Logistics of pricing for screenings, the role of merchandising, and the long-term commitment required to see a d
Episode 239 | A Fresh Take on Renaissance Man, Leonardo da Vinci - PBS
In this captivating episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with filmmakers Sarah Burns and David McMahon to discuss their forthcoming documentary on the legendary Leonardo da Vinci. Together, they explore the creative process behind bringing Leonardo’s life and genius to the screen, the challenges of capturing his story, and the innovative techniques they used to
Episode 238 | Documenting a Viral Country Music TikTok Trend, “Fancy Like Walter Hayes”
In this insightful episode, host Christian Taylor sits down with French filmmaker Matt Beurois, director of Fancy Like Walker Hayes, to explore the heartwarming story of country music sensation Walker Hayes and his family. Beurois shares his journey into documentary filmmaking and provides a behind-the-scenes look at capturing the Hayes family’s rise to fame. From the importance of storyt
Episode 237 | Making a Hit Mini TV Series feat. Evan Wise
In this episode, host Christian Taylor sits down with Emmy-nominated editor and producer Evan Wise, ACE, to delve into his career journey and unique approach to documentary filmmaking. Evan shares his path from a rebellious skate punk in New Jersey to becoming a highly respected editor, working on acclaimed series like HBO’s The Circus and Q: Into the Storm. The conversation turns to his
Episode 236 | Conversations with Christian, Part 2 (Free Patreon Episode)
Here is a taste of our new series called Conversation With Christian that is available on Patreon. In this episode, Christian interviews her eldest son, the one with whom her entire film adventure began. In 2011 he joined the military and that life decision had big implications for the whole family. They discuss his military journey and their shared experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. They d
Episode 235 | The Girl Who Wore Freedom Dream Team - Part 3
In this insightful episode of the Documentary First Podcast, Christian Taylor, David Paterson, and Todd Anderson delve into the data and hard-earned lessons from the theatrical release of The Girl Who Wore Freedom. They explore the surprising factors that influenced ticket sales, including screening schedules, ticket pricing, and the often overlooked role of theater advertising—or lack thereo
Episode 234 | Finding Your Champion, Part 2
In this episode of Documentary First, Christian Taylor is joined by Joe Amodei and Tim Maggiani from Virgil Films Entertainment to dive into the evolving world of film distribution and the diminishing role of film festivals in securing deals. The discussion sheds light on how the dominance of streaming platforms and studios has shifted the landscape, making it increasingly difficult for indep
Episode 233 | Finding Your Champion, Part 1
You know our good friend, Joe Amodei (Supersize Me) from past episodes. Now meet his protégé, Tim Maggiani, who is a great explainer of the modern film distribution process. Joe, a seasoned pro in VHS and DVD sales, admits the need for his distribution company to stay nimble and adaptable to new technology and platforms. Enter Tim. He understands the streaming world yet adheres to the age-old
To Dye For: Making a Documentary About Synthetic Dyes
What happens when two parents who have never made a film decide the world needs to see what changed their child's life?Whitney and Brandon Cawood took synthetic food dyes out of their child's diet and watched the change with their own eyes. Whitney says it was so dramatic she would have struggled to believe it if another parent had told her the same story. She wanted to understand the science, so
Episode 231 | Escaping Twin Flames Interview w/ Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner
Cecilia Peck (executive producer) and Inbal B. Lessner (editor) are the creators of Netflix's 2023 doc series, Escaping Twin Flames. Together, they explore their personal journey as filmmakers, how they united as a powerful team, and how they brought this social issue to light. The conversation dives into the unsettling world of the Twin Flames Universe, an online relationship community whose
Episode 230 | Normandy Trip Update feat. Peyton Rabb
DISCLAIMER -- *Documentary First Productions and it’s staff acknowledge the complexity of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Comments made in this video are meant to explore the complexity of violence rather than to promote or stand for a particular cause. -- In this week's episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor is joined by summer intern Peyton Rabb to recount their unforgettab
Episode 229 | The Girl Who Wore Freedom Dream Team, Administration (Part 2)
It's Part 2 of 3 in the Dream Team series, Christian Taylor, Todd Anderson, and David Paterson are back! They share about the release of "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" nationally to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. This time they dive into administration, specifically getting hard drives to movie theater owners, frustrations, failures, and all. They learned that keeping track of emails and co
Episode 228 | Deep Dive Into "Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine" w/ Brian Skerry
Brian Skerry, a renowned documentary filmmaker and photojournalist specializing in marine wildlife discusses his journey in the industry and his latest documentary series, Sea Change, July 24 on PBS. Skerry shares how he started as a diver and developed a passion for underwater photography and filmmaking. He also talks about his transition from photography to becoming a producer for ocean document
Episode 227 | The Girl Who Wore Freedom Dream Team - Part 1
Our dream team who was in charge of releasing "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" in theaters for the 80th anniversary of D-day, June 6, 2024 reunite! They offer a behind-the-scenes look into the herculean effort in getting our first documentary successfully on the big screen. Throughout the conversation, the team emphasizes the importance of crafting compelling emails, employing creative outreach tactics
Episode 226 | Saffron Cassaday, Directing a Film About Poop
After suffering from Ulcerative Colitis for nearly a decade, filmmaker Saffron Cassaday tried a new treatment known as Fecal Microbiota Transplant: taking stool from a healthy donor and implanting it into the gut of a sick patient. She chronicles this journey in DESIGNER $HIT, https://geni.us/DesignerShit. We were fortunate to have her on the podcast to share about her start in the entertainment i
Episode 225 | Human Swiss Army Knife Filmmaking w/ Josh Haygood
Did you ever wonder if a "Human Swiss Army Knife" of filmmaking existed? Well, in this episode, you'll meet one: Josh Haygood, also known as "The Fixer." Join us as Christian and Josh chat about how Josh got into filmmaking, transitioning from photography to moving pictures. From his time in Vietnam, devouring National Geographic, to landing jobs with the UN and MTV, Josh's journey is fascinating.
Bonus Episode | The Genesis of TGWWF - "AM 560 The Answer"
Hey podcast listeners, in anticipation for our limited theatrical release on D-Day, we are sharing a special segment where Christian Taylor was featured on "The Real Story with Jeanne Ives" aired May 26, 2024. Tune in to hear the beginnings of how Taylor got into directing and for updates on "Heroes of Carentan". Stream "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" this Memorial Day on Fandango at Home, Apple TV, P
Episode 224 | D-Day Theatrical Release, Guest: David Paterson (The Girl Who Wore Freedom)
In this episode, Christian and David Paterson discuss the FIRST ever theatrical release of "The Girl Who Wore Freedom"! They highlight the importance of knowing your audience, reaching out to mom-and-pop theaters, and independent film distribution overall. The conversation explores the reasoning behind having a limited theatrical release for our documentary film. They also touch on the costs assoc
Minted: Nick Bruckman on the Artists Behind the NFT Boom
What happens to an artist when a new technology turns them into a millionaire, and then the market crashes?In 2021, a digital artist known as Beeple sold a single NFT for $69 million at Christie's, and artists who had struggled for years suddenly found collectors paying for their work. Nick Bruckman started filming right around that time. His documentary Minted: The Rise (and Fall?) of the NFT fol
