Factual America: Recent Episodes
Matthew Sherwood
Factual America examines America through the lens of documentary filmmaking. Guests include Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning documentary filmmakers and producers, their subjects, as well as experts on the American experience. Find out more about the current and upcoming documentaries on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Sky Documentaries and other platforms directly from the creators. Whether we discuss true crime, music, burning social and political topics, history, or arts, Factual America is your #1 documentary film podcast.
Factual America is produced by Alamo Pictures, a London- and Austin-based production company that makes documentaries about the US from a European perspective for international audiences.
One of the deadliest music festivals in recent history, the 2021 Astroworld tragedy left 10 dead and thousands traumatised. Now, a powerful new documentary uncovers what really happened – with first-hand accounts from survivors, paramedics, and festival staff.
In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the film with director Yemi Bamiro and executive producer Kari Lia, as they reveal how they navigated trauma, and uncovered systemic failures behind the disaster.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer "Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy"
01:12 - Introduction and synopsis
02:08 - A tragedy rooted in Houston
04:45 - Day of excitement ends in a disaster
11:53 - Most spectators didn't even realise it was happening
17:13 - Similarities and differences with other crowd crushes
19:12 - Misinformation leads to victim blaming
21:22 - The stories within the story
25:46 - Challenges during the production
36:40 - Future plans
** FACTUAL AMERICA PODCAST ****
Factual America uses documentary filmmaking to examine the American experience as well as universal topics that affect all Americans. Guests include leading documentary filmmakers, their subjects, as well as experts on the American experience. Our host Matthew Sherwood, was born and raised in Texas but has lived in the UK since 2001. He draws on decades of journalism experience, interviewing world leaders and helping audiences understand the key global trends shaping our lives.
Subscribe to Factual America:https://linktr.ee/FactualAmerica
Like us on Facebook: @factualamerica
Follow us on Twitter: @Factual_America
Connect with Matthew Sherwood:
Twitter: @sherwood1967
Facebook: @matthew.sherwood.14
LinkedIn: @matthewsherwood
* *ABOUT ALAMO PICTURES ****
Alamo Pictures is a London-based production company specialising in feature-documentaries, factual television and shorts about the US. Benefitting from an outsider’s keen eye and years of stateside experience, Alamo’s filmmakers explore topical, uniquely American stories from a sympathetic, European perspective.
The result is engaging cinema and television that defies stereotypes and helps audiences truly understand what makes America tick.
Visit our Website:https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/
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In this exclusive interview, we speak to Yotam Guendelman and Ari Pines, the directors of the latest Netflix true crime documentary, which uncovers the chilling details behind the 1982 Tylenol poisonings – a case that shook America. With cyanide-laced pills, and a suspect who was never charged, the Chicago Tylenol murders remain one of the most disturbing unsolved crimes in US history.
We explore the evidence, media panic and legacy of this case that undermined Americans’ trust in pharmaceutical companies and forever changed how we interact with over-the-counter drugs.If you're into true crime podcasts, unsolved mysteries, and deep dives with the filmmakers behind the headlines – this one's for you.
Timestamps:00:00 – Trailer "Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders"
03:04 – Introduction and synopsis
06:53 – Mass hysteria in the USA
09:24 – The prime suspect – James Lewis
13:32 – One-sided investigation
18:34 – The involvement of Johnson & Johnson
25:30 – Alternative theories
29:18 – How the project started
31:10 – The first (and last) Interview with James Lewis
38:33 – Future plans and outro
Subscribe to Factual America: https://linktr.ee/FactualAmerica
Like us on Facebook: @factualamerica
Follow us on Twitter: @Factual_America
Connect with Matthew Sherwood:
Twitter: @sherwood1967
Facebook: @matthew.sherwood.14
LinkedIn: @matthewsherwood
Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VeeqNzI25zM
Osama bin Laden, CIA, and the manhunt that changed history. In this interview with award-winning directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan of American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden, we uncover the untold truths behind one of the most intense and dangerous global manhunts.
Explore rare footage, insider interviews, and shocking revelations about the CIA’s pursuit of Osama bin Laden. How did the mission unfold? What went wrong? And what secrets are still hidden about the operation that led to the historic raid?
Subscribe to Factual America: https://linktr.ee/FactualAmerica
Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer "American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden"
02:22 - Introduction and synopsis
04:28 - A who’s who of US government officials
07:20 - The women behind the manhunt
10:51 - A decade of hunting bin Laden
17:06 - Parallels between a film about 9/11 and October 7th
18:24 - How the series came together
20:08 - Crazy contributor stories
25:09 - The 25th anniversary of 9/11
27:44 - Future plans of Mor and Daniel – Outro
Watch the full episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHTDnhmQjf0
The Liver King built a supplement empire by devouring raw meat on social media. And he had the muscles to prove it. But how did the Liver King get so huge? Netflix director Joe Pearlman tells all. In this interview, we dig into the raw truth behind the man, the myth, and the meat-fueled machine that captivated millions.From viral fame and ancestral living to steroids, scandal, and supplement sales – this conversation goes beyond the beef.Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer02:07 - Introduction 04:32 - An evangelist for the ancestral lifestyle07:58 - Not Brian Johnson but the Liver King13:11 - A man that knows to market himself15:31 - The lies that came long before the steroids17:47 - The reveal of the real Brian Johnson22:04 - Liver Queen: no regrets24:12 - How Joe got involved with the project25:10 - Living online 24/726:50 - America in the eyes of a British filmmaker30:01 - The "Wild West" that is social media31:18 - Joe Pearlman's future projects#LiverKing#NetflixDocumentary#FitnessScandal#RawMeat#SupplementEmpire
Watch Full Episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=404rzi6AyOc
Subscribe to Factual America: https://linktr.ee/FactualAmerica
Subscribe to Factual America: https://linktr.ee/FactualAmericaLike us on Facebook: @factualamerica Follow us on Twitter: @Factual_AmericaConnect with Matthew Sherwood: Twitter: @sherwood1967 Facebook: @matthew.sherwood.14 LinkedIn: @matthewsherwood
Vietnam War secrets, untold stories, and hidden history - revealed by Netflix director Brian Knappenberger and renowned historian Lien-Hang Nguyen.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, this interview uncovers new accounts from the war - from suppressed footage to shocking revelations about U.S. involvement and North Vietnam's internal strategy.
A must-watch for anyone interested in war documentaries, declassified history, and the truth behind one of the most controversial conflicts of the 20th century.
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXnTT2OtHd0
In this chilling episode, filmmaker Liam Le Guillou takes us deep inside A Cursed Man - his harrowing real-life journey into the world of black magic and satanic rituals. What begins as a sceptical social experiment soon spirals into a terrifying descent, as Liam invites powerful practitioners to place real curses on him. Facing nightmares, unexplained anxiety, and even a blood pact with a Satan-worshipping shaman, he confronts the true cost of dabbling with the unknown. Liam opens up about the haunting effects on his life and family, the raw truths behind magic, and the uphill battles of independent filmmaking - from losing control to fighting for distribution. This is not just a story about curses - it’s about belief, fear, and the invisible forces that may be far more real than we think.Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhWoOMcAveA&t=23sSubscribe for more from Factual America: http://bit.ly/AlamoPictures
"One of the deadliest tornadoes in US history is headed directly for their high school graduation…” In this episode, filmmaker Alexandra Lacey takes us inside her powerful new Netflix documentary, Twister: Caught in the Storm, a raw and moving look at life in Joplin, Missouri, after a catastrophic natural disaster.
Alexandra shares how the disaster reshaped a generation of young people and reflects on the resilience, identity, and community spirit that emerged in the storm’s aftermath. She opens up about the emotional weight of telling true stories, the creative risks she took behind the camera, and what it means to capture hope in the face of devastation. Blending her British-American lens, she offers unique insight into the fast-paced world of documentary filmmaking.
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeUxy239Muk
Follow Alexandra Lacey on Instagram: @lacey_docs
In this episode, Matthew sits down with acclaimed filmmaker R.J. Cutler to discuss his latest Netflix documentary, 'Martha'. Cutler offers fascinating insights into the making of the film, which chronicles the life and career of Martha Stewart, the iconic businesswoman and lifestyle guru.
Discover how Cutler gained unprecedented access to Stewart and her vast personal archives, and learn about the challenges he faced in capturing her complex story. The director shares his perspective on Stewart's visionary approach to business, her resilience in the face of adversity, and her impact on American culture.
Cutler also addresses Stewart's public critique of the documentary, offering a balanced and thoughtful response. This episode provides a deep dive into the filmmaking process, the art of storytelling, and the nuances of portraying a living legend.
Whether you're a fan of Martha Stewart, interested in documentary filmmaking, or curious about American cultural icons, this episode offers unique insights and behind-the-scenes details you won't want to miss.
Watch the episode at https://www.factualamerica.com
Unsolved murders, paranormal activity, and UFOs. Unsolved Mysteries, the iconic docu-series that was a staple of TV in the 80s and 90s is back on Netflix with Volume 5.
Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual America is multiple Emmy nominated filmmaker Terry Dunn Meurer, the co-creator and producer of Unsolved Mysteries. She shares the secrets of Unsolved Mysteries’ success and why we have such a fascination with true crime and the unexplained.
The filmmaker also describes the different cases the new series investigates, how many cases on Unsolved Mysteries have been solved, and what it’s like working with law enforcement.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“Nobody knows what these body parts are used for or who is doing this, it’s the most unexplainable case I’ve ever seen.” – Terry Dunn Meurer
“Our focus is let’s solve this. Our job isn’t to judge law enforcement, our job is to help law enforcement solve these cases.” – Terry Dunn Meurer
Stopping the Steal gives an inside account of Donald Trump's challenge to the 2020 presidential election results and how an unsung group of Republican politicians, staffers, and election officials prevented the election from being stolen.
Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual America is Emmy and Bafta-winning director and producer Dan Reed. He discusses why he decided to interview pro-Trump Republicans about the election and the benefits he experienced being a British reporter.
Dan explains what caused the January 6th riots and why previous Trump loyalists spoke out against him. He also reveals Trump's true thoughts about the election results.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“They’re all loyal conservative pro-Trump Republicans and these are the people who give the inside story of the attempt to steal the 2020 election.” – Dan Reed
“What many people don’t realise is January 6th is the end. It’s like switching on the TV and seeing the last 2 minutes of the film but the movie started a long time before that.” – Dan Reed
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon surveys the studio as Paul records his new album Seven Psalms while reflecting on his six-decade career and wrestling with the issues of faith and mortality.
Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual America is Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney, who discusses the impact Paul Simon had on American culture and music, the inspiration behind Paul’s album Seven Psalms, and the challenges of making a documentary about a musical icon.
Alex explains his own creative process, the lessons he’s learned from a career in film, and his upcoming film on Elon Musk. We learn what he looks for when choosing to get involved in a project and the skills you need to be a successful documentary filmmaker.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“He’s one of the greatest songwriters ever in terms of rock music. He’s always been driven to the sounds at the limit of what he can hear, intriguing sounds that are completely different to his tradition or experience.” – Alex Gibney
“I started out making documentaries that I thought I knew what was important early on and I discovered that was a terrible way to make films, because if you weren’t exploring and open to the things in front of you that you didn't expect then you were making a boring film. So you have to be open to the idea that things are going to explode.” – Alex Gibney
“It’s a magical part of the movie because it’s rare in a set that an audience loves a song so much that they make you play it again right away.” – Alex Gibney
Dancing For The Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult explores the experiences of a group of prominent TikTok dancers who are trapped in a cult masquerading as a management company. In the process the film uncovers disturbing truths about the agenda of Robert Shinn, the cult’s founder and pastor of the Shekinah Church.
Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual America are executive producers Jessica Acevedo and director Derek Doneen, who discuss the making of the film and the challenges of interviewing people who are still in the depths of an abusive and traumatic environment.
The filmmakers explain how it takes a long time to recover from leaving a cult, how to build trust with the people you are documenting, and how the cult responded to the wave of criticism and bad publicity. In the end their film reveals so much about the lure of fame, the importance of faith and the bond of family.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“Nobody sets out to join a cult. Cult leaders don't come at you full blast with their manipulations on display, it’s little by little slowly inching you in over time so you’re not realising what’s happening.” – Derek Doneen
“Financial abuse and control happened there. It wasn’t until they started sharing some of those experiences that they realised that it was happening to them too and unravelled what they thought was a faith-based positive environment and showed it was really quite sinister.” – Jessica Acevedo
“The assumption is that people are fine and okay, but continue to dig deeper, ask the questions, have patience and meet people where they’re at because you never really know what someone’s going through. What you see on social media can be one thing but it’s worth asking how they’re doing.” – Jessica Acevedo
In 2002 the Ashley Madison website went live. It was a dating agency with a difference for its targets were people already in relationships. Inevitably, Ashley Madison was roundly criticised. The company’s CEO, however, stated that affairs actually helped marriages.
In 2015, hackers broke into the website and published the names, addresses, credit card information, and more of every user. Relationships were destroyed, and some of those named committed suicide.
Directed by Toby Paton, Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal is a three-part Netflix docu-series that tells the story of the website’s rise and fall. It goes behind the scenes of what happened through interviews with both people who worked for and who used Ashley Madison, and with people whose partner’s infidelity was exposed by the hack.
Toby is Matthew Sherwood’s guest in this episode of Factual America. Among the topics they discuss are how the controversy over Ashley Madison has become forgotten, what it was like working at the company, and what the identity of the still unknown hackers might be.
What drives a person to cheat on their partner? This question is key to Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal. And Toby goes in depth as he explores what he learnt in the making of the docu-series. The answers that he found are more nuanced, and more empathic than you might have expected. It isn’t just about cheating.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“Whenever you make a film or a series, no matter how closely you followed it in the news, when you actually start talking to the real people, who have lived through it... the whole thing takes on a depth and a richness that goes far beyond what you ever would have gathered from the news.” – Toby Paton
It’s April 19th, 1995, the 220th anniversary of the start of the American War of Independence, and two years since the violent end of the Waco, Texas siege. In Oklahoma City, a disaffected army veteran named Timothy McVeigh leaves a truck outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Inside the truck is a bomb. At 9am, McVeigh lights the two minute fuse. When the bomb explodes, it kills 168 people and wounds 680 more.
In An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, Marc Levin retraces McVeigh’s footsteps, showing how he went from being a war hero to a terrorist. Rather than look at McVeigh in isolation, however, Marc places his actions in the context of the evolution of political violence in the USA. It is an evolution that continues to the present day.
In this episode of Factual America, Marc and Daphne discuss the making of the film. They look at how the bombing has become an almost forgotten moment in American history, the economic and military as well as historical background to the outrage, whether McVeigh acted alone, and how views that in the 90s were regarded as being extreme have now entered the mainstream.
As we head towards the 2024 US Presidential election on November 5th, An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th reflects upon the dangerous journey of American democracy and the high price Americans have had to pay for their freedoms.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“He may be dead but the ghost of McVeigh lives, and there are lots of people out there that subscribe to some of his thinking.” – Marc Levin
Climate change, terrorism, social inequality and poverty, wars between nations, and injustice. Things do not look too good for the world today, and there seems to be little to no hope for the future.
A Brief History of the Future, a new docu-series on PBS, challenges this pessimistic outlook. Directed by Andrew Morgan and presented by Ari Wallach, the series visits people from all over the world who are doing something – no matter how big or small – to make the world a better place, not just for their today, but also for everyone’s tomorrow.
Andrew is Matthew Sherwood’s guest on this episode of Factual America. Together, they explore: why humans are given to pessimism – ironically, the reason is not a negative one; the idea that what we regard today as possible was once thought to be impossible; and how creativity can come out of what Andrew calls ‘this season of chaos and complexity’.
Andrew talks about A Brief History of the Future from an intensely personal perspective: he came to the series suffering from burnout after making other documentaries about problems facing the world. Conversely, his view of the future is both epic and dynamic: the future is a verb; we do it, make it, every day. Discover how on Factual America.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“We have a bias towards negativity, but we also have this extraordinary capacity for creativity and imagination, and just goodness.“ – Andrew Morgan
Why would US military veterans take up arms against the country they swore to protect? This is the question at the heart of Against All Enemies, a new documentary by Charlie Sadoff. In it, Charlie explores the role disaffected veterans played in the January 6th attack on the US Capitol.
In order to better understand what happened on that day, he looks at the history of civil unrest involving veterans, from groups such as the Ku Klux Klan through to modern day extremist organisations like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. His journey takes him not only inside these groups but to the top as he meets their leaders.
In conversation with Matthew Sherwood, Charlie discusses the answers he found to the question of why veterans join extremist groups, and what the aims of those groups are, as well as some of the people involved in them, including former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn. He also considers whether there could be another January 6th attack, and if so, where.
If the picture for veterans looks bleak, Charlie does offer hope. There are groups that help vets transition back to civilian life. But, as he tells Matthew, more needs to be done. Go behind the scenes of the threats and dangers facing America’s veterans in Against All Enemies with Matthew Sherwood and Charlie Sadoff on Factual America.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“Jason Crow was a congressman... barricaded inside the floor of the chamber of the House... he asked this question, How did I a veteran end up on one side of this door, and other veterans who swore the same oath I did end up on the other side of this door? That to me was a very provocative question. And the fact that it was coming from him made it all the more powerful.” – Charlie Sadoff
God Save Texas is a three-part docu-series inspired by Lawrence Wright’s book of the same name. In each episode, an acclaimed filmmaker explores the past, present, and future of the Lone Star State.
Episode One is directed by Richard Linklater, Episode Three by Iliana Sosa. Episode Two is directed by Alex Stapleton, and she joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss what it was like returning to her hometown of Houston to explore the effect of Texas’ oil and gas industry on her family and local communities.
That effect has been vast, for though the energy industry has brought a lot of prosperity to Texas, the cost it has charged has been equally high. Nevertheless, Alex explains that she has hope in the future. That hope rests firmly on the local communities. And it is so strong that Alex has now returned to live in Houston permanently.
Among the other topics that Alex and Matthew discuss are mythbusting, the industrial world that lies below Houston, how Lawrence Wright’s book helped Alex to articulate her mixed feelings towards Texas, and the absence and erasure of Alex’s community in Texas’ history.
The main thesis of God Save Texas is that what starts in the Lone Star State will in time be experienced by the rest of the US. The series, therefore, can be seen as being both an epic and intimate drama. Go behind the scenes of Alex’s part in it on Factual America.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“I think that the biggest lesson that I got out of making this film is that community is so important. And it's what makes Texas so unique... Texas has always had this wild wild west identity, but we find community, we build communities...the people of this state are pretty incredible.” – Alex Stapleton
Between 2001-19, head coach Bill Belichick created one of the most successful dynasties ever seen in American football. Under his leadership, the New England Patriots won a record equalling six Super Bowl titles. Guided by quarterback Tom Brady, the team also set a host of other NFL records, including most wins over a ten year period, longest regular season/play-off winning streak, and most consecutive divisional titles.
But this era of nearly unprecedented success did not come without a cost, and the franchise was rocked by a number of controversies. Chief among them were the Spygate and Deflategate scandals. Through it all, however, the team kept winning. Could no-one stop the Patriots? As it happened, only the Patriots themselves could, and that is exactly what happened.
In The Dynasty: New England Patriots, a ten-part docu-series now showing on Apple TV+, director Matthew Hamachek explores the rise and fall of the Belichick-Brady Patriot dynasty. How did it achieve greatness? This question is at the heart of the docu-series and opens Matt’s discussion with Matthew Sherwood. They discuss are what it was like interviewing Brady and the famously reserved Belichick, particularly when it came to asking them questions they would rather not answer. Other topics include the comparison to be drawn between the Patriots and Oscar winner Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight, and how you make a compelling documentary about a team whose success made them incredibly unpopular.
The Dynasty: New England Patriots is the fruit of 35,000 hours of archive footage and over 70 interviews with Patriot players and coaches from Bill Belichick and Tom Brady onwards. In this podcast, discover the ruthlessness, maniacal nature, and utter determination to succeed that made and maybe marred the New England Patriots’ dynasty.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... everything about this story surprised me... you hear about the cheating scandals... you get the caricature of what these people are supposed to be, and then as you dig deeper and deeper and deeper, you realise that behind all the headlines, there's just so much more, and these people are so complex and nuanced.” – Matt Hamachek
On November 13th 1974, Ronald DeFeo shot his family dead in Amityville, New York. Not long after he was convicted of the killings, the Lutz family moved into the DeFeos’ former home. They did not stay long. After just 28 days, they fled, claiming to have been driven out by paranormal activity.
The Lutz family’s experience formed the basis of The Amityville Horror. Released in 1979, it went on to spawn a seemingly endless number of sequels, prequels, and derivatives: over 40 to date.
In his docu-series, Amityville: An Origin Story, director Jack Riccobono explores what happened to both the DeFeo and Lutz families. Matthew Sherwood discovers in conversation with Jack that what took place did not happen in isolation. As Jack says, the 1970s was a dark time in America. There was fear in the air, abuse behind closed doors, an increase in drug addiction, and strange new belief systems sprouting up.
Jack takes Matthew through the mystery of the silent rifle used in the murders, and the question of why the Lutz family moved into the DeFeo home: did they do it for commercial gain? Was it a hoax? He and Matthew look at the question marks over George Lutz’s character as well as George’s role in the perpetuation of the Amityville story: he never stopped pushing it.
Greed, family dysfunction, sensationalism, the truth vs media misrepresentation. The origin of the Amityville horror is much closer to us than we realise.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“I was drawn to this possibility of sort of this cross-genre exploration, and I really felt like there was something unique about this series...you had this true crime component, but then you also had this paranormal story, and then you had this sort of larger cultural landscape that we could explore.” – Jack Riccobono
The 1980s were a time of allegation and scandal in America. From the 1980 October Surprise, 1985-87 Iran-Contra Affair, and 1986-91 BCCI scandal, the decade seemed only to be going downhill. And in the midst of it all, the US Justice Department was accused of stealing PROMIS, a piece of software that could be used to create a programme that would allow the US government to spy on whomever used it.
Danny Casolaro was a writer, poet, and investigative journalist. At the start of the 1990s, he began exploring what had happened to PROMIS, and it led him to see the theft of this software as being at the heart of America’s other major scandals. Before he could finish his investigation, however, Danny was found dead in a hotel bathtub, with both his wrists slashed.
Did he kill himself, as the police believed, or was he murdered?
That is the question at the heart of American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders, a new docu-series on Netflix, directed by Zachary Treitz. He and co-executive producer Christian Hansen are Matthew Sherwood’s guests in this episode of Factual America. Together, they discuss what they found as they retraced Danny Casolaro’s footsteps in the last days of his life and what it was like for Zachary watching Christian disappear down a conspiracy rabbit hole before he himself followed him.
In the process Zachary and Christian uncover a murky web of scandal at the heart of American government. Or do they? Which of the incredible stories of Michael Riconosciuto, one of Danny’s major sources, and others can ultimately be believed? The filmmakers race around the country to interview subjects and get to the root of the story – all with the support and patience given to them by Netflix in the making of the series.
American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders takes a deep dive into the darkest corners of American business and politics. Make sense of it with Zachary and Christian in conversation with Matthew Sherwood.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“Once you dip your toes into [this story] it's almost like a tar... some sort of magic ooze that kind of gets into you, as soon as you touch it. It's like what they say about the abyss... you stare into it and it stares back. This is that story. You touch it and it touches you and it kind of consumes you.” – Zachary Treitz
Tatiana Suarez was born into poverty, endured a “tumultuous [and] traumatic childhood”, and at school chose to compete in a sport – wrestling – that led to her being relentlessly bullied. She overcame every obstacle that life and people put in front of her and became a champion. And not just once, but multiple times. Finally, the greatest prize of all, Olympic glory, lay within her grasp.
And then, she broke her neck.
And as that was being treated, doctors discovered that Tatiana had cancer.
In The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez, Cassius Corrigan tells the story of how Tatiana overcame these seemingly insurmountable setbacks to achieve even greater success than before: with her neck injury meaning that Tatiana could no longer wrestle, she became instead a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. And with the absolute determination and drive to succeed that has characterised her life’s journey so far, she has beaten the hardest opponents, and won the toughest competitions.
In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood discusses with Cassius Tatiana’s incredible life. We meet Tatiana the wrestling pioneer for both girls and Latinas, Tatiana the inheritor of a strong mindedness that will not brook denial, and Tatiana who remains the great “What If” of wrestling and MMA despite her achievements. Cassius also explores Tatiana’s family background and extraordinary work ethic. It has made her an icon of one of the most dangerous sports in the world.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... look at what Tatiana is risking every day... this is one of the greatest stories I've ever encountered in sport. I was willing to do whatever it took to bring it to life.” – Cassius Corrigan
Who is Mark Zuckerberg? That is the question at the heart of Nick Green’s new Sky documentary, Zuckerberg: King of the Metaverse.
We all know how Zuckerberg took Facebook from being a website accessible to just a few American college students in 2004 to one that is used by over a billion people worldwide in 2024. Along the way, he has acquired Instagram and WhatsApp making him one of the most wide reaching and influential men in the world today.
But what are his thoughts? His views? What does he believe in? As Nick Green tells Matthew Sherwood, uncovering the man behind the avatar and update was hard. Unlike his social media rival, Elon Musk, Zuckerberg speaks only guardedly.
The importance of his position, however, makes it worth taking time to unravel Zuckerberg’s life. As Matthew notes, he has gone from being a hero, to villain, and is now a survivor. For Nick Green, he has been a disrupter, someone willing to “move fast, [and] break things” in the pursuit of money. In doing so, Zuckerberg has had to navigate serious legal challenges and also the attention of American politicians, all of which, he has overcome.
In this year of important elections, a film about the man who could influence them by his actions or inaction could not be more timely. Especially since, as Nick points out, we can only hope that Zuckerberg is up to the challenge of what lies ahead.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
On Facebook’s algorithm:
“Curating what people see and curating what they are exposed to from a business perspective is extraordinary. But... it’s just caused the most horrendous problems.” – Nick Green
On the night of March 23rd 2015, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn were drugged and bound by a mystery assailant who had broken into their home. Denise was then kidnapped. When Aaron called the police the next day, they believed he had murdered her. Two days later, however, Denise – who had been sexually assaulted by her kidnapper - was freed. Now the police believed no crime had been committed at all, and that Aaron and Denise were hoaxers. The psychological thriller Gone Girl had been released just six months before.
In American Nightmare, co-directors Bernadette Higgins and Felicity Morris explore both what happened and, as host Matthew Sherwood puts it, ‘the consequences of our cultural rush to judgement and the damage done when law enforcement and the media decide the truth can’t possibly be true’.
The result is a three-part series that twists and turns and upends your expectations with every passing minute. In American Nightmare, light becomes dark, and dark turns into light.
On this episode of Factual America, Bernadette and Felicity guide Matthew through Denise and Aaron’s story as well as the making of their series. Among the topics they discuss are how the unfair treatment of women who are victims of sexual crime motivated them to make American Nightmare, the true crime documentary that inspired and shaped the series, the extensive research that went into the making of it, and how American Nightmare offers the opportunity to get viewers to ask questions of themselves and others about how they treat other people.
They discuss the betrayal of trust, self-doubt, and even out-of-body experiences that Denise and Aaron went through. Perhaps most surprising of all, however, is the point of connection that they find between American Nightmare and Pamela: A Love Story, the 2023 documentary about Pamela Anderson.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“This happened, and it happens a lot, and if it can happen to Denise and Aaron, it can happen to anyone.” – Bernadette Higgins
Lady Bird Johnson is best known today as the wife of Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the USA between 1963-69. However, there was much more to her life than simply the role of ‘First Lady’.
In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood takes a deep dive into Lady Bird Johnson’s life with Dawn Porter, director of new documentary film, The Lady Bird Diaries.
It’s 1963. Liz Carpenter, Lady Bird’s Press Secretary, suggests that she records her ‘thoughts and experiences’ on a tape recorder. Lady Bird agrees and borrows one from Carpenter’s son. She never looks back. Over the next six years she will record 123 hours-worth of material about her day-to-day life.
As Dawn tells Matthew, Lady Bird’s entries are ‘detailed and meticulous’: she had a degree in journalism and was a very good note taker. She was also, Dawn says, very disciplined, observant, and conscious of her place in history.
This consciousness made Lady Bird an invaluable counsellor for her husband. So much so that in an age where there was no line of presidential succession, Lady Bird was even referred to as ‘Mrs Vice President’.
The Lady Bird Diaries describe Lady Bird as ‘one of the most influential and least understood First Ladies in [American] history’. Matthew and Dawn discuss the detail of why that is so. They also explore her abilities as a strategist, how Lady Bird changed the way the White House works, and her political and public independence even from her husband.
The picture they draw is of a woman who was more than equal to the challenge of the difficult age in which she lived, and which she so carefully recorded. For a fuller picture of Lady Bird, the Johnson White House and 60s America, this episode is a must listen.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“She both did and didn’t accept the limit on her authority that society was giving her. She didn’t demand credit for her contributions but didn’t stop making them... her priority was getting things done.” – Dawn Porter
On January 28th 2017, a mosque in Victoria, Texas was burnt to the ground by an arsonist. In the aftermath, Victorians stood side-by-side with their Muslim neighbours. In A Town Called Victoria, Li Lu – who grew up in nearby Sugar Land, Texas – explores what happened next: to the town, its Islamic community, and to the arsonist, who was soon apprehended.
Li joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss her series, its themes, which include white supremacy, patriotism and mental illness, as well as the limits of healing. Li looks back at her own upbringing, and shares how she discovered the arson attack had happened and its effect on her. She also discusses the role played in the making of the film by her DP, Halyna Hutchins, who was tragically killed on the set of Rust in 2021.
Victoria’s story is a bittersweet one. For while there is solidarity and shared prayer, understanding and a determination to repair damage done, the arson attack also exposes deep and profound divisions: racial, political, and economic. And what’s more, this is not a story relevant to Texas alone. As Li puts it, Victoria is a ‘microcosm’ of every American community.
A Town Called Victoria needed to be a sensitively made film. It could not have found a better and more informed director than Li Lu. Enter the heart of Texas and America with Li and Matthew Sherwood.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“In terms of really reaching people, be brave and have a conversation that’s hard with someone that could use a conversation to be had with.” – Li Lu
Racism is a blight upon the United States of America, and has been all through the country’s history.
In Stamped from the Beginning, a documentary film featuring and based on the book of the same name by Dr. Ibram X Kendi, director Roger Ross Williams explores the history of racist ideas in the US.
Using an innovative array of methods, including VFX, animation, and music, he explores how the Trans-Atlantic slave trade gave birth to racist ideas, and how racist myths regarding black hypersexuality and criminality still impact society today.
Roger and Ibram join Matthew Sherwood to discuss their film, its themes, and the role of black women, both in terms of studying racism and as the interviewees of Stamped from the Beginning. Roger also notes the reason why he uses pop culture to tell the story of racist ideas in the US. It isn’t despite the fact that it has been used over the years to perpetuate racist ideas but because of it.
Roger admits that making the documentary was hard. Fortunately, he liked the challenge! The result is a film that, as Matthew says, is both stimulating and uplifting. Racism may be a big part of the US’s story, but it is not the last word.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“We hope that people – through the film – can begin the process of unlearning any racist ideas about black people that they have internalised...and that they would also begin to learn anti-racist ideas of racial equality.” – Ibram X Kendi
In 1983 America was overwhelmed by a disaster, the likes of which it had never seen before. Hysteria led to riots; mayhem became the norm. And the reason? Chubby, potato faced toys: the Cabbage Patch Kids.
In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood meets Dan Goodman, co-executive producer of Billion Dollar Babies, a documentary about the rise and rise of the awkward looking but homely and utterly desirable Cabbage Patch Kids.
They discuss the origin of the Cabbage Patch Kids’ success, which can be traced back to the Post-Depression era but also owes a great deal to the improving economy of the early ‘80s and the increasing availability of credit.
But none of that would have mattered had the Cabbage Patch Kids not had that certain something that made them so special. Despite being mass produced, improved manufacturing techniques gave each doll a seemingly unique appearance. Each one could be ‘adopted’. And, most simply, they looked cute: cute enough to go through hell and high water at the local shopping mall for.
Dan shares how he managed to get the man behind the dolls’ success, Xavier Roberts, onto the doc, while he and Matthew also discuss the roles played in the film by legendary news anchor Connie Chung, and actor Neil Patrick Harris.
The Cabbage Patch Kids represent 80s excess at its best or worst, depending on your point-of-view. Step back in time to enjoy the good, the bad, and the immensely cute of it all with Matthew and Dan!
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“You think about these Cabbage Patch Kid riots... and it’s not like we looked at that and thought, ‘Boy, that was a terrible idea!’... Instead, we go the opposite direction... and that’s where we got to this Black Friday mentality.” – Dan Goodman
In 1999, Rose Tajiri, a second-generation Japanese-American, was diagnosed with dementia. She was 76. Over the following years, as her condition worsened, her daughter, filmmaker Rea Tajiri, became her caregiver.
In Wisdom Gone Wild Rea documents the journey that she and her mother took together, a journey that sees them navigate both the now of life with dementia and the past as Rose recalls memories from her early years, including the time she spent in an internment camp during the Second World War.
The result is, as Matthew Sherwood describes it, a film that is ‘tender, bittersweet, [and] poignant’. Rea calls the film a ‘cinematic poem’, which follows the lines of her mother’s thought process, her ‘dream logic’.
As Rea makes clear, caring for her mother brought highs and lows, sometimes in unexpected places; Rose’s condition brought danger, but also the opportunity to explore, to find meaning. Most of all, it brought wisdom, not just in one area, but several: beauty, beauty in art, and in spiritual matters among others.
Rea discusses her family’s accepting response to her filming her and her mother’s journey, the influence of her late father – a professional photographer – on this project, and offers advice born of her own experience to anyone who might be in the same situation: surrender, connect, enjoy. Living with dementia can be hard, but also meaningful, and even profound.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“It was important to me to centre the film around how [my mother] communicated. I wanted to maybe have the viewer adjust a little bit of how they experience dementia.” – Rea Tajiri
Carlos is a documentary that takes the viewer from legendary guitarist Carlos Santana’s beginnings in Mexico to concerts across the world in a musical career that has lasted over fifty years. It goes off-stage as well, exploring his spiritual journey and life with his family, from mother and father, to siblings, and children.
In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood meets Carlos’ director, Rudy Valdez, to discuss Santana’s storied life. Their conversation reveals Carlos as an innovative and laser-focused musician, a story teller with a brilliant memory, and a man always seeking to go further, deeper and higher, whether in his music or life beyond.
In addition, Rudy shares how he came to direct Carlos almost despite himself, the intimate nature of the documentary’s production, and his determination to create a film that felt just like you were hanging out with Carlos himself, something that for Matthew made the film very cool, indeed!
From fame to family, stardom to spirituality, mysterious tapes and revealing videos of walls, this episode of Factual America takes you from the past, into the present, and maybe even to the future. Plus at the end of the episode Matthew and Rudy have a conversation about the Golden Age of documentary: how Rudy defines it, its duration, and where he believes documentary film making finds itself now.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... what we always tried to do throughout this process is show the music, show it in relation to spirituality, show spirituality and the relation to family. And... come back to music, come back to spirituality, come back to family... all of those things were part of this collective consciousness for Carlos and they were always equally driving his journey and his life...” – Rudy Valdez
To call Sylvester Stallone a film star is only the beginning of any conversation about him. Movies such as Rocky and Rambo have made him an American icon. But even that barely scrapes the surface of who he really is.
In Sly, a new documentary film available to watch now on Netflix, director Thom Zimny takes a deep dive into Sylvester Stallone’s story. He starts with the actor we all know before introducing us to the man behind the persona: Stallone the writer, director, and even, painter. He goes further still, in fact, right to the heart of Stallone’s life: his relationship with his father, a relationship that for Thom redefined how he saw Stallone’s films.
In this episode of Factual America, Thom joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss Sly, both man and film. Their conversation takes them from the beginning of Thom’s relationship with Stallone to its full flowering. Thom describes his approach to interviewing Stallone, and the energy that the latter brought to their conversation. He reveals how his work with Bruce Springsteen helped him navigate Sly, and the great trust that Stallone put in him, made real with a significant gift. Along the way, Thom shares some of the surprises that came out of making Sly, and even Stallone’s musicality.
Join Matthew as he and Thom Zimny pull the curtain back on the real Sylvester Stallone – Sly by name, but open hearted by nature.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“Sly went beyond a biopic for me because I felt like there was a chance to show an artist that gets lost with just a shorthand version of their life... I love the details that get lost, that make a film universal.” – Thom Zimny
In The Enfield Poltergeist, Jerry Rothwell uses over 250 hours of audio recordings made by paranormal investigator Maurice Grosse to revisit the case of 284 Green Street in Enfield, North London. There, for a period of eighteen months starting in August 1977, the Hodgson family witnessed furniture move of its own accord, objects get thrown across rooms, and heard disembodied voices speak.
Or did they?
Some investigators were convinced, others were not. In The Enfield Poltergeist, Jerry builds a replica of the Hodgson family’s house in order to recreate what – is alleged to have – happened, and he joins Matthew Sherwood to go behind-the-scenes of his film. They explore the mystery of poltergeists, disruptive activity that often centres on young people, the effect of the supposed hauntings on the Hodgson children, and how the Green Street case captured the imagination of the British press.
Jerry reflects on his own background and how it might have influenced his decision to make The Enfield Poltergeist. He and Matthew also discuss the high-level background of the British Society for Psychical Research, of which Maurice Grosse was a member.
Was 284 Green Street haunted? Is the question even relevant? Whatever your view, enter into the spirit of the season with The Enfield Poltergeist.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“I think what's interesting is... how and why do a people - a group of people in a house come to believe something. [This] for me says a lot about all kinds of things in our modern world... why do we believe what we believe?... the evidence for those things is as much in the stories we tell, and are told, as in, you know, the hard scientific phenomena.” – Jerry Rothwell
Welcome to the first episode of the fifth season of Factual America! Joining host Matthew Sherwood is Yon Motskin, the director of Encounters, a new Netflix docu-series about four UFO/alien encounters from around the world.
Encounters tells a story that is both epic and intimate in its range. It not only explores what occurred when a diverse range of witnesses – including school children, hoteliers, law enforcement officials, and rescue workers – came face-to-face with the seemingly impossible, but what happened afterwards to them, and those who investigated their stories. Some were able to move on; others, though, were bullied, faced ridicule, and professional ruin. All, though, have stuck to their stories.
Matthew and Yon discuss what happened to the witnesses, their credibility or otherwise, and the profound differences between the interpretation of UFO sightings in Japan versus the US. They look at the nature of belief, and how what we believe can define our understanding of what UFOs may be. Yon also shares his appreciation for the involvement of Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television in the making of the film.
For Yon, Encounters is fundamentally ‘a human story’ with themes such as ‘consciousness and communication’ at its core. Whether you are interested in UFOs, psychology, mysteries, or the workings of the human heart, this is an episode for you.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“I believe that they believe. Now, if whatever they say happened or not, I wasn't there, so, I couldn't tell you, but it's hard to discount... it's not one person in their backyard seeing something. It's dozens, and in many cases, hundreds of people all seeing the same thing, at the same time.” – Yon Motskin
Wayne Shorter has long been considered one of the greatest modern composers and musicians of American music. His career reads like a Who’s Who of the genre, starting with Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, then the Miles Davis Quintet, followed by solo fame and the founding of fusion super group Weather Report. His collaborations extend beyond jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter to include Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchel, Milton Nascimento and Steely Dan, just to name a few.
In Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity, acclaimed producer and director Dorsay Alavi moves beyond typical music doc territory to capture the essence of the man who touched so many lives, including her own. As Shorter’s long-time friend and music-video collaborator, Dorsay paints an intimate portrait and cinematic ode to a truly American visionary, innovator and icon.
Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity is a three-part docu-series streaming on Amazon Prime from August 25th 2023, which would have been Shorter’s 90th birthday.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
John McEnroe’s volcanic temper on the tennis court is legendary. But there was always more to him than just the explosive outbursts.
In McEnroe, a documentary now available to watch on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW, John McEnroe takes a night time journey through his home town of New York, reflecting on, discussing, and interrogating his life on and off the court.
Joining Matthew Sherwood is the film’s director Barney Douglas. He shares how McEnroe has changed from his wilder, younger self, the triggers that still make him a challenging person to be with, and how McEnroe sees himself in relation to today’s tennis super stars.
Barney also discusses McEnroe’s ‘New Yorker perspective’ as a tennis player, his relationship with his father, and how it influences his relationship with his children.
The picture that Barney builds of John McEnroe is of a complex individual, one for whom connection and communication is important, who was an entertainer as well as a highly strung sportsman, and who is a thinker, not just a slave to his emotions.
In addition to discussing John McEnroe, Barney pulls back the veil on how he made his film: inevitably, Covid looms large, but so do exorbitant fees for archive footage; he had to make sure he asked McEnroe the right questions, and then, there is the use of animations inspired by Tron of all films.
McEnroe is a film that is built different, just like its star. In his short career, Barney Douglas has already made two other accomplished sporting documentaries – Warriors and The Edge – thus showing himself to be the right man to help John McEnroe tell his story.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“[He is] very authentic... there’s nothing Machiavellian about McEnroe. For good or bad, you know he will be very true to how he feels, and that's actually... a very endearing quality.” – Barney Douglas
For 200 years, the people of Central Appalachia in the USA have lived off the industry of coal. Now, though, times are changing, and the coal industry is dying. One day, it will become no more than a memory.
Director Elaine McMillion Sheldon describes King Coal as ‘part documentary, part fable’, and the film aims to not only tell the story of Appalachia and its coal, but also to preserve Appalachians’ memory of it.
And that is not all. For through Lanie and Gabby, two young Appalachian girls, Elaine looks to the future, to the new world that is now coming into being. In doing so, she is able to say truthfully that far from now ending, Appalachia’s story is just beginning.
In the course of their conversation, Elaine discusses her own intimate connection to Appalachia, the surprising origin of one mark of deep respect given to miners, and how she broke her filmmaking rules in order to make the documentary.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... if this was just a story about facts and figures, it would make no sense. But this film is really about the psyche and soul... I think that King Coal dominates a time when work, and pride in work, of belonging was a huge part of our identity.” – Elaine McMillion Sheldon
What does it mean to belong to a cult-like religious order? How does it affect one’s family? What happens when that membership is lost? These are three of the questions at the heart of Q, Jude Chehab’s first feature documentary.
Jude’s subject is her mother, Hiba, who for forty years belonged to an all-women Islamic group called Al-Qubaysiat. That ended, however, when the group’s all-powerful leader, the Anisa, ostracised her.
Central to the story of Q is love: of family, truth, and of God. It is an affirming but also destructive force.
In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood speaks to Jude about her film. They discuss how Qubaysiat actually ‘started with good intentions’ before losing its way, Hiba’s dedication to the group – even when she lived in the USA – and whether or not she regrets the years she spent as a member of Qubaysiat.
From a personal perspective, Jude also discusses what it was like for her moving to Lebanon from the USA, the land of her birth, how she persuaded her parents to make a documentary about them, and the emotional experience of editing Q.
Q is an intimate, haunting, and hopeful film. As Jude tells Matthew, there are ghosts within it. At its centre, however, is a family both in front and behind the camera, determined to make sense of the past. It is no wonder that Jude was awarded the Albert Maysles award for best new documentary director at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“I'm now going back and looking for answers, but also trying to save her...” – Jude Chehab
Eli Timoner lived a life founded on love. As a result, long after an accidental stroke forced him into retirement, he was celebrated by his former workers. And when he died aged 92, on 3rd March 2021, he did so, surrounded by his family.
Last Flight Home, a documentary by Eli’s daughter Ondi, tells the story of his last days. But more than that, it relates how Eli chose the date of his passing, something he was able to do through California’s End of Life Option Act. In this moving and poignant episode of Factual America, Ondi joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss the film, her father, family, and how her experience of his dying and death has made her an activist in support of the right to end one’s own life.
Ondi speaks frankly about her fears when Eli told her that he wished to die, and how filming him – something she did with his blessing - helped her come to terms with what was happening. She reflects on the differences of opinion that existed within her family over Eli’s decision before they came together to see the world anew. She also shares how she believes Eli continues to watch over his family today.
Eli’s story is not an easy one. But neither is it one sided. As Matthew and Ondi’s conversation makes clear, loss is accompanied by grace, beauty, and good memory.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“[Dad] said to me... Ondi, would you rather know the day I'm going to die? Or would you rather get a call in the middle of the night? And it's true, it really allowed us all to prepare, and to plan, and to have closure, and to be able to celebrate, even, his life. And for him, it was like wind in a sail.” – Ondi Timoner
Once upon a time, to be the conductor of an orchestra was to be a man. No longer. Female conductors, however, are still very much a rarity. The Paris based La Maestra Competition aims to break down the barriers that women still face in becoming conductors by giving them a space to showcase their skills.
In Maestra, Maggie Contreras follows five women as they prepare to take part in the 2022 La Maestra Competition. Among them are Mélisse, a Parisian from Iowa, Zoe, a single mother who juggles her preparation with looking after her young twins, and Ustina, a Ukrainian whose country was invaded by Russia just a week before La Maestra started.
Maggie joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss these women and more: the physicality of being a conductor, the loneliness of preparation, and extreme limits of time that the women have in competition with their orchestra.
Maggie explains why she chose Maestra’s unlikely opening scene, how she ensured that the film would be accessible to viewers with no experience of conducting, and how her own background as an actor helped her to direct the film.
As with all films, Maestra could not have been made without its financial backers. These include David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants production company, and Jamie Wolf’s Foothill Productions. Maggie reflects on their contribution as well as that of the Northern Irish companies that handled the film’s editing.
Maggie takes Matthew back to her own musical childhood before discussing the challenge of making Maestra, both in the shadow of Covid and by being an outsider in Paris. Together, she and Matthew look at the bond that draws her diverse range of films together. It’s all about making them entertaining.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... you always have to have an idea of what it is you're getting into, but then the magic and joy and fun and danger is you take a step back and let it blossom into what it needs to be.” – Maggie Contreras
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most recognisable figures in the world today. His meteoric rise to fame began in the 1960s and 70s when he won the coveted Mr Olympia and Mr Universe bodybuilding titles multiple times. In the 80s and 90s, Schwarzenegger starred in some of the most successful action films ever to be made, including The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Predator. And in 2003, he won election as governor of California, a feat he would repeat in 2007.
But life hasn’t always gone so perfectly for Schwarzenegger. Drug use and allegations of sexual misconduct are just two of the controversies that he has faced. And in 2011, Maria Shriver, his wife of 25 years, left him, when he admitted to having had an affair several years earlier.
In a new Netflix docu-series Arnold, Schwarzenegger reflects on the highs and lows of his life. From its humble beginnings in post-war Austria, stardom in America, to life at 75, his new ventures, and pets.
Joining Matthew Sherwood is Lesley Chilcott, the director of Arnold. Amongst other things, she discusses Schwarzenegger’s ‘laser focus’, the secret to his success, his failures, his humour, and the mystery of what might be called his prescience. Lesley also talks about how she likes to ‘edit musically’, the challenge of making a docu-series about such a rich and diversely lived life, and even the comic idea of ‘Arnold’s limitlessness’.
Schwarzenegger may indeed be one of the most recognisable people alive today but that doesn’t mean we know everything about him. Join Matthew and Lesley as they unpeel the layers from the life of Arnold.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... a good friend of [Schwarzenegger’s], Paul, always says, You know, I've known Arnold for 40 years, and he sees around corners, and I don't know how he does it. And I don't know what's planned versus what isn't, even though I talk to him almost every day.” – Lesley Chilcott
It’s the 1990s, and in New York, guitar music is at its nadir. But as the new millennium approaches, new bands rise out of the ashes of the past. The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, and LCD Soundsystem, are just a few of those bringing a new, powerful sound to the Big Apple.
In the middle of this renewal, however, another, wholly discordant, sound rings out over New York: that of terror on 9/11. And in the years that follow, more changes take place. Rents rise, ending the ability of upcoming musicians to live and play close by, while the advent of music downloads forces bands to find new ways to make money.
Meet Me in the Bathroom explores the rise of New York’s millennial bands, their love of music, and the essential role that friendship played in their development. Using archival footage, as well as interviews with the musicians themselves, the film charts their rise, journey through 9/11, and beyond.
The film’s co-directors, Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, join Matthew Sherwood to discuss this renewal of New York’s music scene at the end of the twentieth century and the tumultuous events at the start of the twenty-first. They look at the importance of Britain to the bands, the ‘romantic’ nature of this period – a time when the lack of social media meant that bands had a greater element of mystery about them – and of New York itself. Dylan and Will discuss how they made the film, the challenges they faced, and the goldmines they found, as well as how the pandemic lockdown proved to be both a blessing and a curse.
Meet Me in the Bathroom is both an exploration and, as Matthew says, a tribute to another age in music, one more innocent, but no less powerful and authentic.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
‘What we knew we could do [is] sort of viscerally bring to life the time and a sense of the culture, a sense of the differences between then and now, just through building this kind of collage of that period.’ – Dylan Southern
Working: What We Do All Day is a docu-series that explores both what it means to work and the ways in which the meaning of work is changing.
Presented by former US President Barack Obama, the docu-series focuses on people working in three different industries: technology, hospitality, and home care. Through him, we hear of their dreams, and their reality; their hopes, and their fears.
Joining Matthew Sherwood to discuss Working: What We Do All Day is its director, Caroline Suh. Among other things, she reveals how President Obama became involved in the docu-series, the discoveries that she made in the making of it, and the rationale behind choosing the featured companies.
Working: What We Do All Day is a multi-layered film. As Caroline tells Matthew, it enters the lives of people up and down the corporate ladder and seeks to find points of connection between them. In doing so, the docu-series challenges our tendency to do what Caroline admits she once did; that is, only think about the work she is doing now rather than the deeper meaning of it.
To quote Barack Obama, ‘our work is one of the forces that connects us’ to each other. Working: What We Do All Day helps demystify that force. In doing so, it brings us closer to one another. Find out what he means, learn about some of Matthew’s dirtier jobs (!), and even Richard Scarry on this episode of Factual America!
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... when someone does something incredibly well, no matter what it is, there’s a beauty to it, and it reaffirms your faith in humanity.” – Caroline Suh
It’s March 2020 and the pandemic has just begun. All of a sudden, director Sam Green has a lot of time on his hands. He uses it to read a book, which mentions Annea Lockwood, a composer, who has spent fifty years recording the sound of rivers. Intrigued, he contacts her.
Their conversation leads Sam to contemplate sound. The result is 32 Sounds, a documentary that he describes as a ‘meditation’ upon a subject that is both ‘mysterious’ and ‘ephemeral’ but yet can still make a powerful impact on us.
In his conversation with Matthew Sherwood, Sam discusses the challenge of using a visual medium to explore sound. He affirms that watching a film at home with headphones can be just as intense as watching it in the cinema, and he opens up on his relationship with the film’s composer, JD Samson: before their meeting of minds, there was a tension between them born of different ideas about the role of music in the film.
32 Sounds is not your typical documentary. Be warned. By the end of this podcast, you may, like Matthew, start hearing all the sounds around you in a new and intense way!
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... opening your ears can be incredibly pleasurable and can bring you back to the present and root you in your body.” – Sam Green
In 2018, the Californian town of Paradise was destroyed by a wildfire. How did it happen? Could anything have been done to limit or even stop the inferno?
Global warming has made the risk of wildfires greater than ever before, and there are people who believe that we are doing all that we can to stop them. As Trip Jennings tells Matthew Sherwood, however, he was tired of hearing this message. And so, he spent five years researching wildfires. The result is Elemental, a documentary that reveals there is more that we can do, and in some cases, easily, as well. Paradise could have been saved.
Trip’s research has taken him from a flight over a wildfire to special hangers where scientists burn replicas of homes in order to observe the fire’s behaviour. He has explored how America’s indigenous people have responded to fires, and met fire survivors, as well as many experts who share their knowledge in the film.
It would be easy for Elemental to be a pessimistic film, full of anger about what has happened and is happening, but that is not Trip’s way. He tells Matthew that we need to forgive ourselves and evolve our way of thinking. As part of that, he outlines specific ways in which we can make our homes, and our lives, safer. He also stands up for forests. They may be lethal when set alight, but they also have a critical role to play in the life of planet earth and Mankind.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... it's things like boring, non-sexy details that we should think of as doing important climate adaptation work... we shouldn't be thinking about, oh it's just drudgery... we should be thinking about these things as how we adapt as a society to climate change, which is the challenge of all of the generations that are present right now on Earth” – Trip Jennings
In 2019, four-time Grammy award winner Jason Isbell recorded his album Reunions. As he did so, he discussed his life and work with director Sam Jones. The result is Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed, an unflinchingly honest account of a difficult childhood, Jason’s addiction to drink and drugs, the ups and downs of his marriage to fellow musician Amanda Shires, and how he has poured his life into his music.
In this episode of Factual America, Sam joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss his film and its star. They explore how listening is essential to creating good cinematic visuals, the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic had on Jason Isbell’s life as well as on the process of making the documentary, the ‘triumphant ending’ to Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed that in the end didn’t even make the final cut, and points of connection between how Sam makes his films and Jason records his music.
Matthew discovers a promising new form of media (!), while both he and Sam find similarities between Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires and other famous musical and Hollywood couples from the past and present.
Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed is an intensely personal film about a musician at the height of his powers. With his commitment to cinéma vérité, Sam Jones is the ideal man to direct it.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... the challenge in editing the film was finding these portals between past and present. And what I found is that both past and present inform each other... knowing about his past made the present more rich, and then seeing him in the present struggle gave more context to his past.” – Sam Jones
The Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) was meant to help the Baltimore Police Department fight violent crime. Instead, its officers terrorized innocent civilians. In 2017, a criminal investigation resulted in the successful prosecution of the officers, and they were convicted of extortion, fraud, racketeering, and robbery.
In I Got A Monster, director Kevin Abrams tells the story of what happened, and how a crusading defense attorney named Ivan Bates helped bring the corrupt police officers to justice. In the documentary, Kevin also speaks to the GTTF’s victims, giving a voice to people too often denied one.
Kevin tells host Matthew Sherwood about the GTTF’s Jekyll and Hyde leader. Wayne Jenkins was a tough but charismatic cop. Away from the spotlight, however, he was also utterly corrupt. They explore the question of how so many officers, who were also the subject of internal police investigations, managed to end up in the same unit. Was it a coincidence or a conspiracy?
As well as discussing the broader issue of police corruption in the USA, how it has been allowed to continue, and what has happened to the Baltimore Police Department since 2017, Kevin also reflects on his experience of making I Got A Monster, which was completed thanks to the goodwill and help of a diverse range of people, including the FBI, local journalists, and Baltimoreons.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
”... documentary has a great ability to humanize things, and to make things feel real [so] that people can get a greater understanding emotionally of what people are dealing with... police corruption and the victims of it.” – Kevin Abrams
February, 1993. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has received word that the Branch Davidians, a cult based in Waco, Texas, is stockpiling illegal weapons at their compound. The ATF attempts to storm the base but the cultists know they are coming and force them to retreat. A 51 day siege follows, and it only ends when the compound is consumed by fire. 82 adults are killed, and 28 children.
In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood meets Tiller Russell, director and producer of Waco: American Apocalypse, a new Netflix docu-series that features interviews with law enforcement officers and Branch Davidian survivors, as well as previously unseen footage from the siege.
Tiller describes what happened at Waco as an ‘iconic American tragedy’ as it brought together two foundational aspects of American life – God and guns. The fate of so many children at the compound also makes it a very contemporary tragedy. Unsurprisingly, therefore, Tiller calls Waco ‘a ghost story’ that has ‘haunted America’.
The impact of the Waco siege on America and the world was undoubtedly facilitated by the rise of the 24/7 news cycle which, as Matthew notes, happened at around the same time. Despite, or perhaps because of this, Tiller explains that he is ‘a big believer in the passage of time... being a necessity to retell these stories in a way that adds depth and nuance to them.’ Especially if we consume a lot of news, we need time, sometimes a lot of it, to process what has happened. If we are able to do so, we may discover the story at the heart of Waco: American Apocalypse, the one that, as Tiller says, shows it is about ‘the human experience... what it means to be alive and to die and to watch people that you love, die’.
“Nothing like this had ever happened before. So, the FBI had no idea what they were doing. They were in this uncharted territory; the ATF, the people inside the compound, the news media had never seen anything like this.” – Tiller Russell
In the winter of 1957-58, 19 year old Charlie Starkweather went on a killing spree that would claim eleven victims before he and his accomplice, Caril Ann Fugate, were caught. At their trial, both were found guilty of murder. Charlie was executed while Caril was given a life sentence, later reduced.
In The 12th Victim, Nicola Marsh explores what happened during the killing spree from Caril’s perspective. She shows how, contrary to what was said at the time, Caril was not Charlie’s girlfriend but his ex; neither was she his willing accomplice but his hostage. And, most importantly, although convicted of murder, she killed no one.
As Nicola tells Matthew Sherwood, the Starkweather murders “coincided with the birth of live television news”. This gave both Charlie and Caril an immediate notoriety that encompassed all of America. In the years since, the case has also influenced the arts. Nicola cites Badlands (1973), True Romance (1993), and Natural Born Killers (1994) as films all inspired by what happened.
They also explore how The 12th Victim was made – from Nicola’s use of archival footage to the different ways she recreated key scenes. And they look at the question of what makes the true crime genre so popular, Nicola offers this succinct answer: “You get to experience all the things you're afraid of, but in a very safe way.”
At the heart of it all, however, stands a young girl whose life was ruined by the actions of others. Starkweather’s malice, incompetent policing, and bad decisions made by her attorney gave Caril Ann Fugate little chance of escaping the nightmare. Nevertheless, she continues to protest her innocence and seek a pardon.
“I think what really I found particularly compelling about the story was that for women, most women, we've all been in slightly sketchy situations. And the path out of it is laugh at the jokes until you have a clear exit strategy... If somebody gets a bit handsy, you don't turn around and punch them in the face, otherwise, you can end up dead.” – Nicola Marsh
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 represents one of the greatest mysteries in modern aviation history.
On March 8th 2014 the plane left Kuala Lumpur on a scheduled flight to Beijing. Forty minutes later, the captain and Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control bade each other good night. That was the last communication between MH370 and the outside world. Less than two hours later, having been tracked by military radar, the aeroplane disappeared from sight somewhere over the Andaman Sea.
In MH370: The Plane That Disappeared, a three-part Netflix docu-series, director Louise Malkinson, tells the story of how the plane vanished, and the nine-year aftermath. Louise and her producer, Harry Hewland, join Matthew Sherwood to discuss their new documentary.
At the heart of the MH370 story are the families of the 239 passengers and crew who were on the plane, as well as those who, over the last decade, have sought to find out what happened. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared puts both groups front and centre as it explores what Harry calls, ‘the human story of the impact of MH370 and what this kind of mystery can do to people.’
In order to tell their story as authentically as possible, Louise and Harry were determined not to lead the viewer to any particular conclusion. When they present the various theories regarding MH370’s fate, they provide argument and counter-argument.
The question of what happened to flight MH370 is yet to be solved. The docu-series is, therefore, a story without an end. It is also, however, the story of a ‘strong community’: the next-of-kin who, as Louise tells Matthew, still ‘come together, every year around the anniversary’ to remember their loved ones, and who are still intent on finding the truth about what happened on that dreadful day in 2014.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“I spoke to people in China, we spoke to people in Malaysia, we spoke to people in France... everybody's the same: we all need closure. We all need it. We need to be able to say goodbye, and the fact that they haven't been able to do that...[it’s] an unimaginable torture that they've had to go through, through all this time.” – Louise Malkinson
Resources: MH370: The Plane That Disappeared The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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Right Here, Right Now represents a beginning and an end. As director Jak Hutchcraft tells Matthew Sherwood, the film is his directorial debut. A concert, like the one that forms the film’s subject, however, will likely never be repeated in the UK again.
The year is 2002. Superstar DJ Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) has decided to put on a free concert at Brighton beach. The authorities expected “around 50,000 people to attend” explains Jak. On the day, however, 250,000 fans crowd onto the beach.
The police are overwhelmed. On a hot summer’s day, the concert is surely heading for disaster. In the event, though, there are a total of just six arrests and one death – a tragic accident after the event.
Matthew and Jak discuss how Cook went from being a member of 80s pop band, The Housemartins, to being a DJ, and one of the biggest stars not only in the UK, but also America. They discuss his musical genius, looking at one of Cook’s most famous songs, Rockefeller Skank.
At the heart of their conversation, however, is the free concert on Brighton beach: how it nearly didn’t happen, the trauma it caused those tasked with policing it, and the impact it had on Brighton and Brightonians – an impact that is still being felt today.
Matthew discovers that Jak used to be a youth worker. Redundancy made him look at where his career was going – where he wanted it to go. Ultimately, his questioning brought him to Right Here, Right Now, and the concert of a lifetime.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“[Fatboy Slim’s free concert] changed people's lives... It changed dance culture and club culture and electronic music. It changed that forever, especially in the UK, [as well as] perceptions of our DJs and what they can do.” – Jak Hutchcraft
Resources: Right here, Right now The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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The Martha Mitchell Effect Martha Mitchell, wife of John Mitchell, Attorney General of the US under President Richard Nixon, was not afraid to speak ‘truth to power’. She was so influential that President Nixon would go on to say that without her, there would have been no Watergate scandal.
Despite her important role, Mitchell has, in the years since Watergate, become a forgotten figure. Co-producer of The Martha Mitchell Effect, Judith Mizrachy states that this is a result of a successful gaslighting campaign against her. The film aims to give Mitchell the credit she is due.
How Do You Measure A Year? Jay Rosenblatt started filming conversations with his daughter, Ella, when she was just two years old. He continued to do so every year on her birthday until she turned 18. In How Do You Measure A Year? we see those conversations evolve as Ella goes from being a ‘toddler to [a] young woman’.
How Do You Measure a Year? represents Jay’s desire to learn and help Ella grow up, to empower her, and, as Jay says, help her to be herself.
Stranger at the Gate A US Marine returns home from active service filled with hatred towards Muslims. He builds a bomb, intending to blow up his local mosque. But then, he meets the Muslims who worship there. They treat him with kindness and love. And that’s after they discover what he intended to do.
For director Joshua Seftel, Stranger at the Gate comes out of his wider The Secret Life of Muslims project, which is his attempt to counter the hatred Muslims received after 9/11. Stranger is an extraordinary story of friendship, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Joshua notes how divided people have become today but also how we can ‘build impossible bridges between each other’ so that strangers may become friends.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
Resources: The Martha Mitchell EffectHow Do You Measure A Year? Stranger at the Gate The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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Whether or not you give a fuck, this is the film for you.
If you don’t care about anyone or anything, The Subtle Art shows why you should. If you do care, The Subtle Art shows why you shouldn’t.
It may have something to say, but The Subtle Art says nothing new. As director Nathan Price tells Matthew Sherwood, it uses ‘very old knowledge... Buddhism... stoicism... wisdom that's existed through the ages’ but it speaks in a ‘punky’ way that makes the film’s message fresh and relatable for people today.
At the heart of The Subtle Art is Mark Manson, author of the book on which the film is based. He uses the example of his life to firmly ground his words in reality. The Subtle Art is not a film that tolerates platitudes; only the truth.
Matthew’s conversation with Nathan ranges from the philosophical, as they discuss the difficulty of being human, to the nuts and bolts of shooting the film, which Nathan did in just eight days. Nathan reveals how a surprising encounter alerted him to the special nature of Manson’s book, the problems caused during production by NFTs, and the kindness shown by other creatives in letting their work be used in the film.
Matthew questions if The Subtle Art is even a documentary. In a way, it isn’t. It’s not even really a ‘self-help’ film for it goes much deeper than that. It’s no more, or less, than a film that helps you realise: realise that life can suck but happiness comes from solving our problems rather than avoiding them. And how do we solve them? By working out what to give a fuck about, and what not.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... the human body is so complex, the human brain is so complex, it doesn't hurt to meditate upon it... and..., I guess, you could think of this [film] as a really just hyper-pitched, crafted meditation session.” – Nathan Price
What is Covered:
01:42 – Matthew Sherwood introduces this episode’s guest, Nathan Price, director of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck 04:13 – Nathan explains what The Subtle Art is all about 06:07 – Discussing Mark Manson, author of the book on which the film is based 07:10 – How The Subtle Art is a film without precursors 08:28 – How The Subtle Art is about more than its title immediately suggests 09:10 – How Mark Manson came to write The Subtle Art 10:19 – The Subtle Art: Speaking old truths in a new way 11:17 – The difficulty of being a human 14:47 – The kind of film Nathan wanted to make 16:59 – Introducing the grawlix 17:41 – Mark Metcalfe’s role in making a film version of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck 18:46 – How Nathan became involved in the making of the film 21:36 – Filmmakers who inspired Nathan in the making of The Subtle Art 23:30 – The Subtle Art as a conversation with a friend 24:35 – The intensity that came with shooting the film in a matter of days 26:40 – Difficulties caused by the NFT boom and how Midjourney could have helped 27:38 – Nathan discusses some of the help he was given when making the film 30:01 – Matthew Metcalfe’s role in getting The Subtle Art accepted by a studio 31:21 – Discussing Nathan’s filmmaking background 33:28 – Early feedback for The Subtle Art 34:59 – The limits of Kant and Nietzsche in solving marital disputes 35:36 – What Nathan has learnt from making The Subtle Art of Not giving a Fuck 38:29 – Could a sequel to The Subtle Art be in the works 39:08 – What next for Nathan
Resources: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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David Bowie lived a life of extraordinary creativity and success. It was also a life of controversy, radical changes of direction, and an unceasing desire to push his art to the limits.
He was a cultural icon and an artistic genius. How does someone make a film about such a figure? According to the director of Moonage Daydream, and this episode’s guest, Brett Morgen, you have to first know your limitations: you won’t be able to cover everything so look for the ‘through line of action’, the theme that ties all the aspects of the film together. For Brett, the way he displays the through line is by making his film less informational and more experiential, and ‘impressionistic’.
In addition to Moonage Daydream, Brett also discusses some of his previous films, including Montage of Heck, a bio-pic of Kurt Cobain, and The Kid Stays in the Picture. He shares a little of his ‘method’ approach to directing: to make The Kid he lived with its subject, Bob Evans, for a year.
Coming back to Moonage Daydream, we discover how the ultimate origin of the film can be traced right back to 2007. We also learn something of how much the film cost to make. Not in money, but personally. For during the pandemic, a heart condition meant that Brett had to be physically isolated from his family.
Ultimately, making Moonage Daydream was an intense experience. But also, one from which Brett was able to learn important lessons. Some he is able to share with Matthew. Others, as he admits, he is still absorbing. Great art has that effect. Fortunately, great artists stay with us to guide us through their work, and David Bowie was one of the greatest of all.
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“[David Bowie] lived his life by example... he was so comfortable in his skin. I watched every frame, you know, for two years... he was always present, and always learning and viewing each moment as an opportunity for an exchange, for growth.... he was obviously an incredible artist, but there's so much more to draw inspiration from.” – Brett Morgen
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Gunther’s Millions is about a dog who is living anything but a dog’s life. Gunther is a German Shepherd. He lives a life of luxury thanks to a trust fund. But did a Countess really bequeath her money to him? And what can be his interest in the homes of celebrities, pop bands, and perhaps even a sex cult?
The answer, of course, is that – being a dog – he has no interest in any of these things at all. The humans who look after him, however, now that’s another matter.
In this episode of Factual America, Emilie Dumay and Aurelien Leturgie, the co-creators of Gunther’s Millions, join Matthew Sherwood to discuss the strange story behind the adorable photos of a very rich dog.
It is a story that crosses continents, that involves the accidental revealing of private documents, of a mastermind who is as brilliant as he is eccentric, fraud, and even scientific experiments.
As Emilie and Aurelien open up Gunther’s weird and wonderful world, we find out how his story has affected them, both as filmmakers and individuals. Ultimately, though, the conversation comes back to the dog who started it: Gunther, who is not only the world’s richest dog, but also, as Aurelien suggests, a philosophy, a fantasy, and an icon.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... you can't really judge a book by its cover. And that's really also what we've learned there, through this wild ride... money does not make you necessarily happy; it just provides you a little bit of comfort to create things. And that's what [Maurizio] does best.” – Aurelien Leturgie
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In the course of her 36 year – and counting – political career, Nancy Pelosi has redefined what American women may achieve in politics.
Two stints as House Speaker and twenty years as leader of the House Democrats have made her one of the most important female politicians of the early twenty-first century.
With her every step of the way has been her daughter, Alexandra, whose new HBO/Sky documentary, Pelosi in the House, is the fruit of their relationship as well as over thirty years of work.
Alexandra joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss a diverse range of topics, including the use of an iPhone as a weapon during the January 6 insurrection, what it was like filming both her mother and in the Capitol, American decline, and when the USA was at its best.
Their conversation ranges from the homely as they find a point of connection in their children’s names, to the solemn, when Matthew asks if Alexandra sees any hope for the USA in the future, to the serious, as Alexandra discusses the toxicity of social media, which nearly lead to the murder of her father.
Alexandra holds nothing back; she says it as she sees it; whether they are talking about the powerful, her employers at HBO, or even herself. She is forthright, frank, and funny. This is a conversation you will not want to miss.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“The person that I put on my film is the person that I have known my entire life. There isn't another version of her that exists.” – Alexandra Pelosi
What is Covered:
02:20 – Matthew introduces this week’s guest: Alexandra Pelosi, director of Pelosi in the House 04:00 – How the iPhone has blended life and work into one 04:48 – The iPhone as a weapon 05:18 – On not seeking permission to film people 06:36 – A career defining encounter with Karl Rove 07:28 – Filming her mother without permission 10:05 – Alexandra’s experience of filming her mother and filming at the Capitol 13:20 – Alexandra on why you should never make a film about someone in public office 15:35 – The impossibility of catching Nancy Pelosi off guard for the film 20:35 – The risks of filming in secret: George Soros’ party 23:05 – Alexandra on how the landscape is so toxic, she would never commission a political doc 24:25 – Difficulties filming the McCain-Palin Presidential bid in 2008, and HBO’s response to the film’s title 28:49 – What’s in a word? Alexandra Pelosi, “acclaimed” film director 30:24 – Recounting a conversation with George W. Bush, and Paul Pelosi, Alexandra’s son’s, response to the events of January 6, 2021 36:21 – Alexandra’s next documentary: talking to the January 6 insurrectionists 41:31 – The Death of America 43:26 – Discussing when the high point of America was 47:08 – The hazards of using the nextdoor app 48:47 – Fear has caused people to shut themselves into their homes 50:49 – Alexandra’s fears for her children, and lack of hope in the American future 53:49 – How New York has become a cliché 54:48 – What would Nancy Pelosi say about the future? Matthew manages to stump Alexandra 55:34 – The benefit of living opposite a church
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Phil Spector was a musical genius. His brilliance as a producer made him a legend. On 3rd February 2003 he shot Lana Clarkson dead. In 2009, he was convicted of murder, and died in prison on 16th January 2021.
Spector is a four-part Showtime docu-series (available to watch on Sky Documentaries in the U.K.). In it, series co-directors Sheena M. Joyce and Don Argott examine not only Spector’s ‘life and legacy’ but also the person of Lana Clarkson.
As they tell host, Matthew Sherwood, they want to make Lana ‘more than just a footnote in the Phil Spector story’ by bringing ‘her out as a fully fleshed out human being.’
In doing so, they take the viewer on a more challenging but ultimately more rewarding journey. The Phil Spector that they present is no monster. Rather, he is a deeply damaged human being; one whose flaws led ultimately to his downfall.
In this episode of Factual America we learn that in order to present as full a picture of Spector as possible, Sheena and Don spoke to a wide variety of people. Among them, the lead detectives in the Lana Clarkson murder case, as well as others with first-hand knowledge of some of the incredible stories told about Spector during his career. The docu-series even has recordings of Phil Spector speaking on the night of the murder.
With Matthew, Sheena and Don discuss the link between musical genius and mental illness – why it seems to affect artists and not people in other industries; the role of money and power, and whether we can still engage with the work of artists who have done terrible things.
They also shed light on who Lana Clarkson was. As Sheena says, Lana ‘was more than Phil Spector’s victim. She was a successful working actress... a daughter and a sister and a friend who by all accounts brought light and joy into the lives of everyone she met.’
Spector is the story of a tragedy, of a legacy corrupted, and two lives wasted. It is a story that moves in the light, and dark. In Factual America #120, go behind the scenes of Spector’s making with Matthew Sherwood, Sheena M. Joyce and Don Argott.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“There have also been people that criticised us for contextualising Phil’s behaviour, as if that's somehow giving him a pass... it was important to us to present him as a multifaceted human being. He was a loving and devoted father to his daughter Nicole... It doesn't negate the fact that he murdered Lana Clarkson.” – Sheena M. Joyce
What is Covered:
00:44 – Matthew Sherwood introduces this episode’s guests, Sheena M. Joyce and Don Argott, co-directors of Spector 02:36 – Sheena gives a short synopsis of Spector 03:44 – Don Argott explains who Phil Spector was 07:30 – How the Beatles changed everything, and Spector’s decline 10:16 – Sheena describes Lana Clarkson 16:08 – Don discusses some of the stories told about Spector, and his and Sheena’s desire to set the record straight on them 20:26 – Discussing mental illness and artistic genius 24:47 – How the rules of the arts allows eccentric stars to flourish 27:06 – The difficulty prosecuting attorney Alan Jackson had in selecting a jury for Phil Spector’s trial 28:42 – How should we remember Phil Spector: Sheena’s perspective 30:19 – The difficulties Sheena and Don had in making Spector 35:47 – Why Sheena and Don decided to make Spector now 39:24 – Mick Brown’s cassette tapes: Did they play a role in the murder? 45:25 – Discussing Vikram Jayanti’s documentary, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector 46:58 – The importance Sheena and Don gave to obtaining first-hand accounts of Phil Spector and Lana Clarkson 48:16 – Don discusses what’s next for him and Sheena in their work
Resources: Spector The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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No one knows when Bernie Madoff created the Ponzi scheme that would one day lose $64 billion and ruin many lives. Madoff said it started late on. In this episode of Factual America, Joe Berlinger, director and executive producer of Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street, tells host, Matthew Sherwood, that he thinks it was right at the start of Madoff’s career, after he lost $30,000 of investors’ money and, upon receiving a loan to pay it back, chose to lie about what had happened rather than admit the truth.
Whatever the answer, Madoff did not act alone. Others helped him, both actively and – in the case of regulators and banks – through their negligence. Year after year, Madoff’s investments remained profitable despite this being financially impossible. He got away with it though, because, as Joe tells Matthew, ‘people just look the other way when greed is involved.’
In the end, it took a ‘Black Swan’ event – the 2008 financial crisis – to bring Madoff’s sham success to a cataclysmic end.
With his own longstanding interest in stock markets and thirty years experience as a documentary filmmaker, Joe Berlinger is the ideal man to tell the story of Bernie Madoff’s rise and fall. As well as discussing Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, Joe and Matthew look at how what happened with Madoff finds an echo today with the unfolding FTX scandal. They also discuss whether or not Joe worries about standing out from other filmmakers, and the struggle he had to distribute his first film, Brother’s Keeper, in 1992.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“I wanted to dissect the Ponzi and how it worked, and what all those red flags were and why it's representative of such incompetence, or worse, on the part of a lot of institutions that should have known better... I wanted people to understand just how easy it is to manipulate and cheat the system in part as a cautionary tale.” – Joe Berlinger
What is Covered:
00:00 – Introducing this episode’s guest, Joe Berlinger 01:33 – How to pronounce Bernie Madoff’s name 01:44 – Joe gives a brief outline of his docu-series, Bernie Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street 04:32 – How Bernie Madoff used other people’s greed to fund his Ponzi scheme 07:29 – How Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme eventually collapsed 11:47 – A warning about Wall Street: It is not your friend 14:17 – Why Joe wanted to make Bernie Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street 17:49 – What makes Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme different from others 18:55 – The irony that Madoff didn’t need to commit fraud in order to obtain more money 19:41 – On Bernie Madoff’s life defining decision: to be a liar rather than a failure 25:23 – How Joe’s lifelong interest in the stock market helped him make Bernie Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street 29:37 – Joe discusses whether or not he pays attention to other filmmakers and Brother’s Keeper, his first film
Resources: MADOFF: The Monster of Wall Street The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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More from Factual America: Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich Elon Musk's Crash Course in Self-Driving Technology FIFA Uncovered
Christy Wegener, director and producer of I Am Vanessa Guillen, joins Matthew Sherwood to tell the story of Private First Class Vanessa Guillen.
In 2020, after suffering from sexual harassment by a superior, Vanessa was murdered by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood army base outside Killeen, Texas. In the months that followed, her family refused to let either their grief or the weight of the military silence them, and started a campaign to win justice for their sister and daughter, and all victims of sexual abuse in the military. Their campaign took them to the halls of power in Washington DC, and ultimately, success.
How did they do it? As Christy tells Matthew, the Guillens are ‘an incredibly close-knit family’, one motivated by a desire to ensure that no one ever again is forced to suffer as they have done. This absolute determination, guided by expert help from their lawyer, Natalie Khawam, allowed them to weather the storm of grief and failure, and provided a springboard to their success. Today, it continues to inspire them as Vanessa’s sister, Mayra, leads the I Am Vanessa Guillen Foundation, which advocates on behalf of military sexual abuse victims.
As Matthew Sherwood discovers, the US military has tried hard to deal with claims of harassment and assault within its ranks, but the military system itself remains antithetical to the demands of justice. Christy shares how the presence of cameras can help hold politicians to account, and how the Guillens managed to unite in their cause an otherwise hopelessly divided Capitol Hill.
I Am Vanessa Guillen is the story of a tragedy, of enduring love and courage, and the breaking of a cycle of silence and pain.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... we were just with them, and they were so willing to be vulnerable on camera.,, they didn't really even acknowledge our presence, which was good... they were very focused on their mission.” – Christy Wegener
What is Covered:
02:26 – Matthew introduces this week’s guest, Christy Wegener 04:06 – Christy explains what I Am Vanessa Guillen is about 06:42 – The Guillen family’s sense of foreboding and ability to express themselves 08:42 – The secret to the Guillen family’s strength in adversity 10:47 – The US military’s attempts to deal with sexual harassment and assault 12:34 – Fort Hood’s ‘toxic and notorious culture’ 14:33 – Fighting for Vanessa in Washington DC 16:59 – How Christy became involved in the making of I Am Vanessa Guillen 21:07 – The importance of having cameras when talking to politicians 22:58 – What Mayra and Lupe Guillen are doing now 24:05 – The work still being done by Mayra Guillen to change the law 25:04 – Cecily Aguilar’s current status 26:13 – What Christy wants I Am Vanessa Guillen’s legacy to be 27:42 – Talking about the uncertainty of not knowing how the film would end 28:45 – What’s next for Christy
Resources: I Am Vanessa Guillen The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
Connect with Christy Wegener IMDb
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More from Factual America: Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich Girl in the Picture: A 25-Year Mystery Solved Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret
This week on Factual America, Matthew Sherwood is joined by Miles Coleman, writer and co-producer of Netflix docu-series, FIFA Uncovered.
When the Fédération Internationale de Football Association – more popularly known as FIFA – was founded in 1904, its remit was simple: to oversee a competition between various footballing nations.
Today, however, it is a multi-billion dollar organisation that operates almost as a nation state. FIFA Uncovered explores the governing body’s rise and the fall of FIFA executives following allegations of corruption in 2015.
How did it happen? As Miles tells Matthew, money is at the heart of the matter. It began over fifty years ago when sportswear firm Adidas wined and dined FIFA executives in order to become a major partner. Over the years, people and interests who wanted to win at all costs passed money to executives to make sure the ‘right’ decisions were reached. For example, and allegedly, the grant of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Miles discusses the challenges of making a documentary about a subject people either know everything or nothing about, of interviewing people in the age of Covid, and his determination to let the FIFA executives interviewed in the docu-series tell their own story.
He looks at the hot topic of sports washing, how FIFA preferred dealing with repressive regimes to democracies, and what benefit a country like Qatar gets from holding the World Cup: it begins with good PR but goes far beyond it.
Is FIFA Uncovered a docu-series simply for football fans? No. It begins with football, but ultimately becomes ‘a story about human nature’ as well as the success and humbling of an empire. Join Matthew and Miles as they explore a topic both epic and personal.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... this is a story about human nature. And it's a story about politics. It's about what happens when you let an organization with immense money in the bank, and immense power, and very greedy individuals running it. What happens when you let that organization run amok.” – Miles Coleman
What is Covered:
00:00 – Matthew Sherwood introduces Miles Coleman, writer and director of FIFA Uncovered 02:29 – Miles Coleman introduces FIFA Uncovered 05:19 – How the World Cup came to be held in Qatar 08:45 – How Adidas became a partner of FIFA 12:14 – The unknown nature of FIFA’s story 16:13 – Explaining ‘sports washing’ 22:36 – Discussing whether FIFA is a fundamentally corrupt organisation 25:33 – How Miles persuaded his interviewees to appear in the docu-series 28:29 – Sepp Blatter’s belief in his innocence 30:33 – The importance of the top people at FIFA 32:18 – FIFA Uncovered as a political documentary 33:56 – How the FIFA Uncovered project came about 35:18 – Book recommendations and FIFA Uncovered as a ‘primer’ on the scandal 37:39 – The philosophy of FIFA Uncovered 39:45 – Miles’ respect for those who tell their stories in the docu-series 41:03 – Miles on what makes a good documentary 42:27 – How documentaries get made 45:02 – Who could play Chuck Blazer in a film 45:32 – Miles on his (lack of a) Wikipedia profile 45:57 – What Miles is up to now 46:57 – Miles and Matthew’s predictions for the 2022 World Cup winner 48:48 – Miles on Lionel Messi 50:19 – Matthew Sherwood closes the episode
Resources: FIFA Uncovered The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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More from Factual America: Neymar: The Perfect Chaos – The Director's Perspective Who is Stan Smith? 38 At The Garden
Every summer, a horde of professional Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves descend on a campsite in the New Hampshire woods to learn the tricks of their trade.
But this year is different. As Santas adapt to a modern world and embrace inclusivity, they are met with a lot of love but a lot of hate too.
Filmmakers Nick Sweeney and Stacey Reiss join us to talk about how they got such an unprecedented insight into Santa Camp, what it was like filming hundreds of Santas, and the biggest challenges they encountered while making the film.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“We had no idea of the twists and turns it would take, we never thought we’d be standing face to face with the Proud Boys, we never thought the Clauses we’d been following would have such extraordinary things happen to them, the highs and the lows.” - Nick Sweeney
What is Covered:
00:00 - The trailer for Santa Camp.05:25 - What Santa Camp is about and who the Santa Society is. 06:25 - A clip from Santa Camp showing why people want to become professional Santas. 09:48 - What it’s like hanging out with hundreds of Santas. 11:06 - Why people want to be Santa. 11:44 - What you get taught at Santa Camp. 13:26 - The tricks of the trade of being a Santa. 16:07 - How Nick found out about Santa Camp and why he made a film about it. 19:43 - A clip from Santa Camp showing the challenges of being a Santa in 2022. 23:25 - The biggest challenges of making Santa Camp.26:16 - How old school Santas responded to the new diverse Santa demographic. 29:24 - Updates from the Santas from Santa Camp. 31:20 - The unequal pay Santas from diverse backgrounds face. 36:37 - The threats they received in reaction to ethnically diverse Santas.
Resources: Santa Camp Boys State: A Reflection of a Polarised The Andy Warhol Diaries The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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More from Factual America: I Am Here: The Most Inspirational Holocaust Survivor Happiness is a Journey: The Unseen America Cat Daddies
Disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, was an infamous sexual predator, using his money and influence to hide is secret life preying on young girls. But he did not act alone. Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and daughter of privilege was just as much a monster as Epstein, as revealed by the new Netflix documentary, Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich.
Join Matthew Sherwood as he talks with Maiken Baird and Lisa Bryant, co-directors and executive producers, about the bravery of the victims who have come forward to testify against Maxwell. They also discuss the challenges of telling this shocking tale and the ability of the powers that be to cover up the biggest scandal since Watergate.
“Where are the names? We know the names. Everyone kind of knows the names. But we can’t publicly say these names because there’s not a picture, there’s no solid proof, and there’s a huge cover-up. We know there’s a huge cover-up. But who is at the head of the cover-up? Well, that’s a bit muddy, because it has been covered up!" – Lisa Bryant
Resources: Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures
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More from Factual America: Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice Killer Sally Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret
In 1996 a Pepsi giveaway competition inspired John Leonard, a young mountain guide from Seattle, to do everything he could to claim the top prize – a Harrier jet. Realising that it was physically impossible to drink enough cans of cola to earn the necessary 7,000,000 points, John hatched a plan that soon had him facing off against a team of corporate lawyers.
A David versus Goliath story for the ages, Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? – a new docuseries from Netflix – celebrates the human spirit and humanity’s boundless capacity for creativity and innovation, all against the backdrop of 1990s America.
Join Matthew Sherwood in a laugh-filled chat with the film’s award-winning director and producer, Andrew Renzi, who relays what it was like to work with Netflix, climb a mountain in Antarctica and hang out eating hoagies with Michael Avenatti.
At the end Matthew discovers that one of Andrew’s first jobs in film was working for Wes Anderson, helping to shed a light on one of Hollywood’s most idiosyncratic filmmakers.
“There’s a difference for me between stories that are nostalgic and stories that are timeless…There’s a big draw right now to try to tell nostalgic stories…but that just doesn’t have enough teeth for me.” – Andrew Renzi
Resources: Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?
MovieMaker Magazine
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Alamo Pictures
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Killer Sally
The Invisible Pilot: Stranger than Fiction
Girl in the Picture: A 25-Year Mystery Solved
Nicolas Brown’s new documentary, The Letter, takes its name from Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ 2015 letter on the care for ‘our common home’ – the earth.
The film explores the journey of a group of people from different walks of life – some from the margins of society, others closer to the centre – as they make their way to the Vatican, for a meeting with the Pope.
In this special episode of Factual America, Nicolas and host Matthew Sherwood discuss The Letter’s twin themes: the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, as well as the scientific reaction to the making of the film, which was unexpectedly positive. They explore how the Pope became an environmentalist, and how St. Francis of Assisi inspired Arouna, Ridhima, and all those whose journey Nicolas followed.
Nicolas also shares some light-hearted moments from the making of The Letter – such as the day he had to work out whether Pope Francis would turn left or right when entering the room on the day of their meeting – as well as some deeply personal ones from his own career – for example, the day Sir David Attenborough spoke out for the first time to warn the world of the climate crisis.
The Letter is a film about a world in danger. But more than that, it is about people who are rising to meet the threat. Compelled by reality, they find in Laudato Si’ an ally in theology, and in Pope Francis, someone who is prepared to speak at the top of his voice with them, and for them, for the environment, and future generations.
Made by the award-winning Off The Fence production company, The Letter can be watched for free on YouTube (here).
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... what the film's really about is that the Pope has intuited this moment in time by which science and faith together can work out ... a solution to what arguably could be the biggest existential crisis facing humanity: climate change and biodiversity loss.” – Nicolas Brown
What is Covered:
0:00 – Trailer for The Letter02:03 – Introducing Nicolas Brown, director of The Letter03:46 – What The Letter is about
07:21 – The idea behind meeting Pope Francis
09:41 – The unheard voices represented in the film
11:39 – How Nicolas chose the people who feature in The Letter15:39 – Scientific reaction to Nicolas making a film featuring the Pope
19:16 – The reason for The Letter being released on YouTube
21:12 – How The Letter got made
22:19 – The role of Off The Fence
22:50 – How Laudato Si’ lays a theological case for caring for the environment
26:40 – The Message of The Letter28:38 – The necessity of working together
30:20 – How Pope Francis became an environmentalist
32:20 – Meeting the Pope
37:00 – Visiting Assisi and being inspired by St. Francis
38:11 – Climate refugees are people, not statistics
40:41 – When did Nicolas create the film’s narrative
44:11 – The life of St. Francis of Assisi
47:46 – The moment Sir David Attenborough stood up to say climate change is real
52:11 – Keeling’s Four Clocks
54:31 – Trying to catch up with the reality of climate change
57:42 – Nicolas’ experience of pitching a climate change doc with Fernando Meirelles
1:00:35 – Why Nicolas came to live in the U.K.
1:02:40 – The wide reach of the BBC
1:04:12 – Nicolas’ interest in seeking out new voices
01:05:35 – Discussing All That Breathes
Resources: The Letter
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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More from Factual America:
All That Breathes
A Life on Our Planet: Sir David Attenborough's Witness Statement
Our Great National Parks with Barack Obama on Netflix
Who is Stan Smith? A tennis legend, humanitarian, and... a shoe!
Before Djokovic or Federer, McEnroe or Borg, there was Stan Smith. A brilliant player, his success on the tennis court in the ‘70s led to Adidas naming its now iconic tennis shoe after him.
But there is much more to Stan Smith than tennis success and shoes. For though he set out to be the best, in the end that wasn’t enough. He wanted to do good as well.
Join Matthew Sherwood as he discusses the new documentary Who is Stan Smith? with its director, Danny Lee. They discuss the sacrifice Stan Smith made to improve conditions for his fellow tennis players, the help he gave to South African author, Mark Mathabane, and what happened when Stan went behind the Iron Curtain to play the controversial Romanian superstar, Ilie Nastase.
Who is Stan Smith? is a feelgood film about the man who is most known for the shoe, but who deserves far greater recognition for his humility, kindliness, and self-giving. Find out more with Matthew Sherwood and Danny Lee on Factual America.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... the moral of the tale is, it's not necessarily all about winning... It's like the longer lasting impacts you can have on humanity... [Stan Smith is] just a wonderful human being. And I think he's a testament of the possibilities of what we can all do [when] we try to do good.” – Danny Lee
What is Covered: 00:00 – Introducing Danny Lee, writer, director, and producer of Who is Stan Smith?02:24 – What is Who is Stan Smith? about
03:40 – How Danny Lee got involved with the film
05:37 – Stan Smith’s background
11:00 – The Adidas Stan Smith shoe
12:21 – One reason why Stan Smith helped Mark Mathabane, and the Battle of Bucharest
16:29 – Why Danny chose not to include Ilie Năstase in the film
18:03 – Stan Smith’s humility
20:57 – The enjoyment, and challenge, of making Who is Stan Smith?23:54 – How life is about the impact you make rather than the wins
24:25 – Who is Stan Smith’s future distribution
25:20 – Danny on his shoe related films
28:13 – What shoes are, and what they mean
29:00 – Danny’s next project
30:51 – Danny’s experience of making a narrative film
31:51 – The difference between making a documentary and narrative film
33:58 – Does Danny have a preference between making a documentary or narrative film
Resources: Who is Stan Smith
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
Connect with Danny Lee:
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More from Factual America:
38 At The Garden
Neymar: The Perfect Chaos – The Director's Perspective
Air Jordan: A Cultural Phenomenon
Sally McNeil killed her husband, Ray; but was it an act of self-defence or pre-meditated murder?
That is the question at the heart of Killer Sally, a new three-part docu-series by Nanette Burstein, now showing on Netflix.
Sally and Ray were a power couple in the truest sense of the word – both were bodybuilders. But Ray took his training to extreme levels, using steroids to increase his muscle growth. And according to Sally, it was during a ‘roid rage’ on St. Valentine’s Day in 1995 that he lost his temper and tried to kill her before she shot him.
The prosecution at Sally’s trial portrayed her as a bully. But as Nanette explains, Ray was an abusive husband. So, while Sally was not an innocent victim, her husband not only abused her but also their children.
The children’s lives were shattered by what happened. Since then, they have sought to break the cycle of abuse that began even before their mother and father met.
Among the topics discussed by Nanette and Matthew are how Nanette handled interviewing Sally’s son, the seedy side of female body building, points of connection between Sally McNeil, Hilary Clinton and Tonya Harding, and the difficulties faced by women who are trapped by domestic violence perpetrated against them.
Join Nanette and Matthew as they lift the lid on an infamous moment in body building history; a case that remains both relevant and compelling nearly thirty years later.
“... one out of every three women globally, is the victim of physical and or sexual violence by an intimate partner... we sweep it under the rug, you know, and I think that Sally's case definitely sheds light on the fact that we need to revisit how we judicially and socially deal with domestic violence cases.” – Nanette Burstein
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
What is covered
00:00 - Trailer for Killer Sally
01:55 – Introducing Nanette Burstein, this episode’s guest
03:50 – Nanette’s synopsis for Killer Sally
05:28 – Was Nanette able to really get to know Sally McNeil?
07:58 – How the McNeil’s children are overcoming the cycle of abuse
12:07 – How Nanette handled interviewing the McNeil’s now grown up children
13:27 – What Nanette discovered about bodybuilding in making Killer Sally
16:41 – The effect of being the children of bodybuilders and an inter-racial family in the 1980s
17:56 – The challenge of being a female bodybuilder
19:57 – Nanette’s experience of true crime docs, and the need to raise the issue of domestic violence towards women
23:17 – Thirty years later, nothing has changed for women who kill in self-defence
26:29 – How Sally McNeil’s decision to take the stand was a mistake
30:54 – Points of connection between three different women: Hilary Clinton, Tonya Harding, and Sally McNeil
32:45 – Nanette’s next project: A documentary on Liz Taylor
Resources: Cat Daddies
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MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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More from Factual America:
Girl in the Picture: A 25-Year Mystery Solved
Keep Sweet: The Cult of Warren Jeffs and FLDS
Curse of the Chippendales: a True Crime Story Stripped Bare
Once, they were gods who had to be placated.
Now, they still need placating, but they also help save lives and bring hope in a time of distress.
We are, of course, talking about cats.
In her new documentary, Cat Daddies, Mye Hoang explores the relationship between a diverse group of American men and their feline friends.
At the centre of her film is homeless New Yorker David Giovanni, and his cat, Lucky. It’s 2020. David receives bad news about his health. And then, the pandemic strikes. What will happen to them next?
Once upon a time, David saved Lucky’s life. Now, Lucky will save his.
As Mye tells Matthew Sherwood, Cat Daddies is ‘a love letter’ to men who love cats. But more than that, it shows how cats can help men build their mental health, provide stability to them in a chaotic world, and even make friendships.
Cat Daddies is a tender and inspiring film. It is also a thought provoking one, and, in Mye’s words, an ‘emotional roller coaster’ that explores the topics of masculinity and vulnerability.
Join Matthew Sherwood as he discovers a world both familiar and strange, happy and sad, but always hopeful: that of the Cat Daddies.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“... it's also inspired by my own story with my husband, who, when we were first dating, he was not a cat guy at all. And then one day a cat found him... It only took a few days, and he was hooked.... it just goes to show... you think you know who you are. And sometimes life surprises you.” – Mye Hoang
Resources: Cat Daddies
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All That Breathes
Deep in the Heart of Texas Wildlife
Happiness is a Journey: The Unseen America
1 game. 38 points. The birth of a legend.
In 2011, no one knew or cared about an NBA player named Jeremy Lin.
In early 2012, however, that changed, as Lin stunned opposition teams, fans, and the world alike with a series of brilliant on court performances for the New York Knicks. And chief among them were the 38 points Lin scored against the mighty LA Lakers at Madison Square Garden on 10th February 2012.
Success did not come easy for Lin. As Frank Chi, director of new HBO documentary, 38 at the Garden, tells Matthew Sherwood, Lin had to fight stereotypes about what Asian Americans were capable of before he got his chance. And even then, only a stroke of luck put him on the road to Linsanity...
In this episode of Factual America, join Matthew and Frank as they discuss the career of the man whose brilliance on the court destroyed prejudice, built up hope, and left a legacy rich in glory and empowerment.
“The movie is about an impossible moment... A moment when society at large assigns to a group of people, saying you can't do this, and then someone comes out of nowhere and just shatters that to pieces." – Frank Chi
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
Resources: 38 at the Garden
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Facing Nolan Ryan, the Baseball Legend
Neymar: The Perfect Chaos – The Director's Perspective
Dear Rider: Snowboarding Legend Jake Burton
Welcome to the fourth season of Factual America!
Today, Matthew Sherwood speaks to Shaunak Sen, director of All That Breathes, an award-winning documentary about two brothers, Mohammad and Nadeem, in Delhi, who have dedicated their lives to helping the Black Kite, a victim of Delhi’s ever worsening air pollution.
All That Breathes is both an intimate portrayal of Mohammad’s and Nadeem’s work and, as Shaunak explains, a philosophical documentary that shows how the toxicity of Delhi’s air is reflected on the ground.
Above all, though it is a film about miracles: miracles in the air and on the ground, giving hope to a world that seems doomed to disaster.
Join Matthew and Shaunak as they discuss this timely documentary, which has already taken the film festival circuit by storm, winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and the Golden Eye award at Cannes earlier this year. The film is currently on release in the UK and USA and will be available to stream on HBO next year.
“... every bird that flies out of their basement is a miracle.” - Shaunak Sen
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
Resources: All That Breathes (2022)
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Deep in the Heart of Texas Wildlife
A Life on Our Planet: Sir David Attenborough's Witness Statement
Our Great National Parks with Barack Obama on Netflix
Woodstock '99 was supposed to be a millennium defining celebration of peace, love and great music. Instead, the festival degenerated into an epic trainwreck of fires, riots and destruction.
Utilizing rare insider footage, and eyewitness interviews with an impressive list of festival staffers, performers and attendees, Netflix docuseries Trainwreck: Woodstock '99, releasing on August 4th, goes behind the scenes to reveal the egos, greed and music that fueled three days of utter chaos.
Acclaimed filmmakers, director Jamie Crawford, producer Cassie Thornton, and executive producer Tim Wardle, join us to talk about 1990s nostalgia, the rock festival that went wrong, and why they thought there should be another documentary about it.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“Woodstock ’99 was like an experiment in anarchy: what happens when you put a large number of young people together with not many rules.” - Jamie Crawford
NOTE: At the time of recording this interview, the announced title of the film was Clusterf*k: Woodstock '99, and the participants refer to the film by that title.
What is Covered: 00:00 - Guest introductions and the trailer for Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99.
04:30 - What the docuseries is about and the original intent of the festival.
08:28 - The profit-driven agenda of Woodstock ’99 and how it led to chaos at the festival.
11:00 - How society has changed since 1969 and the impact of the 1999 festival's music line-up.
17:24 - How the festival degenerated into chaos, riots and assaults over three days.
21:45 - The difference in treatment between this documentary and HBO’s 2021 version.
27:20 - How willing the subjects were to talk about their memories of the festival.
33:00 - The excitement and challenge of making an archive-led documentary film.
38:50 - The discussions around the title of the documentary.
41:00 - What the filmmakers want the legacy of this film to be.
44:48 - What’s next for Jamie Crawford, Cassie Thornton and Tim Wardle.
Resources: Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 (2022)
Raw TV
Don't F**k with Cats (2019)
Music Box: Woodstock '99: Peace, Love and Rage (2021)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Class Action Park: America's Most Dangerous Amusement Park
In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50
Underground Inc.: The Legacy of Alternative Rock
Menudo was arguably the first international boy band and one of the most successful. Starting from humble roots in 1970s Puerto Rico, the group conquered the pop world in the 1980s and 1990s.
As the boys grew older and their voices started changing, they soon discovered that they were easily replaceable – by a steady stream of 12- to 15-year olds waiting in the wings, ready to chase their dreams of stardom.
Such success came with an unnecessary price. As revealed by former members, the boys were often overworked, neglected, emotionally and physically abused. Separated from their parents, they also became easy targets for sexual predators.
Menudo: Forever Young (2022), HBO Max’s four-part docuseries, brings to life the uplifting, as well as tragic story of Menudo. Award-winning filmmakers Angel Manuel Soto and Kristofer Ríos co-directed the docuseries. Rios, who is also co-executive producer, joins us to discuss the allegations made in the film, and how the band still has a fond place in the hearts of millions.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
“What we were attempting to do is celebrate Menudo, but also have everyone understand the cost the band members paid to be in the band.” – Kristofer Ríos
What is Covered:
00:00 – The trailer for Menudo: Forever Young.04:40 – Where you can watch the docuseries.
05:20 – How the fans of Menudo have reacted the documentary.
07:48 – The historical significance of Menudo.
15:25 – The importance of the band singing in Spanish.
18:24 – The conditions the band members had to work in.
22:22 – The physical and mental abuse the boys were put through.
25:25 – The issue of the band members being sexualised.
30:05 – How Kristofer got involved in the making of Menudo: Forever Young.36:25 – The challenges of interviewing former members of the band.
41:43 – What it was like meeting the ex-members of Menudo.
43:45 – What we can take away from this documentary.
Resources: Menudo: Forever Young (2022)
Fusion Media Group
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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More from Factual America:
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road - Director's Take
Under the Volcano: The Secret Birthplace of the 80s Greatest Hits
Mary J Blige: The Unheard Story of the Album 'My Life'
HBO's Revolution Rent: Broadway in Cuba
Facing Nolan captures the life of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, arguably one of the greatest pitchers of all time. His 51 records and 27 seasons across four decades are the stuff of lore. It wasn't always so. Even as the Ryan Express was chalking up strikeouts and no-hitters like no one before him, or since, Nolan Ryan was surprisingly undervalued. Oddly enough, he may still be.
What better way to understand Ryan's fierce competitive spirit and otherworldly talent than actually asking the Hall of Famers who had to face his 100-mph fastball, or 12-6 curveball on a regular basis.
In acclaimed filmmaker Bradley Jackson's documentary about this living Texas legend, Nolan Ryan is revealed by those who know him best – his family, teammates, and even former US presidents.
“I can’t think of an athlete that is more associated with a state than Nolan Ryan is for Texas.” - Nolan Ryan
Watch the full interview at https://factualamerica.com
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Facing Nolan.04:49 - A synopsis of what the documentary is about.
06:06 - Why so many teams undervalued Nolan Ryan.
09:00 - Why some people don’t like his pitching.
11:00 - How the baseball legends responded to being asked to be on the film.
13:20 - What it was like being a batter against Nolan Ryan.
15:46 - How Bradley Jackson got involved with the making of the film.
18:27 - What Nolan thinks about pitching today.
21:54 - The effect his wife had on his career.
23:29 - What it’s like making a film with a baseball legend.
27:43 - How Nolan responds to the incident with Robin Ventura.
32:30 - What he means as a sports figure for the state of Texas.
34:15 - How Bradley Jackson got an interview with George Bush.
37:46 - The next project he is working on.
Resources: Facing Nolan (2022)
MovieMaker Magazine
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Alamo Pictures
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Neymar: The Perfect Chaos - The Director's Perspective
Dear Rider: Snowboarding Legend Jake Burton
Mike Tyson: The Truth Behind the Knockouts
In Netflix's latest true crime documentary Girl in the Picture, a woman named Sharon Marshall is found dying by a road, leaves behind a son, a man claiming to be her husband—and a mystery that unfolds like a nightmare. The film tells an incredibly tragic tale and the incredible story of how the mystery was eventually solved twenty-five years later.
Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Skye Borgman, Girl in the Picture looks at who Sharon Marshall was, her many different lives and identities, the people whom she touched and the world that she left behind.
Releasing on Netflix on July 6th, Girl in the Picture represents a tribute to this young woman and to victims everywhere.
Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com
“I’m mostly interested in telling human stories and crime gives us the full spectrum of humanity, from the very best to the very worst of people.” - Skye Borgman
What is Covered: 00:00 - The trailer for Girl in the Picture.03:30 - A synopsis of what the film is about.
04:55 - What inspired Skye to make a film about Sharon Marshall.
07:00 - What caused law enforcement to investigate Sharon’s case.
09:07 - How Franklin Delano Floyd got away with crime for so long.
13:58 - How Skye became involved in the project.
15:24 - The increase of podcasts that complement documentary films.
17:30 - What makes a successful documentary.
23:55 - What surprised Skye the most when making Girl in the Picture.25:44 - Why they chose to use feature documentary format to tell the story.
27:40 - The next project Skye is working on.
Resources: Girl in the Picture (2022)
Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
Curse of the Chippendales: A True Crime Story Stripped Bare
The Phantom: The Case of Carlos DeLuna 40 Years Later
Murder Among the Mormons: The Mark Hofmann's Story
The Netflix docuseries Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey tells the chilling story of Warren Jeffs and his rise in the Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of the mainstream Mormon church.
FLDS members practice polygamy and assign women husbands by divine revelation to the prophet, in this case, Warren Jeffs. The church turned into a cult under Jeffs' leadership, and its practices led to concerns from outsiders about underage marriage and statutory rape.
But no one was prepared for the shocking crimes perpetrated by Warren Jeffs himself, who remains the prophet of FLDS to the present day, despite being in prison.
The docuseries, directed and produced by Emmy-winning filmmaker Rachel Dretzin, looks at both the ways in which Warren and his father transformed the group, but also at the hunt for, and ultimately, conviction of Warren for crimes against children.
Watch the episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/keep-sweet-pray-and-obey/
“The strongest thing about this story is that it tells you a lot about human nature and the ways that these things can happen.” - Rachel Dretzin
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Keep Sweet: Prey and Obey.04:55 - A synopsis of what the docuseries is about.
06:09 - The main practices of the Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
07:20 - Warren Jeffs and the disturbing practices he was involved with.
11:55 - What life was like for women in the FDLS.
14:28 - Who was responsible for unearthing the crimes that Warren Jeffs was involved in.
17:05 - The ‘chosen members’ Warren Jeffs brought to Texas.
22:45 - How people can be brainwashed to such a large extent.
24:57 - How Rachel Dretzin got involved with the making of Keep Sweet: Prey and Obey.28:39 - The difficulty of having victims relive their trauma for the documentary.
31:15 - The continuation of the FLDS and Warren Jeffs.
33:15 - The next projects Rachel Dretzin is working on.
Resources: Keep Sweet: Prey and Obey (2022)
MovieMaker Magazine
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Alamo Pictures
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More From Factual America:
Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secrets
Secrets of Playboy: Hugh Hefner's Dark Empire
Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice
Curse of the Chippendales: A True Crime Story Stripped Bare
Three-part docuseries Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret reveals how a group of men behind the world's most successful modelling agencies were involved in a darker side of the industry. It exposes how modelling agents like John Casablancas, Jean-Luc Brunel, Claude Haddad and Gérald Marie, who denies the allegations, created a culture that enabled many of them to indulge in a spectrum of abusive behaviours, ranging from grooming and coercion to the rape of models as young as 15.
The film hears from a generation of forgotten women who were promised stardom and glamour, but instead found themselves used, abused and in some cases, trafficked between networks of powerful men. Building on an ongoing investigation by Lucy Osborne for The Guardian, the series delivers the fashion industry its own 'me too' reckoning, and follows the survivors, including Carré Ottis, as they come together to take action against those responsible.
Watch the episode at https://www.factualamerica.com/scouting-for-girls
Clare Richards, series director, Lucy Osborne, senior producer, and Carré Ottis, model, author, wellness consultant, activist and contributor to the film, join us to discuss Scouting for Girls that airs on Sky Documentaries on June 24th.
“Models are seen as beautiful people that get paid a ton of money, and that creates a discrimination against us that we shouldn’t have the same rights and protections as workers in other industries.” - Carré Ottis**
What is Covered: 00:00 - Introduction and a clip from Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret.
03:02 - What the docuseries is about.
07:15 - What Carré Ottis’s experienced as a minor and when she started speaking out about it.
13:50 - The scale of abuse that has been happening in the fashion industry.
16:40 - The challenges of telling the story and survivors reliving their experiences.
19:28 - How prevalent the abuse in the fashion industry is today.
21:15 - Clip: Carré Ottis testifying to the French police.
25:40 - How Lucy Osborne turned the investigative journalism piece into a docuseries.
31:00 - Why now is the right time to show this story.
39:22 - How the statute of limitation on sexual assault in different states affects the victims.
42:05 - What Lucy, Clare and Carré would like to see change in the fashion industry.
45:10 - What they want the legacy of this documentary to be.
48:00 - How the victims can reach out to the Model Alliance and share their story.
54:00 - Further information on the allegations made in Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret.
Resources: Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret (2022)
Lucy Osborne’s investigative articles in The Guardian
Model Alliance
American Girls in Paris, Diane Sawyer 60 Minutes report
MovieMaker Magazine
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Right to Replies A lawyer for Gérald Marie has stated that he “firmly objects” to the “false allegations made against him”. She added: “He remains calm and refuses to participate in the fallacious and dishonest media controversy that has been fomented more than thirty years later. He is withholding his statements for the justice system, in which he has complete faith.” Gérald Marie remains under police investigation in France and is presumed innocent.
John Casablancas retired to Brazil in the early 2000s with the young wife he met at Look of the Year. He died in 2013.
In 2004, Elite was forced into bankruptcy and the brand was sold. The current owners have no connection with the prior management and have strongly condemned the historic allegations of abuse. They are committed to a culture of respect, empowerment and protecting the safety of their models.
Claude Haddad died in 2009. He previously denied allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Jean-Luc Brunel declined to comment on the allegations made against him in this film. He has previously strongly denied all of the allegations against him. Brunel’s former modelling agency, Karin’s is now under new management. Prior to his death in February 2022, Jean-Luc Brunel declined requests to participate in the series or respond to its allegations.
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More From Factual America:
Secrets of Playboy: Hugh Hefner's Dark Empire
Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice
Curse of the Chippendales: a True Crime Story Stripped Bare
Based on reporting by New York Times journalists Cade Metz and Neil Boudet, Elon Musk's Crash Course zeroes in on Elon Musk, the world's richest person and CEO of Tesla, and his claims about self-driving cars.
The latest in a series of films from The New York Times Presents is directed and produced by Emmy-winning journalist and filmmaker Emma Schwartz, and it reveals the quixotic nature of Musk's pursuit of self-driving technology and its tragic results.
Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com/elon-musk-crash-course
Elon Musk made his name and fortune taking bold risks and betting on the impossible. But Musk's pursuit of self-driving cars has put them on a crash course with business realities and the limits of technology.
The film, available on FX and Hulu, uncovers what many former Tesla employees have to say about Musk's claims, and the culture he has created at the self-described tech company. Is Silicon Valley's era of "move fast and break things" really over?
“With self-driving cars, Elon Musk was selling a promise that was a long way off.” - Emma Schwartz
What is Covered: 00:00 - Trailer for Elon Musk’s Crash Course.
03:10 - What the film is about.
06:14 - The main findings of the investigation into self-driving cars.
09:00 - What means autopilot vs driver’s assistance.
15:05 - The concerns of Tesla’s former employees for self-driving car technology and safety.
18:40 - The US Government’s response to fatal crashes of Tesla cars.
20:50 - Clip 1: Conversation with Elon Musk after the tragic death of Josh Brown.
23:30 - How Elon Musk’s previous successes might affected his promises for self-drive technology.
30:00 - The role of media in boosting technology gurus and their bold announcements.
34:08 - How far we are from self-driving cars future.
37:03 - The vision behind The New York Time Presents series.
42:22 - Clip 2: Autopilot software engineer on the AI recognition problems in self-driving cars.
Resources: Elon Musk's Crash Course (2022)
MovieMaker Magazine
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Alamo Pictures
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The Downfall of Boeing
Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice
The Great Hack: Big Tech and the Post-Truth World
Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen (2022) captures a bygone era of early television and blockbuster Hollywood musicals. It also shines a light on the incredible career of fellow filmmaker Norman Jewison.
Jewison had critical success over more than three decades, but his crowning achievement might be bringing the famous musical Fiddler on the Roof to the big screen. Legendary film critic Pauline Kael called Fiddler the most powerful movie musical ever made.
Award-winning and Oscar nominated filmmaker Daniel Raim, the director of Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen, joins us to share the unlikely story behind this iconic American film.
Watch the interview at https://factualamerica.com/fiddler-on-the-roof
“Like so many millions of people who learn about Jewish culture and history through “Fiddler on the Roof,” I was completely captivated by the music, the story and the production design.” - Daniel Raim
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen.03:45 - What it’s about and where you can watch the film.05:43 - The cultural phenomenon of the movie muscal Fiddler on the Roof.
07:45 - What makes the story so relatable to people.
10:20 - Who Norman Jewison was and what made his films so powerful.
13:19 - The collaboration of musicians behind Fiddler on the Roof.
16:38 - The importance of set design in the film.
18:15 - The extent of Robert Boyle’s attention to detail.
24:19 - Norman Jewison’s skill at picking actors and making them feel comfortable.
28:43 - What inspired Daniel to create a documentary about the iconic film.
31:54 - The theatrical production of Fiddler on the Roof and the key differences it has to the original.
36:09 - How Daniel gained access to the archival footage of Norman directing.
41:00 - Different short documentaries Daniel has made and the feature documentary he is now working on.
Resources: Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen (2022)
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Moonstruck (1987)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story (2015)
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HBO's Revolution Rent: Broadway in Cuba
I Am Here: The Most Inspirational Holocaust Survivor
Steve McQueen: The Lost Formula 1 Movie
Deep in the Heart (2022) is a visually stunning portrait of Texas, told through the eyes of the wildlife species themselves. Narrated by Texas icon Matthew McConaughey and featuring state of the art cinematography, this documentary brings to life one of the world's most diverse, but possibly lesser known set of ecosystems.
Similar in style to Planet Earth, the film shows off some of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles and eco regions in the state of Texas, weaving in the story of our society's relationship with wildlife in Texas over the past 150 years.
Award winning filmmakers Ben Masters and Katy Baldock join us to celebrate the diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife of the Lone Star State. Joining us as well to co-host this conversation is Patrick Scott Armstrong, host of The Lone Star Plate podcast, who interviews famous Texans and explores compelling Texas stories.
Deep in the Heart has its Texas-wide theatre release on June 3rd, and will be available on streaming platforms in July 2022.
“I learned a lot about my home state during the production of ‘Deep in the heart.’” - Ben Masters**
What is Covered: 00:00 - Guest introduction and Deep in the Heart Trailer.
07:00 - Where people can see the film in Texas and when it will stream online.
08:38 - What Deep in the Heart is about and how the idea for the film came about.
15:50 - How the film crew managed to capture ocelots on camera and what other animals they filmed.
26:30 - What message Ben and Katy want to get across to the audience with this film.
32:30 - How they got Matthew McConaughey to narrate the documentary.
37:05 - Cinematography in Deep in the Heart and the approach to filming the wildlife.
44:00 - What Katy and Ben want the legacy of this film to be.
50:30 - What actions are taken every day to preserve Texas waters and Texas wildlife.
01:01:20 - Further plans for the outreach and film distribution.
01:09:00 - The role of writing, narration and music in the documentary.
Resources: Deep in the Heart (2022)
Take action to preserve Texas wildlife
Fin and Fur Films
Planet Earth series on BBC
MovieMaker Magazine
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More From Factual America:
A Life on Our Planet: Sir David Attenborough's Witness Statement
Our Great National Parks with Barack Obama on Netflix
Building Trump's Border Wall in Texas
Public Trust: The Urgency to Protect US Public Lands
Documentary film ‘Hold Your Fire’ provides us with a riveting account of a hostage situation in Brooklyn in January 1973, when four young African American men were caught stealing guns in a sporting goods store and took a dozen hostages.
The police assumed that they were members of the Black Liberation Army and came down with all the force of the NYPD. The situation snowballed into an event full of miscommunications, misunderstandings and mistaken identity, and it soon became tragically violent.
Emmy-nominated filmmaker Stephen Forbes, cinematographer and director of ‘Hold Your Fire,’ shares how he brought this incredible story to the big screen.
'Hold Your Fire' has its theatrical release in the US on May 20th and will be available on iTunes.
“We’re taught a domination model in interaction. The best schools in America teach that you enter a conversation to win.” - Stefan Forbes
What is Covered:
00:00 - Trailer for ‘Hold Your Fire.’
02:40 - Introducing the guest Stefan Forbes and the film.
05:05 - What ‘Hold Your Fire’ is about.
06:49 - How Stefan came across the story for the film.
09:35 - Who Harvey Schlossberg was and what his role in this story was.
14:38 - Why conflict resolution methods are not deeply accepted in American society.
19:03 - How vivid the memories of people who witnessed the events covered in the film still are.
24:50 - Why American justice system needs to become more victim centred.
26:14 - Who the team behind the film is and how they are involved.
30:00 - The success with representing diverse voices in the film.
Resources:
Hold Your Fire (2021)
Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story (2008)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course
The Invisible Pilot: Stranger than Fiction
White Boy Rick: A Call for a Better American Justice System
The Invisible Pilot is an HBO Max Docuseries that captures the incredible story of Gary Betzner, an Arkansas crop duster who died under mysterious circumstances. Or did he?
The mystery around this man's death would be more than enough for a compelling doc. But that is only the beginning of a story that proves that truth is most definitely stranger than fiction. Given the unlikeliest of events set against the backdrop of 1970s and 80s America and Reagan's war on drugs, the docuseries is Forrest Gump meets American Made meets All the President's Men.
Emmy-winning filmmakers Phil Lott and Ari Mark, co-directors and executive producers of The Invisible Pilot, share how they discovered this amazing story and how their investigative journalism led to the creation of a compelling 3-part documentary.
Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com/the-invisible-pilot
"Just because it’s a documentary and not a feature, it doesn’t mean it’s solely educational or intellectual - it can also entertain." - Phil Lott
What is Covered: 00:00 - The trailer for The Invisible Pilot.
03:05 - The synopsis of the docuseries.
06:18 - How Phil and Ari came across this story.
08:40 - What makes documentaries sometimes more exciting than feature films.
12:10 - What the US government was up to in 1980s.
18:20 - What Gary Betzner’s relationship with the government was while serving his sentence.
21:30 - The investigative journalism Ari and Phil had to undertake to create this docuseries.
24:50 - What Gary and his family’s reactions were to the documentary.
27:40 - How Phil and Ari approached and shaped The Invisible Pilot.
34:30 - What it was like to work with Gary Betzner.
37:30 - Upcoming projects for Phil and Ari.
Resources: The Invisible Pilot (2022)
Ample Entertainment
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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More From Factual America:
Detainee 001: The American Taliban John Walker Lindh
The Phantom: The Case of Carlos Luna 40 Years Later
White Boy Rick: A Call for a Better American Justice System
Legendary rock band King Crimson has been inspiring generations of musicians for over 50 years. After starting off with great success in 1969 in London, the band effectively split up in the same year, which then started a process of fragmentation and reinvention that has continued for 52 years.
Documentary film In the Court of the Crimson King that premiered at this year's SXSW festival, captures life on the road with King Crimson. The group's legendary cult following has long waited for a doc, but you do not have to be a fan of the band to appreciate the film, which still awaits wider release.
The acclaimed director, broadcaster and co-producer Toby Amiesjoins us to discuss the film, the essence of being in a rock band, the philosophy of music and the meaning of life.
Watch the episode at https://www.factualamerica.com/king-crimson
"As a filmmaker, I’m interested in human condition, and King Crimson matter as a band because they speak to human condition." - Toby Amies
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for In the Court of the Crimson King.03:11 - When the filmwill be widely released.
06:23 - Who King Crimson are, what they stand for and what makes them special.
12:04 - How Toby became involved with the project despite knowing little about the band.
16:15 - Toby’s passion for music and the challenges of making a documentary about top-class musicians.
23:34 - The challenges of making a documentary with limited access to your subjects.
29:05 - The benefits of filming without a crew and the power of post-production.
36:28 - The failures of English punk and how punk rock King Crimson are.
39:40 - How the band remained successful in recent years.
43:40 - How Robert Fripp feels about the final version of the film.
48:40 - The pressure of making a film about a subject that has so many fans.
1:01:45 - What’s next for Toby Amies and his hope for future projects
Resources: In the Court of the Crimson King (2022)
Sherman’s March (1985)
The Man Whose Mind Exploded (2012)
Alternative Nation (1992-)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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More From Factual America:
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road - Director's Take
Guy Clark: Texas Music Legend
Miles Davis: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century
Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock and Roll
Our Great National Parks is a breathtaking Netflix original docuseries, executive produced and narrated by President Barack Obama, who protected more public lands and waters than any other US president in history.
Watch the full episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/our-great-national-parks
President Obama takes us on a journey to experience nature in the world's most iconic national parks, spanning five continents. The series brims with wonder, humour and optimism as each episode tells the story of a national park through the lives of its wildest residents, both big and exceptionally small.
The series explores our changing relationship with wilderness traveling from the waters of Monterey Bay, California to the bright red soil of Kenya Savo National Park, the lush rainforests of Indonesia's Gunung Leuser National Park, the majestic terrain of Chilean Patagonia and more.
Our Great National Parks beckons us to get out and explore, create new ways for these wild places to thrive, and vigorously preserve them for future generations to come.
Acclaimed filmmakers James Honeyborne and Sophie Todd are the executive producer and series producer behind this five-part documentary. They share their experiences making this series and what it was like working with President Barack Obama.
Not all human ideas are bad. National parks were a human idea. We did that, so we can be a force for good as much as a force for bad. - Sophie Todd
What is Covered: 00:00 - Trailer for Our Great National Parks.
02:10 - Introduction to the series.
04:37 - What Our Great National Parks is about.
05:49 - How the project was conceived.
08:00 - How it was working with President Barrack Obama.
13:45 - Why Sophie and James decided to take a solution-oriented approach to the nature conservation topic.
17:00 - What they hope the legacy of this series will be.
20:33 - How sloths can cure cancer and a clip from the documentary showing sloths.
22:50 - The process of discovering the wildlife during filming.
26:20 - How Sophie and James got such amazing camera shots of the animals.
30:00 - The story of preserving rhinos and second clip from the series.
31:48 - The main lessons viewers can take away from Our Great National Parks.
32:55 - How it was to film this documentary during the pandemic.
34:38 - The development of remote filmmaking.
Resources: Our Great National Parks (2022)
Freeborne Media
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures Connect with Sophie Todd:
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A Life on Our Planet: Sir David Attenborough's Witness Statement
Kiss the Ground: How We Can Reverse Climate Change
Becoming Cousteau: Legendary Explorer and Environmentalist
Ella Blumenthal is one of the oldest living survivors of the Holocaust. Despite living through one of history's darkest chapters, she brings a joy to life that few can match. On her 98th birthday, however, Ella reveals to close friends and family profound memories of her incredible survival in a way she has never done before.
Award-winning documentary I Am Here (2021) celebrates Ella's remarkable life and her magnetic personality and spirit that have remained undimmed.
South African filmmaker Jordi Sank, the director and co-producer of I Am Here, relays how he met this remarkable woman and decided to bring her incredible life story to the screen. In the process Jordi's film provides us with a first-hand account of the Holocaust.
“People need to learn from history so that we can have a peaceful future that’s worth living.” - Jordy Sank
Watch the full episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/i-am-here/
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introducing the guest and the synopsis of I Am Here. 03:10 - How Jordy met Ella.
04:30 - The unique conversations that came out on Ella’s 98th birthday.
05:50 - Ella’s secret to life and happiness.
07:30 - The importance of faith in her life.
09:46 - How she responds to anti-semitism.
12:18 - The challenges of getting Ella involved in the film.
14:34 - How they chose the style of animation for the film.
17:16 - Ella’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
18:24 - The importance of getting a first-hand account of the Holocaust.
20:15 - The next project Jordy has been working on.
Resources: I Am Here (2021)
The MovieMaker Magazine
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Apocalypse '45: The Harrowing Reality of the Pacific War
Tim O'Brien: The Final Book on the Vietnam War
Some Kind of Heaven: Inside the Villages, Disneyland for Retirees
Andy Warhol is arguably the most famous artist of his generation, and his work still resonates today, 35 years after his untimely death. But what do we know about the man behind the cultural icon?
Acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Rossi is the writer and director of the Netflix docuseries, The Andy Warhol Diaries. In this 6-part series, Andrew brings Warhol’s diaries brilliantly to life. In the process he helps us learn how Andy Warhol – the talented, sensitive, gay and religious man – was far more complex and human than his public persona ever led on.
“There can be competing thoughts within someone’s worldviews and what they confess in their diaries.” - Andrew Rossi
What is Covered: 00:00 - A clip from The Andy Warhol Diaries.02:36 - What the docuseries is about. 06:40 - What Andrew thought about Andy Warhol before starting the project.08:45 - How Warhol’s diaries are interpreted differently from when they were first released.10:54 - The impact editor Pat Hackett had on how Warhol's diaries were published. 12:58 - The public persona Warhol created.15:14 - Common misconceptions people have about Warhol’s life. 19:36 - The spiritual aspects of his later work.25:25 - The complex nature of Warhol’s life and the subjective nature of his diary.27:40 - How it felt to make a film about such an iconic figure.33:35 - What it was like going through the archive of material they had access to.35:14 - The challenges of interviewing Warhol's old friends and peers. 37:21 - The unique insight this docuseriesgives into Warhol's life. 42:14 - The capitalistic side of art that came out in the 1980s. Resources: The Andy Warhol Diaries (2022)
The Andy Warhol Diaries (Book)
The Green Fog (2017)
Couch (1964)
Blow Job (1963)
The MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Miles Davis: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century
Horton Foote: The Greatest Playwright You've Never Heard Of
Robin's Wish: Who Robin Williams Really Was
In this special episode three of the five nominees for this year's Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) join us to discuss their films.
When We Were Bullies, by the Award-winning director and writer Jay Rosenblatt,follows Jay as he tracks down his fifth-grade class and their teacher to examine their memories of and complicity in a bullying incident over 50 years ago.
We are next joined by award-winning director and producer Matthew Ogens. His short documentary Audible, produced by Netflix, follows football player Amaree McKenstry-Hall and his Maryland School for the Deaf teammates, as they attempt to defend their winning streak while coming to terms with the tragic loss of a close friend.
A two-time Oscar nominee, Ben Proudfoot discusses his short doc The Queen of Basketball, which tells the largely unknown story of Lusia Harris, the first and only woman to be officially drafted into the NBA.
“I love using the short documentary format to circumvent the traditional gatekeepers of what kind of stories get told.” - Ben Proudfoot
What is Covered: 00:00 - Introducing the guests and their films.
03:00 - Introducing Jay Rosenblatt and what When We Were Bullies is about.
03:45 - What inspired Jay to make a film about bullying.
05:00 - Different memories people had around one incident of bullying.
09:02 - What it’s like meeting your fifth-grade teacher as an adult.
12:05 - Introducing Matthew Ogens, the director of Audible.12:35 - How it feels to be nominated for an Oscar.
13:22 - What Audible is all about.
14:00 - How Matt met Amaree and his classmates.
15:24 - The different subjects Audible covers.
18:48 - What Amaree is doing now.
20:10 - What attracted Matt to make a short film and what it’s like working with Netflix.
22:36 - The next documentary Matt is working on.
24:07 - Introducing Ben Proudfoot, the director of The Queen of Basketball.
25:15 - What The Queen of Basketball is all about.
26:18 - Why Lusia Harris is not more well-known in the world.
27:46 - How Ben found out about Lusia and what influenced him to make the film.
29:53 - The way Lusia portrayed herself to the media.
31:28 - What her life was like up until now.
32:19 - Why Ben likes making short documentaries so much.
33:45 - How he gets funding for documentaries.
36:53 - The next projects Ben is working on.
Resources: When We Were Bullies (2021)
Audible (2021)
The Queen of Basketball (2021)
The Smell of Burning Ants (1994)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
Connect with Jay Rosenblatt:
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Writing with Fire: Oscar Nominee for Best Documentary
Once the pride of American technological know-how, Boeing took a wrong turn toward achieving the bottom line at all costs, even if it meant keeping pilots in the dark and putting passengers' lives at risk. In the end, two Boeing 737 MAX airliners crashed, killing 346 people.
Boeing's PR campaign immediately went into action to disparage and cast aspersions on the flight crews and their countries. Luckily, the families and a few intrepid reporters and politicians would not take Boeing's word as final.
The new Netflix documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, explores the aftermath of the two tragedies and who should be held responsible for them.
Watch the full interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/the-downfall-of-boeing/
“If you went and killed one person you’d probably spend the rest of your life in prison, so why is a corporation protected, why are the people who run corporations protected?” - Rory Kennedy
What is Covered: 00:00 - Lack of remorse: a clip from Downfall: The Case Against Boeing. 02:40 - What the documentary is about. 03:55 - What caused the Boeing plane to mechanically fail. 05:52 - The unique aspects of Boeing’s corporate greed. 08:26 - Why Rory decided to make a film about the crashes. 10:43 - The unique aspect of the story Rory portrays in her film. 14:04 - How Michael Stumo’s daughter died and how he’s coped with losing her. 16:11 - The challenges of making victims relive traumatic events. 17:35 - How the FAA and Boeing covered up the risk of their planes crashing. 19:47 - Why Boeing's management wasn’t held to account for what happened. 21:51 - The immense public outcry against what happened at Boeing. 23:13 - How much Boeing got fined for the deaths they caused. 26:00 - What Rory hopes the legacy of Downfall: The Case Against Boeing will be. 28:30 - Rory’s new film about the global refugee crisis. 34:47 - The dangers of climate change and the future of energy sources. 38:58 - Quality Manager: 2nd clip from the film Downfall: The Case Against Boeing. Resources: Downfall: The Case Against Boeing (2021)
Climate Emergency Fund
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice
Curse of the Chippendales: a True Crime Story Stripped Bare
The Crime of the Century: Pharma and the US Opioid Crisis
Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan are award-winning filmmakers. Their documentary films have premiered at Sundance and won multiple awards including the Directors Fortnight best short film prize at Cannes. Patrick and Ivete's body of work focuses on the seldom seen and forgotten parts of American society.
Their most recent short Happiness is a Journey, produced by the Guardian, captures a night in the life of Eddie “Bear” Lopez, who spends his Christmas Eve and early Christmas Day delivering newspapers around Austin, Texas.
Ivete and Patrick join us to talk about their films, upcoming projects and how they find the inspiration and subjects for their films.
Watch the full interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/happiness-is-a-journey/
“It’s the process of creating beauty and music, and then thinking why that is missing from our collective consciousness of who we are as a country, or as people, that inspires to make films.” – Ivete Lucas
What we Cover: 00:00 - The trailer for Happiness is a Journey, and introducing Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan.
03:23 - What the filmis about.
06:53 - How Ivete and Patrick met Bear and chose him as the subject for their documentary.
08:52 - The benefits of filming a documentary with an iPhone.
11:08 - Why Ivete and Patrice presented the film with a split screen.
13:25 - The relationship they formed with the Guardian and what it’s like working with them.
18:46 - What Roadside Attraction is all about.
24:43 - Why it’s fun to create shorts rather than feature documentaries.
30:03 - How they discovered Pahokee and why they decided to tell the community's story.
33:40 - Patrick and Ivete’s attraction to the unseen parts of America.
36:37 - The immigrant perspective that Ivete brings to their films.
37:54 - Patrick’s background as a visual artist and why he left that scene.
42:39 - Their upcoming feature film Naked Gardens about a struggling nudist resort in Florida.
47:55 - The new films they're shooting in Texas and Louisiana.
Resources: Happiness is a Journey (2021)
Pahokee (2019)
Skip Day (2018)
Roadside Attraction (2017)
The Rabbit Hunt (2017)
The Send-Off (2016)
Naked Gardens
The MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Guy Clark: Texas Music Legend
The Last Hillbilly of Rural Appalachia
Boys State: Reflection of a Polarized Society
Brian Wilson was the co-founder of the seminal 60s rock group The Beach Boys, as the leader and creative genius behind the band’s many hits. Brian Wilson has influenced generations of pop stars, including Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Taylor Hawkins and other pop royalty.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Brent Wilson joins us for the second time to discuss his new film, Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. The film follows Brian on a journey, both literally and figuratively, of Brian’s old stomping grounds and memories which include over a half-century of battling mental illness.
Brent explains how he was able to bring a new angle to the rock legend that is Brian Wilson, all while exploring what it means to be human.
Watch the full interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/brian-wilson-long-promised-road/
“Brian Wilson doesn't think in a linear fashion, so he's not going to start with the beginning of his life…and we ended up with 70 hours of footage in the car.” - Brent Wilson
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. 05:50 - A synopsis of the film. 08:50 - The unique approach Brent took in the making of the film and the difficulties with interviewing Brian. 13:26 - How he came to the idea to film Brian driving around LA. 16:26 - The challenges of making a documentary from unstructured camera footage. 22:56 - How Brian’s mental illness has affected his life. 30:46 - How music acts as a release for him, and why he is so self-conscious about his music. 37:43 - The ways Brian’s creative genius has continued through his later life. 41:16 - The soundtrack that is coming out with the film. 45:02 - The next projects Brent is working on. 48:30 - Comments on our episode with Anne Rapp, the director of Horton Foote: The Road to Home. 51:12 - The way some buyers took advantage of independent filmmakers during Covid. Resources: Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (2021)
Streetlight Harmonies (2020)
Horton Foote: The Road to Home (2020)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Streetlight Harmonies: The Lasting Legacy of Doo-Wop
Horton Foote: The Greatest Playwright You've Never Heard of
Marilyn Monroe almost requires no introduction. The iconic star of the silver screen still resonates with the viewing public even 60 years after her untimely death. But do we need to rethink her legacy or how she's been portrayed?
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Karen McGann certainly thinks so. Her new docu-series Reframed: Marilyn Monroe rethinks the legacy of one of the greatest icons of the 20th century's popular culture.
Although in the media she was portrayed in a certain light, in reality Marilyn may have been a feminist trailblazer well ahead of her time. In the CNN docu-series, Karen explored the strategic ways Marilyn pushed her career forward, the intelligence behind her persona, and the complex nature of her life.
Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com
“We think we know the story of Marilyn Monroe, we have a very fixed point of view of her, and this documentary is about looking at her story from a more feminist perspective.” - Karen McGann**
Time Stamps:
00:00 - The trailer for Reframed: Marilyn Monroe.
01:58 - When the film will be released globally.
02:47 - What Reframed: Marilyn Monroe is all about and how it reframes Marilyn’s life.
04:58 - The ignorance Karen had about Marilyn before making the film and what she learned along the way.
08:36 - How Marilyn strategically pushed her career forward and how she acquired her name.
12:39 - The intelligence Marilyn had behind her Marilyn Monroe persona.
15:26 - How Marilyn responded to naked photos of her being released.
17:35 - Marilyn’s skill with handling the press and the different sides to her story.
21:03 - The complex nature of Marilyn’s life and how she was more than just a victim.
23:58 - The narrative around JFK and Marilyn’s relationship.
26:06 - How Marilyn Monroe died and why it was presented to the public in a certain way.
27:56 - How the idea for the project came about and how Karen became involved in the production.
30:35 - Why they used so many of Marilyn’s voice recordings in the docu-series.
32:19 - The main challenges they faced in making the docu-series.
34:31 - The difference between making a docu-series and a feature-length film.
36:17 - The next project Karen is working on about brain health.
Resources:
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe (2021)
https://cnncreativemarketing.com/project/marilyn/
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Sarah Churchwell https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312425654
The MovieMaker Magazine https://www.moviemaker.com
Raw TV https://www.raw.co.uk/
Innersound Audio https://www.innersoundaudio.co.uk/
Alamo Pictures https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/
Connect with Karen McGann:
Website http://karenmcgann.com/
IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1337648/
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Secrets of Playboy (2021) documents the lived experiences of Playboy playmates, the Playboy Bunnies, and employees of the Playboy empire, and the abuse they went through at the hands of its founder Hugh Hefner.
Award-winning filmmaker Alexandra Dean joins us to discuss the making of this 10-part series currently streaming on A&E, and what it was like to uncover the abuses that occurred at Playboy.
She explains how Hugh Hefner broke women and was able to build up a persona of sexual liberation while creating a culture of abuse. Through the series she also explores why it was so difficult for old playmates to talk about what had happened behind closed doors at the mansion.
“Hugh Hefner seemed to block that darker side of himself when he was outside of the bedroom. He completely inhabited the much more progressive person that people truly loved, but he had secrets which unleashed a lot of damage.” – Alexandra Dean
Time Stamps:
00:00 – The trailer for Secrets of Playboy.04:01 – What the seriesis all about.
07:14 – How Alexandra Dean discovered the dark side of Playboy.
08:13 – Why she decided to turn the documentary into a docuseries.
09:11 – The persona Hugh Hefner built in American culture.
12:55 – What people will find out watching this docuseries and the abuses revealed.
16:20 – How Hefner promoted women’s sexuality but yet manipulated his ‘girlfriends’.
20:33 – The type of person that was brought into the Playboy world.
22:19 – How difficult it was for the old playmates to talk about their past experiences.
24:20 – What Alexandra learned by going through old documents and footage.
26:11 – What it was like for Jennifer Saginor to grow up in the Playboy mansion.
27:24 – How the employees at Playboy reacted to what happened at the mansion.
32:02 – Why Alexandra was so interested in the Playboy world.
36:44 – The allegations against Bill Cosby during his time at the mansion.
40:30 – The ways women blame themselves for their abuse.
44:56 – The victims that have come forward since the docuseries has been aired.
45:35 – The future projects Alexandra is now working on.
47:04 – Clip from Secrets of Playboy that shows the drug use at the Playboy mansion.
Resources:
Secrets of Playboy (2021)
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017)
This is Paris (2020)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s Alleged Accomplice
Allen v. Farrow After the Media Storm
Writing with Fire (2021) is an inspiring story about India's only newspaper run by Dalit, low-caste women. Armed with smartphones and tenacity, chief reporter Meera Devi and her journalists break traditions as they break stories and tackle India's biggest issues. In the process, they are redefining what it means to be powerful socially.
Writing with Fire is one of this year's Academy Award nominees for The Best Feature Documentary. The film has already won the Audience Award and Special Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival 2021, and a host of other awards at over a hundred film festivals around the world.
Award-winning co-director, co-producer, editor and cinematographer of Writing with Fire, Sushmit Ghosh, joins us to share the five-year journey of making this film in collaboration with his partner in film and life, Rintu Thomas. He reveals what drew him and Rintu to this story, how they chose the subjects, and how the film was received worldwide.
Watch the full interview at: https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/writing-with-fire/
“It’s not just a story about a journalist who’s managing an institution that may or may not grow, it’s a story about a mother, a wife and a daughter, and the guilt that women have to bear in making choices on a day to day basis.” - Sushmit Ghosh**
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Clip from Writing with Fire, showing Meera on a reporting assignment.
02:40 - How the filmmakers reacted to the Academy Awards shortlist.
04:30 - What the film is about.
06:20 - The background of the Dalit community and their position in India.
13:34 - What it’s like for the film protagonist Meera to live the life of a journalist.
17:15 - Who the other two main subjects of the film are.
22:18 - Second clip: Meera teaches Shyamkali how to use smartphone for her work.
24:35 - Where Writing with Fire can be seen.
29:31 - Whether Sushmit ever felt he and Rintu were endangered while filming.
33:10 - Political changes that have happened during the four years of filming.
36:43 - How Sushmit and Rintu got the idea for making this film.
41:25 - Reception to the film on the festival circuit and how it inspired people to take action.
47:30 - What’s next for Sushmit and Rintu.
Resources: Writing with Fire (2021)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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The First Wave: The Human Face of COVID-19
The Rescue: A Story of Bravery, Cave Diving & Generosity
The Political Wit and Persona of Molly Ivins
Neymar: The Perfect Chaos, currently streaming on Netflix, tells the story of the beloved but often criticised footballer Neymar, the highs and lows of his personal life, and his brilliant football career.
Award-winning filmmaker David Charles Rodrigues joins us to discuss the film and reveals how he gained almost full access to Neymar’s life.
During filming of this documentary, David found sides to Neymar that he found surprising. In the process, he managed to build a strong relationship with the player.
We also touch on what it was like working with LeBron James, who serves as Executive Producer on the series, and his athlete empowerment brand Uninterrupted.
Watch the full interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/neymar-the-perfect-chaos/
“Neymar understood that he really needed to give me everything so that I could tell the best story possible.” - David Charles Rodrigues
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Excerpt from the trailer for Neymar: The Perfect Chaos.
02:20 - How the seriesshows the human side of the legendary football player.
05:12 - What Neymar was like and the surprising parts of his personality.
07:11 - How he became famous and the extent of his passion for football.
09:43 - The transformation that he went through during filming.
12:10 - The dynamic between Neymar and his father.
15:44 - The skills the father has in sports marketing and the marketing he does for his son.
19:44 - How David got involved with the making of the film.
21:35 - What it’s like working with LeBron James and Uninterrupted.
23:50 - How Kobe Bryant’s death affected Neymar.
27:07 - How David built such a strong bond of trust with the player.
32:32 - The film's reach around the world.
34:44 - What Neymar means for Brazil.
36:06 - How David started working as a documentary director.
39:00 - The next projects he is now working on.
Resources: Neymar: The Perfect Chaos (2022)
Personal Velocity (2002)
Uninterrupted
Pelé (2021)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Mike Tyson: The Truth Behind the Knockout
Steve McQueen: The Lost Formula 1 Movie
Air Jordan: A Cultural Phenomenon
Becoming Rocky: How Sylvester Stalone Became a Star
HBO's original documentary Dear Rider tells the inspirational story of Jake Burton Carpenter, who pioneered the sport of snowboarding.
Fernando Villena, award-winning filmmaker and the director of Dear Rider, discusses Jake’s life as a snowboarding legend. The film shows how Jake took his favourite childhood toy and turned it into a global cultural phenomenon.
Fernando not only talks about Jake's vision and passion for the sport he invented, but also how multiple diseases tragically ended his life prematurely. The legacy Jake left behind inspired millions including Woody Harrelson, who narrates the film.
“His mind exploded and he thought, oh my god, I can actually surf on snow. And that became his obsession, that along with making a lot of money.” – Fernando Villena
Watch the interview at https://factualamerica.com
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Dear Rider. 03:19 - Jake Burton Carpenter’s entrepreneurial journey. 06:11 - What made him so successful at turning snowboarding into a sport. 10:09 - Jake’s passion for sport and his talent for marketing. 13:00 - The target market for Jake's snowboards. 14:20 - How he influenced the creation of the film. 16:56 - The snowboarding community and the value Jake put on human connection. 19:50 - How Jake communicated with others despite having Miller Fisher syndrome. 22:03 - How the project started and how Fernando ended up directing the film. 26:57 - How Covid affected the production of this film. 29:30 - What it was like making a snowboarding film without being a snowboarder. 31:50 - The title Dear Rider and why they used Woody Harrelson as the narrator. 36:24 - What it’s like working with Red Bull. 39:00 - How Fernando transitioned from editing to directing. 40:12 - The next project Fernando is working on. Resources:
Dear Rider (2021)
The MovieMaker Podcast
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Becoming Cousteau: Legendary Explorer and Environmentalist
Mike Tyson: The Truth Behind the Knockouts
Steve McQueen: The Lost Formula 1 Movie
Hell or High Seas (2021) follows U.S. Navy veteran Taylor Grieger and writer Stephen O’Shea on their two-year adventure sailing around Cape Horn, in some of the world’s most treacherous waters. The purpose of this extreme journey was to raise awareness about PTSD and the challenges facing veterans as they return to civilian life.
Taylor Grieger, director Glenn Holsten and producer Chayne Gregg join us to share the incredible story of how two high school buddies embarked on a journey to help veterans with PTSD—in the process helping Taylor to find healing himself.
Taylor, Glenn and Chayne discuss how the adventure became a film and how Taylor and Stephen managed to get such amazing footage even with minimal filming experience, while facing up to the challenges of shooting in such dangerous conditions. We discuss Taylor's experience with PTSD, how it affects military veterans and what can be done to help PTSD sufferers recover.
“There’s no performance here. It’s just their daily life together on this boat.” - Glenn Holsten
Watch the interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/hell-or-high-seas/
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Hell or High Seas.04:04 - What the filmis about.05:24 - Why Taylor Grieger set himself such an extreme challenge.06:31 - How they got the idea to sail around Cape Horn.07:40 - How Chayne and Glenn got involved with the production.11:14 - How Taylor got quality footage without having any prior filming experience.16:50 - Glenn’s experience in creating films around mental health.18:59 - What PTSD is and how it affects you on a physiological level. 21:54 – Taylor’s advice for family members of people who suffer from PTSD.24:45 - The possibility of recovery from PTSD and how this can be achieved.28:12 - How people have responded to the film's screenings.31:22 - The work Britain is doing to help its veterans after combat.37:19 - How people can help raise awareness about veterans' struggles with PTSD. 39:51 - The next projects Glenn is working on.42:15 - What Taylor's goals are now. Resources: Hell or High Seas (2021)
Royal Logistics Programme
Fresh Fly
American Odysseus Sailing Foundation
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Becoming Cousteau, Legendary Explorer and Environmentalist
Tim O'Brien: The Final Book on the Vietnam War
Robin's Wish: Who Robin Williams Really Was
Joining us is Vicky Ward, a New York Times bestselling author, investigative journalist and the host and co-producer of Chasing Ghislaine. In 2002 Vicky conducted one of the few interviews ever given by Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.
Vicky has now turned her sights on Epstein's former confidante, Ghislaine Maxwell. The British socialite is currently on trial for allegedly helping Epstein to prey on young girls. Subsequently, Vicky has turned her investigative work into a hit podcast series and new 3-part docuseries, which is available on Discovery+ in the UK and US.
Vicky fills us in on the latest events surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell's trial and continuing efforts to get to the bottom of this murky tale.
“I’ve never had such a horrific experience reporting, before or since.” - Vicky Ward
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer from the docuseries Chasing Ghislaine.03:08 - What the documentary is all about.
10:24 - The narcissistic nature of Jeffrey Epstein and how he got under people’s skin.
18:13 - Vicky’s relationship with Annie Farmer and her cross-examination.
22:11 - What the media isn’t reporting about the trial.
26:39 - The difficult position the jury is in.
31:44 - Why the prosecution hasn’t brought forward some key witnesses.
36:29 - The importance of hearing the defence’s case before making judgment.
42:14 - The mystery around Robert Maxwell and how Ghislaine and Epstein met.
49:08 - The range of litigations and cases related to Epstein.
53:26 - Why Vicky feels less vulnerable producing a podcast than writing a book.
55:54 - The difference in writing content for podcasts rather than books.
58:35 - The next project Vicky’s working on which focuses on a gothic murder mystery.
1:01:30 - The legacy Vicky hopes to leave with her Chasing Ghislaine docuseries.
1:03:28 - A clip showing Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship towards women.
Resources: Chasing Ghislaine (2021) on Discovery+
Chasing Ghislaine Podcast
Vanity Fair on Ghislaine Maxwell’s Trial
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Curse of the Chippendales: a True Crime Story Stripped Bare
The Phantom: The Case of Carlos DeLuna 40 Years Later
Allen v. Farrow After the Media Storm
The National Geographic documentary The First Wave captures the harrowing first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic as it played out in one of New York City’s hardest-hit hospital systems.
Joining us is Matthew Heineman, an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker who directed and produced this film.
The incredible footage he obtained and shaped into The First Wave represents a testimony to the strength of the human spirit and how people come together in the face of crisis.
He shares how he gained access to the hospital at the beginning of the crisis, the heroes he filmed, and the inevitable emotional toll the production had on him and his crew.
“I saw an obligation to take this issue that was so relegated to stats, headlines, and misinformation, and try to put a human face to it.” - Matthew Heineman
Time Stamps: [00:00] - The trailer for The First Wave. [04:04] - What the filmis about. [05:25] - What motivated Matthew to make the film. [08:18] - How he gained access to the hospital. [10:40] - The uncertainty he had going into this project. [13:14] - How they moved from filming healthcare workers to patients. [18:03] - A clip from the film showing how things escalated at the start of the pandemic. [20:31] - How Matthew incorporated the Black Lives Matter protests into the film. [22:01] - The emotional toll making the documentary had on Matthew and the film crew. [24:56] - The lessons he hopes people will take from this film. [29:11] - The different filmmakers who were involved in the creation of this film. [31:58] - The next projects Matthew is working on. [33:45] - A clip from the film showing the toll the pandemic has had on families. Resources: The First Wave (2021)
Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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The Rescue: A Story of Bravery, Cave Diving and Generosity
The Crime of the Century: Pharma and the US Opioid Crisis
Kenny G is the best-selling instrumentalist of all time, but why does he elicit such heartfelt, negative criticism from some listeners?
Penny Lane’s new HBO documentary Listening to Kenny G shows the world-famous saxophonist speaking candidly about his musical background, his stringent work ethic, and his controversial standing in the jazz world.
Penny joins us to discuss the making of the film and how she gained access to such a high-profile music star. She also reveals her original impressions of Kenny G and his music, but shares what it was like getting to know the real artist behind the music while shooting this documentary.
“I would never have thought who Kenny G is, why he makes this music, it just never crossed my mind that behind that music was an artist.” - Penny Lane
Time Stamps: (00:00) - The trailer for Listening to Kenny G. (03:05) - What the filmis about. (05:17) - How Penny feels about Kenny's music. (07:09) - Why some people dislike his music so strongly. (09:31) - Why Penny thought now was a good time to make a documentary about this musician. (11:27) - Common misconceptions people have about Kenny G. (13:10) - Why fitting into a specific genre isn’t as important as it used to be. (16:24) - How the idea for the film started. (18:37) - How Penny gained access to Kenny G. (20:25) - The amount of time she spent shooting with him. (21:15) - Penny’s impression of Kenny after spending so much time with him. (23:22) - How her conception of the documentary evolved over time. (29:45) - The next project Penny is working on about altruistic kidney donations. Resources: Listening to Kenny G (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15174040/
MovieMaker Magazine https://www.moviemaker.com/
Innersound Audio https://www.innersoundaudio.co.uk/
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More From Factual America:
Under the Volcano: The Secret Birthplace of the 80’s Greatest Hits https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/under-the-volcano-air-studios/
Marry J Blige: The Unheard Story of the Album ‘My Life’ https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/mary-j-blige-my-life-in-documentary/
Moby Doc: A Life in Reprise https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/moby-doc/
Miles Davis: The Coolest Innovator of the 20th Century https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/miles-davis/
On September 5th 1981 a group of women came together to change the world. These women marched from Wales to Berkshire to protest nuclear weapons being kept at RAF Greenham Common, a British airbase.
Feature-length documentary Mothers of the Revolution (2021) tells the true story of the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp and how it helped to bring the Cold War to an end. Between 1981 and 2000, in one of the longest protests in history, thousands of women from around the world came together at Greenham Common to take a committed stand against nuclear proliferation.
Joining us is a subject of the documentary, Olga Medvedkov. A peace activist in Soviet Russia along with her husband Yuri, Olga faced severe persecution, partly for her friendship with the Greenham Common Women. Olga explains how she was introduced to the Greenham Common Women and the role they may have had in the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“You live in an Orwellian society, of course you can comply and 99% do because it’s dangerous, but 1% doesn't, and we belonged to that one tiny percent.” - Olga Medvedkov
Time Stamps:00:40 - The trailer for The Mothers of the Revolution. 04:13 - Who the Greenham Common Women were and how Olga got involved with them. 11:46 - What motivated Olga to go against the Kremlin. 13:35 - How Olga got in touch with the Greenham Common Women. 20:49 - Getting arrested and the time Olga spent in jail. 29:40 - Olga’s views on what the Greenham Common Women achieved. 37:00 - The lack of hope Olga has for Russia’s future. 38:22 - The concerns of a nuclear crisis starting between America and China. 41:24 - The dangers of the division that is happening in America. 44:50 - What it’s like seeing yourself in a movie. Resources: Mothers of the Revolution (2021)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Apocalypse '45: The Harrowing Reality of the Pacific War
Tim O'Brien: The Final Book on the Vietnam War
MLK/FBI: America on the Collision Course
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The National Geographic documentary Becoming Cousteau explores the life of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, a man well ahead of his time in bringing climate change and environmental devastation to the world’s attention.
Mridu Chandra, award-winning filmmaker and one of the producers of Becoming Cousteau, joins us to discuss Cousteau's remarkable life and passion for the environment. A scuba diving pioneer, Cousteau also was an accomplished filmmaker and three-time Oscar winner.
Mridu talks about the challenges that she and director Liz Garbus faced in making a film using only archival footage, and how Garbus was keen to bring Cousteau's story to life.
“Throughout his life, he was always ahead, and when it came to his environmentalism, it stemmed from his genuine passion, being an honest witness and decades of experience.” - Mridu Chandra
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Becoming Cousteau.04:10 - What the filmis about.05:01 - Who Jacques Cousteau was and the effect he had on the world of scuba diving.07:41 - Cousteau’s love for filmmaking. 09:25 - The challenges involved when working on an archival film.11:49 - How the idea for the film came about.13:21 - A clip from the film showing how Jacques Cousteau revolutionised diving.17:04 - How he changed over time while staying true to his moral compass.21:11 - The work he did to spread awareness of environmental destruction.24:26 - How he pushed the limits in everything he was involved in.27:12 - A clip from the film showing Cousteau’s love for his mother. Resources: Becoming Cousteau (2021) The Silent World (1956) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Mridu Chandra:
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The Rescue: A Story of Bravery, Cave Diving and Generosity
The Space Station: The Wonderful Story of Human Cooperation
Echoes of the Invisible: Pushing the Limits of Human Experience
The Discovery+ docuseries Curse of the Chippendales chronicles the dark side of the 1980s all-male striptease dance troupe.
The muscular men of the Chippendales captured the hearts, minds, and dollars of the 1980s in their iconic cuffs and collars, but what started out as a first in women’s entertainment soon turned into a story of greed, jealousy and murder for hire.
Executive producer Suzanne Lavery and writer and director Jesse Vile discuss what drew them to the Chippendales, how they created the film and the biggest challenges they faced in bringing this outrageous story to life.
“It’s a true-crime series but it’s true crime with a heart, there’s a lot more going on than murder and mayhem.” - Jesse Vile
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Curse of the Chippendales.03:41 - What the docuseries is about.04:39 - How the male stripping at Chippendales started.07:28 - What it was like for the dancers working at the club.10:40 - The founder of the Chippendales and how he knew what would sell.13:55 - The dark side of the Chippendales.16:17 - The unique themes filmmakers were able to explore when making this doc.22:50 - The ‘napkin deal’ that changed the Chippendale organisation forever.25:40 - The crazy unbelievable world they were all living in at the Chippendales.27:09 - Why the creative team decided to turn the documentary into a 4-part docuseries.28:28 - The main challenges they faced in telling the story.32:48 - The different elements of the human spirit they show in the documentary.37:38 - Why they decided to make a true-crime doc.43:15 - The next project LightBox is working on. Resources: * Curse of the Chippendales (2021) * LightBox * Pineapple Studios * MovieMaker Magazine * Innersound Audio * Alamo Pictures
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- Under the Volcano: The Secret Birthplace of the 80s Greatest Hits
- HBO's Revolution Rent: Broadway in Cuba
- Some Kind of Heaven: Inside the Villages, Disneyland for Retirees
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Hawking: Can You Hear Me? is a Sky Original documentary that explores the remarkable human story of Stephen Hawking, through candid interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues.
The film brings to life the man behind the persona of legendary theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking and in the process shows the impact fame and disability had on those closest to him.
Joining Factual America to discuss the making of the film and the challenges they faced are director Oliver Twinch and producer Anthony Geffen.
“If you know how difficult things were and how challenging things were through his everyday life, you came to understand more how extraordinary his triumphs were.” - Oliver Twinch
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Hawking: Can You Hear Me?.
02:47 - What Hawking: Can You Hear Me? is all about.
04:22 - Stephen Hawking’s human side and common misconceptions about his life.
08:26 - The private side of Hawking’s life and the difficulty accessing this side of him.
10:17 - How Anthony gained the trust and confidence of Stephen’s family.
13:51 - Why the interviews were so emotionally challenging for the interviewees.
17:54 - How they made Hawking relatable and ‘human’.
21:13 - How the family responded to the finished film.
22:26 - The reconciliation Hawking had with his family before his death.
23:30 - How the idea for the film came about and how Oliver got involved with the project.
30:20 - How they came up with the structure that the film followed.
34:25 - The biggest challenges they faced when making the film.
37:11 - The positive aspects of Sky Docs compared to some other broadcasters.
38:34 - How the documentary film world has changed and the future of documentaries.
46:30 - The next projects Anthony and Oliver are working on.
Resources: Hawking: Can You Hear Me?
Innersound Audio
MovieMaker Magazine
Alamo Pictures
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Robin's Wish: Who Robin Williams Really Was
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The Rescue explores the story of the dramatic Tham Luang cave rescue in 2018, when twelve boys and their soccer coach were saved from deep inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand. But like all great documentaries, it is about so much more – bravery, cave diving, the human spirit and ultimately, generosity.
The Rescue is the latest masterpiece by the Oscar-winning director Chai Vasrahelyi, which she co-directed and co-produced with her partner in film and life, Jimmy Chin.
Chai joins us to discuss how the filmmakers were able to bring to life one of the most perilous and extraordinary rescues in modern times. She explains the main challenges in the making of the film, why they used re-enactments, and how they obtained access to exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage from this dramatic event.
The Rescue, produced by National Geographic Documentary Films, had its theatrical release in the US on October 8th and in the UK on October 29th.
“The ordinary people were able to do something so extraordinary.” - Chai Vasarhelyi
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for The Rescue.
03:50 - What the filmis about and what drew Chai to this story.
06:49 - The commonalities between free climbing and cave diving.
08:14 - Who the rescue team were and how the boys helped with their own rescue.
11:12 - First clip: how the boys were rescued.
14:22 - The main challenges of bringing this story to life.
18:42 - Actual rescue footage and why re-enactments were used to complete the story.
19:45 - How Chai keeps people engaged while watching a film.
20:57 - The next project Chai is working on.
21:55 - Second clip: the moment when divers reached the boys for the first time.
Resources: The Rescue (2021)
Free Solo (2018)
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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The Space Station: The Wonderful Story of Human Co-Operation
Echoes of the Invisible: Pushing the Limits of Human Experience
A young man from the San Francisco suburbs journeys to the Middle East and soon finds himself as the face of Islamist extremism in post-9/11 America. This is the story of John Walker Lindh, as explored in the recent Showtime hit documentary Detainee 001.
Emmy-winning director Greg Barker joins us to discuss this unlikeliest of stories. The film shows how America grapples with justice in the fog of war, and how narratives were built and destroyed in the aftermath of 9/11.
We discuss the misconceptions people have about John Walker Lindh, the life of freelance war journalists, and how Greg has managed to gain access to high-profile subjects over the years.
“They all either got totally hooked on the adrenaline of war reporting, or they had a moment where they thought, I don’t want to get killed.” - Greg Barker
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Detainee 001. 03:23 - What the film is about and how people responded to John Walker Lindh. 07:05 - The misconceptions that were pushed by the media about this man. 10:22 - The vilification of Muslims in America. 12:39 - How Greg accessed the footage for the film. 18:22 - The freelance journalists that risked their lives to document the Taliban. 22:04 - Why it was so difficult to get people to talk about the John Walker Lindh case. 25:27 - Why Lindh joined the Taliban and the links he has to Malcolm X. 27:21 - Where John Walker Lindh is and the difficulties Greg had in contacting him. 30:57 - Why Greg wanted to make this film. 32:06 - How he knew the Taliban would regain power in Afghanistan. 35:33 - How he gains access to such high-profile subjects. 42:36 - The next projects Greg is working on. 44:15 - The shift in the type of documentaries that are getting commissioned. Resources: Detainee 001
White Coat Rebels
MovieMaker Magazine
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Apocalypse '45: The Harrowing Reality of the Pacific War
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International Space Station and international co-operation in space has outlived presidents, regimes, current events, 9/11, and it has been carrying on for several decades now.
It is fascinating how many people it takes to get someone into space. This is what inspired director and producer Clare Lewins in her new documentary The Wonderful: Stories From the Space Station.
The Wonderful is a story about humanity, played out against the vast backdrop of the universe. It shows what it’s like to live and work in space, hurtling through space 250 miles above the Earth’s surface.
Clare Lewins shares with us the difficulties she faced making this film, and amazing stories from some of the astronauts she met during filming.
“It’s a fundamental part of human DNA to want to explore and want to push boundaries.” - Clare Lewins
Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for The Wonderful: Stories From the Space Station.
04:13 - What the film is about and how the idea for it came around.
06:32 - The amount of international collaboration that goes into space exploration.
09:25 - The lack of knowledge most people have about the Space Station.
10:45 - Common personality traits astronauts have.
17:00 - What it’s like to be in space.
19:50 - The importance of sound and music in film.
24:24 - What it’s like for an astronaut’s family when they go into space.
26:27 - How long the Space Station will continue operating and how you can see it.
29:00 - The difficulties of having such a subject for a documentary film.
34:40 - Clare’s background in film and documentary filmmaking.
39:50 - What makes a good documentary.
Resources: The Wonderful: Stories From the Space Station (2021)
The Astronaut Maker
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Echoes of the Invisible: Pushing the Limits of Human Experience
Stewart Brand: America's Last Optimist
Factual America meets The Lone Star Plate for the second time. We are wrapping up Season 2 of Factual America, and our sister podcast The Lone Star Plate, which features interviews with famous Texans and explores compelling Texas stories, has just closed Season 3.
Two fellow Texans, hosts Matthew Sherwood and Patrick Scott Armstrong, discuss the highlights of the last season, celebrating the most challenging year of our lives, and what episodes, guests and topics left a particular impression on them. Each host has chosen three episodes to talk about and to recommend to the audience to revisit.
This is not exactly a top list. The hosts give shoutouts a lot of episodes that they enjoyed during the last season, and at the end of the episode, they introduce the teams behind both shows.
Time Stamps:00:00 - The clips from the films we discuss in this episode.
1:49 - Introduction to the episode and what we are covering.
4:10 - Overview of the last season on both Factual America and The Lone Star Plate.
15:14 - Discussing the interview with actor Reginald Ballard on The Lone Star Plate.
19:00 - A clip from the episode with Reginald Ballard.
22:50 - Discussing the Factual America episode about ‘Class Action Park.’
30:30 - A clip from ‘Class Action Park.’
32:10 - Discussing the interview with director Catherine Hardwicke on The Lone Star Plate.
37:10 - A clip from the interview with Catherine Hardwicke.
40:10 - Discussing the Factual America interview with Anne Rapp, the director of ‘Horton Foote: The Road to Home.’
48:03 - A clip from the trailer for ‘Horton Foote: The Road to Home.’
49:35 - Restaurant labor shortage discussion with Ji Kang and why this episode is important for The Lone Star Plate.
56:40 - A clip from the interview with Ji Kang, the owner of Sloane’s Corner.
58:01 - Discussing the interview with writer Tim O’Brien and director Aaron Matthews on both Factual America and The Lone Star Plate.
1:06:53 - A clip from the interview with Tim O’Brien and Aaron Matthews.
1:14:20 - The journey we went through since the beginning of our podcasts.
1:22:55 - A clip from the interview with Jake and Conor Allyn, the lead actor and director of ‘No Man’s Land.’
1:28:32 - Both podcasts’ teams introduce themselves.
Resources:
‘Bruh Man’ Reginald Ballard on Martin and Bernie Mac Show
Class Action Park: America’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park
Director Catherine Hardwicke Discusses Her Movies Twilight, Lords of Dogtown and More
Horton Foote: The Greatest Playwright You’ve Never Heard Of
Dallas Chef Ji Kang Dishes the TRUTH About Restaurant Labor Shortage
Tim O’Brien: The Final Book on the Vietnam War
‘The War and Peace of Tim O’Brien’ with Aaron Matthews and Tim O’Brien
No Man’s Land: Director and Lead Actor Discuss the Film
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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In 1979 The Beatles producer Sir George Martin turned a Caribbean paradise into a 1980s hit making crucible for the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John, and such acts as the Rolling Stones, The Police, and Dire Straits. His vision was to create a studio where artists could come and be free to express their creativity and record albums.
After a decade of hits, and at the peak of its popularity, AIR Studios Montserrat was destroyed when hurricane Hugo hit the island in 1989, followed by the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano in 1995.
Acclaimed filmmaker Gracie Otto wrote and directed Under the Volcano (2021), in which she documented this incredible story. She shares how she tracked down all those who were involved with AIR Studios Montserrat in the 1980s and how she obtained the rights for the amazing soundtrack for the film ("Money for Nothing", "Every Breath You Take").
Under the Volcano came out on digital platforms in the UK on July 26th and releases in the US on August 17th, and Australia and New Zealand on September 1st.
“AIR Studios Montserrat was such a representation of the time, of the music industry, of what was allowed, and how big the budgets were.” - Gracie Otto
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Under the Volcano trailer.
2:58 - Introducing our guest Gracie Otto.
4:23 - What Under the Volcano is about.
6:17 - What famous songs and albums were recorded in AIR Studios Montserrat.
9:39 - What was so special about AIR Studios.
13:20 - What made Montserrat in the Caribbean a special place for musicians.
15:22 - How Gracie tracked down all the people who were involved with AIR Studios.
20:10 - Montserrat's woes since the hurricane in 1989 and the volcanic eruption in 1995.
24:00 - How the music industry worked in the 1980s, and how it has changed since.
26:16 - A clip from the film: Sting and others talking about AIR Studios at Montserrat.
27:22 - How Gracie got involved with making this film.
33:24 - The budget for music rights for the film soundtrack.
35:35 - What other projects Gracie Otto is working on.
39:00 - The different processes of working on documentaries, feature films and TV.
41:48 - What it’s like to make a documentary about a parent or a family member.
Resources: Under the Volcano (2021)
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Mary J Blige: The Unheard Story of the Album 'My Life'
HBO's Revolution Rent: Broadway in Cuba
Moby Doc: A Life in Reprise
Award-winning documentary Echoes of the Invisible (2020) looks at timelessness, the origins of the universe, and what it means to be one of the almost 8 billion inhabitants of Planet Earth.
The film follows the explorers who are pushing the human body and technology beyond known limits in the most extreme environments on Earth. One of them is Paul Salopek, a journalist walking across the world in the footsteps of the earliest human migrations. Others include scientists like Joe Incandela, building machines to look back nearly to the beginning of time.
Joining us is the award-winning director, cinematographer, and editor Steve Elkins, and two other participants in this film – particle physicist Joe Incandela, and Julia Payne, who is the project manager for Paul Salopek at the Out of Eden project.
Echoes of the Invisible took almost 7 years to make, as Steve travelled the globe interviewing scientists, monks, and athletes. We discuss the journey of making this film, and the great wealth of human experiences on this marvellous planet.
“I take a whole bunch of stories that absolutely deserve their own documentaries, but I try to see what sparks fly off when you collide these different stories together.” - Steve Elkins**
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Guest introductions and the trailer for Echoes of the Invisible.
03:15 - When and where Echoes of the Invisible has been released.
05:29 - What the film is about and the common themes connecting the stories it looks at.
09:31 - What the Out of Eden Walk is, and the journey Paul Salopek has been on.
13:22 - What the God Particle is, why it’s so important, and how they study it at CERN.
18:35 - How long ago the Big Bang is considered to have happened.
19:01 - How Steve found the different stories to put together for this documentary.
22:42 - Why Steve doesn’t pitch his films and how he’s able to still produce them.
24:45 - The logistical difficulties involved in making the film.
26:01 - How long it took to film the documentary.
27:00 - The bureaucratic hardships you face when walking around the world.
29:17 - How Paul has managed to afford walking around the world for so long.
33:59 - What Joe’s response was when Steve approached him about being in the film.
40:02 - The over-emphasis on profitability within Western culture.
42:43 - How Paul reacted to the message of the film.
46:38 - Steve’s different artistic interests and how art can help science connect to the public.
50:00 - The relationship between artists and scientists, and announcing Higgs boson.
53:58 - How long Paul estimates it will be until he finishes his journey.
56:00 - The next scientific project Joe is working on.
57:52 - What dark matter is and is it the answer to the fundamental questions of the universe.
59:31 - The next projects Steve is working on.
1:02:43 - The clock Jeff Bezos is building that will chime every 1,000 years.
Resources: Echoes of the Invisible (2021)
Kanopy
Out of Eden Walk
Out of Eden Walk Nonprofit
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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A Life on Our Planet: Sir David Attenborough's Witness Statement
Stewart Brand: America's Last Great Optimist
After covering The State of Texas vs. Melissa (2021), once again we are talking on Factual America about the death penalty in the state of Texas.
The recently released documentary The Phantom (2021) shines a light on a capital murder case, but probably in ways that most of us have never experienced before. The film follows Carlos DeLuna, who was arrested in 1983 for the murder of a woman service station attendant, but protested his innocence until he was executed, stating another Carlos had committed the crime.
Through interviews with eyewitnesses, Carlos DeLuna's family members, and legal experts, the film examines if the judicial system executed an innocent man, and whether or not there could be another Carlos that the prosecution called 'the phantom'.
We’re joined by award-winning director, Patrick Forbes, to discuss how he found out about the case of Carlos DeLuna and how he got involved with making the film. We also talk about the death penalty in Texas and the art of storytelling that Patrick deploys in this documentary.
“Humans are endlessly interesting and curious. You don’t do this job to get rich, you do this job because you like stories and you like people.” - Patrick Forbes
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introducing the guest, and the trailer for The Phantom.
03:52 - The link Patrick’s film Brexit: A Very British Coup has with America.
05:14 - A brief synopsis of The Phantom.
06:39 - The untrustworthy character of Carlos and why his defense was so unbelievable.
11:32 - The strength of the case against Carlos.
13:14 - Why Patrick presents the events of the documentary in real time.
14:22 - The new aspects of the case Patrick discovered as he was filming.
20:29 - The unreliable nature of eyewitness testimonies.
24:51 - Clip: the tape of the victim's call to 911 just before she was murdered.
28:55 - Why Patrick thought this case deserved to be made into a film.
32:50 - How he got in contact with everyone who was involved in the case.
37:36 - How he brought a 40-year-old case to life.
43:14 - The ‘no-go’ areas there were in some parts of Texas.
47:35 - The challenges that come with being an English filmmaker working in America.
50:04 - Why Patrick interviewed some subjects in Spanish, their mother tongue.
54:14 - The dangerous area the victim had no option but to work in.
57:58 - The importance of the composer and soundtrack of the film.
1:00:30 - The next project Patrick is working on.
Resources: The Phantom (2021)
Brexit: A Very British Coup (2016)
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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More From Factual America:
The State of Texas vs. Melissa: The Death Penalty's Problems
Murder Among the Mormons: The Mark Hofmann Story
Capital Punishment: Life and Death Row
Acclaimed producer Fernando Sulichin has built his career by working with film giants such as Spike Lee, David Lynch, Sean Penn, and Oliver Stone. Now Fernando has two films debuting at the Cannes Film Festival.
Flag Day is directed by and stars Sean Penn, while JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass is the latest documentary from director Oliver Stone.
JFK Revisited is the follow-up to Stone's political thriller JFK (1991) about the John F Kennedy assassination. Using recently declassified archives – part of a congressional review sparked by the 1991 film – JFK Revisited sheds new light onto this seminal event in American history.
Fernando talks about his partnership with Stone and how he has gained the trust of high-profile figures such as Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela and Vladimir Putin. Fernando's strong passion for film comes through loud and clear and has him contemplating stepping behind the camera himself.
“It’s not about judgment, it’s about discovery.” - Fernando Sulichin
Time Stamps:00:00 - Introducing our guest Fernando Sulichin.
02:31 - What JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass is about.
05:51 - The challenge of finding a buyer for the film.
09:00 - What it’s like working with Oliver Stone.
11:16 - The ways Stone has helped Fernando grow as a filmmaker.
12:44 - The issues with how biased the media has become in recent years.
15:47 - How Fernando gets access to people like Castro, Mandela and Putin.
17:28 - How he decides what questions he wants to ask his subjects.
24:06 - The traits most great directors have in common.
27:37 - The upcoming doc A Bright Future directed by Stone.
36:22 - The similarities between feature films and docs.
38:34 - How Fernando decides whether he will work on a film.
40:33 - The plans he has to get into directing in the future.
41:42 - The importance of being passionate about the film you’re making.
46:54 - The future humanitarian projects that he is working on.
49:52 - How Fernando got his start on Spike Lee's Malcom X (1992).
51:16 - How the film industry has changed in the last 50 years.
Resources:
Flag Day (2021)
JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass (2021)
JFK (1991)
The Putin Interviews (2017)
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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More From Factual America:
MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course
Moment of Truth: The Murder of Michael Jordan's Father
The Crime of the Century: Pharma and the US Opioid Crisis
The State of Texas vs. Melissa: The Death Penalty's Problems
Melissa Lucio is the only Hispanic woman to ever be sentenced to death in the state of Texas. She is currently facing her last appeal, having spent 13 years on death row.
Her case, as well as the problems with the American justice system and the death penalty, are captured in the documentary The State of Texas vs. Melissa (2020).
Having made its festival debut, the film has received great reviews and won multiple audience choice awards. Joining us is French-American journalist and filmmaker Sabrina Van Tassel, who directed, wrote and produced the film.
This is also a joint episode with Factual America's sister podcast, The Lone Star Plate, hosted by Patrick Scott Armstrong, who interviews famous Texans and explores compelling Texas stories.
“I believe Melissa would already have been executed if I hadn’t made this film.” - Sabrina Van Tassel**
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introducing the guest, and the trailer for The State of Texas vs. Melissa.
04:04 - Where you can watch this documentary.
05:16 - What the film is about and who Melissa is.
07:37 - How Sabrina got involved with this case.
12:00 - What it was like meeting Melissa for the first time.
15:13 - The biases people have towards certain ethnic groups.
22:36 - The trust in God there is within the Roman Catholic community.
24:40 - Melissa’s first lawyer and the chances of winning a case against the DA office.
28:27 - The appeal Melissa won and then overturned a short time later.
32:19 - Why Sabrina believes Maria died from falling down the stairs.
37:48 - How Sabrina got access to Melissa and her defence attorney.
44:14 - How Melissa’s family responded to the film.
45:56 - The chances of Melissa being released and Sabrina doing a follow-up film.
50:26 - How quickly an execution is carried out after an inmate’s appeals run out.
51:55 - Why Sabrina wants to bring awareness to the justice system's failures.
55:55 - The problems with the death penalty and death row.
59:48 - The positive effects making this film has had.
1:01:58 - What people can do to help put an end to the death penalty.
1:06:48 - The next projects Sabrina is working on.
1:07:59 - How being French gives Sabrina a different perspective on American culture.
1:10:58 - Advice for other filmmakers who want to make documentaries.
1:14:56 - Sabrina’s director of photography and the film's unique soundtrack.
Resources: Melissa Lucio is the only Hispanic woman to ever be sentenced to death in the state of Texas. She is currently facing her last appeal, having spent 13 years on death row.
Her case, as well as the problems with the American justice system and the death penalty, are captured in the documentary The State of Texas vs. Melissa (2020).
Having made its festival debut, the film has received great reviews and won multiple audience choice awards. Joining us is French-American journalist and filmmaker Sabrina Van Tassel, who directed, wrote and produced the film.
This is also a joint episode with Factual America's sister podcast, The Lone Star Plate, hosted by Patrick Scott Armstrong, who interviews famous Texans and explores compelling Texas stories.
“I believe Melissa would already have been executed if I hadn’t made this film.” - Sabrina Van Tassel**
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introducing the guest, and the trailer for The State of Texas vs. Melissa.
04:04 - Where you can watch this documentary.
05:16 - What the film is about and who Melissa is.
07:37 - How Sabrina got involved with this case.
12:00 - What it was like meeting Melissa for the first time.
15:13 - The biases people have towards certain ethnic groups.
22:36 - The trust in God there is within the Roman Catholic community.
24:40 - Melissa’s first lawyer and the chances of winning a case against the DA office.
28:27 - The appeal Melissa won and then overturned a short time later.
32:19 - Why Sabrina believes Maria died from falling down the stairs.
37:48 - How Sabrina got access to Melissa and her defence attorney.
44:14 - How Melissa’s family responded to the film.
45:56 - The chances of Melissa being released and Sabrina doing a follow-up film.
50:26 - How quickly an execution is carried out after an inmate’s appeals run out.
51:55 - Why Sabrina wants to bring awareness to the justice system's failures.
55:55 - The problems with the death penalty and death row.
59:48 - The positive effects making this film has had.
1:01:58 - What people can do to help put an end to the death penalty.
1:06:48 - The next projects Sabrina is working on.
1:07:59 - How being French gives Sabrina a different perspective on American culture.
1:10:58 - Advice for other filmmakers who want to make documentaries.
1:14:56 - Sabrina’s director of photography and the film's unique soundtrack.
Resources: The State of Texas vs. Melissa (2020)
The Lone Star Plate
The Innocence Project
Alamo Pictures
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White Boy Rick: A Call for a Better American Justice System
RBG: The Iconic American Supreme Court Justice
The Hart Family Tragedy
Capital Punishment: Life and Death Row
Mary J Blige is a multi-platinum R&B and Hip Hop recording artist, a 9-time Grammy award-winner, and celebrated actress.
She is also the subject of a new Amazon Studios documentary that releases on June 25th, Mary J Blige’s My Life, that marked the 25th anniversary of the artist's acclaimed 1994 album, propelling her to international stardom.
Joining us to talk about Mary J Blige and the making of this documentary is the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, best known for her short documentary Freeheld (2007) and Netflix series Daughters of Destiny (2017).
She tells us about how Mary’s life inspired and influenced the My Life album and her music career, about the challenges of making music documentaries, as well as what it was like working with Amazon Studios.
“Once you’re given the opportunity, you need to do the work.” - Vanessa Roth**
Time Stamps:00:00 - The trailer for Mary J Blige’s My Life.
03:43 - The period of Mary’s life that inspired her My Life album and the film.
06:49 - The unique sound of Mary’s voice and the nature of her lyrics.
08:10 - What Mary's fans will find in the film that they haven't seen or heard before.
10:50 - How Vanessa structured the film.
13:28 - How the film got started and whose idea it was to make it.
17:50 - How familiar Vanessa was with Mary's music before making the film.
22:07 - The role Mary’s family played in her life.
24:43 - Mary’s spiritual side and her belief in providence.
26:19 - Why Vanessa used animation in the film.
32:46 - What it was like working with Amazon Studios.
35:40 - The unique challenges there are in making a music documentary.
38:31 - Mary’s thoughts on the final cut of the film.
40:01 - Vanessa's connection to Forrest Gump and why she didn’t pursue an acting career.
45:07 - The secret to Vanessa's success.
47:10 - The series Vanessa has made on Nat Geo about women impacting societies.
Resources:Mary J Blige’s My Life (2021)
Mighty Oak
Impact with Gal Gadot (2021)
Innersound Studios
Alamo Pictures
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HBO's Revolution Rent: Broadway in Cuba
Guy Clark: Texas Music Legend
Moby Doc: A Life in Reprise
The Notorious B.I.G. Has Got a Hip Hop Story to Tell
The Tony and Pulitzer-Prize winning musical Rent celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Broadway premiere on June 15th.
The musical's message still resonates today, as captured by the HBO documentary Revolution Rent about the first commercial American production staged in Havana, Cuba in over 50 years.
Stage director and filmmaker Andy Señor, Jr played Angel in the Broadway play, directed the Havana production, and co-directed Revolution Rent with Victor Patrick Alvarez.
Both join us to recall the experience of staging Rent in Cuba in 2014. They also discuss the intentions behind making Revolution Rent and the challenges they faced bringing the film to a worldwide audience.
Revolution Rent is debuting on HBO and HBO Max on June 15th.
"I've always told Andy that this is a sacred experience. As someone who's known a lot about the culture in Cuba, I could have went there and stirred the pot, but that's not why I was there. It was Broadway, it was Rent, it was Jonathan Larson's play, Andy was there, it was America and Cuba working together." - Victor Patrick Alvarez
Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introducing the guests, and Revolution Rent trailer.
03:40 - What Revolution Rent is about.
05:26 - What it was like working in Cuba in 2014.
08:00 - Victor’s experience and difficulties making the documentary.
09:17 - What resonates with Matthew in Revolution Rent.
12:05 - Discussing the emotional scene with Andy’s mom.
15:00 - How Cuba has been changing since 2014 and normalising relations with the US.
17:50 - How Andy started filming the documentary at his home.
20:00 - How staging the production in Cuba changed the lives of the team.
25:03 - What life lessons we can learn from Cubans.
26:32 - Clip: Rehearsal scene from Revolution Rent.
27:44 - What restrictions there were for filming in Cuba.
30:50 - The intentions Andy and Victor had with filming the documentary.
36:59 - What documentary project Victor is working on next.
Resources: Revolution Rent (2019)
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Twitter More From Factual America: Moby Doc: A Life in Reprise
Linda Ronstadt: An Hommage to Mexican Americans
Uprooted: American History Through Jazz Dance
Five years after the legendary Texas singer and songwriter Guy Clark passed away, his life and legacy is celebrated in a new documentary. Without Getting Killed or Caught brings Guy's colourful life and career to the big screen.
The film is the brainchild of Grammy award-winning music producer, award-winning author, and documentary filmmaker Tamara Saviano. She and her partner in life Paul Whitfield are the co-directors and co-producers.
The film looks at Guy Clark’s life as he struggles to write poetic songs, while balancing a complicated marriage with his wife Susanna. It is also a story of Guy's friendship with another legendary Texas singer-songwriter, Townes Van Zandt, on whom Susanna forged a passionate dependence.
Tamara and Paul talk about what led them to make the documentary, how they gained access to Susanna’s diary and audio tapes, and which other films inspired them the most in their filmmaking.
“They are so good at what they do, yet they remain so grounded and humble, and that attracts people to them.” - Tamara Saviano**
Time Stamps: 00:14 - The trailer for Without Getting Killed or Caught.
03:44 - The premiere of the film at SXSW, and where else the film is being screened.
05:59 - Who Guy and Susanna Clark are.
07:47 - Guy’s resistance to being classed as an "outlaw".
09:05 - Why Tamara and Paul decided to use Susanna as the narrator of the film.
10:13 - The relationship Townes Van Zandt had with Guy and Susanna.
14:05 - How Tamara gained possession of Susanna’s diaries and tapes.
17:24 - Why Townes didn’t fit into Nashville’s country music scene.
21:19 - The tension Susanna’s success caused to her marriage.
24:44 - The comeback Guy made and why he was arguably more successful than Townes.
27:20 - What "Americana" music is and how it’s different from country music.
28:54 - The challenging side of Guy’s personal life and how he dealt with the struggle.
31:27 - What the secret is to Guy’s "greatness".
33:53 - The best albums to listen to if you want to get to know Guy’s music.
36:01 - How Tamara and Paul decided to approach making a documentary about Guy’s life.
40:08 - How they got Sissy Spacek to narrate the film.
44:06 - The different documentaries that inspired Paul and Tamara.
47:07 - How they managed to raise the funds on Kickstarter.
51:33 - What’s next for Paul and Tamara.
Resources: Without Getting Killed or Caught (2021)
Without Getting Killed or Caught Facebook Group
Guy Clark Film Facebook Page
Alamo Pictures
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Moby Doc: A Life in Reprise
Tina Turner: The Queen of Rock'n'Roll's Untold Story
Billie Eilish: A Portrait of the Artist
Miles Davis: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century
Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. Unfortunately, he is just as famous for his exploits outside of the ring as he is for his many knockouts.
The new docuseries Mike Tyson: The Knockout is currently streaming on ABC and Hulu. Senior Executive Producer for original non-fiction content at ABC News, Roxanna Sherwood, joins us to discuss the film.
Roxanna shares how she collaborated with the Oscar-winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher and Grammy-winning composer Terence Blanchard to create a new approach to Mike Tyson's story. She explains what it was like for Mike growing up, how he ended up in so many scandals, and why this story is relevant now more than ever.
“We are prone these days to shuffle things under the black and white. The grey has disappeared, but the truth is in the middle, the truth is grey.” - Roxanna Sherwood**
Time Stamps: 00:14 - The trailer for Mike Tyson: The Knockout.
05:21 - The new context the documentary gives to Mike’s life.
08:54 - What it was like for Mike growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
11:26 - First clip showing Brownsville in the 1970s and '80s.
13:40 - The difficulties Mike Tyson had as a boy.
16:48 - Second clip revealing the fortune Mike gained in a short period of time.
19:34 - The misguided trust Mike had in Robin Givens.
25:22 - Third clip looking at how Mike's lavish lifestyle turned self-destructive.
28:29 - Which knockout the title refers to.
30:43 - The rape committed by Mike Tyson and the subsequent trial.
37:36 - The importance of understanding unconscious bias and racism.
44:43 - Why this documentary is so relevant at the moment.
47:14 - How Geoffrey Fletcher and Terence Blanchard became involved with the film.
50:53 - The type of content ABC News will be making in the future.
53:30 - How to be a successful documentary filmmaker.
55:18 - What’s next for Roxanna.
Resources: Mike Tyson: The Knockout (2021)
Precious (2009)
Careers in Film
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Moment of Truth: The Murder of Michael Jordan's Father
Air Jordan: A Cultural Phenomenon
Becoming Rocky: How Sylvester Stallone Became a Star
Richard Melville Hall, better known to most of us as Moby, is an electronic music pioneer. In the 1990s he scored numerous top ten hits on the Billboard Dance Club chart and his album Play (1999) has sold over 12 million copies.
Even with all that success, Moby still found himself hitting rock bottom, contemplating suicide and wondering why he wasn't happy despite achieving everything he wanted.
Joining us is the director and writer of the Moby Doc, Rob Gordon Bralver. Rob teamed up with Moby to make a documentary about the musician’s life, activism and his struggles along the way in the quest for happiness.
Rob tells us how he got the opportunity to make this film and what it was like closely collaborating with Moby.
Moby Doc will be released online at the same time as Moby’s new album Reprise on May 28th.
“There’s an element that’s meant to be a cautionary tale for not just aspiring artists, but aspiring anything. It’s seldom the road that you believed that it would be when you started.” - Rob Gordon Bralver**
Time Stamps: 00:11 - The trailer for Moby Doc.
04:30 - What the film is about.
07:07 - Moby’s childhood and how his music tastes evolved.
11:30 - How Moby’s career crashed and how he dealt with this.
16:37 - The depression he had even at the height of his success.
19:46 - How the project with Moby started.
25:06 - How the collaboration between Rob and Moby worked out.
28:40 - The way the film makes fun of other documentaries.
31:33 - What Moby is trying to achieve with the film.
36:07 - The music videos that Moby and Rob make together.
37:58 - Moby’s thoughts on the final result of the film.
39:50 - David Lynch’s involvement in the film and what makes a good doc.
43:17 - How Rob got started in making documentaries.
Resources: Moby Doc (2021)
Pre-Order Moby's Upcoming Album Reprise
Careers in Film
Alamo Pictures
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Website
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The Notorious B.I.G. Has Got a Hip-Hop Story to Tell
Tina Turner: The Queen of Rock'n'Roll's Untold Story
Underground Inc.: The Legacy of Alternative Rock
Billie Eilish: A Portrait of the Artist
The Villages is a self-contained retirement community located in central Florida. Often referred to as a “Disneyland for Retirees,” it is home to over 130,000 seniors. The Villages offers residents a utopian version of a bygone America: wide, safe streets, perfectly manicured lawns, and countless activities all in the service of enjoying the golden years.
Directed by filmmaker Lance Oppenheim, Some Kind of Heaven (2020) reveals cracks in The Villages' facade and explores life inside its palm-tree-lined streets, while challenging stereotypes around ageing.
The film follows four residents for whom The Villages is not living up to its reputation. By aiming the camera lens at this usually closed-off community, Lance captures what The Villages is really like. What type of people live in these retirement villages? How did residents respond to Lance filming there? And why did Lance choose to delve into this bizarre world?
Some Kind of Heaven is available on demand in the UK from May 14th 2021.
“There’s something beautiful to the idea that no matter how old you get, you are still becoming.” - Lance Oppenheim**
Time Stamps: 00:09 - The trailer for Some Kind of Heaven.
03:35 - Where the film is available to watch.
05:09 - What Some Kind of Heaven is about.
07:13 - What The Villages in Florida is like and some of its bizarre intricacies.
10:46 - The uniqueness of The Villages and how they’ve succeeded in "Disneyfying" death.
14:59 - The stereotypical type of person that lives at The Villages.
19:00 - How the residents responded to Lance coming to film their lives.
21:54 - How Lance found the four protagonists of the film.
26:22 - How representative the protagonists are of The Villages as a whole.
31:22 - Why Lance made this film.
33:05 - How difficult it was to get access to The Villages.
38:46 - The artistic nature of the film, and the importance of the film's music.
44:03 - The editor's influence in the making of the film.
45:41 - How the film evolved from a college short to a feature-length documentary.
48:52 - Advice for young filmmakers on how to pitch their ideas.
54:07 - What’s next for Lance.
Resources:Watch Some Kind of Heaven (2020)
The Villages
Magnolia Pictures
Alamo Pictures
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Martha Cooper: The Unlikely Hero of Street Art
A Life on Our Planet: David Attenborough's Witness Statement Hamtramck, USA: A Multicultural Landscape
The opioid crisis in the US has killed half a million people and created millions of addicts, all because the pharmaceutical companies pushed opioid medicines as not being prone to abuse or addictive.
In his latest HBO doc-series The Crime of the Century (2021), Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney provides the most comprehensive look to date at the opioid crisis in the US.
Alex joins us to discuss the making of the film, arguing that the opioid crisis has deeply criminal roots. The film finds fresh evidence that shows just how deep that criminality runs.
The Crime of the Century premiered on HBO and HBO Max on May 10th and May 11th. It comes to Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW on Sunday, May 16th at 9pm.
It’s the little acts of corruption that get bigger and bigger, and over time you get a fully corrupted system. – Alex Gibney**
Time Stamps: 00:12 - Trailer for The Crime of the Century.
03:00 - Introducing the director Alex Gibney.
04:14 - What The Crime of the Century is about.
05:50 - Why Alex is making this film now, and the new evidence he uncovered.
08:00 - How crimes by the pharma industry created the opioid crisis.
13:10 - How the opioid crisis has evolved and worsened during Covid.
14:23 - The reactions of federal and state governments to the crisis.
19:45 - The number of pharmaceutical industry executives that were prosecuted.
23:48 - How the problem with opioids can be solved.
28:10 - How Alex Gibney approached the subjects of the film.
34:40 - Pharma rap video in the film is a smoking gun.
36:40 - The perseverance with which Alex Gibney explores corruption.
39:12 - What The Crime of the Century tells us about human nature.
39:45 - Alex Gibney's next projects and the topics he would like to explore.
41:15 - What he hopes the legacy of the film will be.
Resources: Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, a book by Patrick Radden Keefe
The Washington Post - The Opioid Files
Innersound Audio
Alamo Pictures
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Opioid Addiction: This Drug Can Kill You
Alex Gibney's Theranos Scandal Documentary
Premiering to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Pacific War's end, the documentary Apocalypse '45 combines pristine raw, colour footage of the last months of World War II in the Asia-Pacific theatre with the voices of the two dozen men who lived through the nightmare.
Critically acclaimed director, producer and writer, Erik Nelson, joins us to discuss the making of Apocalypse ‘45. Erik shares how he found this never-before-seen footage of the war and made contact with the veterans who had lived through these gruesome events.
He talks about how, as director, he created the narrative of the film and what the creative process looked like. We also learn what it was like for Erik, as producer of Grizzly Man (2005), to work with the legendary director Werner Herzog.
“A good deal of that footage was filmed by a cameraman who was killed on Iwo Jima. He was sealed up in a cave alive. The man literally died to make this footage.” - Erik Nelson**
Time Stamps: 00:38 - The trailer for Apocalypse ‘45.
05:08 - The synopsis of the film.
06:09 - Why Erik focused the film on the last year of the Pacific War.
07:36 - How he found out that this footage existed.
09:55 - The amount of footage Erik went through.
11:58 - Who filmed this footage and why.
15:10 - The harrowing realities of the war that were found on these reels.
17:30 - Discovery’s streaming service and their licensing of the film.
20:55 - What Erik thought when he first saw this footage.
23:18 - The lack of sound that the original footage had.
25:03 - How Erik constructed the narrative and script of Apocalypse '45.
26:24 - How he made contact with veterans and how eager they were to tell their stories.
29:50 - The different perspective of the war that Americans and Brits have.
32:34 - Whether it was a right or wrong decision to drop the atomic bomb.
40:04 - How Erik attempted to bring people into the realities of living through the war.
43:53 - Erik’s view of today's generation.
45:02 - What it’s like to work with Werner Herzog.
47:07 - The next project Erik’s working on.
48:50 - The popularity and future of archive films.
Resources: Apocalypse ‘45 (2020)
The Cold Blue (2018)
A Gray State (2017)
Grizzly Man (2005)
Encounters at the End of the World (2007)
Thank God for the Atomic Bomb, a book by Paul Fussell
Dinotasia (2012)
This is Distorted
Alamo Pictures
Connect with Erik Nelson:
http://cdtvfilms.com/
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Tim O'Brien: The Final Book on The Vietnam War
MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course
Hollywood icons Woody Allen and Mia Farrow had a 13-year relationship that ended in flames in 1992 in front of the nation's eyes.
At the centre of the breakup were allegations that Woody Allen sexually abused Dylan Farrow, the daughter he had adopted with Mia Farrow. The case and the resulting fallout still resonate nearly 30 years later. The scandal has been resurrected this year with the release of the HBO docuseries Allen v. Farrow.
Joining us to discuss the social and cultural consequences of this story, the film and the reaction are the Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering.
“Dylan Farrow stood strong, and provided an example to Hollywood, to the country, and maybe in some ways to the rest of the world, about the courage of coming forward and standing by your truth.” - Kirby Dick
Time Stamps: 00:10 - Allen v. Farrow trailer and who our guests are.
03:05 - What the reactions to the docuseries were upon the release.
04:11 - The synopsis of Allen v. Farrow.
06:44 - Why this film has been made now.
09:53 - The investigation and why some people refuse to watch Allen v. Farrow.
13:00 - How Amy and Kirby got involved with this story and its connection to #MeToo.
15:50 - How the co-directors and investigators approached the story.
21:00 - How Woody Allen's version of events came to dominate the narrative for many years.
23:00 - How the Farrows reacted to the filmmakers, and why they were reluctant to participate.
27:00 - The long lasting effects of sexual assaults and sexual harassment.
29:30 - What was most surprising about the original case and the filmmakers' own investigation.
36:00 - How Amy and Kirby got access to Dylan Farrow’s home video footage.
41:10 - What are the social and cultural consequences of this story.
44:39 - The structure of the Allen v. Farrow docuseries.
50:38 - How Amy and Kirby started making investigative films about difficult subjects.
54:50 - The key to creative partnership in filmmaking.
56:50 - What is next for Amy and Kirby.
Resources: Allen v. Farrow (2021)
The Hunting Ground (2015)
The Invisible War (2012) now available on HBO Max
Twist of Faith (2004)
Alamo Pictures
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IMDb
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White Boy Rick: A Call for a Better American Justice System
Murder Among the Mormons: The Mark Hoffman Story
Moment of Truth: The Murder of Michael Jordan's Father
Today, we’re talking about Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls or The Notorious B.I.G., the acclaimed rapper who was tragically murdered at the age of just 24 in a drive-by shooting.
Talking to us about Biggie Smalls' life and his legacy on hip-hop is Grammy-award-winning director Emmett Malloy, who directed and produced the original Netflix documentary Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell.
We talk about who Christopher Wallace really was, as well as how Emmett got access to never-before-seen footage used in the film. With this documentary, Emmett succeeds in shining a different light on Biggie’s life, onto his artistic side and childhood influences that other filmmakers may have overlooked.
My goal was to present him as the artist he was, so people understand that greatness doesn’t come from nowhere, people work at it and this kid was a curious kid with a tremendous artistic gift. - Emmett Malloy**
Time Stamps: 00:23 - The trailer for Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell.
04:33 - How well the film has been received on Netflix.
05:38 - What the film is about and who Christopher Wallace really was.
07:54 - What happened when Emmett first met Biggie's mother.
11:58 - What Biggie’s childhood was like, and the relationship with his mother.
13:29 - The way Emmett used maps to show the close-knit world of Biggie's Brooklyn.
15:20 - How Emmett won everyone’s trust and got his interviewees to fully open up.
17:18 - How he got access to D-Roc and going to Jamaica with Miss Wallace.
20:46 - The personal nature of the interviews and interviewing Puff Daddy.
25:33 - How they decided on the name for the movie.
30:30 - Where Biggie got his mic presence from, and what influenced his musical prowess.
32:25 - The way Biggie shone through in his live rap battles and became a sex symbol.
38:09 - Why Emmett didn’t explore in depth issues covered by previous docs.
41:34 - The legacy of The Notorious B.I.G. and the impact he’s had on hip-hop.
45:30 - What dangerous Brooklyn was in the 1980s.
49:59 - What’s Emmett’s next plans are.
Resources: Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell (2021)
This is Distorted Studios
Alamo Pictures
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IMDb
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Tina Turner: The Queen of Rock and Roll's Untold Story
Underground Inc: The Legacy of Alternative Rock
Billie Eilish: A Portrait of the Artist Miles Davis: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century
Richard Wershe, Jr, aka White Boy Rick, is the subject of a true-crime documentary that recently landed on Netflix. Shawn Rech, the award-winning director and producer of White Boy (2017), joins us to talk about the tragic circumstances surrounding White Boy Rick's over-30-year incarceration for a nonviolent offence.
Shawn is well-known for creating documentaries that help to overturn wrongful convictions or over-sentencing. White Boy tells the story of Richard, who was an FBI informant as a child and an alleged cocaine kingpin in Detroit in the 1980s.
Richard received a life sentence despite being just 17 years old. The film looks at his case, shining a stark light onto 1980s Detroit and the American justice system.
We talk about the White Boy Rick's reputation, who he really was, and the racism and unjust laws that allowed a child to be groomed by the FBI.
“Don’t always trust the government, and don’t always trust the media. Do your own investigating and vet your sources.” - Shawn Rech**
Time Stamps: 00:15 - The trailer for the documentary White Boy.
03:00 - Why White Boy has only just come out on Netflix in the US.
05:41 - The reputation of Richard Wershe, Jr and the reality of who he was.
08:14 - What Detroit was like in the 1980s and how corrupt it was.
10:05 - The racist nature of the accusations surrounding Richard.
14:23 - The FBI operation ‘Backbone’ that was deliberately quashed.
17:41 - The unjust laws and sentencing surrounding crack cocaine convictions.
21:15 - The draconian sentencing Richard received as a juvenile.
24:14 - What’s happened to Richard since the documentary released in 2017.
28:30 - The hitman that confessed to 30 murders but received a light sentence.
31:20 - What it was like when hitman Nathaniel Boone Craft turned up to the screening.
36:32 - The fictional film that was based on Richard’s life.
38:52 - What the role of documentaries is with regards to the criminal justice system.
40:28 - The documentary Shawn is making about Making a Murderer.
50:31 - Why it took Netflix so long to license White Boy.
53:15 - Why Shawn advocates for self-distribution.
59:13 - The way you can get rich in the documentary film business.
1:00:19 - White Boy's legacy and what Shawn is working on now.
Resources:White Boy (2017)
A Murder in the Park (2014)
Convicting a Murderer
American Gospel: Christ Alone (2018)
Careers in Film
This Is Distorted
Alamo Pictures
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Murder Among The Mormons: The Mark Hoffman Story
Moment of Truth: The Murder of Michael Jordan's Father
MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course
Murder Among the Mormons (2021) is the new Netflix true-crime docuseries about Mark Hofmann, who is one of the most notable forgers in history. Hofmann created forgeries related to the Latter Day Saint movement, which led to fame and fortune. But the truth caught up with Hofmann one fateful day in 1985, as two innocent people lost their lives.
We are joined by award-winning co-director and producer of Murder Among the Mormons, Tyler Measom. His previous work includes Leaving the Cult: Sons of Perdition (2010), An Honest Liar (2014) and Biography: I Want My MTV (2019).
Tyler directed this docuseries with Jared Hess, who is best known for his films Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Nacho Libre (2006) and Gentlemen Broncos (2009).
Tyler talks about how he and Jared came to turn this story into a docuseries, as well as what they discovered about Mark Hoffman and the nature of belief. In the process we also learn about getting a film idea to the big screen.
“The power he must have felt to create and change history, to alter what millions of people believe, and know and pray to every day – to have the power to change that in your basement is a remarkable feeling I suspect.” – Tyler Measom**
Time Stamps: 05:38 - What the series Murder Among the Mormons is about.
08:19 - Why the story wasn’t heavily publicised at the time.
09:41 - How co-directors Tyler and Jared made the story so gripping.
11:20 - The boom period there was for collecting Mormon antiquities.
13:04 - How Mark Hofmann was such a successful forger.
16:02 - How Hofmann started his career in forging.
20:56 - Why he went into a life of deceit.
25:33 - Why Tyler and Jared decided to make a documentary about Hofmann.
30:42 - How a documentary goes from a brainstorming session to being on screen.
36:36 - The way a docuseries format gives the filmmakers more freedom.
37:49 - The willingness of people to be interviewed for the film.
41:45 - How they knew the film would be so successful.
45:59 - The reasons Mark conned Mormons.
49:01 - How Tyler kept his own beliefs regarding Mormonism separate from the film.
50:24 - What the film says about belief.
51:36 - The next projects Tyler is working on.
Resources: Murder Among the Mormons (2021)
Leaving the Cult: Sons of Perdition, a book by Tyler Measom
Billy Wilder’s 10 Screenwriting Tips
This is Distorted
Alamo Pictures
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Twitter More From Factual America: Moment of Truth: The Murder of Michael Jordan's Father
McMillion$: McDonalds' Monopoly Fraud Revisited
The Hart Family Tragedy
James Jordan, the father of basketball legend Michael Jordan, was found tragically murdered in the middle of swamp just days after his 57th birthday in 1993. There were many mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, but the investigation and trial were deemed a success, resulting in the conviction of two teenage boys.
But why does one of the convicted still proclaim his innocence almost 30 years later?
We are joined by award-winning director and producer of the soon to be released docu-series Moment of Truth, Matthew Perniciaro. The five-part series uses never-before-seen archive footage to tell the story behind the murder of James Jordan. It also tackles police corruption in Robeson County, North Carolina, and how that may have influenced the murder investigation.
Matthew aims to give us insights into how Michael dealt with his father's death, and what made this crime so hard to solve. He explains what motivated him to make Moment of Truth, and the challenges he faced along the way.
Moment of Truth premieres on IMDb TV, Amazon’s premium free streaming service, on April 2nd.
“Despite the fact that we think we’ve made so much progress as a society and as a culture, this just shows how far we still have to go.” - Matthew Perniciaro**
Time Stamps: 00:09 - The trailer for Moment of Truth.
03:15 - When and where the docu-series will be released.
04:10 - What the series is about.
06:41 - Who James Jordan was and how supportive he was of his kids.
08:48 - The mysteries surrounding James’s whereabouts before his death.
10:15 - The cross-county search and the difficulties with identifying his body.
11:43 - The acceptance of the suspects' guilt at the time.
14:21 - How Michael Jordan was affected by his father's death.
15:52 - Why Michael and his family didn’t want to do an interview for the film.
18:10 - The history of police corruption in Robeson County, NC.
25:04 - The public disbelief surrounding the narrative of the case.
32:57 - The issues with the police interrogations of the suspects.
37:24 - How the idea to make the docu-series came about.
40:57 - How Covid disrupted the filming process.
45:24 - What Matthew's experiences were in directing the series.
48:05 - The difference between being a producer and an executive producer.
50:45 - What Matthew's goals are when he chooses which films to produce.
57:17 - The different projects he is now working on.
Resources: Moment of Truth (2021)
Disclosure (1994)
The Truffle Hunters (2020)
The Fight (2020)
Bow and Arrow Entertainment
Sundance Film Festival
Alamo Pictures
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MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course
Air Jordan: A Cultural Phenomenon
Gun Violence and Mass Shooting in America
The Hart Family Tragedy
On paper, Tina Turner probably should never have become a rock-and-roll superstar. But there she is anyway, one of the greatest survivors in modern music, who has overcome extreme adversity to define her career, her identity and her legacy on her own terms.
TINA (2021) offers a fresh perspective on the life and career of Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock and Roll. Through never-before-seen footage and previously unreleased recordings, the film draws back the curtain on Tina's life, introducing us to a private side of Tina too often hidden from the cameras.
We are honoured to be joined by the Oscar- and Emmy-winning producers of TINA, cousins Simon and Jonathan Chinn, the co-founders of Lightbox. Between them they have worked on such acclaimed documentaries as Searching for Sugarman (2012), Man on Wire (2008), LA 92 (2017), and Whitney (2018).
Simon and Jonathan talk about how they discovered new ways of telling Tina's story, the revelations that they uncovered about Tina while making the film and what it takes to make a great documentary.
Directed by Academy Award-winners Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin, TINA is being released on March 27th on HBO and streaming on HBO Max in the US, and in the UK on 28th March at 9:00PM on Sky Documentaries and NOW and via altitude.film.
“What an incredible trailblazer of a performer Tina was, even before her solo success. Seeing the full trajectory of her career as a performer is, in some sense, a revelation.” - Jonathan Chinn**
Time Stamps: 00:25 - The trailer for TINA, and introducing our guests, producers Simon and Jonathan Chinn.
04:00 - The challenge of telling Tina Turner’s story in a new way.
05:23 - The synopsis of the film.
08:36 - The new and fresh insights this film offers about Tina Turner.
12:16 - The importance of Buddhism in Tina’s life.
15:00 - Her struggles after leaving Ike Turner and before she made it big as a solo act.
18:35 - Tina Turner as a trailblazer in the music industry of the 1980s.
23:45 - Tina’s connection with London, and why many musicians have moved to the UK.
27:40 - Why the film was made, and how directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin got involved.
34:15 - The script and structure of TINA, and the archival material used.
38:00 - The never-before-seen footage from Ike and Tina’s house.
43:10 - What it takes to make a great documentary film.
47:30 - Why winning an Oscar is not just about the quality of the film.
49:13 - Advice for young film directors.
50:06 - The next projects that Simon and Jonathan are working on.
Resources: TINA (2021)
Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
LA '92 (2017)
Lightbox
Careers in Film
This is Distorted
Alamo Pictures
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Twitter More From Factual America: Miles Davis: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century
Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock And Roll
Streetlight Harmonies: The Lasting Legacy of Doo-Wop
When we think of alternative music of the 1990s, bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine or Green Day immediately come to mind – bands who were supported by major labels and commercially viable.
However, there was a whole sea of other underground bands, spanning a few generations, who were completely fobbed off by the corporate music labels, who didn't sell as many records, and whose careers were overshadowed by their commercially successful counterparts.
Joining us in this episode is Shaun Katz, director and producer of Underground Inc: The Rise and Fall of Alternative Rock (2019). His film dives into the meteoric rise and fall of the hardcore, underground alternative rock scene of the late 80s to mid-90s.
The film includes interviews with the likes of Joey Castillo from Queens of the Stone Age, Sean Yseult from White Zombie, Steve Albini (the record producer for Nirvana, the Pixies, and PJ Harvey), Todd Huth from Primus, and many more.
Underground Inc. will be available on all major cable and VOD platforms and on DVD on March 23rd.
"There was a generational shift happening at the underground rock scene, that left the music industry not knowing what to do." - Shaun Katz**
Time Stamps: 02:23 - The film we are discussing – Underground Inc.
04:14 - What the film is about and how Shaun Katz got the idea to make it.
05:46 - What came under term “alternative music” and who listened to it.
09:53 - How Nirvana changed the music scene.
14:54 - At what cost the bands like Soundgarden, Pearl Jam or Alice in Chains went mainstream.
19:35 - Why Shaun focused on what bands did right and wrong as they became popular.
22:45 - What response Shaun received from the musicians he approached to participate in it.
27:09 - How Shaun found all the archival footage for the film.
30:18 - What “the last physical rock scene” means.
33:30 - Why Shaun included many different bands in the film instead of focusing on one or two.
36:48 - What lessons bands learned from the alternative rock scene during the 80s and 90s.
39:18 - What the legacy of alternative rock is.
42:15 - The next steps for Shaun Katz.
Resources: Underground Inc. (2019)
This is Distorted
Alamo Pictures
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Twitter More From Factual America: Martha Cooper: The Unlikely Hero of the Street Art Billie Eilish: A Portrait of the Artist Miles David: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock and Roll
Martha Cooper is an iconic American photojournalist and the unlikely hero of street artists across the globe. She documented New York's underground graffiti scene in the 1970s, at a time when street art was looked down upon as being immoral and lacking in artistic merit.
But Martha instead fell in love with the scene and in 1984 published her photos in Subway Art. After a failed launch, the book has gone on to be one of the most sold, and stolen, art books of all time. It also influenced a generation of street artists, including OSGEMEOS.
Selina Miles is the Australian director of the new feature documentary Martha: A Picture Story, which follows the life and work of Martha Cooper. Selina shares what she's learned about Martha's life, her global reputation, and what parts of her life the film documents.
We also talk about how Selina and Martha met, how Selina came up with the idea for the documentary, and what her thoughts are on the value of street art.
“Martha’s now in her 70s, still traveling the world documenting street art in places like Mongolia and Tahiti.” - Selina Miles**
Time Stamps: 00:16 - The trailer for Martha: A Picture Story.
03:15 - Where the film is available to stream.
04:35 - Who Martha Cooper is and what she is known for.
06:04 - What her book Subway Art is about.
07:19 - Why her work didn’t receive much attention at the time.
09:39 - The impact the book had on street artists.
13:26 - How Martha found her style of artwork.
15:06 - The perspective that Martha brought to the breakdance scene.
18:46 - Why Martha found it hard to find her place in the world of photography.
22:15 - How Selina met Martha in Tahiti.
25:01 - How she persuaded Martha to make a feature documentary.
27:47 - How the documentary captures the evolution of photography.
30:03 - Martha's views on street art.
32:41 - How her early life informed her artistic vision.
33:55 - The value of photography these days.
36:10 - The type of recognition Martha is now receiving for her work.
Resources: Martha: A Picture Story (2021
Subway Art
Henry Chalfont
Alamo Pictures
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Billie Eilish: A Portrait of the Artist
Air Jordan: A Cultural Phenomenon
Uprooted: American History through Jazz Dance
Becoming Rocky: How Sylvester Stalone Became a Star
Tim O'Brien is one of the most influential living American writers, a National Book Award winner and the author of the groundbreaking book The Things They Carried.
Tim joins us along with award winning director and producer Aaron Matthews to discuss Aaron's film, The War and Peace of Tim O’Brien.
Aaron spent over a year filming Tim as he battled to write one final book – a legacy for his young family about life and fatherhood – even as Tim and his family remain haunted by the ghosts of the Vietnam War.
Tim talks about the intrusion of allowing a film crew delve deeply into his and his family's personal lives. But by doing so, the film captures the day-to-day intrusions of family life on Tim's creative process.
The discussion naturally leads to the importance of fatherhood, and Tim’s perception of all wars – past, present and future – given his own experiences as an infantryman in the Vietnam War.
“I find it outrageous that we can spend 15 years in Vietnam killing 3 million people, and you can go to a school in America and they know nothing about the Vietnam War.” - Tim O’Brien**
Time Stamps: 03:31 - Where you can watch The War and Peace of Tim O’Brien.
04:17 - What the film is about.
05:30 - How Aaron met Tim and got the idea to make the film.
07:05 - What Tim’s response was to a film being made about him.
08:37 - What it’s like having a camera crew follow you around for so long.
10:47 - What it was like for Aaron being allowed so deeply into someone else's life.
12:27 - What Tim’s family thought of the documentary's creation.
15:29 - What it was like for Aaron seeing Tim’s creative process unfolding over time.
18:46 - The struggle and unpredictable nature of writing a book.
25:20 - First clip: Tim talks about his experience in Vietnam.
28:29 - What it was like for Tim to not write for over 15 years.
31:39 - The film's theme of fatherhood, and the importance of fathers.
37:45 - Second clip: how Vietnam changed Tim’s life forever.
40:21 - The never-ending outrage Tim has towards war.
43:05 - The different reasons you can use to go to war.
47:50 - What Aaron’s motivation to make the film was.
52:15 - The issues with using the word ‘war’.
56:10 - How interested Tim’s sons are in the Vietnam war.
01:01:20 - The contrast Tim’s warmth brings to the dark nature of the film.
01:04:43 - Will Tim ever write another book?
Resources:
The War and Peace of Tim O’Brien (2021)
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Dad's Maybe Book by Tim O'Brien
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Horton Foote: The Greatest Playwright You've Never Heard Of
Belushi: The Brilliance and Tragedy of a Comedy Genius
Billie Eilish: A Portrait of the Artist
In the blink of an eye, Billie Eilish has gone from being an aspiring musician to a five-time Grammy Award winner and global superstar with a multimillion-fan following on social media.
Brilliantly capturing this incredible journey in his new documentary, award-winning director RJ Cutler returns to the podcast to discuss Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry (2021).
Inspired by musicals, concert films and observational cinema, the film takes an intimate look at Billie Eilish’s remarkable rise to superstardom.
RJ spent a year with Billie Eilish and her family, and what he found was an extraordinary teenage artist creating remarkable music with her brother Finneas. He also found a young woman in full control of her career with the support of those who love and respect her.
Available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+ from February 26th 2021, this film is destined to become an instant classic to be revisited for many years to come.
“She’s demanding, she’s exacting, she displeases herself. Did we just describe the teenager or the artist? - R.J. Cutler**
Time Stamps: 03:40 - What the audience can expect to see in Billie Eilish: The Word's a Little Blurry.
05:21 - How content RJ is with the final result of the film.
06:09 - The year of Billie’s life captured in the film.
10:53 - The film's incredible concert footage.
14:13 - What type of audience Billie has, and the connection she has with them.
16:55 - How Billie is a genuine person rather than a created persona.
17:30 - How RJ got involved with the project.
20:58 - The innate directing skills Billie has.
24:13 - What RJ thought he would capture before shooting began.
26:50 - The amount of change that is going on in Billie’s life at the moment.
34:38 - How RJ realised on his first day of filming that Billie really was the boss.
42:06 - How Billie’s story and her art are both specific and universal.
47:45 - What is next for RJ?
Resources: Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry (2021)
DA Pennebaker's Dont Look Back on Factual America
Belushi: The Brilliance and Tragedy of a Comedy Genius on Factual America
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Rural Appalachia is a part of America that’s vanishing before our eyes. With the loss of the coal industry, the future for the people of eastern Kentucky is uncertain. However, this is what inspires the self-proclaimed "last hillbilly" Brian Ritchie.
French directors and writers, Diane Sara Bouzgarrou and Thomas Jenkoe, join us to discuss their award-winning documentary The Last Hillbilly (2020). The film won the Best International Doc Award at the Torino Film Festival, and received a special mention at IDFA under the First Appearance Category.
The Last Hillbilly follows Brian Ritchie, who is among other things, a poet, philosopher and not what you would expect from your stereotypical hillbilly. A daunting, yet poetic look at a part of America that will never be the same again, this film dives into Brian's stream of consciousness and explores the gap between his identity and his existence.
“There are no more mines, there are no more jobs, and their identity is kind of stuck in the past. There is no future ahead of them.” - Diane Sara Bouzgarrou**
Time Stamps: 03:30 - How The Last Hillbilly was received, and how the pandemic affected its release.
06:18 - A brief synopsis of the film.
09:41 - How the directors met Brian Richie and built such a strong bond with him.
13:53 - Why they decided to go to Kentucky and make a film there.
16:06 - What the Appalachian region is like.
19:57 - The stereotypes of Appalachian people that are true and those that are not.
27:46 - Why they decided to structure the story in the way they did.
37:36 - What Academy Ratio means and why they chose to film in that format.
41:21 - The effect the soundtrack has, and how the creative process of the soundtrack worked.
48:34 - The issues around accessibility when creating such a creative film.
53:25 - What the future for rural America is.
56:20 - The divide that is present within America.
01:00:40 - The future plans Diane and Thomas both have.
Resources: The Last Hillbilly (2020)
Jay Gambit
Alamo Pictures
This is Distorted
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IMDb
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Horton Foote: The Greatest Playwright You've Never Heard Of
Public Trust: The Urgency to Protect US Public Lands
Good Ol Girl: Cowgirls in Modern Ranching
The Life of Modern-Day American Cowboys
The HBO documentary miniseries McMillion$ tells the gripping tale behind the McDonald's Monopoly promotion scam. Between 1989 and 2001 a criminal ring defrauded more than $24 million in prizes from McDonald's.
If not for a tipoff to a backwater FBI office, McDonald's never would have found out about the fraud. The ensuing investigation resulted in the arrests of over 50 people.
Directors and executive producers James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte bring this incredible story to life. They share how they developed the project. James and Brian also discuss the series' entertaining cast of characters, including the FBI investigators who broke the scandal.
McMillion$ has earned five primetime Emmy nominations and scores of rave reviews. It is a refreshingly funny docuseries that captures the activities of a criminal syndicate, and it also has something to say about our willingness to believe the unbelievable.
“Some people knew what they were doing, but some people were legitimately duped into participating and claiming prizes, without ever knowing that this was a federal crime they were participating in.” - Brian Lazarte**
Time Stamps: 02:38 - Where to watch the documentary McMillion$.
03:13 - How the release of the series went and how successful it was.
04:10 - A brief synopsis of McMillion$.
07:15 - How the game massively affected McDonald's sales.
09:37 - Who tipped off the authorities about the criminal gang.
10:29 - How the FBI pursued the investigation.
14:06 - What it was like meeting FBI agents for the first time.
16:57 - How James got the idea to make the film.
18:42 - Brian’s first reaction when he heard the game was rigged.
22:49 - When James realised that the film was going to be successful.
24:32 - How they made an old story feel gripping and relevant.
29:35 - Why they decided to use re-enactments in the film.
33:55 - What it’s like being nominated for five Emmys.
35:40 - The companion podcast they did alongside the series.
41:06 - The next project they are working on.
42:58 - What drew them both to work on dark comedy documentaries.
45:44 - The difficulties involved with pitching dark comedy documentaries.
47:10 - Lessons Brian and James have learned from the project.
Resources: McMillion$ (2020)
McMillion$ Podcast
Shamrock Productions
This is Distorted
Alamo Pictures
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MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course
Alex Gibney's Theranos Scandal Documentary
Steve McQueen, the Hollywood icon, had a passion for car racing. However, his long lost Formula 1 film project never saw the light of day – until now.
Joining us to talk about this incredible story are the filmmakers behind Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie (2021), director, writer and producer Alex Rodger, and archivist Richard Wiseman.
The film elegantly captures Steve McQueen's stardom and passion for car racing. It is set against the backdrop of the 1960s – glory days for both Formula 1 and Hollywood.
Narrated by David Letterman, the documentary chronicles a race between two identical films. As we watch iconic directors and film studios battle it out, we learn the story behind the story of Day of the Champion – McQueen's lost Formula 1 film.
Just as strikingly, the film brings to the big screen incredible, never-before-seen racing footage that captures the glamour, and the danger, of Formula 1 racing in the 1960s.
Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie is available on SKY Documentaries and NOW TV.
“Car racing in 1960s was unbelievably dangerous, and Steve McQueen saw this as a way into the drama of Formula 1." - Alex Rodger**
Time Stamps: 00:15 - Clip 1: About Steve McQueen and his lost film.
01:30 - Introducing our guests, archivist Richard Wiseman and director Alex Rodger.
02:41 - Where people can watch Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie.
04:03 - The synopsis of the film.
05:14 - Steve McQueen’s connections with car racing.
08:25 - 1960s as the glory days of British car racing.
09:10 - The back story of The Day of Champion, McQueen's lost Formula 1 movie.
11:40 - What the screenplay was like for the lost film.
15:11 - Clip 2: Panavision and what screen ratio is best for a racing film.
18:00 - How Richard found the never-before-seen footage for this film.
22:50 - Alex's reactions to the quality of the footage.
25:18 - Clip 3: About the technology used to shoot Day of the Champion.
28:47 - When SKY got involved in the project, and how it was filmed under Covid-19.
33:00 - How Alex assembled the story with the elements they had.
38:38 - How David Letterman came on board to narrate the documentary.
44:36 - Britain as the centre of racing car engineering and Formula 1.
47:50 - Why it’s impossible to compare drivers from different eras of racing.
54:04 - What’s next for Alex and Richard.
Resources: Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie (2021)
The Cruel Sport: Grand Prix Racing 1959-1967 by Robert Daley
Natalie Wood: Cinema Icon on Factual America
Alamo Pictures
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Miles Davis was among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music.
An iconic trumpeter and composer, Miles changed the genre of jazz more times than anyone before him or anyone since. He invented what we today call cool jazz, hard bop, and jazz fusion. His album Kind of Blue is one of the greatest pieces of art of the 20th century.
Award-winning director and producer, Stanley Nelson, joins us to discuss his documentary Miles Davis: Birth of The Cool. We learn about the music innovator's life journey, and the challenges that Stanley faced bringing Miles's story to the big screen.
Available to watch on PBS, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, the film tells the story of Miles’s genius. His career encapsulated everything from playing with Charlie Parker and Dizzie Gillespie to influencing generations of musicians. Miles was also a trend-setter and fashion icon, who way too often succumbed to his destructive drug addictions.
“Miles was an icon to the African-American community; he became a black man that demanded excellence in his music and his life.” - Stanley Nelson**
Time Stamps: 03:58 - A brief summary of who Miles Davis was.
08:03 - What he meant to the world of music.
11:31 - The essence of his genius and his obsession with music.
16:21 - How the director Stanley Nelson came up with the film's title.
18:59 - Miles's distinctive music style.
20:17 - The complexities of his personality.
23:43 - How the idea for making this film was born.
25:24 - The challenges of making a documentary about an indisputable legend.
28:55 - Why it was important to include all aspects of Miles’ life.
30:22 - Using a voice-over in the film and why Miles Davis had such a raspy voice.
33:31 - What it was like interviewing Francis Taylor.
37:12 - Miles’s abusive relationships with women.
38:53 - The race issues that Miles faced because of his skin colour.
44:20 - What Miles meant to the African-American community.
49:37 - What would Miles think of the past year if he were still alive?
51:57 - What it was like for Stanley to win a National Humanities medal.
53:16 - Stanley’s upcoming projects and and his advice to aspiring documentarians.
57:28 - The special age of documentary filmmaking.
Resources: Miles Davis: Birth of The Cool (2020)
Kind Of Blue (1959)
Someday My Prince Will Come
Crack
Alamo Pictures
Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock and Roll on Factual America
Uprooted: American History through Jazz Dance on Factual America
Streetlight Harmonies: The Lasting Legacy of Doo-Wop on Factual America
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Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers, and the National Lampoon — John Belushi was an iconic figure of the 1970s comedy scene. But he was more than just a comic genius.
At one moment, Belushi had the number one show on television, the number one film at the box office, and the number one record on the charts. Just three years later he died from a heroin overdose aged just 33. How did such a talented figure come to such a tragic end?
The award-winning director, producer, and writer, R.J. Cutler, helps us find out as we talk about his new film Belushi (2020). He uses previously-recorded phone interviews combined with archival footage to help us relive the extraordinary life of the beloved actor and comedian.
R.J. explains how he obtained access to the interviews, love letters and home movies needed to make the film, and why it has been so hard to accurately depict Belushi’s life until now.
Belushi is available to watch now on Sky On Demand and NOW TV.
“We talk about the joy, and the brilliance, and the magic, but we also talk about darker things.” - R.J. Cutler**
Time Stamps: 01:43 - Where you can watch Belushi.
02:22 - What the film is about and who John Belushi was.
06:25 - What made Belushi such an iconic character during the 70s and 80s.
11:52 - The anarchic nature of Saturday Night Live when it began.
13:50 - The complicated relationships people had with John McEnroe.
16:46 - The parallels with how Paul McCartney and John Lennon met.
18:43 - The love story of John Belushi's life and the tragedy that accompanied it.
20:40 - How John's relationship with his father contributed to his genius.
25:31 - The problem with achieving the American Dream.
29:01 - The melancholy aspects of John's life, and how his addiction got the best of him.
31:44 - How R.J. got involved with making the film.
35:55 - The responsibilities you have as a filmmaker when making a biopic of someone.
36:58 - What it was like working with John’s wife, Judy.
40:38 - Why R.J. used animation in the movie and how he found the right music to accompany it.
45:46 - How R.J. got access to the love letters that John had written before he died.
50:08 - The Billie Eilish film R.J. is releasing next.
Resources: Belushi (2020)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
Animal House (1978)
Saturday Night Live (1975-)
The National Lampoon
Wired: The Short Life & Fast Times of John Belushi by Bob Woodward
Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry (2021)
Alamo Pictures
MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course
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For years Martin Luther King Jr, the leader and hero of the civil rights movement, faced constant surveillance and harassment by the US government.
Helping us to learn more about this dark chapter in America's history is award-winning director, editor and producer, Sam Pollard, whose latest film MLK/FBI premieres on January 15th 2021, ahead of Martin Luther King Jr Day on January 18th.
As a filmmaker with a career spanning more than three decades, Sam Pollard has won three Emmys and along with Spike Lee received an Oscar nomination for Four Little Girls (1997) . He is a teacher at the Tisch School of the Arts in New York, and a member at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
MLK/FBI is not a biopic. It is a complex and nuanced story with a clear protagonist, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, and the antagonist, J Edgar Hoover, who served as the Director of the FBI for almost four decades. Each man had his fatal flaws and each man had his own view of what America should be.
"I’m someone who would do a survey film about anything and anybody. I want to be able to dig in as an anthropologist and archaeologist, to look at the pros and cons, and nuances of human beings and different institutions." – Sam Pollard**
Time Stamps: 02:47 - The film we are talking about today with our guest Sam Pollard.
04:00 - When MLK/FBI is being released and what the film is about.
05:40 - The FBI’s surveillance of American citizens, including Martin Luther King Jr.
09:30 - How FBI turned onto MLK’s private life and his extra-marital affairs to discredit him.
11:35 - What mass media were like at the time of MLK’s activities.
13:00 - Who J Edgar Hoover was, his power and influence in the USA.
17:20 - Why MLK/FBI is made now and why it turns out to be so relevant to this time.
19:45 - Why 2020 felt very much like 1968.
23:00 - How recent history has never ceased to surprise us.
26:50 - What the director’s responsibility is when making a film about Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
32:00 - MLK and J Edgar Hoover as the protagonist and antagonist in the film.
34:30 - Why all the participants in the film are commenting off camera.
37:00 - Why FBI tapes about MLK should be released.
40:30 - Sam Pollard’s memories of US society and politics in the 1970s and 1980s.
43:18 - Where the documentary film industry is heading.
46:00 - The next project Sam is working on.
Resources: MLK/FBI (2021)
Follow the film on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
The FBI and Martin Luther King, Jr.: From “Solo” to Memphis, a book by David J. Garrow
Eyes on the Prize (1990)
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All (2015)
Belushi (2020)
Alamo Pictures
This is Distorted
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Abraham Lincoln may have been America's greatest leader. The 16th president ended slavery and led the nation out of one of its darkest periods.
However, Lincoln's life and legacy were cut short that fateful night in 1865, when the actor John Wilkes Booth entered Ford's Theatre and killed the president with an assassin's bullet.
Today, only 130 photographs of President Lincoln are known to have survived. But is it possible that another image exists, secretly taken after he was shot, and kept hidden for over 150 years?
We find out as we meet director Jason Cohen and executive producer Dr Whitny Braun, the filmmakers behind the new documentary The Lost Lincoln.
Jason and Whitny take us on their journey to authenticate a newly discovered photo of Abraham Lincoln, one supposedly taken right after he died. In the process, we learn about this great American whose legacy still resonates with us today.
“Here’s this great man who means so much to us, and he was ultimately human. What do all humans experience? We ultimately experience death, and it's a tribute to the fallibility of humanity.” - Dr. Whitny Braun**
Time Stamps: 02:56 - The synopsis of the film The Lost Lincoln.
03:56 - What Dr. Whitny Braun does as an authenticator.
05:48 - The success rate with authenticating items of potential historical value.
07:05 - How Whitny first heard about the "lost" Lincoln's photo.
09:25 - First clip: how Whitny checked the authenticity of the Lincoln photograph.
11:48 - When Whitny first thought to turn the topic into a documentary.
13:17 - How Jason Cohen got involved with the film.
15:01 - The difficulties with authenticating the photo.
22:58 - Whitny’s work as a bioethicist and the time she's spent working with the deceased.
25:23 - How attitudes towards death have changed over time.
28:12 - How Whitny and Jason validated the timeline of the photos creation.
30:20 - Who the Ulke brothers were and how they knew Lincoln.
31:59 - Second clip: how the Ulke brothers may have taken a photo of a dead Lincoln.
34:04 - Whitny's and Jason’s opinions of whether this photo is legitimate.
37:47 - How the public has responded to the film.
40:03 - How Jason decided on the structure of the film.
46:36 - How as a filmmaker Jason brought life to such an old subject.
48:36 - The controversy around the making of the film and how it almost got banned.
52:34 - What Whitny wants to come from the making of this documentary.
55:53 - Who had access to the photo over the years and how this adds to its authenticity.
58:50 - The importance of this photo and what it means to Whitny.
1:03:31 - Whether Lincoln could have survived if the bullet hadn’t been removed.
1:06:36 - What Whitny’s now working on.
Resources: The Lost Lincoln
Alamo Pictures
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We live under the spell of big data. We give the big tech firms access to our personal data and they shape our lives without us even knowing it. This includes how we choose our leaders.
Award-winning directors and producers Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer join us to discuss their film The Great Hack, released by Netflix last year. The Great Hack observes the actors in the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal surrounding the 2016 US presidential election.
Jehane and Karim discuss how data has become a commodity, more valuable than oil, making big tech firms the richest companies of all time. In the process, we now all live public lives in a post-truth world.
Would world-changing events like Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in 2016 have been possible without big tech and big data? The Great Hack lets you be the judge.
“There’s 5,000 data points on me, but who owns that information?” - Jehane Noujaim**
Time Stamps: 03:33 - The new challenges involved in raising kids in these times of smart devices.
07:20 - A brief synopsis of the The Great Hack.
11:00 - How filming The Square led them onto this story, and how the story changed over time.
17:30 - The film's roots in searching for ‘wreckage sites’ where technology clashes with society.
19:15 - Meeting Carol Cadwalladr, who opened the doors to understanding Trump and Brexit.
25:01 - The unreliability of some sources and the right we have to our data.
27:57 - How they found out about Brittany Kaiser and got in contact with her.
35:06 - Brittany as protagonist and why she made such an interesting subject.
39:44 - The post-truth era and how it stops us having conversations around real facts.
41:18 - What Karim thinks about the few big tech companies that dominate the market.
49:43 - Jehane’s interest in hacking the mind and their sex cult documentary The Vow.
52:20 - The problem with the way the media treats whistleblowers.
Resources: The Great Hack (2019 The Vow TV Series The Square (2013) Control Room (2014) The Orgasm Cult Podcast Alamo Pictures Connect with Jehane Noujaim:
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Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins is a documentary that chronicles the career of the acclaimed Texas columnist and journalist. Molly was nominated multiple times for the Pulitzer Prize for her commentary, and her Texas twang became an unlikely voice of liberal America.
Now 13 years after Molly’s untimely death, award-winning director and producer, Janice Engel, brings Molly’s acerbic wit and no-holds-barred approach to journalism to the big screen.
Janice shares with us how she went from not knowing who Molly was to making a film about her. She also talks about the sometimes tragic private side to Molly's larger-than-life public persona.
Even in death, Molly remains as unique now as she did when she was unveiling the hypocrisy of the political establishment. And she sure can still make us laugh.
“Everybody needs a dose of Molly Ivins. Firstly, how many documentaries make you laugh? And secondly, she has something to teach us all.” - Janice Engel**
“Everybody needs a dose of Molly Ivins. Firstly, how many documentaries make you laugh? And secondly, she has something to teach us all.” - Janice Engel**
Time Stamps: 04:14 - The extent of Molly’s lasting power and how the release of the documentary went.
08:03 - How to stream the film online.
09:16 - Who Molly Ivins was and what she did.
10:23 - A brief synopsis of the film.
16:49 - How Molly managed to make a career around Texas politics.
21:22 - The preconceived notions Janice had about Texans before visiting Texas herself.
24:40 - The things that make Molly Ivins such a unique political columnist.
27:29 - The differences between Molly's public persona and her personal life.
32:10 - Molly’s relationship with alcohol and drinking.
35:25 - How Janice Engel got involved with the project.
39:45 - How much archival footage she went through to create the film.
45:15 - The extent of love Molly had for the state of Texas.
46:39 - What Molly would think of the current state of American politics.
54:16 - The people that are following in Molly’s footsteps.
56:50 - What Janice is now focusing on.
Resources: The Molly Ivins Film Website
Alamo Pictures
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Today we're talking about Horton Foote (1916-2009), the award-winning playwright and screenwriter. In the recently released documentary Horton Foote: The Road to Home, the celebrated screenwriter Anne Rapp helps us to learn more about this unsung Texas and American legend.
Foote was born and raised in Wharton, Texas, and he went on to become a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, the winner of two Academy Awards for screenwriting, an Emmy Award for television writing, and was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts among numerous other theatrical and literary prizes. His best known works are the Oscar-winning screenplays for To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Tender Mercies (1983).
Ann Rapp met Foote on the set of Tender Mercies, where she worked as a screenplay supervisor. She developed a life-long friendship with this unsung gentleman playwright.
With this documentary, she wants to share with everybody her inside look into Foote's humanity, integrity and empathy that played into his work during his whole life.
“To be a good writer, you don’t have to be educated, you don’t even need to speak good grammar. If you are an observer and a listener, and you find a voice to reflect that, then you can write. Horton was the best listener I've ever known.” - Anne Rapp**
Time Stamps: 3:40 - Introducing Anne Rapp and her film Horton Foote: the Road to Home.
5:00 - When and where the film will be released to a wider audience.
9:08 - Who Horton Foote was.
13:14 - The first clip from the film: people talking about his writing and personality.
15:32 - What the film is really about.
20:35 - How it was for Anne to spend time visiting Horton Foote and recording him.
25:05 - What is Foote's home town Wharton, Texas like.
32:56 - The second clip: Ludie’s monologue from the play The Trip to Bountiful.
34:09 - Why it took 13 years for Anne to release this documentary.
42:00 - How Foote’s daughters reacted to the film.
50:10 - The experience of supervising Foote’s scripts.
55:33 - What it was like for Anne to work with Robert Duvall.
59:55 - What it was like to work with Robert Altman and how Anne became a screenwriter.
1:04:30 - The storytelling tradition in Texas.
1:09:22 - What Anne’s writing process looks like.
1:13:40 - What is the essence of Foote’s writing genius.
1:18:50 - How young people can get to know his work better.
1:21:10 - What Anne’s wish for the documentary is and what her next projects are.
Resources: Horton Foote: The Road to Home (2020)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Tender Mercies (1983)
The Trip to Bountiful (1985)
The Major Plays of Horton Foote by Robert W. Haynes
Cookie's Fortune (1999)
Alamo Pictures
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Chuck Berry (1926-2017) was the original King of Rock and Roll. That is according to Jon Brewer, and being referred to as 'God of rock docs,' he should know.
Jon discusses Chuck Berry and the making of his documentary about the American icon. The film tells the story of Chuck’s life through the lens of his relatives and friends, and also uses dramatic reenactments of certain situations Chuck Berry lived through.
Jon goes on to share a host of amazing stories drawn from his 50 years in the music business. He worked with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, he was David Bowie's manager at one point, he produced some of Gerry Rafferty's songs, and he spent significant time with B.B. King. And that's just to name a few.
As Jon has more documentary projects under way, Factual America will be following his work and bring him back for more exciting stories about iconic musicians.
“Chuck Berry was the original king of rock and roll. He was a poet, he invented many words, and he created the teenage audience.” - Jon Brewer**
Time Stamps: 02:06 - Who Chuck Berry was.
04:23 - Where the audience can watch the film.
05:55 - What made Chuck Berry so special.
12:53 - What some of his most famous songs are.
14:16 - His storytelling skills and how his music inspired The Beatles.
18:25 - How prison changed Chuck and why he opened up a mixed-race club.
23:36 - The leisure park he developed and ran.
26:45 - How his wife reacted to his autobiography.
29:20 - What Chuck’s family thinks about him, and the respect for the fortune in real estate that he made.
35:01 - Stories Jon heard from B.B. King about the difficulties with getting paid as a black performer.
37:20 - How the entertainment industry has changed in the last 50 years.
41:58 - Chuck’s criminal past and the time he spent in prison.
48:07 - Why Jon decided to create reconstructions of certain events in the documentary.
57:12 - Other artists Jon has worked with.
1:04:08 - The film Jon’s now working on.
1:10:11 - The ways film and music are coming together.
1:14:55 - Chuck’s involvement in producing the song ‘Baker Street’, and how he knew Gerry Rafferty.
Resources: Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock and Roll
B.B. King - The Life of Riley
Legends of the Canyon Monochrome
Alamo Pictures
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On a daily basis, we are inundated with more bad news about the environmental catastrophe caused by climate change, unfolding in front of our very eyes.
But is it too late? Can anything really be done? It's enough to make us give up. Many of us have. But a simple solution may be literally underneath our feet, according to the Netflix documentary Kiss the Ground from award-winning filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell.
Kiss the Ground reveals that by regenerating the world's soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilise the Earth's climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Is it really that simple?
An inspiring, solution-based approach, focusing on regenerative agriculture, this film is a must-watch for anyone interested in how we can reverse climate change.
“There’s so much joy to put your hands in the dirt, feel the dirt, and literally kiss the ground.” - Rebecca Tickell
Time Stamps: 03:20 - The climate crisis the world is facing and the solution this film puts forward.
04:13 - How happy Josh is with the movie's reception.
06:25 - A brief synopsis of Kiss the Ground explaining how they plan to reverse climate change.
07:30 - The natural way most people respond to climate change.
10:18 - Using soil as a solution to our climate problems.
12:38 - How we’ve destroyed our topsoil over the last few hundred years.
18:37 - The regenerative farming methods we can use to solve this problem.
25:06 - The need for change in global agriculture because of our increasing population.
28:14 - What politicians think about these practices and new related policies.
32:15 - The ways we can turn cows from being a problem to being a solution.
37:31 - How the idea for the film came to fruition.
44:04 - Biodiesel and how they got Woody Harrelson involved in Kiss the Ground movie.
46:33 - The hardest part of making the movie.
49:42 - The importance of graphics and how they decided which ones to use.
56:28 - What it’s like working together as a couple.
58:39 - The next project Josh and Rebecca are working on and what it’s about.
1:02:33 - The power that Generation Z has.
Resources: Kiss the Ground Movie
Kiss the Ground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
The Kiss the Ground Movement
Fuel
Alamo Pictures
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On August 11th 2014, the world was shocked to find out that Robin Williams had died by suicide. For someone who brought so much humour to the world, it was a tragic, traumatic end. But no one knew how much more there was to the story.
Left to speculate on Robin’s motives, the media circus spun out of control, leaving the public in the dark about a complicated and obscured truth.
Robin, bright, funny, quick witted, had lost a battle against an unknown enemy, the nearly impossible to diagnose brain disease – Lewy Body Dementia.
Filmmaker Tylor Norwood brings this story to the screen for the first time in his documentary Robin’s Wish.
Robin Williams was larger than life, but Robin was a wonderful human being who was behind all that incredible work, and Robin was better than Robin Williams. – Tylor Norwood**
Time Stamps:
03:00 – The film we are talking about today – Robin’s Wish.
04:40 – Where the audience can see the film.
05:15 – The synopsis of the film.
07:59 – First clip: Shawn Levy on what Robin Williams was like on the set of Night at the Museum.
09:30 – How other people were seeing Robin Williams in the last year and a half of his life.
12:42 – Second clip: Shawn Levy on what he noticed shooting the third Night at the Museum.
14:38 – How Robin’s symptoms impacted his behaviour and the people around him.
20:02 – Struggling with the stigma of having a mental illness.
23:09 – Third clip: Robin’s wife and his friends talk about his struggle with his disease.
29:00 – What is Lewy Body Dementia.
33:45 – The organisations who supported the making of Robin’s Wish.
41:00 – What Robin’s real wish was.
45:50 – Robin’s humanitarian tours around the world.
50:24 – How Tylor chose who would participate in the film and talk about Robin Williams.
53:10 – How difficult it was for Robin’s wife to open up about his last years.
57:07 – What projects Tylor Norwood is working on next.
Resources: Robin’s Wish (2020)
Lewy Body Dementia Fund of the American Brain Foundation
Savonix BU School of Public Health
Night at the Museum (2006)
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018)
Alamo Pictures
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Today is a special US presidential election edition of Factual America. Americans are heading to the polls. Will they re-elect Donald Trump? Or will they opt for a change and vote for Joe Biden? We can’t say either way with any certainty.
What we can say is that America is a polarised society. And whatever the result, the politics of division are here to stay, so it seems. That division and polarisation are captured brilliantly in Boys State, the Sundance Jury Prize Winner from filmmakers Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss.
The documentary shows what would happen if you put a thousand teenage boys together and put them in charge of the political landscape of America.
Despite the hand-me-down politics of their parents and grandparents, can a bunch of Texas teenage boys provide hope and point the way ahead?
We found out when we caught up recently with Amanda and Jesse from their home in California.
“It’s a little bit like the Stanford Prison Experiment, but for the Government.” – Jesse Moss**
Time Stamps:
03:18 – The extent of polarisation in America.
04:03 – How Jesse’s feeling about the upcoming election.
05:45 – What it’s been like being so immersed in the presidential election.
06:53 – A brief synopsis of the film and what ‘Texas Boys State’ is.
09:22 – Why Boys and Girls State are so influential.
10:44 – First clip from the film: the forming of the two Boys State parties.
13:57 – The performative nature of the boys and how their political ideas mature over time.
15:31 – Different leadership styles and how this reflects back on US national politics.
21:24 – The logistics around making a film involving so many different subjects.
23:28 – Second clip: an inspirational speech from one of the candidates.
27:05 – The ways youth see the world differently from adults.
29:51 – How the boys have changed since the filming of the documentary.
31:44 – Third clip: the boys’ passion for politics.
33:34 – Different responses people have to the film.
38:18 – How involved some of the boys become in the programme.
40:35 – What the main takeaway from the film is.
46:44 – What the directors think of the Boys State project as a whole.
49:32 – The dynamic nature of documentary filmmaking that’s emerged in the last few years.
51:42 – Other projects Amanda and Jesse are working on now.
Resources:
Boys State (2020)
The Texas Boys State
Alamo Pictures
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The singing career of Linda Ronstadt spanned five decades. A versatile and talented artist, she has won ten Grammys, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards and an Emmy. Along the way, she recorded the biggest selling foreign language album of all time.
Now retired from singing, Linda continues to give back to the community, as captured by award-winning director and producer James Keach in Linda and the Mockingbirds.
James joins us to share a side of Linda Ronstadt that few have seen. His music-filled, road trip-style film captures the essence of Mexican-American culture and the immigrant experience.
The film provides a beautiful look into the coming together of two cultures. It also portrays the hardships far too many immigrant children must go through.
“With the internet, social media, and the amount of interactions we have, we realise there are so many different human experiences to ours that we’re curious about.” – James Keach**
Time Stamps:
04:11 – When and where Linda and the Mockingbirds will be released.
05:35 – What inspired James to make this film.
08:27 – Who Linda Ronstadt is.
11:18 – How Linda is involved with helping children get into singing and dance.
13:35 – James’s road trip to Mexico with Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne.
15:43 – The way the documentary evolved as James increasingly met people being marginalised.
19:12 – Jackson Browne’s song the ‘Dreamer’ and what it’s about.
21:25 – The importance of being open with children when they are in vulnerable situations.
24:34 – Our first clip of the film, showing the realities of some illegal immigrants.
26:28 – Where James grew up and the connection he had with Mexican culture at a young age.
30:45 – Why James didn’t include immigration statistics and ICE agents in the film.
32:00 – The detention policies that separate children and their families.
33:22 – What the film is really all about.
34:53 – The values that Mexican Americans hold most dear.
36:11 – How James got into filming and directing.
40:24 – The importance of music in filmmaking and how it can help tell a story.
42:16 – Why this is the golden age of documentaries.
45:11 – James’s favourite Glen Campbell song.
46:21 – The next project James is working on.
49:51 – The lasting message James wants people to take away from this film.
Resources: Linda and the Mockingbirds
Shout Studios
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice
Los Cenzontles
Alamo Pictures
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Sir David Attenborough is a broadcast legend. And probably no individual has seen more of the Earth’s wilderness in his illustrious nearly 70-year career. That makes him the perfect witness to the devastating changes afflicting our planet.
In David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (2020), which premiered on Netflix, co-director Keith Scholey of Silverback Films and producer Colin Butfield of the World Wildlife Fund bring us Sir David’s witness statement. In the process, they also provide us with simple solutions to saving our planet before it is too late.
“The things that are happening to this world are unnecessary. Not getting out of the problem is unnecessary. So make sure that your voice is heard, so that we solve it.” – Keith Scholey**
Time Stamps:
00:35 – David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet trailer.
02:50 – The film we are looking at today and who our guests are.
05:17 – The synopsis of A Life on Our Planet and who Sir David Attenborough is.
08:36 – First clip from the film: The Best Time of Our Lives.
12:30 – Why A Life On Our Planet has not been made earlier.
14:07 – Second clip from the film: Sir David Attenborough’s statement on biodiversity.
16:08 – What will happen if we do not preserve biodiversity.
20:26 – How A Life On Our Planet’s mission is connected with the Our Planet series on Netflix.
24:48 – Third clip from the film: Seeing the images of Earth from outer space for the first time.
27:17 – How people can engage without being scared into inaction.
34:04 – How the idea came about to create a retrospective of Sir David Attenborough’s life.
37:50 – What it was like working with Sir David Attenborough.
43:51 – How COVID-19 has affected the filming of David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet.
45:40 – The follow-up to this film and upcoming WWF global events related to saving the Earth.
48:15 – The lasting message of A Life on Our Planet.
51:51 – The opportunities arising from addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity.
Resources:
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (2020)
Our Planet (2019)
Silverback Films
World Wildlife Fund
Steward Brand: America’s Last Great Optimist
Alamo Pictures
Connect with Keith Scholey:
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America is a land of natural beauty and natural resources. Unfortunately, these too often come into conflict. Never was this more true when it comes to America’s 640 million acres of public lands.
Filmmakers David Byars and Jeremy Rubingh document the fight to protect America’s public lands for future generations in their film Public Trust which recently premiered on YouTube with tremendous success.
The executive producers of the film are Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard and famous actor and founder of the Sundance Film Festival Robert Redford.
Factual America caught up with David Byars from his home in Ojai, California, and Jeremy Rubingh aboard his sailboat in the Puget Sound.
“Public lands is this huge democratic American idea that you don’t really see really in many other countries around the world. It’s an opportunity for unity and healing, and for everybody to come together and protect something good for future generations.” – Jeremy Rubingh**
Time Stamps: 3:55 – The topic of today’s episode and who our guests are.
5:42 – The success and the reception of the film and where it can be seen.
6:54 – The synopsis of Public Trust.
9:24 – How much public land there is in the US and how it is defined.
10:54 – The first clip from the film about the unique concept of public land in the US.
13:00 – How the fight for public land and conservation has come to be politicized.
20:58 – The impact that the Trump administration has had on the protection of public lands.
25:24 – The second clip from the film, about Native American ownership of public lands.
30:54 – How the idea for the Public Trust project came about.
34:24 – What Patagonia stands for and how its founder and Robert Redford got involved.
40:50 – How the team decided to premiere the film on YouTube.
42:45 – Who the main characters in the film are.
48:30 – The difficulties with capturing the beauty of public lands on film.
51:08 – What Public Trust is really about.
53:35 – What David and Jeremy want to achieve with this film.
1:00:50 – The next project David and Jeremy are working on.
Resources: Watch Public Trust (2020) on YouTube
Public Trust Official Webpage
ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council
The Darkness at the heart of Malheur, article by Hal Herring
5B Film
Class Action Park: America’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park
Alamo Pictures
Connect with David Byars:
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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on September 18, 2020. She had a long and illustrious career as an advocate for gender equality, a jurist and most famously as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court.
Joining us to pay tribute to this true American icon is Julie Cohen, together with Betsy West, the co-director and co-producer of RBG.
RBG is a documentary that beautifully captures the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The film itself premiered in 2018 at the Sundance Film Festival, was nominated for an Academy Award, and is one of the top grossing documentaries of all time.
We caught up with Julie from her home in Brooklyn as we revisit her work on RBG and her memories of this powerful woman.
“Justice Ginsburg was a very intimidating woman. Tiny, though she might had been, and with her quiet little voice, she just had this whole force and this penetrating stare – everything about her was quite intimidating.” – Julie Cohen**
Time Stamps: 3:13 – Introducing our guest Julie Cohen and the reason we are revisiting RBG.
5:48 – Where people can see RBG in 2020.
7:24 – Julie’s memories of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
10:58 – Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s humble background.
12:33 – What it was like for women in the 1950s and 1960s.
16:56 – Why RBG had to transfer to Columbia to complete her law studies.
19:49 – How RBG’s workday looked like and how much she slept.
22:17 – RBG as a leading figure behind the women’s rights movement and gender equality.
25:11 – RBG’s strategic thinking in choosing and building cases and case law.
29:40 – Where Julie got audio recordings and transcripts of case materials for the documentary.
32:30 – How RGB became Supreme Court Justice.
37:00 – The role of activists for civil rights, disability rights, women’s rights, etc.
38:38 – The story of Justice O’Connor, the first women on the Supreme Court.
42:40 – Why Justice Ginsberg didn’t retire during Barack Obama’s presidency.
48:15 – How RBG became such a media and cultural celebrity.
55:00 – What legacy Julie would like to leave with the RBG documentary.
57:14 – Discussing Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court Justice.
1:00:55 – Where the idea for the RBG documentary came from.
1:05:40 – What success RBG the film achieved and how it changed Julie’s career.
1:08:33 – What Julie’s next projects are.
Resources: RBG (2018)
Oyez – Multimedia Supreme Court Archive
Crip Camp: Cradle of the Disability Rights Movement
Alamo Pictures
This is Distorted
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Action Park in Vernon, New Jersey was straight out of a Gen X teenager’s dream. The R-rated version of a John Hughes film, or as Jason Bailey at the New York Times puts it, “a rule-free stew of dangerous rides, teen guests, teen employees, raging hormones, 80s-style machismo, and booze”.
But for all the nostalgia, the place comes with bad memories for those whose loved ones were seriously injured, and in some cases killed by the reckless actions of Gene Mulvihill, the fallen Wall Street mogul who owned and ran the park.
Seth Porges and Chris Charles Scott, the co-directors of Class Action Park streamed on HBO Max, brilliantly capture both the time and place – Northern New Jersey in the 1980s and 1990s – that will never be repeated. And many would say thank God for that.
“The laughter of Action Park isn’t a designed joke; it’s not a comedy routine. It’s the laughter of a brain having no other way to process what it’s hearing. Laughter is something that happens when you can’t cry, you can’t scream, you can’t do anything else, all you can do is laugh. ” – Seth Porges**
Time Stamps: 02:20 – What Action Park was, and the dangers there.
05:03 – What the film explores, and why it’s been so successful.
07:34 – The first clip of the film showing ‘The Cannonball Loop’.
09:38 – Who designed these crazy rides and how they tested them.
11:33 – A short clip showing the dangers involved with testing the new roller coasters.
14:01 – What the movie is really about and how different children’s upbringings used to be.
15:28 – The mix of nostalgia and darkness that is present in these old memories.
17:17 – What drives people to create such insane roller coasters.
18:18 – The way Action Park used radio ads to gain popularity.
20:15 – The terrifying nature of Action Park and how unique it was.
24:14 – A clip showing the dark side of the Park.
26:33 – How the dangerous nature of the park actually increased its popularity.
31:04 – How many people died or were seriously injured at the park.
33:00 – How the owner managed to win most of the class action suits brought against him.
35:27 – What inspired Seth to make a documentary about Action Park.
36:40 – How Chris became involved with the film.
38:00 – The biggest challenges they came up against when making the film.
41:16 – Talking to the parents of George Larson, who died at the park.
47:03 – Who the owner Gene Mulvihill was and what he was really like.
49:44 – The juxtaposition of freedom and safety that is shown in the film.
53:23 – What Seth and Chris want to achieve with this film.
Resources: Class Action Park
Alamo Pictures
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When we think of Texas, we think of wide open spaces, ranches, rugged individualism, the Wild West, and invariably cowboys. But where do women fit into this mix?
In their film Good Ol Girl, Sarah Brennan Kolb and Kyle Kelley put this question into the context of present-day Texas. The film tells the stories of three young modern-day Texan cowgirls, and explores the role of women in cowboy culture.
Women are increasingly taking a larger role in the traditionally male dominated industry of ranching. As we found out, Texas is going to have to change if the legacy of the past is to be handed down to the next generation.
“I’ve always hoped that women would see themselves as heroes, and men would understand that women can be heroes.” – Sarah Brennan Kolb**
Time Stamps: 06:30 – A brief synopsis of the documentary Good Ol Girl and when it will be premiered.
11:36 – The role women have historically had in Texas.
15:30 – How women are now treated in Texas.
17:59 – Our first clip, showing the unique conversation between a Texas rancher and her father.
21:46 – Who the protagonist Mandy is and how she embodies the ‘frontier women’ of Texas.
26:06 – Our second clip, where Mandy talks about her dream life and what it looks like.
27:35 – Lemoine’s choice: professional aspirations or carrying on her family’s ranching legacy.
30:36 – Our third clip, showing the importance ranchers put on keeping the ranch in the family.
32:30 – Martha’s story and her struggles with the rezoning of her land.
36:15 – How Sarah got in contact with Joyce and the importance she had to the film.
38:39 – What inspired Sarah to make this documentary.
42:15 – How Sarah met Mandy and got into the world of ranchers and cattlewomen.
44:55 – How Kyle got involved with the film.
46:43 – The dangers involved with filming on a ranch.
50:57 – The difficulties involved in portraying a rodeo in an impartial way.
53:36 – What ‘Documentary Western’ really means.
54:34 – How Covid has affected the way the film will be released.
57:23 – What Sarah hopes to achieve with this film.
1:01:33 – Kyle’s experience at the White House filming Donald Trump’s interview for HBO.
1:06:04 – How Sarah has seen Texas change over the last few years.
Resources: Good Ol Girl
The Cowgirls
Alamo Pictures
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America is famous for its sports franchises and rabid fans. However, there is one group of Americans for whom sports raise painful memories. These are the Native Americans.
At least some people are trying to put an end to racial stereotyping in US sports. And they have already succeeded in changing the name of the Washington Football Team.
Aviva Kempner is the award-winning director of successful docs like “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg”. Kevin Blackistone is an award-winning national sports columnist. Together they are working on bringing Imagining the Indian to the screen.
We caught up recently with Aviva and Kevin at their homes in Washington DC.
“I’ve come to be opposed to all these names. The Not Your Mascot slogan is so true. People are not property of others, certainly when it is a culture that is being appropriated. We’re supposed to be past that.” – Kevin Blackistone
Time Stamps: 0:19 – Imagining the Indian trailer.
4:39 – Introducing our guests and today’s topic.
8:40 – When and how Kevin Blackistone got the idea for this project.
11:09 – How Aviva Kempner got involved in the film.
15:15 – The events related to changing the names of sports teams since 2014.
19:58 – Why it has taken so long to take action against Native American mascoting.
25:21 – The role of Hollywood in sustaining stereotypes about Native Americans.
28:44 – The next step for this project after the name change to Washington Football Team.
32:23 – Why Kevin is opposed to all sports names containing Native American imagery.
38:41 – How sports mascoting affects Native Americans.
43:00 – How the Black Lives Matter movement is influencing the Not Your Mascot movement.
48:49 – How the pandemic has affected the filming.
51:14 – Whether there are any teams in the UK and elsewhere named after Native Americans.
1:01:29 – How the audience can connect with the filmmakers and the project.
1:04:58 – Why we are in the Golden Age of documentary film.
Resources: Imagining the Indian Website
Follow the project on Twitter and Facebook
The Ciesla Foundation
Kevin Blackistone’s sports commentary in The Washington Post
Alamo Pictures
Connect with Aviva Kempner:
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Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. He may also be America’s first black cultural icon, blazing a trail for other African American athletes like LeBron James.
Besides his performance on the court, Jordan rocketed to fame on the back of a clever and innovative marketing campaign to sell sneakers, and a shrewd business model that made him a billionaire.
However, has success come with a price? Well, Nike and Jordan have made billions of dollars. They have also created a shoe culture that see some misguided youth literally killing each other to get their hands on the latest pair of Air Jordans.
Yemi Bamiro and Will Thorne capture all of this in their recently released documentary One Man and His Shoes. We recently caught up with Yemi and Will from their homes in London and Berlin.
Time Stamps: 3:13 – The film we are talking about today – One Man And His Shoes.
6:10 – The film’s release.
7:50 – The synopsis of the film.
10:00 – What things were like at Nike before Michael Jordan’s sneaker deals.
13:07 – First clip: the state of the market before the Jordan phenomenon.
15:04 – The role of Sonny Vaccaro in creating Air Jordan.
19:10 – The people who are featured in the film.
21:16 – Second clip: the roots of making Michael Jordan a cultural icon.
24:11 – The role of Spike Lee in the Jordan phenomenon.
29:50 – How archive videos, graphics and animation are used in the film.
33:00 – The dark side of Air Jordan and an unfortunate legacy of the sneakers.
38:15 – How Air Jordan became the Ferrari of sneakers and a cultural currency.
44:35 – What attitude the filmmakers have towards all sides of the Air Jordan brand story.
50:58 – How long it took from the original idea to the complete documentary.
56:00 – Where the film is being distributed and shown.
1:00:01 – The perspective of Yemi and Will as UK filmmakers on a quintessential American story.
1:06:35 – Whether there were any reactions from Nike and Michael Jordan on the film.
1:09:28 – What is next for Yemi and Will as first-time filmmakers.
1:16:44 – How to get in touch with Yemi and Will.
Resources: One Man And His Shoes (2020)
Break Em Films
Sole Man (2015)
Your Sneakers or Your Life by Rick Telander
This Is Distorted
Alamo Pictures
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In our final episode of Season One, we’re joined by John Lewis, aka Badass Vegan. John’s upcoming documentary, They’re Trying to Kill Us, touches on so many of the issues that we’ve looked at this year on the podcast – factory farming, race and Big Pharma, just to name a few – but this time through the unique lens of hip hop.
They’re Trying to Kill Us explores the connections between diet, poverty and systemic racism. As well as looking at veganism, we discuss Big Pharma and the link between mind and body.
John’s life is literally the material for a great movie, as we found out recently when we joined John from his home in Wilmington, North Carolina.
“I don’t think we can wait for the governments and the rich to make a change. We have to make the change ourselves.” – John Lewis**
Time Stamps: 03:25 – Who John is and the importance of his name.
05:40 – The issues we’re going to talk about today.
07:29 – How much of the project is left to film.
10:02 – How Keegan and John started working together.
12:05 – A brief synopsis of the film.
15:54 – Why John went vegan.
18:05 – The importance of not getting too stressed.
19:13 – John’s holistic approach towards health.
23:07 – Who John thinks should become vegan.
24:45 – The benefits of going vegan.
27:03 – The amount of land that is cleared to grow soybeans for animals.
29:03 – What John hopes to achieve with this documentary.
34:27 – How John got so many big names involved in the film.
39:45 – The way food cultures have been shaped by the rich.
44:44 – How people can help resolve some of these issues.
49:10 – What keeps John driven and motivated.
52:45 – The importance of self-love.
54:41 – How to connect with John online.
Resources: They’re Trying to Kill Us
Globalisation of Factory Farming
Eating Animals, Factory Farming and the Pandemic
Alamo Pictures
This Is Distorted
Connect with John Lewis:
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Instagram
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Facebook
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First Spark Media
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The history of jazz dance is the history of America.
That history is not well documented, however, especially when it comes to the leading role played by African Americans.
In Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance, filmmakers Khadifa Wong and Zak Nemorin trace jazz dance back to its roots in Africa, and follow its evolution up to the present.
Along the way Khadifa and Zack address difficult subjects such as appropriation, racism and sexism within this quintessential American art form, and in the process shine a light on this chapter in America’s history.
But in the end, their film is a celebration of this most human of art forms, where as they say, “what all people have in common is rhythm and a basic human need to get down”. “
Whether it was jazz, whether it’s hip hop, there are cultures that step out of oppression, and out of wanting to speak out, and jazz dance was just an iteration of that.” – Khadifa Wong**
Time Stamps: 1:55 – The film we are talking about today.
3:15 – When and where the film premiered.
4:27 – How Khadifa and Zack are spending their time in London.
6:00 – What is jazz dance?
8:35 – What is social dance?
13:28 – The roots of jazz dance.
15:20 – How this art form got appropriated by Hollywood.
17:29 – The question of ownership of jazz dance and its branches.
23:08 – “Uprooted” as an artistic exploration of American history.
25:24 – How Zack got started with the idea for this project.
31:32 – Tension between schools of dance; the connection between dance and protest.
33:40 – Watching the alternative trailer for the film.
36:24 – Where the future of jazz dance is going.
39:40 – The timeliness of the film in the context of the BLM movement.
44:13 – How Khadifa and Zack got into jazz dance.
50:30 – The perspective that Zack and Khadifa gave to the film as British filmmakers.
53:00 – Famous artists that are featured in the film.
55:20 – Who the director of photography is.
58:50 – The next projects Zack and Khadifa are working on.
Resources: Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance (2020)
Follow the film on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
I Am Not Your Negro: Racism In The US
Alamo Pictures
This Is Distorted
Connect With Khadifa Wong:
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For those of us who grew up in the 1980s and 90s, the arcade was a home away from home. And most likely we were playing a video game that was the creative genius of a scrappy group of renegade designers in Chicago.
In his film Insert Coin (2020), director Josh Tsui captures what it was like for the fellows at Midway Games to revolutionize the video game industry. And along the way, Josh perfectly captures 1990s pop culture.
Insert Coin is an interesting take on the arcade gaming world, showing us its business side and how games were designed to be addictive and suck in quarters.
“Once you make a game you can’t get that out of your system. It’s one of the most fulfilling and frustrating creative mediums out there and it’s intoxicating. ” – Josh Tsui**
Time Stamps: 03:39 – How things are going for Josh in Chicago.
04:49 – Where you can see the film right now.
06:40 – A brief synopsis of Insert Coin.
07:56 – What arcade games were like when they first came out and how they evolved.
09:21 – Eugene Jarvis’s influence on the gaming industry.
10:20 – The creation of ‘Narc’.
12:14 – Our first clip showing how Narc revolutionised the gaming industry.
14:35 – How Narc was the kickstarter to live-action animation gaming.
16:47 – The creation of Mortal Kombat.
19:23 – How Josh made contact with so many of the game developers.
20:16 – A clip from the film showing what Mortal Kombat was all about.
24:16 – A clip showing the success of the game NBA Jam.
26:17 – What made the arcade industry obsolete.
28:16 – Our last clip from the show showing the economics of arcade games.
29:24 – How the business model for arcades worked.
32:30 – What the film is really about.
35:41 – How management of gaming companies has changed over years.
37:49 – How Josh got started making video games.
40:31 – What drove him to make this film.
44:55 – What it’s like working in the gaming industry.
46:29 – Why they couldn’t interview Ed Boon.
47:50 – How they’ve had to adapt the film’s release because of the virus.
52:23 – The projects Josh is working on next.
Resources: Midway Games
Insert Coin Website
Follow Insert Coin on Twitter and Facebook
Eugene Jarvis
Narc
Mortal Kombat
NBA Jam
Alamo Pictures
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What is it about old abandoned buildings that can be so compelling and alluring? We find out today as we welcome filmmakers Jake Williams and John Shaw to the podcast. Their film Closed For Storm is about a theme park left for ruin in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 15 years ago.
Closed For Storm shows Six Flags New Orleans in its glory days and current state of abject dereliction.
Along the way, the film also captures the broken dreams and fleeting aspirations of a community still looking for hope.
We find Jake and John in the eye of a different kind of storm in the summer of 2020, as they join us from their homes in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
They tell us how they got legal access to the property, and why so many of us share a fascination with abandoned buildings.
We also talk about how the virus has affected the film industry and what the release of the documentary will look like as film festivals shut down worldwide…
“When Katrina was happening nobody’s minds were on how the theme park was doing. But once the helicopter images came out of the park underwater, it was staggering. They took whatever was valuable, left and abandoned the property.” – Jake Williams**
Time Stamps: 04:17 – Introducing the filmmakers and how things are for both of them at the moment.
06:06 – When and how the film will be released during the pandemic.
08:05 – What the film is about.
10:03 – John’s connection with the area Jazzland/Six Flags New Orleans was in.
13:30 – Where the idea came from to build the park.
14:05 – Our first clip showing the origins of Jazzland/Six Flags.
16:22 – The independent nature of Jazzland and their fight with Six Flags.
19:02 – What it was like living through hurricane Katrina.
21:55 – What happened to the park after Katrina.
23:46 – Our second clip showing what the park is like today.
26:36 – How they gained access to the park.
29:30 – Our third clip showing the East of New Orleans and how the park affected that area.
34:10 – What the underlying message of the film is.
37:20 – What makes abandoned buildings so interesting and how Jake got involved with the ‘abandoned scene’.
42:53 – Where Jake sees his future heading.
44:27 – How John got involved with Closed For Storm.
46:37 – The biggest challenges involved with making the film.
48:26 – How they set up their sound team for the film.
50:05 – What Jake and John are both looking at doing after this.
53:20 – What the future of film festivals looks like.
55:26 – The future of online streaming services.
1:04:21 – The ways disinformation is so easily spread these days.
1:07:05 – What the situation is like in the U.K.
1:11:36 – What it’s like living in America during the pandemic.
Resources: Bright Sun Films
Follow Bright Sun Films on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube
Closed For Storm
Alamo Pictures
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The US is a nation of immigrants. And there’s no better example of this than Hamtramck, Michigan, America’s first Muslim-majority city.
No bigger than two square miles, Hamtramck is home to a myriad of nationalities and ethnic groups. Over 30 different languages can be heard on its streets.
Using a city government election as a backdrop, producers and directors Justin Feltman and Razi Jafri eloquently capture the dynamism stemming from successive waves of immigration.
Is America a melting pot or a mosaic? Or does it matter what we call it? We find out as we catch up with Justin and Razi from their homes in Washington, DC, and Hamtramck, Michigan.
They tell us how they managed to gain such unprecedented access, and formed such close relationships with their subjects.
Hamtramck, USA is a deep dive into multiculturalism and what the future landscape of America could look like.
“Our nation is changing. Our demographics are changing very quickly and there’s a lot to be learnt from places like Hamtramck” – Razi Jafri**
Time Stamps: 02:56 – The multicultural nature of America.
03:41 – Meeting our guests.
05:26 – Hamtramck USA and where it’s being released.
08:35 – The issues with Hamtramck being a Muslim-majority city.
09:45 – What the film is about.
11:50 – The inspiration behind the film was.
13:24 – The shifting demographics of the city and how these affected the election.
18:20 – How Razi and Justin gained access and built such good relationships with the locals.
21:02 – The underlying lessons the documentary examines.
24:02 – Our first clip on the last in a hundred year line of polish mayors.
28:12 – What Justin expected to see when he first went to Hamtramck.
30:36 – The lessons Razi wants viewers to take away from the film.
33:46 – The strong role of religion in Hamtramck and how that affects the urban soundscape.
37:29 – How having mixed religions in a community still gives residents a shared commonality.
39:19 – Whether America is a melting pot or a mosaic, and which should we strive for.
44:01 – Opportunities for documentaries as educational tools.
45:40 – The uncertainty there is with reopening film festivals.
47:06 – The films the two of them are now working on.
50:02 – Who Justin’s and Razi’s main influences are.
Resources: Hamtramck, USA
Hamtramck Documentary on Twitter and Facebook
Alamo Pictures
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In 1976, Sylvester Stallone was a struggling actor with a big dream and the courage of his convictions. That dream became Rocky, one of the most iconic films of all time.
Using home movies shot mostly by the director John Avildsen, director and producer Derek Wayne Johnson perfectly captures the moment when Sylvester Stallone became a superstar.
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic, as it is known in the USA and Canada, or Becoming Rocky: The Birth of a Classic, as it is known everywhere else, reminds us that while Sylvester Stallone is known for a lot of things, consummate filmmaker should be first among them.
We caught up recently with Derek from East Texas. Not only does he give us insights on what it is like to work closely with Sylvester Stallone, but we learn how he too has chased his own dreams to success in Hollywood.
“I think he’s a genius and I stand by that. Because this is a guy who is not only a wonderful actor, but also wonderful writer who writes from the heart, which is very rare.” – Derek Wayne Johnson**
Time Stamps: 2:02 – Introducing our guest and what we are talking about today.
4:15 – Where people can watch 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic.
5:50 – What it is like working with Sylvester Stallone.
7:20 – What the film is about, which footage was used, and who was involved in the production. 9:20 – How the idea came for making the film came about.
14:30 – Why we have a wrong impression of Sylvester Stallone based on his most famous roles.
18:51 – How Sylvester Stallone did the narrated commentary in one take.
21:01 – The story of how the ice rink scene in Rocky was shot.
26:05 – How Derek became the documentarian for Sly Stallone and his family.
28:05 – What inspired Derek to become a filmmaker.
31:05 – The family storytelling tradition that still exists in Texas.
33:00 – The story of how Derek got into documentaries.
38:00 – What Derek’s other film, Stallone: Frank, That Is, is about.
41:00 – How the Coronavirus pushed back the release of Stallone: Frank, That Is.
43:31 – What is so special about the musicians of Frank Stallone’s and the doo-wop generation.
47:00 – How the film industry is changing in the COVID-19 environment.
49:00 – What Derek’s next documentary is about.
Resources: 40 Years Of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic (2020)
Follow the film on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Becoming Rocky: The Birth of a Classic (2020)
Follow the film on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Rocky Movies (IMDb)
Cinema 83 Entertainment
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs (2017)
Alamo Pictures
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In the late 1950s, doo-wop music took America by storm. And its legacy lasts to this day in the music of such recording artists as Bruno Mars and Meghan Trainor.
Award-winning director and producer Brent Wilson is shining a light on this genre of pop music. Using original interviews with doo-wop recording artists, and those they influenced, Brent’s documentary Streetlight Harmonies perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the 50s and early 60s.
Doo-wop originated with African-American teenagers on the street corners of urban America – places like New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Detroit. With the rise of vocal harmony singing, teenagers started recording music for themselves for the first time in history.
However, these teenagers had to face up to racism, predatory producers and the pressures of being in the spotlight. Looking back on their lives, they reveal a love and passion for their music that inspires us to this day.
“I wanted it to feel fresh, I wanted it to feel present. My goal was it would be seen by people who don’t like doo-wop music.” – Brent Wilson**
Time Stamps: 02:29 – The emergence of doo-wop and Brent’s aim of making doo-wop well-known again.
03:23 – Where Brent has been during the lockdown and what it’s been like for him.
04:22 – Where you can watch the documentary.
05:01 – What the film is about.
06:12 – Where the term ‘doo-wop’ came from.
07:21 – First clip showing the beginnings of doo-wop.
09:53 – The idea of singing on the street corner.
10:55 – The different places people used to sing.
11:59 – The origins of doo-wop.
13:31 – Second clip showing why people used to sing on the streets.
16:04 – What the motivation was for women singers.
18:07 – Other issues the film brings up, and how lots of children were duped.
22:22 – The issues of racism that many of these young artists had to face.
23:35 – Third clip showing the racism the performers encountered in the South.
26:53 – How some incredible songs were covered by whites, and butchered in the process.
28:53 – What the legacy of vocal harmony music is today.
31:05 – How Brent got involved with the film.
32:50 – The respect that doo-wop deserves.
37:36 – The difficulties involved with the production and release of the film.
42:25 – Brent’s documentary about Brian Wilson, and the Beach Boys.
48:36 – What makes doo-wop artists different to other modern artists.
Resources: Streetlight Harmonies (2020)
Pre-order Streetlight Harmonies Original Soundtrack ‘Classic Black Vinyl’
Streetlight Harmonies on Facebook
Streetlight Harmonies on Instagram
Alamo Pictures
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In the 1970s Camp Jened was not just any old summer camp in the Catskills. Hippy values, the Grateful Dead and pot smoking shaped this utopia for teens with disabilities.
Before long, a generation of summer campers with disabilities became a social movement that soon changed the world.
We welcome Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham, co-directors of the Netflix documentary Crip Camp, to the podcast. Jim and Nicole share their experiences making a documentary about one of the most compelling, previously untold stories of our time.
In the process, we find out what it is like to work with executive producers Barack and Michelle Obama. Jim and Nicole also discuss the next items on the agenda for disability rights.
“I had no mental model for imagining disability communities, and I didn’t have any mental model for thinking about wild, horny teenagers listening to Bob Dylan at a summer camp. It was just joyous.” – Nicole Newnham**
Time Stamps: 03:26 – What Camp Jened was, and the impact it had on the world.
06:25 – What the film Crip Camp is really about.
08:30 – Jim talks about what it is like seeing your life on screen.
11:15 – Jim relays his experiences as a disabled child and teen in the 1960s and 70s.
13:08 – Why a lot of people don’t know about the disability rights movement and Camp Jened.
17:05 – First clip: footage from Camp Jened.
19:42 – How Nicole managed to get the footage from the camp.
23:48 – Where the name ‘Crip Camp’ came from.
27:51 – Judy Heumann, the disability rights movement and why her story remained untold. 31:26 – Second clip: Judy shuts down Madison Avenue.
34:26 – How Nicole got involved with the making of the film.
37:53 – How Jim and Nicole shaped the story to focus on the disability rights movement.
38:28 – How Higher Ground got involved, and what it was like working with the Obamas.
41:57 – How COVID-19 has affected the release of the film.
43:45 – Current issues facing the disability community.
45:35 – The impact Nicole hopes the film will have.
46:55 – Advice to parents with children who have disabilities.
47:50 – Future projects Jim is working on.
48:24 – What Nicole’s future looks like.
Resources: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
Higher Ground Productions
Alamo Pictures
This Is Distorted
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Stewart Brand has been at the forefront of multiple societal trends since the 1960s, and now he’s trying to bring back the woolly mammoth and other species from extinction.
Is this folly or is he once again ahead of the curve?
Stewart might just be one of the most influential people that none of us have heard of.
He traveled around with the novelist Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters. Afterwards, he kick-started the modern environmental movement, by pressuring NASA to release a satellite image of the earth.
Stewart’s Whole Earth Catalog inspired a whole generation, including Steve Jobs. As if that was not enough, Stewart went on to mentor the early pioneers of Silicon Valley.
We talk to the directors of We Are As Gods, David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg, about Stewart’s life and the different inspirational movements he has been involved with.
Since the coronavirus has delayed the releasing of the documentary, we also discuss how the pandemic has affected the film industry as a whole. And we learn what it is like to have your premier at SXSW cancelled at the last minute.
“We are as gods and we might as well get good at it.” – Stewart Brand**
Time Stamps: 03:06 – A short background of Stewart Brand.
04:04 – Where David and Jason are based.
04:42 – How the riots have been affecting them.
06:42 – Who Stewart Brand is.
08:26 – Stewart’s involvement with Ken Kesey and the 1960s counterculture movement.
11:40 – The first satellite picture of the earth and Stewart’s role in the environmental movement. 15:26 – The Whole Earth Catalogue and how to rebuild society.
18:30 – What Stewart meant by saying ‘We are as gods’.
21:45 – How Stewart changed his message as the production of the film progressed.
23:02 – The first clip and the history of the hackers conference.
26:00 – The De-extinction Movement.
29:28 – What the film is really about.
32:14 – Whether Stewart is happy and his experiences with depression.
36:11 – How David and Jason got involved with the project.
39:26 – Interviewing Brian Eno and using his music on the documentary.
43:10 – The 10,000-year clock.
45:00 – How David and Jason collaborated with their post-production team.
47:26 – How the coronavirus has disrupted the release of the film.
50:17 – The endless difficulties involved with marketing a film without film festivals.
53:15 – Different people’s reactions to the film’s delayed release.
Resources: We Are As Gods
The Merry Pranksters
The Whole Earth Catalogue
Alamo Pictures
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Baywatch was a 1990s phenomenon well ahead of its time, going ‘viral’ long before there was something called social media.
Director and producer Matt Felker is an acclaimed observer of pop culture and social media trends. As a result, Matt is making a documentary that takes a serious look at Baywatch – a show that still resonates with a global audience 20 years later.
Recently, Factual America caught up with Matt, producer Nicole Eggert, who played Summer Quinn on the show, and Jeremy Jackson, who played Hobie Buchannon.
Besides sharing their experiences and memories of Baywatch, they explain how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting their day-to-day lives and their ability to complete production on the documentary.
Moreover, all three examine why Baywatch became the most watched TV show in the world. In addition, Nicole and Jeremy share with complete candour what it was like being child actors and the ‘family’ they have built around Baywatch.
“I’ve been in the trailer when packages of cocaine and alcohol arrived. I’ve seen the predators around the kids. Baywatch wasn’t like that, it was very different to a lot of sets I’ve been on in my life.” – Nicole Eggert**
Time Stamps: 03:17 – The history of Baywatch meeting our guests.
04:50 – How the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting Matt and production.
07:01 – Jeremy’s experience of the lockdown.
09:08 – Nicole’s experience with having kids at home during the lockdown.
12:08 – Why Matt decided to make a Baywatch documentary.
16:24 – Why Nicole was so keen to get involved.
17:54 – How Jeremy got contacted for the documentary.
21:42 – The layers behind the movie, and people’s careers after being on the show.
27:56 – Our first clip, showing the lives of Nicole and Jeremy.
29:47 – The intellectual side of Baywatch.
32:50 – A funny story from the filming of the documentary.
42:41 – Baywatch’s brand and how it influenced 1990s culture.
45:15 – How modern day culture references back to the 90s.
46:28 – Could Baywatch be made today?
47:59 – How they’re going to finish the documentary in light of social distancing measures.
54:19 – How fanatical Baywatch’s European fans were.
58:14 – Why this show was much more successful in Europe than it was in America.
59:50 – The hardships with being a child actor.
1:03:15 – The risks involved on most film sets, and how Baywatch was different.
1:05:04 – How much of a role David Hasselhoff played in creating the show.
Resources: Baywatch the Documentary (IMDB)
This Is Distorted
Alamo Pictures
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Natalie Wood was an iconic American actress, featuring in many influential Hollywood movies in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Her life was tragically cut short when she drowned at the age of 43.
Today we talk with Laurent Bouzereau, the director and producer of the recently released HBO documentary Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (2020). The film explores Natalie’s life and career through the unique perspective of her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, and others who knew her best.
Had she lived, Natalie Wood would have undoubtedly become one of the most influential Hollywood figures of our time.
The impact she left on the industry she loved so much is nothing short of remarkable. She was an incredible woman, glamorous and relatable, who was ahead of her time, and tragically died far too young.
“If you don’t like Natalie Wood, you don’t like cinema. If you don’t know Natalie Wood, you don’t know cinema.” – Laurent Bouzereau**
Time Stamps: 02:48 – Introduction to the film ‘Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind’.
03:20 – Meeting our guest, the director Laurent Bouzereau.
04:44 – Who Natalie Wood was, and the autobiographical nature of her films.
09:55 – How well her films have aged.
11:46 – How Natalie still influences people today.
14:04 – How she helped Robert Redford’s career take off.
17:43 – Why it doesn’t matter that Natalie never won an Oscar.
19:57 – Our first clip from the film, showing how Natalie got to choose some of her roles.
21:31 – Reflecting on how relatable and ‘normal’ Natalie’s personal life was.
27:50 – The love Natalie had for her work.
33:26 – Our second clip of the film, showing how normal Natalie’s home life was.
34:47 – Why this movie matters today.
39:23 – How Laurent got involved with the project and the hardships he encountered.
47:55 – The controversies that surrounded Natalie’s death.
49:41 – The theme of ‘triumph over loss’ in the film.
51:59 – The reason why Laurent was never seen as an outsider in the US.
55:46 – The new projects Laurent is now focusing on.
Resources: Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind
Brainstorm
Actor Robert Redford
Alamo Pictures
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The Hart Family had the perfect American life. At least, that is what their social media accounts showed the world. But the reality was very different.
A Thread of Deceit: The Hart Family Tragedy documents a family’s spiral into abuse and despair. Ultimately, Jennifer and Sarah Hart decided to drive their family SUV off a cliff, killing them and their six adopted children.
How could this happen? The Harts’ social media accounts were full of beautiful images – playing in the garden with the kids, trips out on a frozen lake or cozy nights by the fire. And everyone thought they were living the perfect American life.
As the film reveals, however, Jen and Sarah Hart carefully curated their family’s online personas. As a result, they were able to hide a life of mental illness and abuse. That life eventually led to the tragic loss of their six innocent children.
We caught up recently with the filmmakers, producer Rachel Morgan and executive producer Chuck Lewis. As they point out, A Thread of Deceit: The Hart Family Tragedy provides us with valuable lessons about social media, our society and the American adoption system.
Rachel and Chuck note that our society’s addiction to social media is damaging our mental health.
“This story needed to be told. There were a lot of people speculating, a lot of very strong feelings.” – Chuck Lewis
Time Stamps:
02:19 – What ‘A Tread of Deceit: The Hart Family Tragedy’ is about and what it teaches us.
02:52 – How our guests are handling the lockdown conditions.
04:21 – The tragic story behind the film.
05:59 – What caused this tragedy to happen.
08:32 – The first clip: The Hart children.
12:59 – Who are the interviewees and what are their connections to the story.
14:07 – What the documentary really is about: social media addiction.
17:32 – The second clip: the psychological effects of social media on the family.
21:39 – How the filmmakers managed to get access to family footage.
23:34 – How Rachel got involved with the production of the film.
26:33 – How Chuck got involved with the project.
28:46 – The backlash to the film and its effects on Rachel and the filmmakers.
32:00 – The timeline for producing the film.
32:43 – Why people choose to ‘troll’ these types of films.
36:00 – Some of the problems with the adoption system in America.
39:10 – The different lessons that the film provides.
41:43 – The final clip: the pitfalls of social media.
43:51 – Who Christopher Worth is, and how he brings people together.
46:20 – How the release of the film went.
47:16 – Where the film can be streamed.
48:22 – What Chuck’s goal is looking into the future.
Resources: A Thread Of Deceit: The Hart Family Tragedy
Worth Music
Alamo Pictures
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Cowboys are as American as hot dogs and apple pie. But what is life like for the modern-day American cowboy?
Filmed on eight of the nation’s largest cattle ranches across ten states in the American West, Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait (2019) provides an intimate look at life in the modern world for this most American of icons.
A cowboy’s life has always been one of solitude and hard work. This is still the case.
Even as they adapt to modernity, the modern-day cowpoke provides us with lessons in how to cope with isolation. But with cell phones and the internet becoming commonplace on the range, some long for the “good old days”.
The filmmakers behind this ode to the modern-day cowboy join Factual America to tell their compelling story. How did the filmmakers create such an intimate portrait? How did they gain ranchers’ trust while capturing the magnificence of the American West?
Director Bud Force is a former rodeo cowboy. His co-director, John Langmore, is a former working cowboy who spent five years photographing life on “big outfit” ranches.
Bud and John are joined on the podcast by Feli Funke, creative producer and author of Gathering Remnants – a Tribute to The Working Cowboy (2020), Emmy award-winning editor Lucas J. Harger and Ian McLeod of Cleod9 Music.
So join us, as we enter into the life of the modern cowboy…
“We’ve created this career out of trying to create cinematic footage in difficult conditions in the field. Whether it’s cowboying, ice climbing, or shooting scuba diving, you have to operate light and fast.” – Bud Force**
Time Stamps: 02:56 – Today’s subject.
03:36 – Introducing the guests.
05:24 – Film festivals and awards.
06:31 – What the film is really about.
09:14 – The first clip: A truck driver and the harsh realities of cowboying.
14:03 – What life is like for American cowboys today.
17:06 – Second clip: How cowboying has changed in modern America.
19:35 – How ‘the cowboy’ is still a necessary role for raising cattle.
24:40 – The lessons to be learned from cowboy culture.
27:28 – Third clip, and it’s testimony to the importance of trust and teamwork.
31:21 – The story behind the making of the film.
34:58 – Making the book ‘Open Range…’, and spending time on ranches.
36:29 – The different types of cowboys, and the difficulty of gaining access to authentic ranches. 38:44 – The risks involved with filming on one of America’s largest cattle ranches.
41:26 – Bud’s production company, and how they deal with difficult shooting conditions.
43:50 – The challenges involved with keeping the authenticity of the film when editing footage. 45:59 – The way the film is structured and why this format was followed.
47:34 – When Ian got involved with making the soundtrack for the film.
49:40 – The importance of having an outsider’s perspective when working with footage.
52:14 – What the response from ranchers has been.
55:34 – The changes to production because of Covid-19 and the lockdown.
58:16 – Faced with these challenges, what would a cowboy do?
1:00:19 – How to watch the film and contact the team.
Resources: Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait
Follow the film on Facebook
Follow the film on Instagram
Ultralite Films
Cleod9 Music
How to Draw out Authenticity in a Documentary Edit
Alamo Pictures
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Narrated by Samuel L Jackson, I Am Not Your Negro (2016) uses James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript to tell the horrific history of racism in America. Following the lives of three slain civil rights leaders, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr, Baldwin’s words still resonate today.
Since the beginning, race has defined America and racism permeates its politics to this day. To discuss the issue, Dr Richard Johnson, lecturer in US politics and international relations at Lancaster University, joins the podcast.
Richard’s work examines the US’s increasingly racially polarised politics. He draws parallels between contemporary America and the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction. Richard believes we are living in the twilight of the ‘second reconstruction’ – an era that began with the civil rights movement. Are there signs that a ‘third reconstruction’ is dawning?
Despite the election of Barack Obama in 2008 – the US’s first black president – the 2010s were a decade of increasing racial polarisation. But with white, working class voters searching for an anti-establishment voice, could there be a glimmer of hope?
“There are racial dimensions to all issues.” – Dr. Richard Johnson**
Time Stamps:00:54 – Today’s topic: racism in the US.
01:21 – Introducing our guest Dr. Richard Johnson.
03:17 – Today’s film: I Am Not Your Negro (2016).
03:55 – Why Richard chose this film.
05:43 – A brief synopsis of the film.
09:55 – The context and history of American racism.
15:15 – The Reconstruction and democracy in the South post-Civil War.
19:16 – Our first clip: Dick Cavett’s interview with James Baldwin.
21:36 – The ‘second reconstruction’ and the civil rights movement.
26:12 – The racial polarisation of political debates and policy decisions.
28:02 – Our second clip: James Baldwin looking at the real problem of racism in America.
31:40 – The future of race in American politics.
37:22 – Working class alienation and the potential for de-racialisation.
40:16 – Our last clip: James Baldwin’s advice that we need passion not numbers.
Resources: I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
The End of the Second Reconstruction: Obama, Trump and the Crisis of Civil Rights
Alamo Pictures
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Warning: This Drug May Kill You (2017) by broadcast journalist Perri Peltz is a heart-wrenching account of opioid addiction in the US. Before the coronavirus, a different epidemic plagued America. Medical researchers will hopefully develop a vaccine for Covid-19 in the near future. But more than 2 million Americans remain addicted to opioids. Is there any hope in sight?
Norman Stone, award-winning director, producer and screenwriter, joins Factual America to discuss Peltz’s film. Norman has researched the opioid epidemic in America. Norman’s latest film, The Final Fix (2020), offers a glimmer of hope to the addicted.
Warning: This Drug May Kill You shows how opioid addiction affects people from all walks of life. Americans who would never seek illicit drugs find themselves hooked on prescription painkillers. Many move on to heroin.
The opioid epidemic costs the US economy many billions of dollars annually and destroys many lives. However, Norman says the problem is big pharma, which doles out trillions of dollars to the US medical establishment.
Inspired by Peltz’s film, Norman’s The Final Fix shows that there might be a relatively simple cure to opioid addiction – Neuroelectric Therapy (NET). But the authorities refuse to give NET a clinical trial.
“While they made billions upon billions of dollars out of this, they killed hundreds of thousands, with cold calculated precision.” – Norman Stone**
Time Stamps: 01:28 – Saying “hello” to our guest Norman.
02:18 – Who Norman Stone is and his career as a filmmaker.
04:56 – The topic of today’s podcast: opioid addiction.
06:25 – The economic cost of the opioid epidemic in the US.
08:50 – The film we are discussing today and why Norman chose it.
11:46 – The importance of focusing on the truth.
14:00 – What opioids are, and why they were so readily prescribed.
18:15 – First clip: the main protagonist and how she ended up on the road of addiction.
23:00 – The deliberate way that people have been coerced into addiction.
24:52 – Second clip: how addiction can hit anyone, even those living the ‘American Dream’. 31:34 – Discussing the clip, and how it discreetly shames doctors.
33:13 – The ways doctors are manipulated by big pharma to sell opioids.
35:04 – What’s being done to address the opioid epidemic.
36:14 – Norman’s previous films on drug addiction and treatment.
37:30 – Neuroelectric Therapy (NET), and the documentary Norman made about it.
39:39 – The different ways there are to stop addiction.
41:24 – Scotland’s drug and alcohol problems, and the amazing success of NET.
45:42 – The trials in America, and their unbelievable success.
Resources: Warning: This Drug May Kill You
The Final Fix A
lamo Pictures
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In America religion and politics are inextricably linked, despite what the US Constitution might say. Using The Most Hated Family in America (2007) by Louis Theroux and its sequel, America’s Most Hated Family in Crisis (2011), Factual America explores the history of religion in US politics.
Not only does religion polarise American society, but it also played a big role in determining the winner of the 2016 US presidential election. Will the same be true in 2020?
Emma Long, Senior Lecturer in American Studies at the University of East Anglia, joins the podcast to discuss the ways religion looms large in US politics. To help illustrate her points, Emma utilises Theroux’s films, which focus on the controversial Westboro Baptist Church.
While nothing short of shocking, Theroux’s documentaries shine a bright light on belief in America and quintessentially American views of free speech. The films show firsthand Westboro’s protests at the funerals of American military service personnel.
Are there limits to what can be considered offensive? Or is anything fair game when it comes to free speech and 1st Amendment rights?
Explaining how religion continues to affect American politics to this day, Emma enlightens us with her research and expertise…
“The US apparently has a separation of church and state, and yet every time you look at American politics religion is there.” – Emma Long**
Time Stamps: 00:59 – The topic we will be talking about today.
01:14 – Our guest Emma Long and the focus of her research.
02:04 – The role of religion in American politics.
02:52 – Today’s documentary: Louis Theroux’s films about Westboro Baptist Church.
03:27 – Why Emma chose this film.
05:30 – What The Most Hated Family In America is really about.
07:10 – Our first clip from the film: the Phelps family.
10:17 – The lack of unbiased documentaries that focus on mainstream religion.
12:58 – The debate over what the founding fathers wrote, and how it relates to religion.
16:40 – The links between conservative religious groups and the Republican Party.
19:26 – Why the Democrats are seen as a secular party.
21:33 – The need to be open about religion if you want to win in US politics.
23:45 – Westboro Baptist Church’s protests carried out at funerals of military personnel.
25:41 – A clip from the second film in the series: Westboro goes to the Supreme Court.
28:27 – The large number of Westboro members who are lawyers.
29:56 – The agreement of the Supreme Court that the protests were indeed legal.
31:00 – What role religion played in the 2016 election race.
33:03 – Why Trump was so successful with white Evangelicals.
34:56 – The separation of church and state, and its effects on elections.
37:05 – The polarisation of liberal and conservative politics.
39:32 – How religion is playing a role in the 2020 elections.
44:51 – How Americans’ relationship with religion is shifting.
48:24 – Emma’s time in Wisconsin and her impressions of religion in American.
Resources: The Most Hated Family In America
America’s Most Hated Family in Crisis
Hail Satan?
Alamo Pictures
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How many of us think about where the meat on our tables comes from? Well, we all should!
That’s the message of Eating Animals (2017), produced and narrated by Natalie Portman and based on the best-selling book on factory farming by Jonathan Safran Froer.
The film shines a light on corporate farming. Besides being inherently cruel to animals, it has destroyed entire ways of life and is devastating our environment. Now factory farming is threatening to kill us all by fostering a pandemic. However, those who blow the whistle face the wrath of this trillion-dollar industry.
In this episode we are joined by Phil Brooke, Research and Education Manager at Compassion in World Farming, who discusses how his organisation is fighting to change the way we think about raising livestock.
Along the way, Phil and host Matthew Sherwood talk about what is being done to stop factory farming. And as the current pandemic shows us, at the very least we need to change the way we view our food and how we source it.
“The more animals we keep, the worse we keep them, the more at risk we are of more of these diseases.” – Phil Brooke**
Time Stamps: 00:59 – Introducing today’s topic – factory farming.
01:18 – Introducing our guest, Phil Brooke.
01:34 – Who Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) are.
02:13 – What The Global Health Film Festival is about.
03:54 – What Eating Animals is about.
05:12 – What factory farming is.
06:29 – Introducing the first clip from the film.
09:08 – The global reach of factory farming.
10:38 – Why factory farming is uniquely inhumane.
11:43 – The steps that are being taken to stop it.
17:28 – Our second clip – whistleblowers and their impact.
23:33 – The role that CIWF played in raising the alarm about poultry farming.
33:01 – The USDA, inhumane testing and the immorality behind it.
35:30 – The third clip – a global pandemic.
41:56 – The massive levels of antibiotics needed to make factory farming viable.
47:38 – What are the solutions to feeding a growing population in a humane way.
50:14 – How to change people’s perspective on what they should eat.
54:10 – The importance of your daily eating habits.
Resources: Compassion in World Farming
Eating Animals Official Website
Eating Animals on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
The Global Health Film Festival
Dartmouth Films
Dartmouth Films on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Alamo Pictures
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Is it ever right to kill someone? Are lethal injections really humane? Is capital punishment going to be around forever? In some parts of the world the US is infamous for its continued use of the death penalty.
Using the BBC’s Life and Death Row – The Mass Execution as a backdrop, Dr Vivien Miller discusses the history of capital punishment in America. In doing so, she reveals how the death penalty divides the US along several different fault lines: race, gender, religion and region.
The first episode in a four-part series, Life and Death Row – The Mass Execution is a riveting and heartbreaking account of recent events that unfolded in Arkansas as drugs used in legal injections were soon to become unavailable. The state planned to execute eight men in ten days, leading to a heated debate about the complicated legal, moral, and social factors that are involved in these kinds of decisions.
With lives on the line, and issues of racism arising, this is what some would call a ‘21st-century injustice’…
“It’s much more likely that a black defendant with a white victim will end up with an execution.” – Dr Vivien Miller**
Time Stamps: 00:54 – The topic we are looking at today: capital punishment.
01:25 – Meeting our guest Dr Vivien Miller.
03:21 – The documentary that we are looking at today.
04:08 – Why Vivien chose this film.
05:08 – What the film is about.
07:22 – Our first clip, featuring Jeff Rosenzweig, the lawyer for three of the convicted inmates
10:40 – Why the death penalty is still prevalent in the US.
13:40 – Our second clip, where different people say why they support death penalty
15:58 – The reason some people stay on death row for such a long period of time.
18:37 – The issues with some of the inmates’ original trials.
20:55 – The racial discrimination that’s prevalent in death penalty sentencing.
22:22 – Why the death penalty is so prevalent in the South.
26:52 – The supply problems with some of the lethal injection drugs over the last 10 years.
29:53 – When lethal injections don’t work.
30:45 – The argument that lethal injections are a cruel and unusual punishment.
31:27 – Our final clip, showing the advocacy group for abolition of capital punishment.
35:02 – What the future of capital punishment will look like in the US.
37:55 – Why capital punishment increased so much at the beginning of the 20th century.
40:25 – Why the use of the death penalty decreased after 1940.
Resources: Life and Death Row, The Mass Execution
SoHo Radio
Alamo Pictures
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An Inconvenient Truth (2006) won two Academy Awards, and turned former Vice President of the United States Al Gore into an international celebrity.
More importantly, it brought climate change and global warming to the forefront of our collective consciousness.
Drawing on his own research, our guest Dr James Lyons shows how director Davis Guggenheim uses performance to dramatically animate risk in the film.
In doing so, does he change the focus, away from climate change? Do the camera lights instead shine more brightly on the former senator from Tennessee, rather than the existential threat facing our planet?
Time Stamps: 00:58 – Introducing the guest and our topic: the animation of risk in modern documentary film
01:45 – Dr James Lyons’ background and work
04:40 – What documentary performance and risk research is about
06:04 – Two documentary films we will be looking at today and why James chose them
08:37 – Synopses of Inconvenient Truth and an Inconvenient Sequel
10:45 – Commentary on Al Gore and his performance as a presidential candidate in 2000
11:50 – Watching the first clip from Inconvenient Truth on climate change
13:10 – Why James chose this clip
15:40 – How the trailers for both films present the risk of climate change
18:40 – Watching the clip from Inconvenient Sequel on the terrorist attack in Paris in 2015
22:00 – James’ commentary on the clip and why he chose it
25:50 – How Inconvenient Truth is actually about Al Gore and not climate change
27:50 – Trying to keep a documentary on topic, and the influence of performance and risk
30:00 – The beginning of a successful wave of independent documentary filmmaking in America
36:45 – Commentary on James Lyons’ interactive documentary Risk Taker’s Guide
39:20 – Commentary on James’ book and different categories of risk
Resources: An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power (2017)
The Risk Takers Survival Guide
Documentary, Performance and Risk, a book by James Lyons
Free Solo (2018)
Roger And Me (1989)
Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)
Factual America Ep #03: Alex Gibney’s Theranos Scandal Documentary
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Factual America caught up with director and producer Adithya Sambamurthy, who is heading to the US to cover the 2020 American election for The Guardian newspaper. We discuss the upcoming elections and take a look back at President Donald Trump’s rise to power.
In 2016 and 2018 Adi spent weeks on the campaign trail filming and producing Anywhere but Washington. He shares his experiences criss-crossing America, where he was able to meet with Trump supporters and observe first hand the changing American political landscape.
We also look at how Trump has been so successful in certain areas that should be considered Democrat territory. Why do these communities reject Democrats and feel more hopeful and optimistic under Trump?
While there is a long way to go until the election in November, Trump has emerged from impeachment looking stronger. His campaign team and strategy have improved immensely since 2016. Conversely, he remains a highly polarizing figure despite his popularity in many parts of America.
Which Democrat will emerge from Super Tuesday the front runner? Do they even stand a chance against President Trump?
We also look at similarities and differences between the US and UK on the political front, in light of Brexit and the rise of Boris Johnson as prime minister.
“A lot of what we’ve seen has been Donald Trump’s attempts to run against Washington; he gets to claim outsider status even as he becomes the establishment.” – Adithya Sambamurthi
Time stamps: 01:24 – Today’s topic and who our guest is.
02:38 – The film we are looking at today and what it’s about.
06:10 – Watching the first clip – West Virginia in 2016.
10:05 – Why some areas have shifted away from the Democratic Party.
13:28 – Watching the second clip – West Virginia in 2018.
16:15 – Revisiting subjects and seeing how Trump’s presidency has changed their lives.
18:52 – What struck Adi the most during his two stints on the campaign trail.
20:28 – The reception for foreign journalists in America.
24:00 – Analyzing the 2020 American election and comparing it with the 2016 election.
26:34 – Taking a look at the different candidates in the Democratic Party.
30:16 – A clip looking at Trump’s inauguration.
33:10 – How Trump remains a change candidate even when he is already a part of Washington. 34:07 – Expectations going in as Adi heads to the US.
36:33 – Would the American public ever elect a socialist like Bernie Sanders?
38:08 – Other projects Adi has been working on.
41:18 – Adi’s impressions of the UK.
42:52 – Similarities between what is happening in America and the UK.
44:44 – The need for change that people are expressing across the globe.
45:42 – The surprising amount of people that watched the Anywhere but Washington series.
Resources: Anywhere but Washington
Alamo Pictures
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Soyalism (2018) explores how factory farming has become a giant global business concentrated in the hands of a few Western and Chinese companies.
Across the globe, people are eating more and more meat. Demand has increased sevenfold since 1960 with 70 billion animals currently being killed per year. That number is set to reach 120 billion by 2050.
To meet this demand, corporate giants have taken over farming, creating massive ‘factories’ for the housing and feeding of livestock and waste disposal.
Using buzz words like ‘vertical integraton’, Western and Chinese corporations now dominate supply chains and wield great power. At the same time, more and more land is being dedicated to growing the grains and soya needed to support the world’s burgeoning demand for meat.
In the process, factory farming has put thousands of small producers out of business and permanently transformed entire landscapes.
Factual America caught up with Soyalism’s director Enrico Parenti and producer Susana Trojano at the Global Health Film Festival. Their journey started with a question about how to feed the world’s fast-expanding population. They soon uncovered a tale that starts in America, winds through Brazil and China and finally takes them all the way to Mozambique.
We also talk about what it’s like being a European filmmaker working in the United States, and some of the difficulties Enrico and Susana encountered there.
“It’s even hard to find where the investors inside a company come from.” – Enrico Parenti**
Time Stamps: 01:38 – The guests and the topic of today’s interview.
04:02 – A clip from the film ‘Soyalism’.
05:25 – Introducing our guests…
06:06 – What the film is about.
07:32 – How the film affected Matthew in a personal way, as an American who’s experienced factory farming.
08:52 – How the overconsumption of meat is unsustainable.
10:48 – How different countries are increasing their meat production and consumption.
12:13 – How Susanna got involved with the documentary and what filming it was like.
14:32 – How the idea for the documentary came about, and how farming is becoming commercialised.
18:26 – Food sovereignty and secrecy in companies.
20:25 – The most challenging part about being a European making documentaries in the US.
23:19 – How the team gained access to US.
24:54 – The different difficulties involved with getting filmmaking grants in the US.
26:37 – The amount of European interest they gained from local people that wanted to share on this topic.
Resources: Global Health Film Festival
Elliot Films
Elliot Films on Facebook
Soyalism
Soyalism on Facebook
Texas Real Food
Alamo Pictures
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America’s love affair with guns is one of its defining attributes, and the number of mass shootings hit an all-time high in 2019. While politicians vow to tackle the problem, a powerful gun lobby stands in the way.
To help us understand why the US struggles with gun violence on such a massive scale, Dr Peter Squires, an expert on the subject, joins the show. He is a sociologist and professor of criminology and public policy at the University of Brighton, who has worked with many different police forces, and is respected globally for his research into firearms and crime.
Peter screens British director Marc Silver’s acclaimed 3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets (2015) in his classes. This film focuses on the 2012 shooting of Jordan Russell Davis and the trial, media coverage and public reaction following the event. This particular shooting raised a lot of questions about gun legislation in America, particularly the ‘stand your ground’ law in Florida, while Marc Silver’s observational documentary lets the audience draw its own conclusions.
With Peter’s in-depth knowledge of gun crime, we examine the case and talk about why gun violence is so much more prevalent in America compared with other countries, even those with high rates of gun ownership. We also investigate why America got into this situation and more importantly what steps can be taken to minimize gun violence in the future.
Like Peter’s students, we too can watch Marc Silver’s film and make up our own mind about what is really behind the culture of fear afflicting so many Americans.
“People can become a dark celebrity very quickly by a horrific act against society.” – Peter Squires**
Time Stamps: 01:10 – The topic we are looking at today and introducing the guest.
02:58 – About the film 3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets.
03:44 – Why Peter chose this particular film.
05:17 – A brief synopsis.
06:39 – Why the shooting happened and Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ law.
08:37 – The different issues this documentary deals with.
10:16 – The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
11:02 – Peter’s impressions of America as a child.
12:21 – Playing a clip from the film.
15:38 – Why gun violence is much more prevalent in America compared to European countries.
18:42 – Assault rifles and their use in mass shootings.
19:43 – Having a homogenous society and the ‘copycat’ phenomenon.
21:56 – The importance of mental health support.
25:18 – The reasons why gun possession is so high in America.
28:50 – The marketing of the gun industry.
30:30 – What stopped school shootings in England.
33:33 – What the solutions to this problem in America are.
38:38 – The ‘Why did you keep shooting’ clip from the film.
41:54 – If Peter lived in America, would he own a gun?
Resources: 3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets
The Gun Violence Archive
Gun crime in global contexts
Marc Silver’s Website
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As a tribute to documentary film pioneer DA Pennebaker, who passed away in August 2019, Factual America explores his groundbreaking Dont Look Back (1967), considered one of the best documentary films of all time. Dr Stella Bruzzi, author of the acclaimed New Documentary, demonstrates how the film about Bob Dylan is a shining example of the direct cinema style pioneered by Pennebaker and in the process shows us why people like Michael Moore have called him the “grandfather of modern American documentary filmmaking.”
“It’s a scientific truism, that the minute you look at something or intervene you change it, and it doesn’t mean to say it’s untruthful…it’s just a different truth.” – Stella Bruzzi
Time Stamps: 01:14 – Who Professor Bruzzi is and what she’s done.
02:09 – DA Pennebaker, and some examples of the films he’s worked on.
03:28 – Why Dr Bruzzi decided to focus on the film ‘Dont Look Back’.
05:17 – A brief synopsis of the film.
07:23 – What ‘Dont Look Back’ is really about.
08:52 – Analysing the ‘lightbulb’ clip.
15:25 – The dismissal of Joan Baez, and Pennebaker’s clever take on this.
19:46 – The ‘Joan Baez singing’ clip.
21:37 – How Dylan and Baez both appear in this scene.
23:36 – The beginnings of observational documentaries, and their limitations.
27:17 – Pennebaker’s awareness of Dylan’s performance.
29:08 – The ‘Donovan’s song and Dylan’s reply’ clip.
31:45 – Our interpretations of the clip.
36:12 – The cult of personality surrounding Bob Dylan.
38:10 – The legacy of the film and of Pennebaker.
42:25 – The uniquely American aspects of the film.
44:50 – The legacy of direct cinema.
Resources: Dont Look Back
New Documentary: A Critical Introduction
Alamo Pictures
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In Silicon Valley, where “fake it till you make it” is a mantra, Elizabeth Holmes stood out. Theranos, the company she founded, drew the support and accolades of investors and senior statesmen alike – that is until a Wall Street Journal reporter’s prying questions spelled the beginning of the end. What originally looked like a revolutionary technology in blood sampling quickly became a scandal that swept the nation. Today we are joined by award-winning business and tech broadcaster, and host of the Gender Knot, Nastaran Tavakoli-Far, as we explore the Theranos saga through the lens of Alex Gibney’s The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019).
We discuss how this fraud was able to happen and to what extent the culture of Silicon
Valley is to blame.
A fantastically made documentary about a dangerous company, it makes us question yet again the cult of charismatic leaders.
“That’s the beauty of America that if you’ve got a big idea you’re not necessarily going to be laughed at. She kept referencing a Thomas Edison quote, that if you fail ten thousand times, that’s so you get it right the ten thousand and first time.” – Nastaran Tavakoli-Far**
Time Stamps: 01:37 – The film we’re going to be looking at today.
02:08 – Why Nas chose this film.
03:28 – The story of Theranos.
06:11 – Whether Elizabeth was setting out to commit fraud from the beginning.
07:15 – The negative aspects of Silicon Valley culture.
10:09 – The different ways journalists covered the story.
14:25 – Analysing the John Carreyrou clip, and how he was able to see through the fraud.
15:57 – The danger to people’s lives.
18:11 – Elizabeth’s past and what drove her to start Theranos.
19:22 – Why the documentary is so gripping and successful.
25:05 – The way the documentary is edited and presented.
28:58 – How her femininity influenced people to believe her and accept her.
29:44 – Why this could only happen in America.
32:57 – The reasons no one spotted her earlier on.
37:36 – All of the people that were involved with Elizabeth.
39:05 – Nas’s impressions of America when she was younger.
41:08 – What Nas’s impressions of America are now.
Resources: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
Theranos
The Gender Knot
Alamo Pictures
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In The River and the Wall (2019), a group of modern-day adventurers led by filmmaker Ben Masters sets out on a 1,200-mile journey along the Texas-Mexico border to understand the economic, environmental and social impact of President Donald Trump’s border wall. They not only encounter a land of soaring vistas, outstanding natural beauty and unrivaled ruggedness but also discover something about themselves and the immigrant experience.
In this episode we are joined by Sebastian Sauerborn, German entrepreneur, founder of Alamo Pictures and CEO of Mount Bonnell Advisors. Sebastian immigrated to Texas when he moved his business, and shares his experiences living and working there to discuss an issue that divides America but unites those who make their living along the Rio Grande river.
“Immigration was not a problem in Texas, these immigrants they are not on the public pocket. They have jobs, they work hard, they are needed, these jobs need to be done. So I think a very positive approach would be the right answer.” – Sebastian Sauerborn**
Time Stamps: 01:02 – About the guest.
01:50 – The documentary we will be looking at today, The River and The Wall.
03:35 – What the film is about.
05:38 – A clip from the film, being on the wall.
08:14 – Analysing the clip and the characters within it.
10:27 – The problems that building a wall brings with it.
13:01 – How illegal immigration has been steadily declining, but is still seen as such a big issue. 16:23 – Sebastian’s experience with being an immigrant in the United States.
21:11 – The personal journeys of self discovery that are shown in the film.
24:02 – Another clip from the film, the wildness of the US/Mexico border.
27:12 – The beauty of the film, and its defiance of stereotypes.
29:32 – The seriousness of the issue, but how our focus should be redirected.
Resources: The River and The Wall (2019)
Alamo Pictures
Mount Bonnell Advisors
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Award-winning journalist, Kevin Turley, joins Factual America to discuss Albert and David Maysles’ seminal documentary. Kevin places Salesman in the context of 1960s America and traces the film’s influence on documentary filmmaking to this day.
Along the way Kevin and host Matthew Sherwood discover that the film about hard-luck Bible salesmen is actually about so much more — namely the pursuit of the American Dream.
They talk about the day to day difficulties that many people had to face back then, and how although the landscape of America has changed, the film still keeps its relevance even today.
The greatest gift of any documentarian is patience. – Kevin Turley**
Time Stamps: 00:59 – An introduction of our guest today Kevin Turley.
01:02 – ‘Salesman’ the show we are looking at today.
02:48 – A brief summary of the film.
04:58 – How this kind of American world no longer exists.
09:21 – The ‘Go and get the money’ clip.
11:02 – Discussing the clip.
13:39 – What the film is really about.
17:22 – How the film is still relevant today.
18:52 – How much harder life was back then.
20:33 – The technique of ‘siding’ your house.
21:27 – The argument that the whole thing was made up.
22:59 – The Maysels’ legacy to documentary filmmaking.
25:40 – What the Maysels brothers were trying to achieve with ‘Salesman’.
27:38 – The Irish element of the film.
30:43 – The ‘Irish’ clip.
32:09 – Why the Maysels brothers focused on Paul Brennan.
Resources: Salesman (1969)
Alamo Pictures
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