The BRKLY School of Art: Recent Episodes
Neil Berkeley
Artists are the most important people in the world. There's a lot we can learn from people who have survived by communicating through their craft. I'm going to talk to them. I hope this is helpful.
In this lively podcast episode, Neil dives into Joseph Granda's adventures as a documentary filmmaker with a twist. Granda, an open minded yet skeptical storyteller, explores conspiracy theories and paranormal activities, bringing a refreshing blend of humor and curiosity to subjects often shrouded in mystery. His work with Merkel Media stands out for its engaging, fun take on the unexplained, making even the skeptics chuckle while pondering the "what ifs" of the universe. It's a rollercoaster ride through the intriguing, the bizarre, and the hilarious, showcasing Joseph's unique flair for telling stories.
https://www.josephgranda.com/
https://www.merkel.media/
Joseph Granda Instagram
Neil Berkeley Instagram
https://www.brkly.com/
Nick Hudson serves as Executive Director at Entertainment 2 Affect Change. A proud AmeriCorps alum and bone marrow donor, Nick has over a decade of professional experience working in public service, nonprofit program management and development, strategic partnerships, and content creation.
E2AC is a fully non-profit, documentary film company offering production services, fiscal sponsorship, education and streaming content. The E2AC Social Impact Festival is happening now in NYC.
Jennifer Tiexiera is adocumentary director, producer and editor. She directed Subject which will premiere in NY and LA on November 3rd. In 2020, she completed P.S. Burn this Letter Please, which won the Audience Award for Documentary Feature at the 2020 OutFest Film Festival. She is currently in post-production directing her first series for Jigsaw/HBO.
Show Notes
Jen Tiexeira iMDB
Subject Film Trailer
NY and LA Premiere
Hoop Dreams
Wolfpack
Capturing the Friedmans
The Staircase
The Square
DAWG
Sonya Childress
Andrew Jarecki
Michael Moore Doc Rules
La Luz Del Mundon
Steve James
Kartemquin
Black Barbie
Gordon Quinn
Detroit Narrative Agency
Documentality
DPA
Doc NYC
Doug Blush is an award-winning director, producer, editor, writer and cinematographer whose work includes over 100 feature and television projects. Recent credits include, as consulting editor and producer, the 2018 Academy Award winning ICARUS, 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, and the recent HBO documentary THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE. He was Co-Editor and Associate Producer of Kirby Dick’s THE HUNTING GROUND in 2014 and the Oscar nominated and Emmy winning THE INVIS- IBLE WAR in 2012. Recent work as consulting or supervising editor include the Sun- dance documentaries JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY, THE MARS GENERATION, CHASING CORAL, ON HER SHOULDERS, DARK MONEY and KING IN THE WILDERNESS, and earlier editorial and producing work includes the popular documentaries WORDPLAY, FREAKONOMICS, OUTRAGE, THESE AMAZING SHADOWS, and SUPERHEROES.
He is also a longtime film educator with classes and seminars at USC, UCLA, Syracuse University and the YoungArts Foundation in Miami, as well as exchanges and panels in Indonesia, Brazil, Armenia, Malaysia, Nigeria, China, the Netherlands and more.
Show Notes
Doug Blush iMDB
Kirby Dick
Amy Ziering
The Last Starfighter
Kartiki Gonsalves
The Elephant Whisperer
Honeyland
Truffle Hunters
Ween
Ellen Frankenstein
New Day
Nikola Marsh
Arlene Nelson
Crumb
Chris Smith
American Movie
William Boroughs
Invisible War
Michael Moore
Werner Herzog
Ryan Coogler
Zack Arnold
Doug Block
Icarus
Melanie Miller
Alliance of Doc Editors
The S Word
Eddie Schmidt is a wonderfully talented and delightfully funny documentary producer and director. He's not only a brilliant filmmaker but he's the kind of person that is passionate about great ideas and talented people and put a lot of energy into helping people get things made. As a former President of ID, Eddie has been a constant in the doc world for two decades. He's also been a part of many, many incredible series and films including Ugly Delicious, Chelsea Does, Chain Camera, Troubadours, This Film Is Not Yet Rated and many, many more. He's also been a collaborator of mine and helped bring my films Beauty Is Embarrassing and Gilbert to life. We've known each other for a decade and our conversation covers a lot of bases from development, to gear, to VHS filming and so much more. I know you're gonna dig it!
Show Notes
Eddie Schmidt iMDB
Chelsea Does
Ugly Delicious
Chain Camera
Troubadours
Twist of Faith
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Valentine Road
Canon C70
Willie Nelson
instagram @neilpberkeley
join our mailing list at brkly.com
Ryan White is a prolific documentary filmmaker who has told stories in every genre of doc filmmaking. He has a particular skill at telling intimate and revealing stories about very well known people. His new film, Pamela Anderson: A Love Story, is about one of the most iconic women in Hollywood. However, White's approach offers a look at her story and her approach to life that is as original and personal as it is cinematically beautiful. In this episode we talk about how these projects come to him, how he works with his ever present and consistent team and why he's gravitated to the stories he's been telling.
Follow us on Instagram @neilpberkeley
Sign up for our weekly newsletter at brkly.com
Show Notes
Ryan White iMDB
Pamela Anderson: A Love Story
Serena
The Case Against Eight
Coded
Assassins
Goodnight, Oppy
The Keepers
Brandon Thomas Lee
Dylan Jagger Lee
Best Doc Shotgun mics
Submarine Entertainment
Josh Braun
Dorthy Street Films
Julia Knottingham
Good 'Ole Freda
Matt Heineman
Jessica Hargrave
Canon C300
Canon C70
Dominique Hessert Owens
Berenice Chavez
In this episode of the Neil Berkeley Podcast we set down with documentary legend, Caroline Libresco. Our conversation is as provocative as it is entertaining as Caroline brings decades of film world experience to a conversation that digs into the current state of documentary filmmaking. If you've worked in docs at all in the last twenty years you've heard of Caroline and you definitely wanted her to see your films. As one of the programmers of the Sundance Film Festival's doc program, Caroline has been a part of hundreds of film's introduction to the world. As one of the creator's of the Sundance Catalyst program she's also helped dozens of films find the vital funding necessary and such films include Crip Camp, Won't You Be My Neighbor, Truffle Hunters and many, many more. Caroline is also a very successful producer of documentary films and has helped seven films get made throughout her (very busy) career.
Links
Neil Berkeley on Instagram
BRKLY Newsletter
Show Notes
Sundance Film Festival
Caroline Libresco iMDB
Sundance Catalyst
John Cooper
Jeff Gilmore
Trevor Groth
Shari Frilot
Red Envelope
ITVS
Independent Lens
Impact Partners
Dina Film
Jewish Story Partners
A Still Small Voice Film
Last Flight Home
Midnight Family Film
Food and Country Film
Laura Gabert
Ruth Reischl
Crumb Film
March of the Penguins
Michael Moore
David Courier
After Tiller Film
Anvil
American Revolutionary
Amy Zeiring
Kirby Dick
Rivers and Tides
Today on the Neil Berkeley Podcast we're talking about AI. It's here whether we like it or not and it's going to affect our lives whether we want it to or not. My guest, Basil Shadid, is a doc producer with a wealth of knowledge on the topic and his take might be refreshingly optimistic for people working in the film business.
Basil Shadid is a documentary filmmaker whose credits include Academy Award nominated, Emmy winning, and Audience award winning films. Recent titles include Angels Are Made of Light by director James Longley and Drag Becomes Him by director Alex Berry. Basil is also an Executive Producer, creating stories and marketing in the tech industry. Recent projects include Coding Accessibility, a film series for GitHub about software and accessibility. He’s currently producing In Loving Brotherhood, an indie film about gay motorcycle clubs from the 1950s to the 1980s. He’s also co-writing The End of Trust, a non-fiction book about disinformation as a threat to democracy.
Basil's list of useful AI Tools
Basil's Web Site
Naomi Klein on AI
BBC News: AI
The D Word
Git Hub
Coding Accessibility
Justin Bateman on AI
NPR: Writers Strike & AI
EU Regulation Act
Geoffrey Hinton
Yuval Harari
Chat GPT
MidJourney
Dall-e2 AI
Descript
Adobe Enhance
GDPR
Maggie Contreras' directorial debut, Maestra, will be having its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9th. In today's show we talk about Maggie's journey from actor, to publicist, to producer and now...to Director. Making her first film was a Herculean effort full of all the pitfalls and troubles that face so many doc filmmakers but Maggie's passion for this film and its subjects drover her to the finish line and now she's finally be rewarded for her work. This episode of the Neil Berkeley Podcast is a must listen for anyone in doc film, especially the first time filmmaker just trying to get their movie made. Despite all the struggles the film is wonderful and it's being received with praise by the media. Please enjoy my conversation with my good friend, Maggie Contreras, and if you're in NYC on June 9th I highly encourage you to buy tickets to the Premiere. But hurry!
To keep up with the Neil Berkeley Podcast follow us on Instagram and sign up for the newsletter for weekly updates on new episodes and everything else we're up to.
Episode 006 Show Notes
Maestra iMDB
Tickets to La Maestra
Maggie Contreras iMDB
Maggie Contreras Instagram
Maestra Film on Instagram
La Maestra Competition
Paris Philharmonic
Paris Mozart Orchestra
Foothill Productions
David Letterman
Tom Keaney
Canon C70
NPR La Maestra
Things to do in Belfast, Ireland
Tar
Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein
Marin Alsop Documentary "The Conductor"
Cruise America RV
Nicola Marsh is a brilliant doc director currently working on her second feature. On the pod Nicola talks about making the jump from DP to director, her origins in local news, her latest projects, LUTs, lenses and lots and lots more!
Nicola has a wide portfolio of work, having worked on scripted television, documentary, commercials and narrative features, as both a DP and a director. She is best known for her work on the Oscar-winning documentary “Twenty Feet from Stardom”. Currently she is working on a feature documentary for Hulu with Demi Lovato: Childstar. Concurrently she’s also directing one episode of the the Apple series Omnivore with chef René Redzepi. She has directed multiple projects for executive producer Morgan Neville - the true crime series The 12th Victim(Showtime) and Song Exploder (Netflix). Prior to that she helmed the ambitious documentary Stay on Board (Netflix) which chronicles trans skateboarder Leo Baker’s run for the Olympics. As a DP she has has an extensive career in documentaries, hopscotching through multiple genres: the very recent Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming (Disney), Night Stalker (Netflix), Shangri-la (Showtime), The Trails of Gabriel Fernandez (Netflix), Chelsea Does (Netflix), The Innocent Man (Netflix). Prior to that she shot the Johnny Cash documentary The Gift (director Thom Zimny) and Hello Privilege its me Chelsea (director, Alex Stapleton). She has also shot two other documentaries for Mr. Crowe: Pearl Jam 20 which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and The Union which opened the Tribeca Film Festival. Nicola grew up in London, England. She first moved to the US to work as a news camerawoman for NBC. She holds an MFA in cinematography from The University of Southern California. She now lives in Los Angeles. In addition to her American passport, she holds a German passport, but has a good sense of humor.
Dan Lindsay and his partner, TJ Martin have made some of the best documentary films in the last decade. The first film they made together, 2011's Undefeated, won them an Oscar and tells the story of a high school football coach in Memphis trying to keep his team together despite incredible adversity. On the show Dan talks about the pressures of winning an Academy Award at such an early stage of your career and he also discusses their next films which have met and exceeded expectations. LA92 is a wildly original film that chronicles the 1992 LA Riots using only archival material. The team followed up that film with Tina, the story of Pop Icon Tina Turner. Both of these films won Dan and TJ Emmy Awards. On the show we talk about how he and TJ work together as a partnership, the highs and lows they've experienced in their careers and we talk extensively about how Dan approaches storytelling, filmmaking and maintaining a career and work life that allows him to make the kinds of films he wants to make.
Dan Lindsay iMDB
Dan Lindsay on Instagram
Neil Berkeley Instagram
BRKLY Newsletter
Max Libman, a high school junior at Academy High in Champaign, has watched the world through a camera lens ever since he can remember. He started filming his own movies before the age of ten, and at the age of twelve, began writing a screenplay inspired by his great-grandmother’s life under the Nazi regime. He submitted the screenplay to the screenwriting competition Pens to Lens, and his short Ein Stern (A Star) was chosen as one of the winners and filmed in German with English subtitles. This short movie has been viewed by thousands and inspired conversations with diverse groups of all ages.
Seeing the power of film, Max decided to combine his love for movies and desire for community action to launch CU International Film Festival (CUIFF), with the mission to provide a platform for the next generation of filmmakers to share their stories. CUIFF’s inaugural festival debuted in October 2022 at the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures to a crowded theater, showcasing eight short films from around the world that entertain, educate, and elevate. As founder and director of CUIFF, Max has been grateful to see this vision become a reality, and plans are underway for next year’s festival. To learn more about CUIFF, visit www.cuiff.org
Find Max on IG @_max_libman
Find Neil Berkeley on IG @neilpberkeley
Sign up for our newsletter at brkly.com
In this podcast, director Neil Berkeley interviews Director of Photography Graham Willoughby about his process and approach to filmmaking. Willoughby goes into great detail about how he helps directors achieve their vision and how he goes planning his work, choosing the right tools for the job and forming a connection with the stories he's telling.
Throughout the conversation, Willoughby shares insights into his personal and professional life, highlighting the importance of his support system at home and his passion for the subjects he works with on his films. Graham discusses how a brief journey down the (wrong) path of becoming a teacher led him to his career and how his analytical mind works in a creative field.
The podcast offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of a talented and dedicated Director of Photography, and provides valuable insights into the collaborative process of filmmaking.
Graham Willoughby is an incredible director of photography. His lengthy feature doc resume includes Roadrunner, I Am Everything, Won’t you be my neighbor and Loudmouth. He has also worked on series such as Inside Jokes, Abstract and Ugly Delicious and has filmed stand up specials for Marc Maron, Eddie Pepitone and many others. Most recently Graham served as dp for the live segments in Disney’s new doc featuring bono, the edge and david letterman.
Follow Graham on instagram @nationalpleasure
To kick off this new version of an old thing, I'm once again talking to documentary filmmaker Clay Tweel. In this episode Clay talks about why he decided to take a break from social media and how seeing a constant scroll of your contemporaries on sets and at award shows can cause you to make unhealthy and more times than not unfair comparisons to your own life and career. We also talk about what it's really like to be a working doc filmmaker with a growing family and some of the decisions he's made, the missteps he's overcome, and the lessons he's learned along the way.
Of course, we also discuss some of his incredible films, including Finder's, keepers, the Wild Story of two men's Legal Battle Over a severed Leg, and Gleason, the Doc about former NFL Player Steve Gleason and his family's experience as he battles ALS. As always, I had a ton of fun talking to Clay. He's a great guy, and I think this episode is doing exactly what I want this podcast to be. It's honest, it's informative, and I hope you find it entertaining.
Documentary filmmaker Clay Tweel stops by to talk about his process for making incredible films, the incredible films that he makes and the work that influences him. Clay has made some of my favorite films and I'm thrilled to have him on. He's an incredible storyteller that really loves telling non-fiction stories. He's done it all from giant Netflix series to grind it out, self-produced films. His film, Finders Keepers, is a regular on best documentaries lists and one of his earliest films, Print The Legend, is a cautionary tale that's as timely now as it was when it premiered. I'm thrilled Clay came on the show and I think you're gonna love getting to know him.
Clay's Production Company Parkside Films
Clay's iMDB
IndieWire Article about Gleason
NY Times Review of Finders Keepers
Print the Legend Trailer
Dr. John All is a Research Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Huxley College of the Environment, at Western Washington University and the author of Icefall: Adventures at the Wild Edges of our Dangerous, Changing World. He is also the Director of the Mountain Environments Research Institute at Western Washing and the Executive Director of the American Climber Science Program. He is a geoscientist whose life has been devoted to exploration around the world as he examines how climate change and resource management interact to impact communities and the biosphere in mountainous regions.
In 2014 All fell 70 feet into a crevasse and suffered 15 bones including six vertebrae and a shattered collar bone. Remarkably, All was able to climb to safety using only one arm. His recovery was long and painful but it didn't not dampen his adventurous spirit. Dr. All is a master is a lifelong adventurer who combines his hunger for travel and discovery with his passion for helping the planet's fight against climate change by going to the most remote and deadly places on earth to gather vital climate data.
Video Dr. All shot while inside the crevasse on Everest here
Dr. All's Book can be found here
Dr. All's Web Site here
Today’s guest is film director, producer and all around good guy Morgan Neville. Morgan has been making amazing documentary films for twenty five years and his work includes portraits of artists such as Sidney Portier, Gloria Swanson, Brian Wilson, Sam Phillips, Johnny Cash, James Brown and Ray Charles. He’s made some of my favorite docs such as The Cool School, Keith Richards Under the Influence, They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead, Shrangi La and of course the film that won him an Oscar Twenty Feet From Stardom…And we’ll be discussing many of these on today’s show. Morgan is also the creator of several documentary series including Ugly Delicious, Abstract and Song Exploder. Most importantly, Morgan is a really nice guy who has helped launch the careers of so many people in the documentary world including myself. Morgan is an Executive Producer on my first film Beauty Is Embarrassing and I am humbled and honored that he’s joining me today on the show
Morgan’s Film Company
Tremolo Productions
https://tremoloproductions.com/
https://twitter.com/tremolodocs?lang=en
Todd Oldham has been many things throughout his career and his advice on trusting your gut, finding a team, doing what you love and just fucking doing it is sound counsel for any artist. As a fashion designer Todd reached the heights of the industry with his own line and as a consultant for Escada, La-Z-Boy and Old Navy. He revolutionized back to school accessories for Target and became a household name hosting MTV's iconic show, House of Style. Todd has published over 25 books on artists including Wayne White, Alexander Gerard, Charly Harper, Joan Jett, Roger Waters and many more. Todd is also an entrepreneur and will soon be launching a new line of, beautifully designed, craft kits and accessories.
On this episode I'm joined by an incredible artist, a wonderful friend and the subject of the first film I ever made, Wayne White. I've known Wayne for almost twenty years and his his work and his approach to life continue to inspire. This one is probably best for the initiated since we seem to be starting wherever we left off so giving the doc a watch before might be a good idea. Wayne has plenty to say about making the best use of your time, pushing yourself to try something new and wanting to entertain with his art. Later we're joined by Wayne's good friend and co-star of Beauty Is Embarrassing the incomparable, P. Michael Quinn.
Wayne on Instagram @waynewhiteart
Stream Beauty Is Embarrassing for free on Amazon Prime
https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Embarrassing-Neil-Berkeley/dp/B009NNG0MM
...
If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests
If you have questions or comments please DM me on Instagram @neilpberkeley
For over ten years Dustin Lancaster has been creating some of eastside LA's best bars and restaurants. You're going to love hearing the story of this self-made success and his experiences in the last few weeks offer an insightful look at what many in the restaurant business are facing. Dustin has built over 11 spots across Los Angeles and in Oklahoma and if anyone is ready to weather this storm it's him but the problems are very real and the road ahead is very difficult. It's been a pleasure getting to know Dustin over the years and I hope you enjoy this very honest conversation about what it's like to build something from nothing and how you stay focused and hopeful when it feels when it looks like it could all go away.
Dustin can be found on Instagram
@dustinlancaster
@eastsideestablishment
https://www.establishmenteast.com/
...
If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests
If you have questions or comments please DM me on Instagram @neilpberkeley
Dr. Sara Murphy is an ER doctor in New York City. She's one of the heroes on the front lines of the crisis in Manhattan's hospitals but this isn't the first time she's faced medicine's hardest cases head on. In fact, she's spent most of her career in ER's and helping people needing critical care around the world. Our conversation takes us into the hospitals to get a first hand look at what it's really like for these medical professionals to be faced with daily hardship and the pandemics unknown future.
...
If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests.
If you have questions or comments please DM me on Instagram @neilpberkeley
Welcome to my podcast, everybody. This show is very much a work in progress but I have every intention of making it great so please give feedback and advice. I'm kicking things off with one of my closest friends, Pastor Chris Nichols. Chris works for Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN and the last few weeks have been particularly difficult. A tornado ripped through the city completely ruining the facility where they hold services and that was followed up by the Corona-19 virus we're all dealing with. However, Chris manages to approach every obstacle with hope and enthusiasm and he's someone that I always reach out to for advice and sometimes just a warm smile when I need it. I know you're going to like him and you can count on him coming back to talk often.
Please feel free to find me on Instagram to leave feedback @neilpberkeley
If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests.