Documentary First

In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor interviews acclaimed documentary filmmaker, writer, photographer, and cultural documentarian Alan Govenar—a storyteller with a 44-year career devoted to preserving overlooked American lives and histories. The conversation centers on Govenar’s powerful film Quiet Voices in a Noisy World, which examines the struggle for change in Jasper, Texas, and the long shadow of racial violence on a community searching for truth, healing, and forward movement.Govenaris the president of Documentary Arts, a nonprofit media production company. He and Christian explore what it means to document communities with integrity—earning trust, listening deeply, and building narratives that uplifts the voices of others.Links:Documentary Arts: Documentary Arts, Inc. > HomeCigarette Blues: Cigarette Blues (Short 1985) ⭐ 6.8 | Short, DocumentaryStoney Knows How: Stoney Knows How (Short 1981) ⭐ 7.8 | Documentary, ShortTruth In Photography: TRUTH IN PHOTOGRAPHYQuiet Voices in A Noisy World: Quiet Voices in a Noisy World (2025) | Documentary , Quiet Voices in a Noisy World DocuView Déjà Vu“Night & Fog, 1956, 32 mins, French Short, Watch on HBO MAX, IMDB Link: Night and Fog (Short 1956) ⭐ 8.6 | Documentary, Short, History  Time Codes00:00 — Meet Alan Govenar + why his work matters02:49 — How Alan found documentary storytelling05:26 — The evolution of documentary arts (film, photo, writing, music)08:08 — Mentorship, networking, and learning the craft10:48 — Distribution realities filmmakers don’t talk about enough13:23 — Documentary arts as community impact16:14 — Preserving African-American history in Texas19:01 — Community, photography, and who gets seen21:42 — Juneteenth, local history, and cultural memory24:30 — Personal reflections on race and community27:04 — Storytelling as cultural dialogue30:11 — Upcoming projects + what’s next34:03 — Jasper and the legacy of racial violence40:13 — The art of documentary storytelling (craft + ethics)41:51 — Hope and resilience as a creative engine45:38 — The power of music in documentaries51:06 — Community connection and cultural preservation57:33 — DocuView Déjà Vu Recommendation  Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

Susan Lacy—the iconic creator of PBS’s American Masters and one of the most influential voices in biographical documentary filmmaking joins us. From her early roots in journalism to building a landmark series that reshaped cultural storytelling on public television, Lacy shares the real behind-the-scenes truth of what it took to launch American Masters, fight for ambitious filmmaking, and evolve from producer to director.Together, Christian and Susan dig into what makes a documentary last: deep research, emotional access, trust with subjects, and interviews that go beyond “good questions” to uncover the soul of a story. Lacy also reflects on being a woman leading at the highest levels of the industry, the power of mentorship, and how shifting economics—from the DVD era to today’s streaming landscape—have changed development, financing, and distribution.If you care about documentary storytelling, PBS history, HBO documentaries, or how to direct intimate, character-driven films that preserve legacy and culture, this conversation is essential listening. No DocuView Déjà Vu Links: American Masters: American Masters (TV Series 1985– ) ⭐ 8.2 | Documentary, Biography, HistoryPentimento Productions: HOMESpielberg: Spielberg (TV Movie 2017) ⭐ 7.7 | Documentary, BiographyBilly Joel: And So It Goes: Billy Joel: And So It Goes (TV Mini Series 2025) ⭐ 8.6 | Documentary, Biography, MusicEpisode 256 | HBO Max "Billy Joel And So It Goes" Interview with Executive Producer, Steve Cohen - Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1v6X33Wu3IPCczl0uL4SvN?si=cc53ba405c254126 Episode 264 | Billy Joel: Telling the Story Behind the Musician (with Jessica Levin): https://open.spotify.com/episode/5GRU4wDlnYa9cmXBAo3eKz?si=1d721c5270ed4a37 Time Codes00:00 — Welcome + Susan Lacy Intro05:38 — Journalism roots and learning the value of truth08:55 — Breaking into PBS (Channel 13) and the art of public television12:06 — Launching a cultural institution: American Masters in 198622:08 — HBO era + Directing Debut32:16 — Billy Joel: And So It Goes Documentary43:00 — Interview + Story Tips57:12 — Final thoughts, American history Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor welcomes back Emmy-nominated director and producer Nicholas (Nick) Bruckman for his third visit to the show. Together, they pull back the curtain on the real world of documentary filmmaking—from getting into top festivals like Sundance and Tribeca, to navigating labs and markets, to landing a doc on Netflix.Nick shares how his early narrative feature Valley of Saints got into Sundance off a “cold” submission, and how he’s since used programs like Gotham Week, Film Independent’s labs, and Tribeca’s Creators Market to build meaningful relationships with programmers and industry partners. He breaks down his rough-cut screening process (including Google forms and phone-watching “tells”) and explains why being radically open to feedback is one of the most powerful tools a filmmaker has.Christian and Nick also dive into Minted: The Rise and Fall of the NFT, exploring why that film became Netflix’s “definitive” NFT documentary—and what that reveals about marketplace demands, cultural buzz, and why some critically acclaimed films (Not Going Quietly) still don’t land on major streamers.The conversation then turns to Nick’s latest four-part docuseries, The Price of Milk, which premiered at Tribeca. Christian shares her strong personal reaction to the series, especially its portrayal of small family dairy farmers and the government “checkoff” program that was supposed to support them. Nick unpacks the hidden story behind the “Got Milk?” campaign, how money flows from farmers to industry groups, and why transparency, policy, and political engagement matter more than simply switching what’s in your grocery cart.Finally, Nick reveals how Oatly helped fund The Price of Milk while still allowing full editorial independence—and offers practical advice for filmmakers on working with brands, nonprofits, and mission-aligned partners to get ambitious projects made and seen. He closes with a DocuView Déjà Vu recommendation: Secret Mall Apartment, a doc that not only tells a wild story but also models what’s possible with clever, independent distribution outside traditional gatekeepers. Links:Minted - on Netflix & Prime Video, IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27548035/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1Valley of Saints - on Prime Video, IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2088967/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_3Catapult Film Find: Catapult Film FundGotham Week: Gotham WeekTriBeca X: Tribeca XPeoples TV: People's Television DocuView Déjà VuSecret Mall Apartment, 2024, 91 mins, Watch on Prime Video, IMDB Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21221386/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_secret%2520mal Time Codes00:00 Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking03:31 Navigating Film Festivals09:50 The Importance of Feedback in Filmmaking16:04 Getting Projects on Netflix21:58 Understanding Market Demands in Documentary Filmmaking27:47 Exploring 'The Price of Milk'34:13 The Role of Government in Dairy Industry42:05 Funding Documentaries: A New Approach47:13 Collaborating with Brands for Storytelling54:06 Conclusion and Recommendations  Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

In this episode of Documentary First, Christian sits down with filmmaker Jessica Levin, co-director and producer of the Critics Choice Documentary Awards in the Best Music Documentary-nominated HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Jessica shares what it was like to tell the story of Billy Joel—not just as a legendary musician, but as a human being full of depth, contradiction, humor, and heart. Together, they explore the craft of music documentary filmmaking: how to build trust during intimate interviews, how to follow emotional truth rather than timeline, and how music itself can become the spine of a narrative. Jessica opens up about the collaborative process behind shaping the film’s nonlinear structure, as well as the responsibility that comes with telling a story about someone the world already feels like they know.Whether you are a filmmaker, a musician, or someone whose life has ever been held by a song — this conversation is creative, heartfelt, and filled with insights about storytelling, memory, and what it means to truly listen. Links:American Masters: American Masters (TV Series 1985– ) - Reference view - IMDbBilly Joel: And So It Goes: Billy Joel: And So It Goes (TV Mini Series 2025) - Reference view - IMDbInventing David Geffen: "American Masters" Inventing David Geffen (TV Episode 2012) - Reference view - IMDbJoni Mitchell: A Women of Heart and Mind: "American Masters" Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind (TV Episode 2003) - Reference view - IMDbThe Janes: The Janes (2022) - Reference view - IMDbDocuView Déjà VuThe Andy Warhol Diaries, 2022, Limited Series with 6 episodes, watch on Netflix, IMDB Link: The Andy Warhol Diaries (TV Mini Series 2022) - Reference view - IMDbTime Codes00:00 — Opening Reflections02:54 — Early Relationships and Artistic Roots05:31 — Balancing Myth and Humanity08:19 — Creating Space for Vulnerability in Interviews11:06 — Collaboration as Creative Strength13:50 — Following Emotional Truth, Not Just Timeline16:38 — How Personal Relationships Shape Art19:15 — Challenges of Documenting a Cultural Icon22:03 — Crafting a Nonlinear Story Structure24:55 — The Reality of Producing a Major Music Documentary27:42 — Audience Reaction and Cultural Memory30:14 — Tracking Billy Joel’s Musical Influences33:02 — What Makes His Music Resonant36:46 — Lyrics as Self-Understanding40:06 — Love, Loss, and the Songs Between42:49 — Building Trust On and Off Camera47:34 — Leadership in Storytelling51:26 — Scoring the Emotional Arc56:01 — Why Structure Matters58:59 — Personal Growth Through Filmmaking1:02:01 — Final Thoughts & Recommendations  Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

In this episode of Documentary First, return guest filmmaker Elise Jaffe, first-time director of documentary project: UnScarred, and special guest, Stacie Rae Weir, a tattoo artist and breast-cancer previvor featured in the film join us!UnScarred explores how survivors of trauma and illness—those living with scars from breast cancer, self-harm, and other life-altering experiences—reclaim their bodies and identities through the art of tattooing. Elise and Stacie share powerful personal stories of healing and transformation, and share what it takes to fund and finish an independent documentary in today’s filmmaking landscape.Together, they unpack the real-world lessons behind UnScarred’s ongoing Kickstarter campaign. Stacie Rae also shares her journey from mastectomy to artistry—and how she’s now offering a personal tattoo session perk as part of one of the Kickstarter rewards to help bring this story to life.This episode is not only an inspiring look at art, trauma, and recovery—it’s a practical, candid conversation every documentary filmmaker should hear.Links:Kickstarter:UNSCARRED - Documentary FilmD-Word: The D-Word: the worldwide community of documentary professionalsBri Castellini : Bri CastelliniStacie-Rae: Home | Stacie-Rae | Calgary, ABNo DocuView Déjà Vu Timecodes:00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to UnScarred05:15 — The Origins of the Film: Inspiration During the Pandemic10:27 — The Power of Tattoos in Healing and Identity17:42 — Introducing Stacie Rae Weir: Artist, Survivor, and Healer24:52 — From Mastectomy to Masterpiece: Stacie Rae’s Journey29:51 — Tattoos as Therapy: The Collaboration Between Artist and Survivor33:10 — The Art of Crowdfunding: Lessons for Independent Filmmakers35:04 — Behind the Scenes of UnScarred’s Kickstarter Campaign39:26 — The Pros and Cons of Crowdfunding for Filmmakers44:48 — Building Community Support for Independent Films46:33 — Transformation Through Art & What’s Next for UnScarred Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/