Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

michaellouismerrill

Mike and Ken talk to award-winning documentary filmmakers about their art, their subjects, and their process.

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  1. Folge 301

    "My Mom Jayne" with Mariska Hargitay

    In 1967, 3-year-old Mariska Hargitay — now, an Emmy-winning actor known to millions as Captain Olivia Benson on the long-running TV series “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” — was in a terrible car accident. Her mother — the Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield — and two others were killed instantly. The accident not only took the life of her mother but prevented Mariska from having any lasting memories of her.   “My Mom Jayne” is Mariska’s touching and winding documentary journey to learn about her mother’s life and to confront some of the secrets of her own story as well. Mariska joins Ken on the podcast to talk about Jayne’s breakthrough as a young actress and the blonde bombshell image that prevented her mother from being treated as the serious actress she always aspired to be. Through difficult conversations with Mariska’s siblings and trips to a long neglected family storage facility, a more complete portrait of Jayne, the actress and mother, begins to emerge. At this point in the film, an even more deeply buried story — this one about Mariska’s father — takes over. The power of “My Mother Jayne” lies in Mariska’s willingness to reclaim her own story, wherever it may lead. “My Mom Jayne” is streaming on HBO Max. The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix. Follow: @therealmariskahargitay on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    34 Min.

  2. Folge 302

    "Sean Combs: The Reckoning" with Alexandria Stapleton

    Late in director Alexandria Stapleton’s 4-part Netflix series “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”, one of her subjects lays out what may be the documentary’s thesis:  While it may seem like Combs “went bad” well into middle-age, the signs were there well before–”it was a slow build.”   Stapleton deftly tracks Comb’s rise:  The son of a murdered father, brought up with music, clothes, and fantasy.  Starting out in the music business as a runner, dancer, and promoter. Then becoming “Puff Daddy” in the fallout of a tragically over-promoted show, he would go on to make a fortune as a promoter and producer, understanding the growing importance of both music as a visual medium, as well as the opportunities provided by corporate sponsorship.   But Stapleton is as interested in the other side of Combs, the one that ended up with a Federal indictment for racketeering and more; charges that he may have ultimately eluded, but which still resulted in 40 months in Federal Prison.  Stapleton presents those who say that were hurt by Combs–psychically, physically, financially, and sexually–with sensitivity, but allows them to tell their own stories with a specificity that at times can be harrowing.   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    33 Min.

  3. Folge 303

    “Trust Me: The False Prophet” with Rachel Dretzin

    When Warren Jeffs, the “prophet” of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), a Mormon fundamentalist group whose members practice polygamy, stopped communicating regularly from prison where he is serving a life sentence for child sexual assault, his followers were at a loss. But, as Rachel Dretzin depicts in her powerful, eye-opening four-part Netflix series “Trust Me: The False Prophet,” Jeffs’ silence created the opportunity for a new leader to fill the void. Enter Samuel Bateman, a seemingly unremarkable guy, who claimed that he was the new prophet.   Rachel joins Ken on the podcast to talk about the consequences of Bateman’s rise within the FLDS, his influence over a handful of adults and girls in the community, and the tragic consequences of his actions. The centerpiece of “Trust Me” and the key to Bateman’s undoing is Dr. Christine Marie, a former Mormon who, along with her husband, the videographer Tolga Katas, grew close to the group with the intent of exposing Bateman’s crimes. Relying heavily on Tolga’s insider footage, as well as key interviews with women who eventually turned against Bateman, the series shows how far trust can take some people and a measure of justice that can occur when that trust is finally broken.   “Trust Me: The False Prophet” is streaming on Netflix.   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    32 Min.

  4. Folge 304

    "Rafa" with Zach Heinzerling

    Of course, we all know who “Rafa” is — the tennis legend and sports icon Rafael Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slam titles and an unfathomable 14 French Open trophies. But who is Rafael Nadal when the cameras (or, rather, all but one of the cameras...) are turned off? In director Zach Heinzerling’s (“Cutie and the Boxer”) much anticipated, just released 4-part Netflix docuseries “Rafa,” Zach’s watchful eye reveals more than we ever thought we’d know about this extraordinary athlete and thoughtful tennis genius during his less-than-storybook final year on tour.   Zach joins Ken on the podcast for a lively conversation about Ken’s favorite athlete of all-time. After witnessing Rafa up-close-and-personal, what does Zach think made Rafael Nadal so special as a tennis player — and as a person? How did it feel to be sitting in a car, camera in hand, witnessing one of Nadal’s most private and tortured moments when injury struck once again just as he had begun his last season? Why is the idea of suffering on the court so critical to understanding what drove Nadal to become such a fearsome competitor?   If you are a Nadal fan like Ken or just someone who cares about what it means to reach for the outer limits of our capabilities, “Rafa” is every bit as thrilling as seeing one of Nadal’s spectacular forehands whip through the air and land right on the line for a winner. Game, set, and match, Nadal.   “Rafa” is streaming on Netflix.   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @zachheinzerling on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    33 Min.

  5. Folge 305

    "Time and Water" with Sara Dosa

    For her latest film, “Time and Water,” Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sara Dosa (“Fire of Love”, “The Seer & the Unseen”) returns to Iceland, this time to cover the island nation’s other distinctive geologic feature besides its volcanoes: its majestic glaciers. Deeply embedded in Icelandic history, culture, and myth, these moving rivers of ice are now facing an existential threat due climate change, jeopardizing the nation’s very identity.   Sara, who spoke with Mike about “Fire of Love” for the pod, joins Ken to talk about her new film and how she came to collaborate with renowned Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason (“On Time and Water”). Magnason’s narration is addressed to an unspecified “you” that represents a future generation, framing the film as a cinematic time capsule. As his beloved grandparents (two of whom participated in Iceland’s first glacier expeditions) age and pass away, and his children grow up in the blink of an eye, Magnason reflects on the relationship between time, loss, and memory. When Magnason is invited to write an epitaph for the Ok Glacier, the first Icelandic glacier officially declared “dead” due to climate change, the film takes on an added sense of urgency. Will his generation be able to reverse the effects of climate change before all the country’s glaciers disappear? As he says in the film, “Only time will tell.”   “Time and Water,” distributed by National Geographic Documentary Films, is in limited theatrical release.   Hidden Gem: “River of Grass”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @unadosa on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    38 Min.

  6. Folge 306

    "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" with Jessica Levin

    Billy Joel, one of the most beloved and best-selling pop music artists of all-time, has finally achieved something that, up until now, has always eluded him: the opportunity to tell his side of the story. In their authoritative and insightful two-part HBO documentary “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” directors and producers Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin (“Jane Fonda in Five Acts”, “Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind”) sit Joel down to get his take on life, love, music... and all things Long Island.   Jessica joins Ken on the pod to talk about what led Billy to decide to open himself up to this documentary duo and how candid he ended up being over the many hours of interviews. Featuring a terrific cast of Billy’s musical peers, including Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and Jackson Browne — all of whom have high praise for Billy’s musical chops — the documentary does justice to the music and arc of Joel’s career, while at the same time revealing aspects that are not as well known, such as the significant contributions of his former wife and manager Elizabeth Weber. But, more than anything, it is Joel’s willingness to talk about deeply personal things that make this such a fascinating portrait. The kid from Hicksville, Long Island — whose breakthrough album is called “The Stranger” — is finally learning to open up.   “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” is streaming on HBO Max.   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    47 Min.

  7. Folge 307

    "aka Charlie Sheen" with Andrew Renzi

    For a time, back in the ‘80s, actor Charlie Sheen was the hottest thing in Hollywood. But it didn’t take long for Sheen’s star turns in “Platoon” and “Wall Street” to morph into tabloid cover stories about his hard partying ways and bad boy exploits. In his highly engaging two-part Netflix series ”aka Charlie Sheen,” filmmaker Andrew Renzi (“Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?”, “Ready for War”) follows the mostly familiar downward spiral of Sheen’s life and career but also provides something quite unexpected: a sensitive portrait of a once lost man finally capable of self-reflection, regret and emotional depth.   Andrew joins Ken on the pod to talk about how an initially reluctant Sheen came to see the value in participating in the documentary and even granted Andrew access to the early Super 8  action movies that Sheen shot with his brother Emilio Estevez and childhood friends Sean and Chris Penn. Filled with insightful, sometimes painful, and occasionally funny interviews (Sean Penn, in particular), the heart of the film is Sheen’s own insights into what he calls the three-act structure of his life: “partying, partying with problems, just problems.”   “aka Charlie Sheen” is streaming on Netflix.   Hidden Gem: “Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    42 Min.

  8. Folge 308

    "Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!" with Michael Bonfiglio

    Mel Brooks is about to turn 100 years old! When Mel celebrates his upcoming birthday on June 28th, filmmaker Michael Bonfiglio, who has directed (along with Judd Apatow) a joyful and action-packed two-part HBO documentary about the legendary comic and filmmaker, might want to talk to the folks at HBO about changing the title of their film: “Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!” Otherwise, I’d advise not changing a thing.   Joining Ken on the pod, Michael talks about how Judd’s comedic bona vides probably made the difference in convincing Mel to participate in the film. Michael, who previously teamed up with Judd to direct the Emmy-winning documentary “George Carlin’s American Dream” (check out Michael Merrill’s “Top Docs” season 2 interview with Michael), compares the two comedians and projects. We discuss what has made Mel such a special and impactful comedic force, from his homespun “2,000 Year Old Man” skit, performed with best friend Carl Reiner, to his work in early television, culminating in his breakout film career (“The Producers”, “Blazing Saddles,” ‘Young Frankenstein”, “Spaceballs,” etc.). We discuss Mel’s marriage to actress Anne Bancroft and his lingering pain since her death. Not to get too serious, Michael ends by sharing his favorite Mel Brooks moment. Lucky for us, with Mel still creatively active (“Spaceballs: The New One”!), there will no doubt be more signature Mel Brooks moments to come. Happy Birthday, Mel!   “Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!” is streaming on HBO Max.   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @mbonfiglio2000 on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    41 Min.

  9. Folge 309

    "Seen & Heard" with Giselle Bailey & Phil Bertelsen

    At the beginning of Giselle Bailey and Phil Bertelsen’s illuminating two-part HBO doc series “Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television,” the directors follow actress Tracee Ellis Ross, one of the leads of the successful sitcom “Black-ish,” to the set of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” where she and co-star Anthony Anderson celebrate the show’s series finale after 8 seasons. The triumphant ending stands in stark contrast to the way Tracee’s prior show, “Girlfriends,” was unceremoniously dropped by the network with no opportunity to shoot a finale. These experiences illustrate the highs and lows that Black Americans have experienced working within an industry that first ignored Blacks altogether and then pushed them to the side whenever it suited the networks’ whims.   Giselle and Phil join Ken to discuss the evolution of Black representation on TV, the hard won gains and periodic setbacks for Black creatives and the pathbreaking individuals who have ushered in a new era of Black television. Through the stories and revolutionary acts of Nichelle Nichols, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, the Wayans brothers, Shonda Rhimes, Lena Waithe, Issa Rae, and others, who took big risks by betting on themselves and being true to who they are, “Seen & Heard” shows that Black ownership and creative control are the keys to ensuring that there is no going back.   “Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television” is streaming on HBO Max.   Hidden Gems: Giselle: “Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti”, “Armed Only With a Camera” Phil: “Natchez”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @giselle.bailey and philbhere on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    38 Min.

  10. Folge 310

    "The Yogurt Shop Murders" with Margaret Brown

    As Mike tells our guest, director Margaret Brown, when he heard that she had delivered HBO’s “The Yogurt Shop Murders” in the wake of what he considered one of the 21st-Century’s finest documentaries, “Descendant”,  his first thought was, “Oh, good for Margaret!  She’s doing some true crime, and she’s going to get paid.”   But he knew in his heart that because Margaret was the director, this would be much more than a run-of-the-mill procedural.  And in fact, the series–initially a 4-parter, but appended with a 5th episode when the case was finally and surprisingly solved–is, in many ways like Descendant, a meditation on time, place, memory and trauma.   Hidden Gem: DTF St. Louis   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @margaret_luce_brown on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X

    30 Min.
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Mike and Ken talk to award-winning documentary filmmakers about their art, their subjects, and their process.

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