Documentary First

Christian Taylor

Documentary First is your bi-weekly podcast exploring the craft of documentary filmmaking. Each episode features in-depth interviews with filmmakers, industry experts, and professionals, providing valuable tips and behind-the-scenes insights on how powerful documentaries are made. Whether you're a seasoned documentarian, an aspiring filmmaker, or just curious about documentary storytelling, you'll find expert advice, creative inspiration, and practical knowledge. Tune in and discover what it takes to create compelling documentaries that captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact.

  1. Episode 267 | Alan Govenar’s New Film, “Quiet Voices in a Noisy World”

    6D AGO

    Episode 267 | Alan Govenar’s New Film, “Quiet Voices in a Noisy World”

    In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor interviews acclaimed documentary filmmaker, writer, photographer, and cultural documentarian Alan Govenar—a storyteller with a 44-year career devoted to preserving overlooked American lives and histories. The conversation centers on Govenar’s powerful film Quiet Voices in a Noisy World, which examines the struggle for change in Jasper, 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. > Home Cigarette Blues: Cigarette Blues (Short 1985) ⭐ 6.8 | Short, Documentary Stoney Knows How: Stoney Knows How (Short 1981) ⭐ 7.8 | Documentary, Short Truth In Photography: TRUTH IN PHOTOGRAPHY Quiet 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 matters 02:49 — How Alan found documentary storytelling 05:26 — The evolution of documentary arts (film, photo, writing, music) 08:08 — Mentorship, networking, and learning the craft 10:48 — Distribution realities filmmakers don’t talk about enough 13:23 — Documentary arts as community impact 16:14 — Preserving African-American history in Texas 19:01 — Community, photography, and who gets seen 21:42 — Juneteenth, local history, and cultural memory 24:30 — Personal reflections on race and community 27:04 — Storytelling as cultural dialogue 30:11 — Upcoming projects + what’s next 34:03 — Jasper and the legacy of racial violence 40:13 — The art of documentary storytelling (craft + ethics) 41:51 — Hope and resilience as a creative engine 45:38 — The power of music in...

    1 hr
  2. Episode 266 | Emmy-Award Winning Producer, Susan Lacy, “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” Interview

    DEC 4

    Episode 266 | Emmy-Award Winning Producer, Susan Lacy, “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” Interview

    Susan Lacy—the iconic creator of PBS’s American Masters and one of the most influential voices in biographical documentary filmmaking joins us. From her early roots in journalism to building a landmark series that reshaped cultural storytelling on public television, Lacy shares the real behind-the-scenes truth of what it took to launch American Masters, fight for ambitious filmmaking, and evolve 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, History Pentimento Productions: HOME Spielberg: Spielberg (TV Movie 2017) ⭐ 7.7 | Documentary, Biography Billy Joel: And So It Goes: Billy Joel: And So It Goes (TV Mini Series 2025) ⭐ 8.6 | Documentary, Biography, Music Episode 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 Intro 05:38 — Journalism roots and learning the value of truth 08:55 — Breaking into PBS (Channel 13) and the art of public television 12:06 — Launching a cultural institution: American Masters in 1986 22:08 — HBO era + Directing Debut 32:16 — Billy Joel: And So It Goes Documentary 43:00 — Interview + Story Tips 57:12 — Final thoughts, American history   Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/ Support us by buying merch or watching our films: a...

    1 hr
  3. Episode 265 | Harvesting the Power of Connections: “The Price of Milk” Docuseries Filmmaker Interview

    NOV 22

    Episode 265 | Harvesting the Power of Connections: “The Price of Milk” Docuseries Filmmaker Interview

    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_1 Valley of Saints - on Prime Video, IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2088967/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_3 Catapult Film Find: Catapult Film Fund Gotham Week: Gotham Week TriBeca X: Tribeca X Peoples TV: People's Television   DocuView Déjà Vu Secret Mall Apartment, 2024, 91 mins, Watch on Prime Video, IMDB Link: a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21221386/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_secret%2520mal" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1h 3m
  4. Episode 264 | Billy Joel: Telling the Story Behind the Musician (with Jessica Levin)

    NOV 6

    Episode 264 | Billy Joel: Telling the Story Behind the Musician (with Jessica Levin)

    In this episode of Documentary First, Christian sits down with filmmaker Jessica Levin, co-director and producer of the Critics Choice Documentary Awards in the Best Music Documentary-nominated HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Jessica shares what it was like to tell the story of Billy Joel—not just as a legendary musician, but as a human being full of depth, contradiction, humor, and 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 - IMDb Billy Joel: And So It Goes: Billy Joel: And So It Goes (TV Mini Series 2025) - Reference view - IMDb Inventing David Geffen: "American Masters" Inventing David Geffen (TV Episode 2012) - Reference view - IMDb Joni Mitchell: A Women of Heart and Mind: "American Masters" Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind (TV Episode 2003) - Reference view - IMDb The Janes: The Janes (2022) - Reference view - IMDb DocuView Déjà Vu The Andy Warhol Diaries, 2022, Limited Series with 6 episodes, watch on Netflix, IMDB Link: The Andy Warhol Diaries (TV Mini Series 2022) - Reference view - IMDb Time Codes00:00 — Opening Reflections 02:54 — Early Relationships and Artistic Roots 05:31 — Balancing Myth and Humanity 08:19 — Creating Space for Vulnerability in Interviews 11:06 — Collaboration as Creative Strength 13:50 — Following Emotional Truth, Not Just Timeline 16:38 — How Personal Relationships Shape Art 19:15 — Challenges of Documenting a Cultural Icon 22:03 — Crafting a Nonlinear Story Structure 24:55 — The Reality of Producing a Major Music Documentary 27:42 — Audience Reaction and Cultural Memory 30:14 — Tracking Billy Joel’s Musical Influences 33:02 — What Makes...

    1h 9m
  5. Episode 263 | Crowdfunding for Filmmakers — Lessons from the UnScarred Campaign

    OCT 23

    Episode 263 | Crowdfunding for Filmmakers — Lessons from the UnScarred Campaign

    In this episode of Documentary First, return guest filmmaker Elise Jaffe, first-time director of documentary project: UnScarred, and special guest, Stacie Rae Weir, a tattoo artist and breast-cancer previvor featured in the film join us! UnScarred explores how survivors of trauma and illness—those living with scars from breast cancer, self-harm, and other life-altering experiences—reclaim their 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 Film D-Word: The D-Word: the worldwide community of documentary professionals Bri Castellini : Bri Castellini Stacie-Rae: Home | Stacie-Rae | Calgary, AB No DocuView Déjà Vu   Timecodes: 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to UnScarred 05:15 — The Origins of the Film: Inspiration During the Pandemic 10:27 — The Power of Tattoos in Healing and Identity 17:42 — Introducing Stacie Rae Weir: Artist, Survivor, and Healer 24:52 — From Mastectomy to Masterpiece: Stacie Rae’s Journey 29:51 — Tattoos as Therapy: The Collaboration Between Artist and Survivor 33:10 — The Art of Crowdfunding: Lessons for Independent Filmmakers 35:04 — Behind the Scenes of UnScarred’s Kickstarter Campaign 39:26 — The Pros and Cons of Crowdfunding for Filmmakers 44:48 — Building Community Support for Independent Films 46:33 — 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/

    50 min
  6. Episode 262 | Why Josh Roush Made “Long Lonesome Highway: The Michael Parks Story”

    OCT 9

    Episode 262 | Why Josh Roush Made “Long Lonesome Highway: The Michael Parks Story”

    In this episode of Documentary First, filmmaker Josh Roush opens up about his deeply personal journey creating the documentary Long Lonesome Highway, a heartfelt tribute to legendary actor Michael Parks. Josh reflects on his friendship with Parks, the creative decisions behind the film, and the challenges of navigating distribution, budgeting, and fair use of archival footage. The conversation dives into Parks’ multifaceted talent, his artistic integrity, and the lessons learned from a career defined by both triumph and adversity. Together, we explore how passion fuels storytelling, the power of documentaries to preserve legacies, and the importance of resilience in the face of obstacles. This episode is not just about one film—it’s about what it takes to make art that matters.   Links: Josh Roush Narrative Film - IMDB Link: Wrong Reasons (2022) - Reference view - IMDb DocuView Déjà Vu Recommendation: Burden of Dreams by Werner Herzog, 1982, 95 mins, Watch on Amazon Prime, IMDB Link: Burden of Dreams (1982) - Reference view - IMDb Timecodes: 00:00 Final Thoughts and Future Endeavors 09:25 Navigating Challenges in Filmmaking 10:20 The Influence of Michael Parks 11:31 Building a Unique Relationship 13:47 The Value of Listening to Elders 14:26 Uncovering Stories from the Past 16:40 The Genesis of a Documentary Idea 18:02 Family Dynamics in Storytelling 18:54 The Kevin Smith Connection 20:58 The Role of Fair Use in Documentary Filmmaking 25:46 The Use of Music and Soundtrack 28:02 Budgeting and Financial Realities of Filmmaking 29:29 Personal Reflections on Filmmaking 34:45 Lessons from Michael Parks' Life 41:02 Legacy and Impact of Michael 42:12 Documentary Recommendations and Insights 43:33 Teaser Video 44:18 Documentary First promo   Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/ Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

    45 min
  7. Episode 261 | Doc First Members Have Entered the Chat

    SEP 24

    Episode 261 | Doc First Members Have Entered the Chat

    In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor opens up with heartfelt personal updates and reflections on the journey of documentary filmmaking. Fresh off a moving trip to Normandy, Christian is joined by team members Peyton Rabb and Todd Anderson to share stories, challenges, and unforgettable moments from the experience. Together, they explore how veterans continue to impact younger generations, the role of gratitude in storytelling, and how filmmaking shapes not just the audience but the filmmakers themselves. From moments of humor and surprise to deeply emotional encounters with history, this episode captures the resilience, growth, and transformative power of telling true stories.    Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/ Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

    1h 3m
  8. Episode 260: "Saving Private Ryan": How to Really Listen to a Veteran - Part 2

    SEP 11

    Episode 260: "Saving Private Ryan": How to Really Listen to a Veteran - Part 2

    In Part 2 of our crossover with MovieRob Minute WWII veteran Ceo Bauer (95th Infantry Division, “Iron Men of Metz”) continues his powerful story. At 102 years old, Ceo reflects on forgiveness, receiving his Purple Heart, and returning decades later to the battlefields of Metz and Luxembourg. He explains the mystery of WWII “invasion money,” shares how he first met Christian Taylor—sparking the journey that became The Girl Who Wore Freedom—and reads an unforgettable letter of gratitude written by French citizen Elizabeth Gosso for the 50th anniversary of Metz’s liberation. This conversation captures Ceo’s humor, candor, and resilience, while reminding us why keeping these stories alive matters. 👉 Part 1 of this unforgettable conversation with Ceo is available on streaming platforms. Documentary First Website, support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/ Timecodes: 00:00 – Reflections on forgiveness and fellow soldiers 03:00 – Returning to Metz and finding Steele’s grave 06:00 – Receiving the Purple Heart after being wounded 10:00 – Transport, hospitals, and survival memories 15:00 – WWII “invasion money” explained 19:00 – How Christian and Ceo first met & The Girl Who Wore Freedom 34:00 – Ceo reads Elizabeth Gosso’s powerful French gratitude letter 42:00 – Passing on memory to the next generation 50:00 – Reflections on peace, Israel, and supporting allies

    57 min
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About

Documentary First is your bi-weekly podcast exploring the craft of documentary filmmaking. Each episode features in-depth interviews with filmmakers, industry experts, and professionals, providing valuable tips and behind-the-scenes insights on how powerful documentaries are made. Whether you're a seasoned documentarian, an aspiring filmmaker, or just curious about documentary storytelling, you'll find expert advice, creative inspiration, and practical knowledge. Tune in and discover what it takes to create compelling documentaries that captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Christian Taylor
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    269
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Documentary First, all rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Documentary First

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