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. 5 HRS AGO · BONUS

    DOC1ST: THE DEEP DIVE — EP#01 Jeffrey Roth: Staying Present When the Dream Becomes Real

    Imagine standing in an ancient Egyptian tomb, camera in hand, as a sarcophagus is opened for the first time in thousands of years. For filmmaker Jeffrey Roth, that moment sparked a realization: "No, this is real." This is the first-ever episode of Documentary First: The Deep Dive—a new companion series where Christian Taylor takes one insight from recent podcast conversations, explores it deeply, and connects it to the universal experience of creative work. In this episode, Christian unpacks why "mountaintop moments"—the ones you've worked years to reach—often feel completely different than you expect. Drawing from her own journey filming at Brecourt Manor in Normandy (the most famous house on D-Day), Christian explores the psychology behind why doubt doesn't disappear when dreams come true, and how the discipline of presence keeps us from missing the very moments we worked so hard to achieve. What You'll Explore: · • The Imposter Gap: Why calling yourself an "actor" or "filmmaker" for the first time feels like a lie · • Hedonic Adaptation: The psychological reason our brains move to the "next worry" before a breakthrough even sinks in · • Presence vs. Panic: How to stay grounded when you're terrified the "file won't play" during your big debut · • The Mountaintop Rule: Why valleys aren't failures—they're just part of the terrain Three Practical Steps to Stay Present: Breathe: Let the exact moment sink in; it will never come againGratitude: Think of the people who helped you get to this field or tombPerspective: Learn to ride the highs with joy and the lows with steadiness Featured Filmmaker: Jeffrey Roth—documentary filmmaker whose work includes being embedded with archaeological teams uncovering ancient Egyptian tombs. His insight about realizing "no, this is real" sparked this entire exploration. About The Deep Dive: This new mini-podcast airs opposite weeks from the main Documentary First podcast. Every other week, Christian takes one powerful idea from a recent conversation and explores it more deeply—examining what it means, why it matters, and what to do about it. Hear the full interview with Jeffrey Roth: Listen to his complete Documentary First episode for the backstory behind this moment and his incredible filmmaking journey. If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review!

    7 min

  2. 5 HRS AGO · BONUS

    DOC1ST: THE DEEP DIVE — EP#02 Charles Olivier: What They’ll Remember — Sticky Storytelling

    “People are going to watch your movie for such an infinitesimally small percentage of their life. What they’re going to do is remember it.” That insight from Emmy-winning editor Charles Olivier—who’s cut The Jinx, The Redeem Team, and George Clooney’s Surviving Ohio State—stopped Christian Taylor cold. It cuts right to the heart of documentary filmmaking: your audience will forget most of your film. The question is whether you’ve given them something worth remembering. In this episode of Documentary First: The Deep Dive, Christian explores the neuroscience behind “sticky” storytelling—why emotional moments lodge in memory while everything else fades—and shares how she accidentally discovered this principle while making The Girl Who Wore Freedom. What You’ll Explore: The Memory Paradox: Why viewers forget 90% of your film—and why that’s okayBrain Synchronization: How emotional moments literally sync your audience’s neural patternsThe Gist vs. Detail Trade-Off: What neuroscience says about what sticks and what fadesHuman Connection Over Subject Matter: Why Charles focuses on relationships, not topics The Framework for Memorable Storytelling: Ask: What do I want people to remember six months from now?Find: The human moments—not the dramatic footageBuild: Your entire film around those moments Featured Filmmaker: Charles Olivier—Emmy-winning editor whose credits include The Jinx (HBO), The Redeem Team (Netflix), and Surviving Ohio State (HBO/George Clooney). His insight about what audiences remember sparked this entire exploration. About The Deep Dive: This companion podcast airs on alternate weeks from the main Documentary First podcast. Every other week, Christian takes one powerful idea from a recent conversation and explores it more deeply—examining what it means, why it matters, and what to do about it. Hear the full interview: Listen to Episode 270 of Documentary First for Christian’s complete conversation with Charles Olivier about editing, working with George Clooney, and structuring documentaries like symphonies. If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review!

    16 min
  3. Episode 270 | Charles Olivier on Editing "Surviving Ohio State" for HBO

    JAN 29

    Episode 270 | Charles Olivier on Editing "Surviving Ohio State" for HBO

    Emmy-winning editor Charles Olivier reveals how he restructured HBO's Surviving Ohio State and what it's like getting notes from George Clooney. Charles has cut some of the biggest docs of the last decade—The Jinx, Magic and Bird, The Redeem Team. Surviving Ohio State, produced by Clooney and directed by Oscar winner Eva Orner, exposes decades of abuse in college athletics. In this episode, Charles breaks down how he pitched a new vision to the production team, why he structures documentaries like symphonies instead of three-act narratives, and his advice for editors finding their voice. What You'll Learn: How documentary editors get hired (the "fresh eyes" audition)The editor as "midwife" to the director's visionStructuring docs like music—themes, movements, dynamicsEditing trauma narratives without losing emotional resonanceFinding your film's "grain" (why the lead isn't always who you expect)What it's actually like working with George Clooney Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:00 What is Surviving Ohio State? 09:00 How Charles got hired 12:00 The editor as "midwife" 14:00 Career path: film school to HBO 17:00 Why relationships matter more than subject matter 19:00 The message of the film 24:00 Layers of betrayal: institutions vs. individuals 28:00 Structuring documentary like a symphony 34:00 Finding the emotional center 37:00 Trusting yourself as an editor 41:00 Collaboration: when to push back 44:00 Working with George Clooney 49:00 Advice for emerging editors 52:00 DocuView Déjà Vu: FYRE (Netflix) About Charles Olivier: Emmy and Peabody Award-winning editor. Credits: Surviving Ohio State (HBO), The Jinx, The Redeem Team (Netflix), Magic and Bird. Based in France. If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review!

    58 min
  4. Episode 269 | Egyptian “Indiana Jones”, Zahi Hawass, Director Interview of “The Man With The Hat”

    JAN 15

    Episode 269 | Egyptian “Indiana Jones”, Zahi Hawass, Director Interview of “The Man With The Hat”

    Jeffrey Roth has spent his career letting extraordinary people tell their own stories—Apollo astronauts, President George H.W. Bush, and now Dr. Zahi Hawass. In this episode, Christian Taylor inquires about the logistics of independent documentary filmmaking in Egypt: working with fixers, navigating permits, shooting in ancient tombs with one hour of access, and why he withholds narration. Plus: the personal moments that make his films unforgettable. Links: Trailer- The Man with the Hat - Official Trailer The Man with the Hat instagram.com/themanwiththehatmovie Tiktok: @themanwiththehatmovie Socials: instagram.com/themanwiththehatmovie tiktok.com/@themanwiththehatmovie https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585782550439 zahifilm.com Dr. Zahi Hawass “41”, 2021, 98 mins, Watch on HBO MAX, IMDB Link: 41 (2012) ⭐ 6.6 | Documentary, Biography President in Waiting, 2020, 77 mins, Watch on Fawsome or Pluto TV or Roku Channel or Tube or Prime Video, IMDB Link: President in Waiting (2020) ⭐ 7.8 | Documentary, History DocuView Déjà Vu: “The Kid Stays In The Picture”, 2002, 93 mins, Watch on Amazon Prime, IMDB Link: The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002) ⭐ 7.3 | Documentary, Biography Time Codes00:00:00 — Introduction: Jeffrey Roth’s filmmaking philosophy00:03:00 — Filming in Egypt: How Jeffrey connected with Dr. Zahi Hawass00:09:00 — The fixer system: Permits, crew, and equipment in Egypt00:15:00 — Self-funded filmmaking: Creative freedom vs. financial challenges00:21:00 — Character-driven documentary: Why no narration or talking headsspan class="ql-ui"...

    1h 15m
  5. Episode 268 | Peter Kelly’s Archaeological Adventure in the Turks and Caicos

    JAN 1

    Episode 268 | Peter Kelly’s Archaeological Adventure in the Turks and Caicos

    In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with filmmaker Peter Kelly to explore his remarkable journey from his Mississippi roots to documenting the rich cultural and maritime history of Salt Cay in the Turks and Caicos. Peter reflects on how growing up in a small Mississippi community shaped his storytelling sensibilities, his love of history, and the creative instincts that now guide his work. The conversation dives into the realities of filming in a remote island location—limited resources, environmental challenges, and the unexpected surprises that come with working far off the grid. Peter shares the thought process behind crafting his documentary: how he chose his subjects, the equipment he relied on, and why capturing a holistic portrait of the island mattered deeply to him. Ultimately, this episode celebrates the art of discovery—of place, of story, and of self. It’s a thoughtful look at the creative process behind documentary filmmaking and the passion that drives filmmakers to preserve cultural heritage and amplify unheard stories. Links: The ShipwreckSurvey: Home - The Shipwreck Survey Prom Night In Mississippi: Prom Night in Mississippi (2009) ⭐ 7.2 | Documentary Cotopaxi: Cotopaxi - Gear For Good | Free shipping on orders $99+ Ikelite: Ikelite PK Production Services: Peter Kelly | Storyteller // Adventurer // Speaker Socials: instagram.com/PCKELLY1369 https://www.instagram.com/salt_n_silence/ DocuView Déjà Vu Virunga, 2014, 100 mins, Watch on Netflix, IMDB Link: Virunga (2014) ⭐ 8.1 | Documentary, War Time Codes00:00 — Introduction: The Art of Documentary Filmmaking 01:30 — Growing Up in Mississippi: The Roots of Peter’s Storytelling 11:04 — Discovering Salt Cay: The Heartbeat of the Documentary 15:34 — Creative Decision-Making: From Writing to Filming 20:13 — Filming on a Remote Island: Gear, Environment & Resourcefulness 27:19 — Maritime Archaeology: Uncovering Hidden History 28:45 —...

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

    2025-12-18

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

    2025-12-04

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

    2025-11-22

    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
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    274
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Documentary First, all rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Documentary First