Episode SummaryWhat does it really take to make a documentary when you’re the entire crew? Working as a one-person crew can offer documentary filmmakers an extraordinary kind of freedom. With less equipment and a smaller footprint, we can move quickly, respond to unexpected moments, and sometimes build a level of intimacy with our subjects that would be difficult with a larger production. But that freedom comes with responsibility: directing, shooting, recording sound, managing gear, following the story, and remaining present enough to notice what’s actually unfolding in front of us. In this episode of The Documentary Life, Chris G. Parkhurst is joined by filmmaker and educator Dandan Liu for a thoughtful exploration of the realities of solo documentary filmmaking. Drawing from her own minimalist approach, Dandan discusses why she prefers working with a lighter footprint, how solo filmmaking can create greater intimacy with subjects, the pressure of carrying every production role yourself, what happens when creative independence becomes isolation, and why working alone doesn’t mean working without collaboration or outside perspective. Ultimately, Dandan argues that minimalist filmmaking isn’t simply about carrying less gear or making production easier. It’s a philosophy built around story, relationships, presence, and trusting your own creative voice. A one-person crew won’t be right for every documentary, but when the story allows it, working smaller can sometimes help us get closer—to our subjects, to unexpected moments, and to the story that is actually trying to reveal itself. In This EpisodeWhy working as a one-person crew can create greater intimacy with documentary subjectsThe freedom—and responsibility—that comes with carrying every production role yourselfHow minimalist filmmaking allows filmmakers to respond quickly to unexpected momentsStaying present while simultaneously directing, shooting, recording sound, and following the storyWhat happens when the independence of working solo begins to feel like isolationMaintaining perspective, seeking feedback, and collaborating even when you make films aloneWhy story, relationships, and creative instinct matter more than the size of your crew or camera packageHow to know when a one-person crew is—or isn’t—the right approach for your documentary Chapters00:00 – Wearing every hat as a one-person documentary crew 00:49 – Nepal, impermanence, and learning to pay attention 08:27 – Why working smaller can bring us closer to the story 09:17 – Dandan Liu’s unlikely path from science to documentary filmmaking 17:43 – How Dandan became a solo documentary filmmaker 21:19 – Why a larger crew led her back to minimalist filmmaking 24:27 – The hidden pressure of being the only filmmaker in the room 28:12 – Staying open to the story when you’re working alone 30:09 – When creative independence becomes isolation 32:32 – Consent, responsibility, and collaborating with your subjects 34:16 – Why minimalist filmmaking is about more than carrying less gear 36:31 – Common misconceptions about one-person documentary crews 39:26 – Trusting your creative voice and embracing the unexpected 41:49 – Teaching a more minimalist, heart-driven approach to filmmaking 46:15 – Dandan’s documentary course and resources for filmmakers Featured GuestDandan Liu is a documentary filmmaker, educator, and creative guide whose work is rooted in a minimalist, heart-driven approach to nonfiction storytelling. After beginning her career in science, Dandan stepped away from the laboratory and spent several years living in contemplative communities around the world, including a 14th-century Zen monastery in Japan. It was during this period of exploration that she picked up her first camera and began making documentaries, eventually discovering an approach built around small crews, simple equipment, intimacy with subjects, and the freedom to respond to stories as they unfold. Today, Dandan teaches documentary filmmaking to students around the world, with courses covering the filmmaking process from pre-production through editing, color grading, and audio. At the heart of her teaching is the belief that compelling documentary filmmaking depends less on expensive equipment or large crews than on the filmmaker’s eye, relationships, creative voice, and ability to remain present with the story. Desktop DocumentariesMake a Documentary from Your Family Story Turn the stories, memories, and archives within your own family into a finished documentary short. In this self-paced 12-week course, Dandan Liu guides you from finding and shaping your story through interviewing family members, working with archival material, and creating a 5–10 minute documentary. Documentary Life listeners save $50 with the link above or by using coupon code DOCLIFE at checkout. Elevate Your Documentary Improve the look and sound of your documentary with three on-demand classes from Dandan Liu covering lighting, color grading, and sound editing. Get 48 video lessons with practical techniques for lighting interviews, correcting and matching color, cleaning up dialogue, and balancing your audio mix. Bundle Price: $97 Combined course value: $147 SponsorProtect your gear—and your production—with ATHOS Insurance, trusted by filmmakers and production professionals. Get fast, straightforward coverage for everything from short-term equipment insurance to annual production policies. TDL listeners receive a $35 promotional credit: Get your ATHOS quote + $35 credit ATHOS Insurance is a sponsor of The Documentary Life. Learn More📖 The Documentary Life Field Guide"I've put together the free guide I wish someone had handed me when I first picked up a camera." Download here: The Documentary Life Field Guide 📺 Watch on YouTubeWatch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFerzbwNOjU 🎙 Listen to More EpisodesRelated episodes: ✉ Join the NewsletterReceive weekly reflections, podcast updates, documentary resources, and practical advice for nonfiction filmmakers. Sign up here Support The Documentary LifeIf you're enjoying the show, there are a few simple ways to support it: • Subscribe • Leave a review • Share the episode with another filmmaker • Join the newsletter ConnectWebsite Newsletter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Barang Films Quotes from the Episode"Pay attention while you're there. Not simply because paying attention will make your documentary better, but because you don't know if you'll ever stand there again." — Chris G. Parkhurst "The smaller the crew, the more responsibility we carry. But sometimes carrying less is what allows us to pay closer attention to what's right in front of us." — Chris G. Parkhurst "You have less weight that you have to carry physically, but there's a lot more pressure for you to just be on it." — Dandan Liu "I really believe that I'm actually not the creator, I'm the receiver of the story." — Dandan Liu "It's not the equipment that matters, it's really the eye and the heart behind the story. It's your relationships, it's the authenticity that you bring in as a filmmaker." — Dandan Liu "You don't want to limit yourself and the possibilities of your story by being too attached to your preconceived notions of how it was...
