Documentary First Documentary First Productions

Brian Skerry, a renowned documentary filmmaker and photojournalist specializing in marine wildlife discusses his journey in the industry and his latest documentary series, Sea Change, July 24 on PBS.
Skerry shares how he started as a diver and developed a passion for underwater photography and filmmaking. He also talks about his transition from photography to becoming a producer for ocean documentaries.
We are happy to share this conversation with a producer who won an Emmy for creating Disney+ "Secret of the Whales".
Links:
Brianskerry.com
Twitter.com/Brian_Skerry
Instagram.com/brianskerry
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/sea-change-the-gulf-of-maine/
DocuView Dèjà Vu
Brian:
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story, 2024, 77 mins, Watch on Hulu, IMDB Link:  Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (2024) - IMDb
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, 2024, 147mins, Watch on HBO Max, IMDB Link:  Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple (2024) - IMDb
Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction and Background of Brian Skerry
02:22 Brian Skerry's Journey in Filmmaking
08:53 Transitioning into Producing and Directing
19:09 The Importance of Planning and Portfolio Building
26:52 Combining Visual Storytelling and Logistics
35:06 Addressing Climate Change in Documentaries
37:49 The Meaning of the Ocean Being a Carbon Sink
41:21 The Decline of the Gulf of Maine
48:29 The Power of Storytelling in Environmental Conservation
59:43 Research and Exploration in Filmmaking
01:06:34 Where to Watch Sea Change
01:07:30 DocuView Dèjà Vu

Our dream team who was in charge of releasing "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" in theaters for the 80th anniversary of D-day, June 6, 2024 reunite! They offer a behind-the-scenes look into the herculean effort in getting our first documentary successfully on the big screen. Throughout the conversation, the team emphasizes the importance of crafting compelling emails, employing creative outreach tactics, and maintaining meticulous follow-up to ensure success. They share their experiences navigating the challenges of securing commitments and marketing the film across different theaters and communities. Their dedication and efforts culminated in a successful theatrical release, significantly raising awareness about D-Day and honoring its legacy
No DocuView Dèjà Vu this episode
Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
01:31 How Todd Anderson Got Involved
25:27 Crafting Effective Outreach Emails
29:14 Tracking and Follow-Up
36:08 Reaching Out to Local Communities
38:51 Challenges in Securing Theater Commitments
48:23 Conclusion
Sponsor: http://ArtillerySports.com Use the code DocFirst for 10% off your order today!

After suffering from Ulcerative Colitis for nearly a decade, filmmaker Saffron Cassaday tried a new treatment known as Fecal Microbiota Transplant: taking stool from a healthy donor and implanting it into the gut of a sick patient. She chronicles this journey in DESIGNER $HIT, https://geni.us/DesignerShit.
We were fortunate to have her on the podcast to share about her start in the entertainment industry as a commercial editor and later directing the successful documentary, "Cyber-Seniors" https://cyberseniorsdocumentary.com/. We get into her most recent project, a revealing medical journey that features turning poop into medicine. 
DocuView Dèjà Vu:
Saffron:
“Babies” 2010, 79 mins, Watch on Amazon/Prime, IMDB LINK: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020938/
Christian:
“Cat Daddies” 2022, 89 mins, Watch on Plex, Tubi, Prime, IMDB LINK: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10968602/
“Unsung Hero” 2024, 113 mins, Narrative based on a true story, Currently in Theatres, IMDB LINK: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23638614/
Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
07:16 Choosing to Being Her Own Subject 
20:16 Bridging the Generational Gap Through Technology in "Cyber-Seniors"
23:00 My Mom is the Producer!
25:08 Why You Need to Love the Subject Matter You Are Directing
28:10 "Designer Shit"
31:15 Fecal Transplant Treatment Perspectives in the Medical Community
38:34 DocuView Dèjà Vu
Sponsor: http://ArtillerySports.com Use the code DocFirst for 10% off your order today!

Did you ever wonder if a "Human Swiss Army Knife" of filmmaking existed? Well, in this episode, you'll meet one: Josh Haygood, also known as "The Fixer."
Join us as Christian and Josh chat about how Josh got into filmmaking, transitioning from photography to moving pictures. From his time in Vietnam, devouring National Geographic, to landing jobs with the UN and MTV, Josh's journey is fascinating.
We explore Haygood's extensive resume, showcasing his ability to tackle any job in the industry. His versatility and problem-solving skills earned him the nickname "The Fixer" during his years at MTV. He shares some of his experiences about being called to "fix" a project.
Haygood worked on a recent documentary project that involved an innovative boating propeller, https://maelstrompropellers.com/
In a segment called "Answer Me This," Christian throws Haygood a few questions about life and media arts.
By the end of the episode, we invite Josh to be a "friend of the show" as we are excited to have him back to delve into more areas of filmmaking.
DocuView Dèjà Vu:
JOSH: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”, 2018, 95 mins, Watch on Netflix or Prime, IMDB LINK:
Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018) ⭐ 8.3 | Documentary, Biography, History
Josh Haygood's production company link:
https://www.banditofilms.com/
Timecodes:
(00:00) - Introduction (12:17) How does somebody get to be in your position? (15:23) Development expertise in a thing become really, really good at least one thing. (17:28) The propeller company, the “Maelstrom Propellers” project. (21:46) “What do you want to do with that documentary?” (24:44) "What is one thing a person starting out could do to further their career?" (25:49) Josh names a person that really influenced his life. And why they made a difference to him. (27:39) “Three things that you tell your people when you want to set the tone on any production” (33:23) "What do you do when you're really struggling? When you don't have a project to work on or when the project you're working on isn't going well?" (43:51) "You absolutely seem to love your work and this lifestyle. And I just want to know. Why? This is a crazy job. It's crazy. What is it? Why do you love it so much?" (49:00) DocuView Dèjà Vu Segment - “Won't You Be My Neighbor”

Hey podcast listeners, in anticipation for our limited theatrical release on D-Day, we are sharing a special segment where Christian Taylor was featured on "The Real Story with Jeanne Ives" aired May 26, 2024. Tune in to hear the beginnings of how Taylor got into directing and for updates on "Heroes of Carentan". Stream "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" this Memorial Day on Vudu, Apple TV, Prime Video, and Vimeo.

In this episode, Christian and David Paterson discuss the FIRST ever theatrical release of "The Girl Who Wore Freedom"! They highlight the importance of knowing your audience, reaching out to mom-and-pop theaters, and independent film distribution overall.
The conversation explores the reasoning behind having a limited theatrical release for our documentary film. They also touch on the costs associated with distribution and the timing strategy of theatrical releases. The episode concludes with a recommendation for the documentary film "The Greatest Night in Pop", which chronicles the making of the song "We Are the World." https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30796448/
· UPDATE: We have 222 Screenings in 109 Cities and 31 States!!!
· NEW SCREENINGS ADDED DAILY FOR THE GIRL WHO WORE FREEDOM
· CHECK OUT OUR INTERACTIVE MAP and find a screening in a city near you! Click here: https://i.mtr.cool/snfqwdivme
· Be sure to check back frequently, as we'll be adding other locations! 
Timecodes
00:00 Introduction and Company Update
01:27 Theatrical Release Announcement
08:00 The Importance of Knowing Your Audience
13:27 Customizing Outreach Efforts for Community Engagement
25:29 The Financial Aspects of a Theatrical Release
29:45 Persistence in Securing Theatres
33:41 Tailoring Screenings to the Venue
34:07 Flexibility and Options for Theaters
36:18 Considering the Costs of Distribution
46:09 Timing is Key for Theatrical Releases
52:19 DocuView Dèjà Vu: "The Greatest Night in Pop"