Documentary First is your bi-weekly dose of fascinating stories, real-life adventures, and illuminating explorations. Join us as we delve into captivating and thought-provoking documentaries, and meet the filmmakers, experts, and visionaries behind them. Whether you're a seasoned documentarian, a filmmaker just starting out or simply a curious listener, Documentary First is your destination for in-depth storytelling, thought-provoking insights, and compelling entertainment. So tune in, sit b ...
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Episode 231 | Escaping Twin Flames Interview w/ Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner
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Cecilia Peck (executive producer) and Inbal B. Lessner (editor) are the creators of Netflix's 2023 doc series, Escaping Twin Flames. Together, they explore their personal journey as filmmakers, how they united as a powerful team, and how they brought this social issue to light. The conversation dives into the unsettling world of the Twin Flames Uni…
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Episode 230 | Normandy Trip Update feat. Peyton Rabb
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DISCLAIMER -- *Documentary First Productions and it’s staff acknowledge the complexity of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Comments made in this video are meant to explore the complexity of violence rather than to promote or stand for a particular cause. -- In this week's episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor is joined by summ…
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Episode 229 | The Girl Who Wore Freedom Dream Team, Administration (Part 2)
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It's Part 2 of 3 in the Dream Team series, Christian Taylor, Todd Anderson, and David Paterson are back! They share about the release of "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" nationally to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. This time they dive into administration, specifically getting hard drives to movie theater owners, frustrations, failures, and all…
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Episode 228 | Deep Dive Into "Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine" w/ Brian Skerry
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1:11:22
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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 pho…
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Episode 227 |The Girl Who Wore Freedom Dream Team - Part 1
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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 comp…
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Episode 226 | Saffron Cassaday, Directing a Film About Poop
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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 podca…
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Episode 225 | Human Swiss Army Knife Filmmaking w/ Josh Haygood
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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 w…
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Bonus Episode | The Genesis of TGWWF - "AM 560 The Answer"
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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" …
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Episode 224 | D-Day Theatrical Release, Guest: David Paterson (The Girl Who Wore Freedom)
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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 do…
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Episode 223 | Documenting the $40 Billion Industry of NFTs
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In this episode, Christian Taylor interviews Nicholas Bruckman, the director of the documentary film 'Minted'. They discuss the film, which explores the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and the artists who have embraced this new technology. Bruckman shares how he discovered the story and gained access to the artists involved. The film follows di…
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Episode 222 | The Crazy World of "Mad Props"
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In this episode, Christian provides an update on company developments and announces the upcoming trailer for our next documentary, "Heroes of Carentan." She gives an exclusive about the limited theatrical release of "The Girl Who Wore Freedom." Special guests, Tom Biolchini and Juan Pablo Reinoso, producer, director, and writer of "Mad Props," delv…
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Episode 221 | Meaningful Stories w/ Alex Ivany of Ifine: Beauty
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In this episode, host Christian Taylor interviews Alex Ivany, a visual storyteller, about his journey in the documentary filmmaking industry. Alex shares his passion for social and racial justice, which led him to work on projects that shed light on marginalized communities. He discusses his role as a producer and editor on the film "Ifine: Beauty"…
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In this episode, Christian Taylor interviews Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, the directing duo behind the documentary "Going to Mars, the Nikki Giovanni Project." They discuss their background in filmmaking, the founding of Rada Studios https://radastudio.org/, and their dedication to telling stories of the Black Diaspora. The conversation als…
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Episode 219 | Editor Extraordinaire Yvette Amirian
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In this episode, host Christian Taylor interviews award-winning editor Yvette Amirian about her journey from documentary to narrative editing. Yvette shares her experiences working on various projects, including "EXmas" and "It Takes a Village". She discusses the differences between editing documentary and narrative films, emphasizing the challenge…
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Episode 218 | Getting Distributed w/ Joe Amodei Part 2
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In this conversation, Christian Taylor interviews Joe Amodei, CEO of Virgil Films and Entertainment, about the film distribution industry. They discuss the changes in the industry, including the consolidation of companies and the impact of streaming services. Joe emphasizes the importance of collaboration between filmmakers and distributors, as wel…
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Episode 217 | Award-Winning Cinematography w/ Laela Kilbourn
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In this episode, Christian and Chad interview award-winning cinematographer Laela Kilbourn. They discuss her work on the documentary film Girl State, which premiered at Sundance 2024. Laela shares her experiences working with directors and the importance of trust in the DP-director relationship. She also explains the role of prime lenses in cinemat…
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Episode 216 | Getting Distributed w/ Joe Amodei Part 1
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In this episode, Christian Taylor interviews Joe Amodei of Virgil Films Entertainment about the changing landscape of film distribution. They discuss the role of distributors in acquiring and selling the rights to films, the rise of streaming platforms, and the challenges faced by filmmakers in finding trustworthy distributors. Joe shares his insig…
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Episode 215 | Honoring WWII Veteran George Ciampa (Ep. 115 Re-release)
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On this very special podcast, we honor George Ciampa as Christian shares the news of his recent passing. George Ciampa, a World War II veteran and filmmaker, came on our podcast many times and can be heard on episodes #116, #117, #120, #121. He was born in 1925, served in the Graves Registration Service during WWII, and became a filmmaker in his 80…
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Episode 214 | Entertainment Blogging w/ Josh Sharpe
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In this episode, Jason and Christian provide a year-in-review and updates on their documentary films. They also introduce guest Josh Sharpe, a film/entertainment/theater journalist. Josh shares his background in reporting for cinema and offers tips for conducting interviews. The importance of reviews for filmmakers is discussed, along with the diff…
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Episode 213 | Part 2 of "Dear Sirs" with Mark Pedri and Carrie McCarthy, PhD
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In this episode, filmmakers Mark and Carrie Pedri discuss the challenges they faced in producing their film Dear Sirs. They talk about the difficulties of funding the project and the decision to go with crowdfunding and local grants. They also share their experiences of filming and the importance of storytelling techniques in documentaries. The fil…
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Episode 212 | Part 1 of "Dear Sirs" with Mark Pedri and Carrie McCarthy, PhD
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Hey, Documentary First tribe! 🎙️ Get ready for an intimate ride with Mark Pedri and Carrie McCarthy, the dynamic duo behind "Dear Sirs." In Episode #212, we're diving deep into family secrets, WWII revelations, and the magic of storytelling. This isn't just a podcast; it's a personal invitation to join us on an emotional rollercoaster of discovery …
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Episode 211 | Nick Bruckman - Not Going Quietly
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In this compelling episode of Documentary First, Christian engages in a candid and profound conversation with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Nick Bruckman. The spotlight is on Bruckman's recently released film, "Not Going Quietly," a poignant exploration of resilience featuring the inspiring Ady Barkan. The duo delves into the raw and transparent …
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In this week's episode of Documentary First, we dive into the heartwarming tale of "Puppy Love," a documentary chronicling the incredible journey of four paralyzed puppies on the road to recovery. What began as Gail's casual filming of her new puppy's antics took an unexpected turn when the pup faced paralysis. This documentary captures the tireles…
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Episode 209 | What's Your Focus? w/ Ken Burns - The American Buffalo (Part 2 of 2)
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Welcome back to another exciting week of Documentary First. In part two of our conversation with documentary legend, Ken Burns, we dive into the vital aspect of collaboration in filmmaking. Ken emphasizes the profound history he shares with two of his current collaborators, who are stepping into new endeavors as his company continues it’s storytell…
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Episode 208 | What’s Your Focus? w/ Ken Burns - The American Buffalo (Part 1 of 2)
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Today, we are honored to host a distinguished figure in the realm of filmmaking, none other than the renowned Ken Burns. With profound admiration for his craft, Christian finds it hard to articulate just how deeply grateful she is for the wisdom and insights Mr. Burns brings to the art of documentary filmmaking. Our conversation with Ken traverses …
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