In this episode, I talk with filmmakers Arata Mori and Andreas Hartmann about their new documentary “Johatsu” that is currently on the festival circuit. Every year, thousands of people vanish without a trace in Japan. The film explorers the phenomena known as Johatsu, or “the evaporated,” about people who abandon their lives for various reasons, a troublesome relationship, mounting debts or threats from the mafia. Some get support from so-called “night moving” companies, which help people to ...

In this episode, I talk with filmmaker Nellie Kluz on directing, producing, and editing her new documentary film "The Dells". The film explores Wisconsin Dells - the world capital of water parks - through the eyes of foreign students employed on summer work visas. This program, presented as an immersion into American culture, is also a way of profiting from cheap labour. "The Dells" is an inspired portrait of contemporary America through the eyes of this young generation.Thank you for listeni...

In this first episode of season 3, I talk with renowned cinematographer Michael Marius Pessah, who has worked on a wide array of documentary and scripted projects, as well as music videos and commercials. For this episode, we focus on the art of documentary cinematography. Michael has worked on documentaries such as 'Scandalous' which was nominated for a 2021 Emmy, and 'Viva La Causa' which was shortlisted for a 2009 Academy Award. Michael was invited to join the American Society of Cinematog...

In this episode, I talk to Loretta van der Horst about the challenges of directing her new feature documentary "The Border Crossed Us", that recently premiered at IDFA. Loretta's Instagram: lorvanderhorst Loretta's websites: www.lorettavanderhorst.com www.thewaves.film www.newproducersacademy.nl Film website:  www.journeyman.tv/film/8572 And the producers website: www.tangerinetree.nl Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy...

In this episode, I talk to Julien Potart on what it took to build the sitnwatch streaming platform for documentaries, as well as his own films and his work as a programmer for the Paris Surf & Skateboard Film Festival.  Julien's Instagram: www.instagram.com/julienpotart Sitnwatch: www.sitnwatch.tv Paris Surf & Skateboard Film Festival: www.pssff.fr Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a...

In this episode, I talk to Silje Evensmo Jacobsen about her excellent and moving new film “A New Kind of Wilderness” that just premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film follows wild-living British widower Nik Payne as he makes tough choices for his family following his wife's untimely death. Silje's production company website: www.a5film.no/aboutus  Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a...

In this episode, I talk with award-winning director and producer Lesley Chilcott on her experience working with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Netflix series "Arnold". Lesley has also worked on "Waiting for Superman", "CodeGirl", "It Might Get Loud", and "An Inconvenient Truth" which won two Academy Awards. Lesley's website: www.lesleychilcott.com Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review. “On...

In this episode, I talk with cinematographer, colorist, and head of Venture Films Jake Pierrelee on the art of color grading for documentary. Jake's Instagram: www.instagram.com/jvke Jake's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOhajf8RvcGz3wMPekSkOpw Jake's course: www.jvke.us/tcb Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review. “On Documentary” podcast page:...

In this episode, I talk with filmmakers Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli on the production and reception of their feature documentary "Lakota Nation vs. United States." Official website: www.lakotanationvsus.movie Laura Tomasellis website: www.lauratomaselli.com Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review. “On Documentary” podcast page: www.adamjamessmithfilm.com/on-documentary Adam James Smith’s...

On this episode, I talk to Dan Olmsted who has worked on a vast array of both documentary and narrative films as a sound recordist, sound mixer, and sound designer, including "Crip Camp", "China’s Lost Daughters", "The Revolutionary Optimists", "The English Patient" and "Boogie Nights". Dan and I discuss the art of sound in documentary. Dan's IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0647465/ Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this...

In this episode, I talk with filmmaker Amy Nicholson about her new film "Happy Campers" that recently premiered at DOC NYC. Amy's website: www.filmsbyamy.com Happy Campers website: www.happycampers.film Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review. “On Documentary” podcast page: www.adamjamessmithfilm.com/on-documentary Adam James Smith’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/ajsfilm Contact:...

In this episode, I talk with filmmaker Yannesh Meijman about his new film "Hotel Mokum" that recently premiered at the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam.  Yannesh's website: www.yanneshmeijman.nl Yannesh's Instagram: www.instagram.com/theodorusgoon Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review. “On Documentary” podcast page: www.adamjamessmithfilm.com/on-documentary Adam James Smith’s Instagram:...

In this first episode of season 2, I talk with Emmy award winning filmmaker Maro Chermayeff. As well as directing and producing many excellent documentary films - such as Half the Sky, Hostages, and Carrier - she is also the founding partner of the global production company Show of Force and Chair of the MFA in Social Documentary at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. I talk with Maro about what it takes to become a documentary filmmaker today, as well as her work as a director,...

On this last episode of season one, I talk with professional documentary editor and filmmaker J. Christian Jensen. In 2015, after graduating from the documentary program at Stanford, Christian was nominated for an Academy Award for his film “White Earth." Since then, he has built a distinguished career as a documentary editor working on an array of films for various leading directors. In this episode, Christian gets into the nuts and bolts of editing and what work as an editor looks like...

In this episode, I talk with Natalia Winkelman, a film critic who writes for The New York Times, as well as The Boston Globe, Slate, The Daily Beast, and IndieWire. Natalia is also a podcast producer at Campside Media, where she produced “The Plot Thickens: The Devil’s Candy” for Turner Classic Movies, which was chosen as one of the best podcasts of the year by The New York Times; “Suspect” for Wondery, which was chosen as one of the best podcasts of the year by The New Yorker; and “The Wire...

In this episode, I talk with award-winning director Rachel Fleit, who recently released “Bama Rush” on HBO Max. The film follows several young women as they prepare to participate in the sorority rush at the University of Alabama and explores what it means to belong. We talk about the production of the film and the audience response Rachel received to the film, particularly from the sorority community.  "Bama Rush" on Max:...

In this episode, I talk with Emilie Bujès, Artistic Director of  Visions du Réel, a leading documentary film festival held annually in Nyon, Switzerland. Emilie covers what it means to lead a documentary film festival, the approach to programming at Visions du Réel, her background in the contemporary art world, and some of the films she loves.  Visions du Réel website: www.visionsdureel.ch/en/  Visions du Réel YouTube page: www.youtube.com/user/visionsdureel Thank you for listening....

In this episode, I talk with filmmaker Tijana Petrovic about her new film "A Field Guide to Coastal Fortifications" that premiered earlier this year at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. We also explore Tijana’s sources of inspiration, her work as a cinematographer, and her teaching.  Tijana's website: www.tijanapetrovic.net Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review. “On Documentary” podcast page:...

In this episode, I talk to filmmaker Anna Moot-Levin. We explore Anna’s experience working on Charles Ferguson’s Oscar-winning "Inside Job" as an Associate Producer and her more recent co-directing and co-producing work in collaboration with Laura Green on "The Providers" and "Matter of Mind: My ALS" for PBS. Anna touches upon the importance of publicly funded media and the value of film education.  "Matter of Mind: My ALS": ...

In this episode, I talk to Peter Nicks, Emmy Award-winner, Academy Award-nominee, and Director of recently released documentaries "Anthem" (Hulu) and "Stephen Curry: Underrated" (Apple TV +). Peter details his experience directing "Anthem" and his past work on "The Waiting Room," "The Force," and "Homeroom" (the Oakland Trilogy), as well as offering his advice for aspiring filmmakers.  "Anthem": www.www.hulu.com/movie/anthem "Stephen Curry: Underrated":...

In this episode, I talk to José F. Rodriguez, programmer at the Tribeca Festival. José unveils the process and challenges of programming for one of America’s most prestigious film festivals, his background leading documentary funding at the Tribeca Film Institute, and his own work as a filmmaker. Tribeca: www.tribecafilm.com José on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thejofer José on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thejofer Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes....

In this episode, I talk to Niels Pagh Andersen, one of the most accomplished film editors in the world. We discuss Niels' working relationship with director Joshua Oppenheimer and his work on the Oscar nominated “The Act of Killing” and Oscar winning follow up, “The Look of Silence," as well as his current work on the upcoming film “The End." Niels details his philosophy and approach to editing outlined in his book “Order in Chaos."  “Order in Chaos” book website: www.orderinchaosbook.com ...

In this episode, I talk to Jane Ray, the Artistic Director of the Whicker’s Foundation and head of Cat Flap Media. The Whicker’s Foundation, created in memory of the late broadcaster Alan Whicker, offers some of the largest grants for independent documentary filmmakers in the world. Jane offers her advice for filmmakers applying for funding from the foundation, walks us through what it takes to build a film foundation from the ground up, and unveils her experience working for the BBC and with...

In this episode, I talk to filmmaker Andrew H. Brown - co-director, co-producer, cinematographer, and editor of “Between the Rains." The film won the “Best Documentary Feature” and “Best Cinematography” at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. We talk about the lengths it took to record this excellent documentary, the challenges of editing, and what Andrew and his team hope to achieve with the film out in the world. “Between the Rains” website: www.betweentherains.com Ragtag Collective:...