Filmmaker Justin Monroe discovered that his next door neighbor Tim Carey was bidding to create the world’s largest stained glass window. What Justin didn’t know is that Tim had no idea how to make that size window. HOLY FRIT combines the ancient art of glazing with the high-tech art of documentary filmmaking. Justin and Tim talk with Westdoc about their nine years on the project, its challenges, the meaning of art, financing, distribution, and an artist they collaborate with named Narcissis....

TO KILL A TIGER is the story of one fathers’ fight against everyone in his small village in northern India after his 13 year old daughter is raped by three local men. Supporting his daughter was virtually unheard of and his journey unprecedented. The locals suggested she marry one of attackers to protect her honor. In our conversation with director NISHA PAHUJA, she tells us how the film was originally following another subject and the prosecution of the three men was a side issue. But in...

In 1988 when the Errol Morris film ”The Thin Blue Line” was screened for the Academy doc branch to be eligible for an Oscar, it was allegedly stopped after only 10 minutes following the first recreation scene and disqualified. What Morris did with the Thin Blue Line, was to revolutionize nonfiction filmmaking. His reenactments were Roshomon like from the POV of different people. The Academy apparently got over their sentiments about reenactments as Morris won the Oscar in 2003 for his...

”When we got the keys to the storage unit, everything changed and the film was cracked open in a new way” said Karen O’Connor. This documentary is an unusually intimate psychological portrait of folk singer and activist Joan Baez. It’s not a traditional bio pic or concert film as it shifts back and forth in time. And with three directors on different continents, it took a while for all the pieces to fall into place. Newly discovered home movies, audio tapes, diaries, and artwork added to the...

Director Denny Tedesco’s father was one of the musicians in The Wrecking crew and he grew up surrounded by some of the superstars featured in the film. Following in the footsteps of 1960’s session icons in The Wrecking Crew, musicians Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, and Waddy Wachtel backed iconic singer-songwriters of the 70s, 80s, and beyond, creating some of the most recognizable tunes in rock music. Included is music and commentary from superstars like Carole King, James...

DYLAN WEISS is a non fiction television producer who makes films about the world’s fastest motorized machines. He has produced for National Geographic, Discovery, Science Channel, and more. His shows are usually about the fastest most expensive cars made. And he wrote the book on FACTUAL TELEVISION PRODUCING. You can learn his secrets to success from the book and our conversation on Westdoc.

THE HIGHEST OF STAKES follows the journey of Richard Heart, the top hat wearing, no-b******t-talking, Louis Vuitton-collecting creator of HEX coin, which grew 10,000x in value during the financial market crash of 2022. Throughout that time, Heart raised a staggering $1 billion from the devoted HEX community in ”sacrifices” to develop his latest product. Last week the SEC charged Heart with fraud and this week Regal Cinemas is releasing the feature documentary in more than 40 markets. Westdoc...

Nicknamed “The Golden Boy,” Oscar De La Hoya, with his good looks, electric charisma, and heartfelt story of winning Olympic gold for his dying mother, rocketed to national prominence as a superstar both in and outside the ring. Yet, all was not what it appeared to be behind that polished facade. Westdoc interviews the director of this two part HBO Max documentary, Fernando Villena.

The story of Black baseball begins a century before Jackie Robinson. Black people have been playing baseball as long as white people – as far back as the Civil War. And while some segregation in the sport always existed, the color line on the ball field was not rigidly enforced until the end of the nineteenth century, as racial lines hardened in all aspects of American life. The new documentary (in theaters and streaming now) THE LEAGUE by SAM POLLARD explores Black baseball as an economic...

Ever wonder how nature film crews get up close and personal with wild animals in the most remote locations in the world? It is not by accident. It usually takes months of research and years of filming. This four part series currently streaming on Netflix is extraordinary in many ways with never before seen original footage. Our conversation with producers Huw Cordey and Keith Scholey is open, honest and revealing on the years of hard work that went into this show.

Her grandfather is the co-creator of Mickey Mouse and has an Oscar. Her father is a legend at Disney and has an Oscar. She graduated from USC Film School and has an Oscar nomination. She’s a writer, producer, director and is the chosen one to make 100 YEARS of WARNER BROS. The four part series currently on the new Max streamer, is nothing less than spectacular. If you like films, you will love this documentary produced and directed by LESLIE IWERKS. Watch our conversation on the latest...

The iconic 1969 Academy Award winner Midnight Cowboy set the tone for films to come, revealed the seedy side of New York, and closed the book on a decade of flower power. Feature doc DESPARATE SOULS, DARK CITY and the LEGEND of MIDNIGHT COWBOY digs deep into not only “the making of,” but “the moment of “ as well. Director Nancy Buirski talks with Westdoc about her background as a photographer and painter, editorial collaboration, and why the original film was “inevitable.”

Mary Tyler Moore was a revolutionary throughout her nearly sixty year career. She redefined the roles in show business, transforming how women were defined in media. Director James Adolphus reveals to Westdoc Online how newly released documentary ”Being Mary Tyler Moore” managed to capture her essence. Are there limits on who can tell what stories? How did their team navigate vast archival footage during the editing process? How did Adolphus himself get hired on? Tune in to find out. To...

Founder of The D-Word, an on line community for thousands of documentary professionals around the world, Block spoke with host, Chuck Braverman, at length about vlogging, his side business of wedding videography, the documentary community, and the complexities of marriage. Two of his excellent docs, “51 Birch Street” and “112 Weddings,” are available on Kanopy, iTunes, and Amazon Prime. To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at... Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com Facebook:...

How difficult is it to know the family you are a part of? Nira Burstein spent five years creating an intimate portrait of her unique family in Charm Circle, her debut cinema vérité feature documentary.  “My parents gave me so much magic, it was my job not to screw it up.” Discover how this film came to life, hear about Burstein’s journey into film, mental health, and her upcoming projects. There’s no place like home.  To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at... Our website:...

”Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” will take you straight back to the 80s as it tells the touching story of actor Michael J. Fox and his confrontation with Parkinson’s disease. Hear from the director, Davis Guggenheim, who gives us insight into the making of this documentary, interview hacks, and an even deeper look into the life of Michael J. Fox. To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at... Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com Facebook:...

”The Visitors” covers Veronika Lišková’s journey to the most northern city in the world, Svalbard. The young anthropologist and her family not only face the harsh living conditions of the North, but confront the quickly melting icebergs and permafrost with the community she initially planned to observe.  How does one go about filming a documentary like this? What was the editing process like? And what led Lišková to tell this story? Find out answers on this episode of Westdoc Online with...

Hear from the director of ”38 at the Garden,” Frank Chi.  ”38 at the Garden” unpacks the monumental cultural impact Jeremy Lin evoked as a Taiwanese-American basketball player for the New York Knicks.  Learn how Frank Chi was inspired to make this film on this episode of Westdoc Online, hosted by Chuck Braverman.  To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at... Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu Instagram:...

Full Swing, a documentary series now on Netflix, is not just about golf, but the dramas of life. In this episode, producer Paul Martin immerses us in the process of filming, editing, and producing this enticing series. And the best part? You don’t need to be a golfer!

Hear from Daniel Rohr, director of Oscar-nominated documentary Navalny. Learn about the process of filming a documentary in secrecy and through encryption. Moreover, Alexei Navalny, a Russian Opposition officer, is now imprisoned. As Rohr prepares for the Oscars, he explores the heartbreaking contradiction between Navalny’s fate and his own.

Can an artist be separated from their art? Hear from director Brett Morgen and get the behind the scenes of award-winning documentary Moonage Daydream. In this episode, host Chuck Braverman uncovers Morgen’s history as a filmmaker and his journey to making his most recent film on David Bowie.

Chuck Braverman interviews Joshua Seftel, the director of Oscar nominated short doc Stranger at the Gate. A U.S. Marine plans an attack on a small-town American mosque. The story takes an unexpected turn as they come to face one another. Find out how Seftel came across the film, the process of filming, and a how Seftel became a filmmaker.