Listen Now

We're picking up right where we left off from the last episode, talking about AI and how it relates to sound design with Nathan Ruyle. Nathan Ruyle - IMDb Nathans Company “This Is Sound Design” website: This is Sound Design 00:12 - Right out the gate Christian, Jason and Nathan discuss AI vs. good live sound recordings. We discuss that “the tools are only as good as the material you're feeding it.” There is no way around in achieving greatness unless you are investing in quality material. 03:30 - The AI discussion leads to asking about location sound and its challenges. Location sound is very different from sound design and final mix. Hear how Nathan unpacks these differences in reference to his movie “Citizen Sleuth”. 04:29 - Nathan shares how he used spectral tools to identify sounds in his documentary; yet due to use of camera audio and limited crew, there were still challenges in parsing them out. Even big budget films face audio challenges, which further highlights the nature of the industry. 07:42 - Nathan discusses how narrative and documentary filmmaking informs each other. In both narrative and documentary films, the use of Foley is essential to capturing the complete soundscape. Even with high-quality sound recording, certain details like footsteps or subtle moments may be missed. Therefore, techniques like Foley are crucial in both types of films to enhance the overall experience. 09:36 - Christian points out there is a difference between Foley and sound effects. 12:28 - History of Jack Foley & Foley experiences 16:32 - The legalities and clearance for the music 18:16 - Foley and music for the HBO Documentary called “United Skates”. 22:52 - Christian explains some terms, such as what are “stems”? 24:07 - Christian asks on behalf of new filmmakers who are still working in lower budget independent films. Do they have any ability to hire Nathan and his team at all? She asks him to give some sort of budget spectrum that they work on for all kinds of different films? And what does the look like in terms of rates. Nathan gives an overview of what his team can provide. They have an ultra low budget rate sheet, where it kind of breaks down three budget options in great detail where you can see all the different parts of the process. 27:08 - Nathan’s company “This Is Sound Design” recently released “Joyland”. IMDB: Joyland (2022) - IMDb If you're in LA or want to come to LA and need help for a movie, they would be more than happy to have you visit for a tour. 31:04 - DocuView Déjà Vu Jason: “Citizen Sleuth” (2023), 23 mins, IMDB: Citizen Sleuth (2023) - IMDb Currently in the film festival run, check out the Instagram for film festival details. Keep an eye on Nathan's website for an announcement as to when its going to be released to see for the public. https://www.instagram.com/citizensleuthmovie/ Christian: “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones” (2022), 99 mins, IMDB: King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones (2022) - IMDb This movie too, is in its festival run; so it can't be watched, save for at film festivals. Nathan: “United Skates” (2018), 89 mins, IMDB (Available on HBO Max): United Skates (2018) - IMDb

Get ready for an engaging episode of the podcast, where Christian and Jason chat with Nathan Ruyle, the sound designer behind the hit film "Citizen Sleuth." With over 100+ credits to his name, Nathan has an impressive BIO and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to sound design. In part one of this deep dive, Nathan discusses his creative approach to sound design and how it helped to bring the mystery of the film to life. Nathan Ruyle - IMDb Nathans Company “This Is Sound Design” website: This is Sound Design At 01:53, Nathan sums up the unique sound design in "Citizen Sleuth" and how it was used to create an experiential feeling for the audience. Without relying on reenactments, Nathan used sound to immerse the audience in the experience of the crime, making them feel as though they were right there at the scene. ‌ Christian shares at 05:17 how she realized the importance of communicating emotions to the composer and sound department to ensure that the audience is moved through the story by the driving forces of sound and music. Nathan's approach to sound design is from a creative perspective, and he sees it as an opportunity to problem-solve and use his imagination. ‌ At 08:13, Nathan explains how his work encompasses all facets of post-production sound and how he and his team designed the sound to match the look and feel of the story. Christian asks Nathan to sum up the sound of the film and Nathan gives a captivating answer that will leave you intrigued. ‌ At 14:29, Christian picks out two examples from the film to discuss how Nathan and his team handled the sound in those moments. Nathan also explains mediated voices and mediated technology. ‌ At 15:42 and how it adds character and feeling to the story. Jason was curious about how Nathan made the dialogue consistent, even when recorded in different locations, and Nathan explains his technique in detail at 23:35. ‌ As this episode went a little long, Christian, Jason, and Nathan decided to split it into two parts. Be sure to tune in to part two to hear more about AI-specific tools and other interesting sound design topics. And don't forget to catch the next episode, where DocuView Déjà Vu takes center stage!

Step right up, folks! This week on Documentary First, we're shaking things up and diving into the world of narrative filmmaking. Our special guest is none other than D. Mitry, a talented writer, director, and producer whose short films have won international acclaim. D. Mitry's new film, “Hedgehog”, is taking the festival circuit by storm, and he's here to share his top three tools for any filmmaker looking to create a powerful, impactful story. But first, let's talk about D. Mitry's fascinating backstory. Born in the Soviet Union, D. Mitry didn't launch his filmmaking dream until 2015, but since then, his work has made waves across the globe. He's the mastermind behind “My True Fairytale”, a feature film that pays tribute to his daughter Alyssa after her tragic passing. This deeply personal project was acquired for worldwide distribution by Gravitas Ventures and had its world premiere at Cinequest in March 2021. Now D. Mitry has a new film on the horizon: “Hedgehog”. This short film explores the conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces through the eyes of a young girl and a wounded soldier. D. Mitry discusses the challenges of telling a powerful story with minimal words and allowing images and stillness to speak for themselves. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong "movie family" of passionate collaborators who share a love for the project. And what about those top three tools for filmmakers? D. Mitry's first tool is "Economy of Writing," which means using every element of your story to its fullest potential to avoid overwriting. This is especially important for indie filmmakers who must be resourceful and conscientious about their budget. His second tool describes "movie family" as a group of collaborators who share a love for the project and thus can weather any challenges that come their way. Finally, D. Mitry stresses the importance of choosing a story that speaks to one on a personal level and has the power to make an impact in the world. So buckle up, folks, and get ready for a thrilling ride through the world of narrative filmmaking with D. Mitry on Documentary First! Social Media Links for The Hedgehog Film Website: https://www.thehedgehogfilm.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehedgehogfilm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHedgehogFilm ** DocuView Déjà Vu: Dmitry: “Reggie's Forest” & “The Girl Who Wore Freedom” Reggie’s Forest IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14014074/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 The Girl Who Wore Freedom: https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/ Jason: The Prestige TV Podcast - Episodes discussing Season 4 of “Barry” on HBO - Discussions with the director and actor. Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ggiKF2wHHPcbyRAYbJO4o?si=94f568975f2d4571 Christian: "Eyewitness: D-Day", 2019, 44 mins IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10885884/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Quick Company Update: On May 19, 2023, the Doc First team will be attending the 80th Anniversary Ball for the 101st Airborne Division at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN which is open to anyone in the community (Tickets for “Community Invitees” are $105). The next day, May 20th, there will be a screening of "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" at the 101st Airborne home in Fort Campbell, Kentucky (Follow our socials for more details). Christian will be attending both events and then heading to Normandy for D-Day with World War II veterans on a Delta charter flight. Thanks to a wonderful partner at the 101st ABD (Air Assault), we are collaborating with the division on Instagram, as they share our micro-docs to raise awareness and build our audience. We encourage you to follow our journey on Instagram (@documentaryfirst), Facebook (Documentary First), Twitter (@doc_first), and TikTok (@documentaryfirst).   00:00 - 02:52 - Introduction 02:52 - D. Mitry’s Bio 03:34 - The Hedgehog Film Synopsis 04:34 - Christian & Jason share their experience of viewing Hedgehog. 13:30 - Toolkit item number 3 - Story (Part 1) 14:25 - Toolkit item number 1 - Economic Writing 24:21 - Toolkit time number 2 - A Movie Family 34:35 - Toolkit time number 3 - Story (part 2) 36:32 - Jason asks about D. Mitry’s vision and what actually made it to the screen 39:05 - Christian shares what she thinks is D. Mitry’s best tool. 39:50 - The film festival run for The Hedgehog Film 42:21 - Praise and thanks for family, cast & crew - it takes “a movie family” 45:37 - DocuView Déjà Vu 51:32 - A quick update

Join hosts Christian and Jason as they dive deep into the ever-changing world of filmmaking with seasoned filmmaker, Joe Amodei. With over 20 years of firsthand experience and a passion for film history, Joe shares invaluable insights on the business side of filmmaking in this thought-provoking episode. Discover the Top 5 things every filmmaker needs to know to succeed in this dynamic industry. From mastering the distribution business by staying updated with trade publications, to immersing yourself in diverse movies from all eras to learn from the masters, Joe's advice is practical and eye-opening. Understand how film marketing in the digital era has changed as traditional print media is no longer dominant. Learn how to effectively promote your film using social media and other modern strategies to get the word out and attract audiences. Joe explains that as a filmmaker, you're not just an artist, you're also a businessperson. Setting clear objectives for your film, whether to gain exposure, make money, or reach a wide audience will enhance your workflow. If you're a filmmaker looking to thrive in today's ever-evolving landscape, this episode is a must-listen. Gain valuable insights from Joe Amodei's wealth of experience and elevate your understanding of the multifaceted world of filmmaking. Get ready to be inspired, educated, and motivated to take your film career to new heights. Time Codes 0:00 - Jason introduces Joe 1:08 - Transformation of the film industry over the years 2:07 - How Joe has seen the film industry change over the last 20 years. 8:22 - Renting movies vs owning movies 9:18 - Christian shares a VHS story 13:20 - How did Netflix react to the streaming revolution? 19:20 - Knowing the business of business 25:18 - Advertising your film to your audience 28:48 - The 4 Top Trades to read 29:41 - Christian parallels the film industry with the acting industry - understand your market 30:41 - Top 5 Things: 1. Learn the distribution business as best you can, get every trade and read them. (Listen to the episode to hear which ones!) 33:18 - 2. Watch movies, all kinds, all the time from all ages, learn the masters. 35:35 - 3. Educate yourself on film marketing, and how in a no print world, you can get the word out about your film, learn social media. 37:25 - Christian shares a real life scenario 42:14 - 4. Determine your objective with your film. Have people see it? Make money? Exposure? Determine your objective before you even start, and make a plan to achieve it. 44:57 - 5. When you make a film you're opening a business. You must understand the basic principles of business in order to achieve your goals. 50:19 - DocuView Déjà Vu Joe: Fire of Love, 2022, 98 mins, IMDB: Fire of Love (2022) - IMDb Christian: Sr., 2022, 89 mins, IMDB: Sr. (2022) - IMDb

In this episode Jason Rugg, our loyal host and trusty dusty button pushing guy, is our guest guru on animation and how animation in documentary filmmaking is making a resurgence. With Jason’s extensive background in animation, Christian questions Jason about how animation works and they discuss the history, as well as the pros and cons of using animation in documentary storytelling. Referencing this article, Christian and Jason unpack how the animation revival mentioned is still relevant in today’s filmmaking. Additionally, they dive into the various aspects of animation and motion graphics within storytelling and film making with these various examples: The Sinking of the “Lusitania” “Ryan” a short by Chris Landreth (2004) They also discuss costs of animation referencing these films: “A Head Shorter” by Sasha Bortnik “An Inconvenient Time" - The Story of Ruth Ravina “Chicago 10“ by Brett Morgen   DocuView Déjà Vu: Jason: “Ryan” a short by Chris Landreth (2004) IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414469/?ref_=fn_al_tt_12 Christian: "MH370: The Plane that Disappeared", Series, 2023, IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26739535/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1   Timecodes: 02:20 - Jason Rugg’s Bio 04:19 - Motion Graphics vs Animation 06:00 - Motion Capture vs Live Animation 10:20 - Math & Animation 12:55 - The rebirth/resurgence of animation in documentary film making with examples 23:00 - The cost of animation, examples and styles such as “parallaxing” 30:57 - Striking the right balance between animation and story asking questions like do you have an art director or an illustrator? 40:06 - Advice from Jason about where to start with animation if you are interested in using this medium in your storytelling, including finding the right style of animation to compliment your story 45:43 - DocuView Déjà Vu 47:46 - Update & Wrap up

Get ready for an exciting new episode of Documentary First! In episode 192, we're diving deep into the impact of life on the process of filmmaking. With team members experiencing unexpected life events, we explore how creativity is affected when life gets in the way. You won't want to miss the insightful thoughts the team received from another filmmaker, Flo Plana, and Christian's thrilling experience winning not one, but TWO camera packages at a local fundraising film festival. Plus, with the 2023 Oscars fresh on our minds, we delve into the winners, losers and what we think this year's Oscars might mean for the future of filmmaking. Is the Academy still relevant? And how does a film get nominated? Join us for this fascinating conversation, and don't forget to check out our bonus segment on the future of the film industry, exclusively available to our Patreon supporters. DocuView Déjà Vu Segment Jason: "Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia", 2023, HBO Max https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26618018/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5 Zach: "All The Beauty and The Bloodshed", 2022, 122 mins, Prime Video https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21374850/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2 Christian: "Chicken People", 2016, 83 mins https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4819510/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Conversation Time Codes: 00:30 - Zach Callaghan Bio 01:37 - Zach gives a writing update on the Taking Carentan Project 02:26 - Flo Plana came to town and gives some great suggestions to deepen the story lines of “Taking Carentan” 04:37 - Jason poses an idea for an episode - "What makes a good sizzle?" 05:58 - Topic adjustments including "Reflections on life and filming" - How life impacts or happens in the process of making a film. 10:47 - Creativity & Emotions - thoughts by Zach & Jason 13:47 - Where do creative story ideas come from? 15:48 - Christian shares about her experience a the "Patrick Live On Film Festival & Fundraiser" in the Chicago area. In particular, one short film "Fraser Syndrome and Me" had a profound impact and she was able to meet the film maker. Along with a new realization about the power of documentary films. 26:18 - Raffles, Raffles, Raffles - Christian wins 3 and 2 of those were film packages that will help with the May filming in Fort Campbell for "Taking Carentan" 27:07 - The morning after the Oscars show. The team recaps the Oscars and wonders whether this year is an indication of a changing industry 39:06 Jason Rugg was reminded of this video during the Oscars recap: Maggie Rogers - folk / Alaska (Pharrell's feedback) 41:30 - Does the Academy really matter? 48:20 - How film festivals tie into the Academy Awards and the money required to get a nomination to the Oscars. 55:02 - DocuView Déjà Vu Segment 59:45 - A quick Film update from Christian

Welcome to Episode 191. Chad Gilchrist, grip and lighting guru extraordinaire, and Director of Photography for “Taking Carentan”, joins the podcast today to talk about the Top 5 skills every cinematographer needs to develop in order to be successful. Before we get into the episode, I wanted to let you know we’re starting something really new. We have extra bonus content exclusively for our Patreon supporters. And this week, it’s going to be an extended interview with Chad talking about his work on Steven Spielberg’s favorite show of the year, “The Bear”. You don’t want to miss this! Chad comes to the team with an amazing wealth of knowledge and skills from a variety of projects with some pretty impressive films. This episode’s focus is on The Top 5 Skills every aspiring cinematographer needs to develop and why those skills are important. > Tip No.1: Develop a strong network. Build friendships and relationships. There is a ripple effect in networking. A key to networking is not seeing what one can get out of it for him or herself. The question rather is: Am I genuinely curious about other people? There really is a butterfly effect. You don’t know where and when the fruits will blossom from the seeds that you planted years ago, but it is always important to keep planting seeds. > Tip No.2: Learn the techniques, technical skills, and then remember that it’s about how you use them. “Creativity with what you have is filmmaking…Make it great with what you have” – Jason Rugg > Tip No.3: Go do the thing! > Tip No.4: Learn great communication. It matters how you manage people, it matters how you communicate, learning how to work with others is critical to success. > Tip No.5: Be flexible and adaptable. Filmmaking is never the thing that you pictured it being – ever. Chad and Jason expound on technology and resources useful to them from experience. They give a couple of situations when networking was a good thing for them to do. The team shares some resources available for listeners: Roger Deakin's Cinematography Books: https://www.rogerdeakins.com/  Dale Carnegie’s book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People": https://www.dalecarnegie.com/en/resources/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people-chapter-1 ASC: https://theasc.com/ Brent Forrester's Online Classes: https://www.brentforrester.com/ DocuView Déjà Vu Chad: Navalny, 2022, 1hr 39mins, HBO Max IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17041964/ Jason: YouTube videos – 2 parts called “Halo four is worse than you remember” Part 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjZMRcpbK2E Part 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2XcD7BV95E Christian: World War II in Color, 2009, Series, 13 Episodes (51 mins each): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2069688/ 05:37 – Tip 1 “Networking/ Connections/Community” 15:37 – Tip 2 “Technical Skills” 22:45 – Tip 3 ” Go do the thing – build your portfolio” 27:00 – Tip 4 “Communication – learning how to work with others” 29:09 – Tip 5 “Being flexible and adaptable” 34:19 – Resources for listeners 40:14 – DocuView Déjà Vu 45:23 – New DVD now available for purchase.   Follow our Substack Blog: https://documentaryfirst.substack.com/ Join our newsletter (bottom of page): https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/ Donate to help us tell more stories: https://givebutter.com/LivingStoriesLtd Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DocumentaryFirst

Interested in improving your creative workflow? Jeff Kurtenacker is back to explain why it all starts with developing good taste. But it doesn’t end there, listen in to discover what it takes to improve your skills, whether it is composing music, directing films, etc. Breakdown: 00:00-06:05 What is Taste? 06:06-14:02 Pathway to Excellence 14:03-21:36 How to Receive Constructive Criticism 21:37-31:44 DocuView Déjà Vu DocuView Déjà Vu: Jason: HBO’s The Last of Us Podcast (2023) https://listen.hbo.com/the-last-of-us-podcast Jeff: Myth & Mogul: John DeLorean (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14968268/ Christian: American Factory (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9351980/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DocumentaryFirst Follow our Substack Blog: https://documentaryfirst.substack.com/ Join our newsletter (bottom of page): https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/ Watch our first feature film NOW on these platforms: https://geni.us/TheGirlWhoWoreFreedom Buy a DVD or stream in FRENCH from The Girl Who Wore Freedom Shop: https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/buynow/ Donate to help us tell more stories: https://givebutter.com/LivingStoriesLtd

Christian and Jason do a deep dive into "the dreaded cue sheet" with Jeff Kurtenacker. What is a music cue sheet and why is it important for your film? The benefits outweigh the costs. It is more than just a tracking document! It's a sheet that you submit, it requires assigning a name for every piece of music in a film and adding timecodes where each piece of music starts and ends. A composer is acknowledged, and many rights are associated with it, like for some, who's names are attached to a publisher, the profits go to the performing rights organization such as ASCAP, BMI, or CSAC, etc. will collect royalties of performances or showings of this film on your behalf. No matter if the score is only instrumental or has lyrics, musicians are supposed to be paid upfront in addition to royalties anytime anywhere it is used. Jeff & Christian share their experiences learning this element of the music business. If you are a producer or director, think twice about the music you're using in your film. Breakdown: 0:00 - Introductions and set up about the music cue sheet and its function 9:18 - Who does the tracking for royalties, the organizations. Who is ASCA & BMI and their functionality 12:03 - What does it look like for Jeff as the composer and publisher 13:19 - Christian share her perspective as the filmmaker and uses the example of TGWWF and how it works with "managed rights" 19:30 - Jeff & Christian unpack more about music rights and "public domain" 23:19 - Jeff re-iterates the need to protect the integrity of the work as it was intended to be used. 26:50 - Christian shares the story The Go-Go's and the reason they split up as it relates top royalties and music rights. 32:54 - Budgets for music rights in film, TV, and social media 36:47 - Is the music crucial to the story-telling? This impacts the decision to pay for the licensing & rights. 39:37 - Jeff gives a middle of the road option for music 41:05 - DocuView Déjà Vu Christian: Meltdown: Three Mile Island - NETFLIX, Docu-Series - 4 Episodes, 2hrs 52 mins total IMDB link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19757508/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3 Jeff: Chernobyl, Minis Series, HBO Max, 5 Episodes, 5hrs 30 mins total IMDB Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7366338/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Jason: Podcast Episode recommendation - Show is 20000 Hertz - Episode on "The Price Is Right Theme song" Podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-price-is-right-yeah-yeah/id1171270672?i=1000453427580

This week on the podcast Christian talks with Ben Feithen, Documentary First's CEO, about plans for Documentary First in 2023. The DocFirst team is smaller now, and they ponder how to do more with less? When you hear the word "AI" - do you think about the Terminator series.....????? Well, don't be alarmed, in this podcast we unpack the pros and cons of a few new exciting automation and AI tools. 00:00 - 09:43 - A review on how Ben joined the team to help Christian with Documentary First through her son, Hunter Taylor 09:34 - 20:35 - Ben's thoughts on content ideas, 2023 strategy and an ensuing conversation with Christian about content creation with less resources. How does automation looks like as an answer to our problem and how can "AI" tools can help our social media engagement? 20:35 - 26:38 - Using AI to help create a new blog for Documentary First called "Stories of Service" and using AI tools to help with a backlog of content and stories not used yet. 26:39 - 34:59 - DocuView Déjà Vu: Ben: All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), imdb.com/title/tt1016150, a remake on Netflix, 148 mins (2hr 28 mins), Ben shares his thoughts from his military background and relevance to what is going on in the world today. Christian: D.B. Cooper: Where Are You?! (2022), imdb.com/title/tt21063148, Limited 4 Episode Documentary Series on Netflix 35:00 - Wrap up - We want to hear from documentary filmmakers about your experiences and any problems you have bumped into. We would love to work as a community to help solve some of those problems and hear how you may have solved them. Please chime in, whether it's writing an email to christian@documentaryfirst.com, tagging us on any one of the socials or joining us on Patreon and helping us you know, do something pretty great there. We really want to hear from what YOU want to hear. What do you want to know? What questions do you have? Let us know. And we'll keep producing great content for you. Subscribe to "Stories of Service " on Substack: https://documentaryfirst.substack.com/ Visit our new website: www.documentaryfirst.com Make a donation to help us share more stories! https://www.livingstoriesltd.org/ Links and resources mentioned: "Copy AI": https://www.copy.ai/ "ChatGPT": https://openai.com/ Thanks again for listening and we look forward to hearing from you.

Hear the rest of the story from the film-making duo, the Gilchrist's, and how they collaborated with the local French people, in particular with Francois. Find out how he got to know Christian and provided background extras-- And local police gets involved? Hear how our team avoided penalties; Did we bribe them with cookies...? DocuView Déjà Vu: Chad: The Dissident (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11382384/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3 Christian: Louis Armstrong's Black & Blue (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14447458/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5

Christian & Jason finally get to chat with Tayler & Chad Gilchrist. We find out how they met Christian and the journey of going to France this past summer to be a part of the team to film the sizzle reel for our Carentan Project. DocuView Déjà Vu: Tayler Gilchrist: Into The Deep (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11394296/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

This week there's a lot to recap, but first...introducing a possibly new segment called "News for the Day!" Coming off an East Coast tour, Christian talks new advancements in finding an audience that are made through connections. It is Robbie's last episode, cheers! Please rate and review our film, The Girl Who Wore Freedom, on Rotten Tomatoes! Docu-View DejaVu: Christian: Pepsi, Where's My Jet? (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23022276/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Robbie: Light & Magic (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19896784/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

This episode originally aired on November 26th, 2021. It's a re-airing of a special Thanksgiving episode at the time Documentary First was pitching to distributors like Netflix in Los Angeles and before our Carentan sizzle reel was finished! - - We recollect favorite thanksgiving movies and general thanksgiving. Christian has studio updates and shares future plans with streaming platform, Vudu. We're thankful for all our subscribers and Patreon supporters! Watch "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" this Thanksgiving: https://geni.us/TheGirlWhoWoreFreedom

Special guest (for the second time) Joe Amodei gives us a history lesson, starting in the 50's & 60's with Bing Crosby & Jerry Lewis, then moving on to the 80's with VHS tapes. Joe shares how he started working at a video store and moved into distribution. He went from building other peoples businesses to building his own personal distribution company, starting with "Supersize Me". Christian shares about the timing of the release of "The Girl Who Wore Freedom" available for video-on-demand on November 1st and about recent in-person events (speaking tour). DocuView Déjà Vu: Jason: "Why You Should Watch Experimental Docs" (Video Essay) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Syn8obfyM Robbie: "Closed for Storm" (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11372428/?ref_=fn_al_tt_0 Christian: "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall" (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21053478/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Joe: "Sidney" (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16977750/?ref_=fn_al_tt_0

How do you tell a story when the protagonist is a place? Our very own script-writer, Zach Callaghan, says "identity and purpose" are the two big things he looks for. Listen to his process of taking footage shot back in June 2022 for the Carentan project and developing it into a story. DocuView Déjà Vu: Christian: The Martha Mitchell Effect (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16379454 They'll Love Me When I'm Dead (2018) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6893836/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Jason: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2015) This is a companion documentary to the feature by the same name. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/D4WAUmyKDq0 Robbie: The Wrecking Crew (2008) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185418/ Zach: F for Fake (1973) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072962/

There has been a team shuffle. Jason Rugg is now in the host seat with Robbie Davis joining Christian and Jason. Christian gives an update before an impromptu "symposium" on story. Life is never linear or straight forward. Christian shares from her heart about the topsy-turviness of life with family and balancing work and priorities/commitments made that need to be honored. Much gratitude was given in the midst of a successful roller coaster event at the 2022 Currahee Military Weekend. Questions discussed: What makes a good story? How do you find a story in the midst of all the information and conversations? There are many treasures to be gleaned from this conversation. Get ready to exercise your cheek muscles. :-) DocuView Déjà Vu: Jason: Brent Forrester's TV Comedy Course https://www.brentforrester.com/webinar Robbie: Undefeated (2011) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1860355/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Christian: The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19034332/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Today we’re joined by a special guest, but first an update! The Girl Who Wore Freedom will be available on many streaming services soon, thanks to Virgil Films. We discuss E&O Insurance, and then dive into an update about The Documentary First Podcast. Judith Pearson Official Website: https://judithlpearson.com/books/the-wolves-at-the-door/ Virginia Hall: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/podcast/history/virginia-hall-the-true-story-of-america-s-greatest-female-spy DocuView Déjà Vu: Robbie: The Sparks Brothers (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8610436/ Jason’s: The Rescue (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9098872 Christian: Count me In (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6889042

Today we discuss "The Bear" and "Kobra Kai", then jump into discussing the current state of Christian’s next project: funding and budgets! DocuView Déjà Vu: Josh’s: Hands on a Hardbody: The Documentary (1997) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116481/ Jason’s: Obi Wan Kenobi: A Jedi’s Return (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21860836/ Christian’s: Lucy and Desi (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12971802/

Christian has some exciting updates about the Carentan sizzle reel and The Brave Dutch! Also, she recently had a wonderful time zooming in alongside Michèle Phoenix at a screening held at Documentary First's long-time friend, Laura Priebe's, church. If you are interested in live events, you can email Christan@documentaryfirst.com. Tickets for Currahee Military Museum, Toccoa, GA, September 29 event Adult: https://www.toccoahistory.com/storeandmemberships/the-girl-who-wore-freedom-adult-ticket-10 Student or Child: https://www.toccoahistory.com/storeandmemberships/the-girl-who-wore-freedom-student-or-child DocuView Déjà Vu: Christian's: Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14539744/