
The craft and business of documentary filmmaking — from people who actually do it. Documentary First is a weekly podcast for working and aspiring documentary filmmakers who want honest, in-depth conversations about how documentaries get funded, made, and seen. Hosted by Christian Taylor — award-winning director of The Girl Who Wore Freedom (25+ international awards, distributed through Virgil Film... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 284 | Founded | 7 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureFilm InterviewsDocumentaryTV & Film | |||

Someone tried to harvest Christian's voice for AI training. The pitch was polished, the project sounded real. But when she responded with ten professional questions, the conversation ended. Permanently.
In this Deep Dive on Episode 275, Christian co... more
Even with Ken Burns and Don Henley attached, funding a PBS documentary is brutal. So what hope do the rest of us have?
Erik and Christopher Ewers get real about PBS funding, AI’s impact on filmmaking, and how they landed George Clooney, Jeff Goldblu... more
He edited nearly every Ken Burns film since The Civil War. He still didn't know who he was.
Henry David Thoreau wrote that most people lead lives of “quiet desperation.” But what did he actually mean - and what does it look like inside a successful ... more
He's edited nearly every Ken Burns film ever made. But he couldn't edit himself.
What does it take to build a filmmaking career inside Ken Burns's world — and what happens when the hardest part isn't the craft, but learning who you are?
Erik and Ch... more
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Far from a sanitized/glamorous version of BTS filmmaking, I appreciate that the director, Christian Taylor gives an honest view of her difficult journey to making an award-winning movie.
Listening to this has genuinely gotten me more interested in supporting this project and seeing the film when it’s ready.
Thanks for sharing your heart here! It’s so encouraging to hear what you’ve learned & how your faith has informed this journey.
I've been interested in the "Behind the Scenes" inside look of films and productions from a young age. That curiosity has never died! I find it fascinating to hear the perspective of a female first-time producer/director and her passion for telling these stories. Can't wait to hear more!
Can’t wait to see the film
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Apple Podcasts | #68 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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A rich exploration of the documentary filmmaking craft is the hallmark of this captivating show. Each episode offers insightful interviews with filmmakers, industry experts, and professionals, providing listeners with invaluable tips and revealing behind-the-scenes anecdotes on the intricate process of creating documentaries. The discussions frequently cover a diverse range of topics from historical narratives, the emotional weight of storytelling, to technical aspects of production, appealing both to experienced filmmakers and those new to the field. Notably, the focus on personal journeys, often intertwining with broader themes like history and social issues, sets it apart, creating a space where storytelling techniques meet the explorati... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Documentary First:
1. Curiously Kaitlyn
2. Voxology
3. IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit
4. The Holy Post
5. The Russell Moore Show
Documentary First launched 7 years ago and published 284 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Documentary First include:
1. Jake Schroeder
2. Quinnolyn Benson-Yates
3. Joe Amodei
4. Charles Olivier
5. Jeffrey Roth
6. Alan Govenar
7. Susan Lacy
8. Nicholas Bruckman
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