Factual America
Factual America examines America through the lens of documentary filmmaking. Guests include Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning documentary filmmakers and producers, their subjects, as well as experts on the American experience. Find out more about the current and upcoming documentaries on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Sky Documentaries and other platforms directly from the creators. Whether we discuss true crime, music, burning social and political topics, history, or arts, Factual America is your #1 documentary film podcast. Factual America is produced by Alamo Pictures, a London- and Austin-based production company that makes documentaries about the US from a European...
Tue, November 12, 2024
R.J. Cutler on 'Martha': Capturing an Icon's Rise, Fall, and Resilience
In this episode, Matthew sits down with acclaimed filmmaker R.J. Cutler to discuss his latest Netflix documentary, 'Martha'. Cutler offers fascinating insights into the making of the film, which chronicles the life and career of Martha Stewart, the iconic businesswoman and lifestyle guru. Discover how Cutler gained unprecedented access to Stewart and her vast personal archives, and learn about the challenges he faced in capturing her complex story. The director shares his perspective on Stewart's visionary approach to business, her resilience in the face of adversity, and her impact on American culture. Cutler also addresses Stewart's public critique of the documentary, offering a balanced and thoughtful response. This episode provides a deep dive into the filmmaking process, the art of storytelling, and the nuances of portraying a living legend. Whether you're a fan of Martha Stewart, interested in documentary filmmaking, or curious about American cultural icons, this episode offers unique insights and behind-the-scenes details you won't want to miss. Watch the episode at https://www.factualamerica.com
Wed, October 23, 2024
Unsolved Mysteries: the original true-crime series
Unsolved murders, paranormal activity, and UFOs. Unsolved Mysteries , the iconic docu-series that was a staple of TV in the 80s and 90s is back on Netflix with Volume 5. Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual America is multiple Emmy nominated filmmaker Terry Dunn Meurer, the co-creator and producer of Unsolved Mysteries . She shares the secrets of Unsolved Mysteries ’ success and why we have such a fascination with true crime and the unexplained. The filmmaker also describes the different cases the new series investigates, how many cases on Unsolved Mysteries have been solved, and what it’s like working with law enforcement. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ Nobody knows what these body parts are used for or who is doing this, it’s the most unexplainable case I’ve ever seen. ” – Terry Dunn Meurer “ Our focus is let’s solve this. Our job isn’t to judge law enforcement, our job is to help law enforcement solve these cases. ” – Terry Dunn Meurer
Sun, October 13, 2024
How not to rig an election: Stopping the Steal
Stopping the Steal gives an inside account of Donald Trump's challenge to the 2020 presidential election results and how an unsung group of Republican politicians, staffers, and election officials prevented the election from being stolen. Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual America is Emmy and Bafta-winning director and producer Dan Reed. He discusses why he decided to interview pro-Trump Republicans about the election and the benefits he experienced being a British reporter. Dan explains what caused the January 6th riots and why previous Trump loyalists spoke out against him. He also reveals Trump's true thoughts about the election results. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ They’re all loyal conservative pro-Trump Republicans and these are the people who give the inside story of the attempt to steal the 2020 election. ” – Dan Reed “ What many people don’t realise is January 6th is the end. It’s like switching on the TV and seeing the last 2 minutes of the film but the movie started a long time before that. ” – Dan Reed
Sun, July 07, 2024
Paul Simon: Faith, Mortality & Music – with Alex Gibney
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon surveys the studio as Paul records his new album Seven Psalms while reflecting on his six-decade career and wrestling with the issues of faith and mortality. Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual America is Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney, who discusses the impact Paul Simon had on American culture and music, the inspiration behind Paul’s album Seven Psalms, and the challenges of making a documentary about a musical icon. Alex explains his own creative process, the lessons he’s learned from a career in film, and his upcoming film on Elon Musk. We learn what he looks for when choosing to get involved in a project and the skills you need to be a successful documentary filmmaker. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ He’s one of the greatest songwriters ever in terms of rock music. He’s always been driven to the sounds at the limit of what he can hear, intriguing sounds that are completely different to his tradition or experience. ” – Alex Gibney “I started out making documentaries that I thought I knew what was important early on and I discovered that was a terrible way to make films, because if you weren’t exploring and open to the things in front of you that you didn't expect then you were making a boring film. So you have to be open to the idea that things are going to explode. ” – Alex Gibney “ It’s a magical part of the movie because it’s rare in a set that an audience loves a song so much that they make you play it again right away .” – Alex Gibney
Thu, June 20, 2024
The 7M TikTok Dance Cult: Dancing for the Devil
Dancing For The Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult explores the experiences of a group of prominent TikTok dancers who are trapped in a cult masquerading as a management company. In the process the film uncovers disturbing truths about the agenda of Robert Shinn, the cult’s founder and pastor of the Shekinah Church. Joining Matthew Sherwood on Factual America are executive producers Jessica Acevedo and director Derek Doneen, who discuss the making of the film and the challenges of interviewing people who are still in the depths of an abusive and traumatic environment. The filmmakers explain how it takes a long time to recover from leaving a cult, how to build trust with the people you are documenting, and how the cult responded to the wave of criticism and bad publicity. In the end their film reveals so much about the lure of fame, the importance of faith and the bond of family. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ Nobody sets out to join a cult. Cult leaders don't come at you full blast with their manipulations on display, it’s little by little slowly inching you in over time so you’re not realising what’s happening. ” – Derek Doneen “ Financial abuse and control happened there. It wasn’t until they started sharing some of those experiences that they realised that it was happening to them too and unravelled what they thought was a faith-based positive environment and showed it was really quite sinister. ” – Jessica Acevedo “ The assumption is that people are fine and okay, but continue to dig deeper, ask the questions, have patience and meet people where they’re at because you never really know what someone’s going through. What you see on social media can be one thing but it’s worth asking how they’re doing. ” – Jessica Acevedo
Wed, May 15, 2024
Relationship Hack – Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal
In 2002 the Ashley Madison website went live. It was a dating agency with a difference for its targets were people already in relationships. Inevitably, Ashley Madison was roundly criticised. The company’s CEO, however, stated that affairs actually helped marriages. In 2015, hackers broke into the website and published the names, addresses, credit card information, and more of every user. Relationships were destroyed, and some of those named committed suicide. Directed by Toby Paton, Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal is a three-part Netflix docu-series that tells the story of the website’s rise and fall. It goes behind the scenes of what happened through interviews with both people who worked for and who used Ashley Madison, and with people whose partner’s infidelity was exposed by the hack. Toby is Matthew Sherwood’s guest in this episode of Factual America. Among the topics they discuss are how the controversy over Ashley Madison has become forgotten, what it was like working at the company, and what the identity of the still unknown hackers might be. What drives a person to cheat on their partner? This question is key to Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal . And Toby goes in depth as he explores what he learnt in the making of the docu-series. The answers that he found are more nuanced, and more empathic than you might have expected. It isn’t just about cheating. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ Whenever you make a film or a series, no matter how closely you followed it in the news, when you actually start talking to the real people, who have lived through it... the whole thing takes on a depth and a richness that goes far beyond what you ever would have gathered from the news .” – Toby Paton
Wed, April 24, 2024
Terrorism and Tragedy - An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th
It’s April 19th 1995, the 220th anniversary of the start of the American War of Independence, and two years since the violent end of the Waco, Texas siege. In Oklahoma City, a disaffected army veteran named Timothy McVeigh leaves a truck outside the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building. Inside the truck is a bomb. At 9am, McVeigh lights the two minute fuse. When the bomb explodes, it kills 168 people and wounds 680 more. In An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, Marc Levin retraces McVeigh’s footsteps, showing how he went from being a war hero to a terrorist. Rather than look at McVeigh in isolation, however, Marc places his actions in the context of the evolution of political violence in the US. It is an evolution that continues to the present day. In this episode of Factual America, Marc and Daphne discuss the making of the film. They look at how the bombing has become an almost forgotten moment in American history; the economic and military as well as historical background to the outrage; whether McVeigh acted alone; and how views that in the 90s were regarded as being extreme have now entered the mainstream. As we head towards the 2024 US presidential election on November 5th, An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th reflects upon the dangerous journey of American democracy and the high price Americans have had to pay for their freedoms. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ He may be dead but the ghost of McVeigh lives, and there are lots of people out there that subscribe to some of his thinking. ” – Marc Levin
Thu, April 18, 2024
A Brief History of the Future: Making the World A Better Place
Climate change, terrorism, social inequality and poverty, wars between nations, and injustice. Things do not look too good for the world today, and there seems to be little to no hope for the future. A Brief History of the Future, a new docu-series on PBS, challenges this pessimistic outlook. Directed by Andrew Morgan and presented by Ari Wallach, the series visits people from all over the world who are doing something – no matter how big or small – to make the world a better place, not just for their today, but also for everyone’s tomorrow. Andrew is Matthew Sherwood’s guest on this episode of Factual America. Together, they explore: why humans are given to pessimism – ironically, the reason is not a negative one; the idea that what we regard today as possible was once thought to be impossible; and how creativity can come out of what Andrew calls ‘this season of chaos and complexity’. Andrew talks about A Brief History of the Future from an intensely personal perspective: he came to the series suffering from burnout after making other documentaries about problems facing the world. Conversely, his view of the future is both epic and dynamic: the future is a verb; we do it, make it, every day. Discover how on Factual America. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ We have a bias towards negativity, but we also have this extraordinary capacity for creativity and imagination, and just goodness. “ – Andrew Morgan
Thu, April 04, 2024
Against All Enemies: US Veterans Fighting Their Own Country
Why would US military veterans take up arms against the country they swore to protect? This is the question at the heart of Against All Enemies , a new documentary by Charlie Sadoff. In it, Charlie explores the role disaffected veterans played in the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. In order to better understand what happened on that day, he looks at the history of civil unrest involving veterans, from groups such as the Ku Klux Klan through to modern day extremist organisations like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. His journey takes him not only inside these groups but to the top as he meets their leaders. In conversation with Matthew Sherwood, Charlie discusses the answers he found to the question of why veterans join extremist groups, and what the aims of those groups are, as well as some of the people involved in them, including former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn. He also considers whether there could be another January 6th attack, and if so, where. If the picture for veterans looks bleak, Charlie does offer hope. There are groups that help vets transition back to civilian life. But, as he tells Matthew, more needs to be done. Go behind the scenes of the threats and dangers facing America’s veterans in Against All Enemies with Matthew Sherwood and Charlie Sadoff on Factual America. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ Jason Crow was a congressman... barricaded inside the floor of the chamber of the House... he asked this question, How did I a veteran end up on one side of this door, and other veterans who swore the same oath I did end up on the other side of this door? That to me was a very provocative question. And the fact that it was coming from him made it all the more powerful. ” – Charlie Sadoff
Wed, March 27, 2024
God Save Texas: Life in the Land of Oil and Gas
God Save Texas is a three-part docu-series inspired by Lawrence Wright’s book of the same name. In each episode, an acclaimed filmmaker explores the past, present, and future of the Lone Star State. Episode One is directed by Richard Linklater, Episode Three by Iliana Sosa. Episode Two is directed by Alex Stapleton, and she joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss what it was like returning to her hometown of Houston to explore the effect of Texas’ oil and gas industry on her family and local communities. That effect has been vast, for though the energy industry has brought a lot of prosperity to Texas, the cost it has charged has been equally high. Nevertheless, Alex explains that she has hope in the future. That hope rests firmly on the local communities. And it is so strong that Alex has now returned to live in Houston permanently. Among the other topics that Alex and Matthew discuss are mythbusting, the industrial world that lies below Houston, how Lawrence Wright’s book helped Alex to articulate her mixed feelings towards Texas, and the absence and erasure of Alex’s community in Texas’ history. The main thesis of God Save Texas is that what starts in the Lone Star State will in time be experienced by the rest of the US. The series, therefore, can be seen as being both an epic and intimate drama. Go behind the scenes of Alex’s part in it on Factual America. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ I think that the biggest lesson that I got out of making this film is that community is so important. And it's what makes Texas so unique... Texas has always had this wild wild west identity, but we find community, we build communities...the people of this state are pretty incredible .” – Alex Stapleton
Thu, March 14, 2024
The NFL’s Greatest Dynasty: New England Patriots
Between 2001-19, head coach Bill Belichick created one of the most successful dynasties ever seen in American football. Under his leadership, the New England Patriots won a record equalling six Super Bowl titles. Guided by quarterback Tom Brady, the team also set a host of other NFL records, including most wins over a ten year period, longest regular season/play-off winning streak, and most consecutive divisional titles. But this era of nearly unprecedented success did not come without a cost, and the franchise was rocked by a number of controversies. Chief among them were the Spygate and Deflategate scandals. Through it all, however, the team kept winning. Could no-one stop the Patriots? As it happened, only the Patriots themselves could, and that is exactly what happened. In The Dynasty: New England Patriots , a ten-part docu-series now showing on Apple TV+, director Matthew Hamachek explores the rise and fall of the Belichick-Brady Patriot dynasty. How did it achieve greatness? This question is at the heart of the docu-series and opens Matt’s discussion with Matthew Sherwood. They discuss are what it was like interviewing Brady and the famously reserved Belichick, particularly when it came to asking them questions they would rather not answer. Other topics include the comparison to be drawn between the Patriots and Oscar winner Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight, and how you make a compelling documentary about a team whose success made them incredibly unpopular. The Dynasty: New England Patriots is the fruit of 35,000 hours of archive footage and over 70 interviews with Patriot players and coaches from Bill Belichick and Tom Brady onwards. In this podcast, discover the ruthlessness, maniacal nature, and utter determination to succeed that made and maybe marred the New England Patriots’ dynasty. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com <p
Tue, March 05, 2024
Amityville: Origins of the Horror Story
On November 13th 1974, Ronald DeFeo shot his family dead in Amityville, New York. Not long after he was convicted of the killings, the Lutz family moved into the DeFeos’ former home. They did not stay long. After just 28 days, they fled, claiming to have been driven out by paranormal activity. The Lutz family’s experience formed the basis of The Amityville Horror. Released in 1979, it went on to spawn a seemingly endless number of sequels, prequels, and derivatives: over 40 to date. In his docu-series, Amityville: An Origin Story, director Jack Riccobono explores what happened to both the DeFeo and Lutz families. Matthew Sherwood discovers in conversation with Jack that what took place did not happen in isolation. As Jack says, the 1970s was a dark time in America. There was fear in the air, abuse behind closed doors, an increase in drug addiction, and strange new belief systems sprouting up. Jack takes Matthew through the mystery of the silent rifle used in the murders, and the question of why the Lutz family moved into the DeFeo home: did they do it for commercial gain? Was it a hoax? He and Matthew look at the question marks over George Lutz’s character as well as George’s role in the perpetuation of the Amityville story: he never stopped pushing it. Greed, family dysfunction, sensationalism, the truth vs media misrepresentation. The origin of the Amityville horror is much closer to us than we realise. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ I was drawn to this possibility of sort of this cross-genre exploration, and I really felt like there was something unique about this series...you had this true crime component, but then you also had this paranormal story, and then you had this sort of larger cultural landscape that we could explore. ” – Jack Riccobono
Wed, February 28, 2024
Investigating the Octopus Murders: An American Conspiracy
The 1980s were a time of allegation and scandal in America. From the 1980 October Surprise, 1985-87 Iran-Contra Affair, and 1986-91 BCCI scandal, the decade seemed only to be going downhill. And in the midst of it all, the US Justice Department was accused of stealing PROMIS, a piece of software that could be used to create a programme that would allow the US government to spy on whomever used it. Danny Casolaro was a writer, poet, and investigative journalist. At the start of the 1990s, he began exploring what had happened to PROMIS, and it led him to see the theft of this software as being at the heart of America’s other major scandals. Before he could finish his investigation, however, Danny was found dead in a hotel bathtub, with both his wrists slashed. Did he kill himself, as the police believed, or was he murdered? That is the question at the heart of American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders , a new docu-series on Netflix, directed by Zachary Treitz. He and co-executive producer Christian Hansen are Matthew Sherwood’s guests in this episode of Factual America. Together, they discuss what they found as they retraced Danny Casolaro’s footsteps in the last days of his life and what it was like for Zachary watching Christian disappear down a conspiracy rabbit hole before he himself followed him. In the process Zachary and Christian uncover a murky web of scandal at the heart of American government. Or do they? Which of the incredible stories of Michael Riconosciuto, one of Danny’s major sources, and others can ultimately be believed? The filmmakers race around the country to interview subjects and get to the root of the story – all with the support and patience given to them by Netflix in the making of the series. American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders takes a deep dive into the darkest corners of American business and politics. Make sense of it with Zachary and Christian in conversation with Matthew Sherwood. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ Once you dip your toes into [this story] it's almost like a tar... some sort of magic ooze that kind of gets into you, as soon as you touch it. It's like what they say about the abyss... you stare into it and it stares back. This is that story. You touch it and it touches you and it kind of consumes you. ” – Zachary Treitz
Wed, February 14, 2024
MMA’s Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez | Fighting for her Life in the UFC | Q&A with Cassius Corrigan
Tatiana Suarez was born into poverty, endured a “tumultuous [and] traumatic childhood”, and at school chose to compete in a sport – wrestling – that led to her being relentlessly bullied. She overcame every obstacle that life and people put in front of her and became a champion. And not just once, but multiple times. Finally, the greatest prize of all, Olympic glory, lay within her grasp. And then, she broke her neck. And as that was being treated, doctors discovered that Tatiana had cancer. In The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez, Cassius Corrigan tells the story of how Tatiana overcame these seemingly insurmountable setbacks to achieve even greater success than before: with her neck injury meaning that Tatiana could no longer wrestle, she became instead a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. And with the absolute determination and drive to succeed that has characterised her life’s journey so far, she has beaten the hardest opponents, and won the toughest competitions. In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood discusses with Cassius Tatiana’s incredible life. We meet Tatiana the wrestling pioneer for both girls and Latinas, Tatiana the inheritor of a strong mindedness that will not brook denial, and Tatiana who remains the great “What If” of wrestling and MMA despite her achievements. Cassius also explores Tatiana’s family background and extraordinary work ethic. It has made her an icon of one of the most dangerous sports in the world. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... look at what Tatiana is risking every day... this is one of the greatest stories I've ever encountered in sport. I was willing to do whatever it took to bring it to life. ” – Cassius Corrigan
Thu, February 01, 2024
Challenging Zuckerberg’s Metanarrative
Who is Mark Zuckerberg? That is the question at the heart of Nick Green’s new Sky documentary, Zuckerberg: King of the Metaverse . We all know how Zuckerberg took Facebook from being a website accessible to just a few American college students in 2004 to one that is used by over a billion people worldwide in 2024. Along the way, he has acquired Instagram and WhatsApp making him one of the most wide reaching and influential men in the world today. But what are his thoughts? His views? What does he believe in? As Nick Green tells Matthew Sherwood, uncovering the man behind the avatar and update was hard. Unlike his social media rival, Elon Musk, Zuckerberg speaks only guardedly. The importance of his position, however, makes it worth taking time to unravel Zuckerberg’s life. As Matthew notes, he has gone from being a hero, to villain, and is now a survivor. For Nick Green, he has been a disrupter, someone willing to “move fast, [and] break things” in the pursuit of money. In doing so, Zuckerberg has had to navigate serious legal challenges and also the attention of American politicians, all of which, he has overcome. In this year of important elections, a film about the man who could influence them by his actions or inaction could not be more timely. Especially since, as Nick points out, we can only hope that Zuckerberg is up to the challenge of what lies ahead. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com On Facebook’s algorithm: “ Curating what people see and curating what they are exposed to from a business perspective is extraordinary. But... it’s just caused the most horrendous problems. ” – Nick Green
Thu, January 18, 2024
American Nightmare: Unravelling Crimes That Never Were
On the night of March 23rd 2015, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn were drugged and bound by a mystery assailant who had broken into their home. Denise was then kidnapped. When Aaron called the police the next day, they believed he had murdered her. Two days later, however, Denise – who had been sexually assaulted by her kidnapper - was freed. Now the police believed no crime had been committed at all, and that Aaron and Denise were hoaxers. The psychological thriller Gone Girl had been released just six months before. In American Nightmare , co-directors Bernadette Higgins and Felicity Morris explore both what happened and, as host Matthew Sherwood puts it, ‘the consequences of our cultural rush to judgement and the damage done when law enforcement and the media decide the truth can’t possibly be true’. The result is a three-part series that twists and turns and upends your expectations with every passing minute. In American Nightmare , light becomes dark, and dark turns into light. On this episode of Factual America, Bernadette and Felicity guide Matthew through Denise and Aaron’s story as well as the making of their series. Among the topics they discuss are how the unfair treatment of women who are victims of sexual crime motivated them to make American Nightmare , the true crime documentary that inspired and shaped the series, the extensive research that went into the making of it, and how American Nightmare offers the opportunity to get viewers to ask questions of themselves and others about how they treat other people. They discuss the betrayal of trust, self-doubt, and even out-of-body experiences that Denise and Aaron went through. Perhaps most surprising of all, however, is the point of connection that they find between American Nightmare and Pamela: A Love Story , the 2023 documentary about Pamela Anderson. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “This happened, and it happens a lot, and if it can happen to Denise and Aaron, it can happen to anyone.” – Bernadette Higgins
Fri, December 22, 2023
Inside Lady Bird Johnson’s White House: Recording a Public and Private Life
Lady Bird Johnson is best known today as the wife of Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the USA between 1963-69. However, there was much more to her life than simply the role of ‘First Lady’. In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood takes a deep dive into Lady Bird Johnson’s life with Dawn Porter, director of new documentary film, The Lady Bird Diaries . It’s 1963. Liz Carpenter, Lady Bird’s Press Secretary, suggests that she records her ‘thoughts and experiences’ on a tape recorder. Lady Bird agrees and borrows one from Carpenter’s son. She never looks back. Over the next six years she will record 123 hours-worth of material about her day-to-day life. As Dawn tells Matthew, Lady Bird’s entries are ‘detailed and meticulous’: she had a degree in journalism and was a very good note taker. She was also, Dawn says, very disciplined, observant, and conscious of her place in history. This consciousness made Lady Bird an invaluable counsellor for her husband. So much so that in an age where there was no line of presidential succession, Lady Bird was even referred to as ‘Mrs Vice President’. The Lady Bird Diaries describe Lady Bird as ‘one of the most influential and least understood First Ladies in [American] history’. Matthew and Dawn discuss the detail of why that is so. They also explore her abilities as a strategist, how Lady Bird changed the way the White House works, and her political and public independence even from her husband. The picture they draw is of a woman who was more than equal to the challenge of the difficult age in which she lived, and which she so carefully recorded. For a fuller picture of Lady Bird, the Johnson White House and 60s America, this episode is a must listen. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ She both did and didn’t accept the limit on her authority that society was giving her. She didn’t demand credit for her contributions but didn’t stop making them... her priority was getting things done. ” – Dawn Porter
Wed, December 13, 2023
Finding Hope amidst Hate in A Town Called Victoria
On January 28th 2017, a mosque in Victoria, Texas was burnt to the ground by an arsonist. In the aftermath, Victorians stood side-by-side with their Muslim neighbours. In A Town Called Victoria , Li Lu – who grew up in nearby Sugar Land, Texas – explores what happened next: to the town, its Islamic community, and to the arsonist, who was soon apprehended. Li joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss her series, its themes, which include white supremacy, patriotism and mental illness, as well as the limits of healing. Li looks back at her own upbringing, and shares how she discovered the arson attack had happened and its effect on her. She also discusses the role played in the making of the film by her DP, Halyna Hutchins, who was tragically killed on the set of Rust in 2021. Victoria’s story is a bittersweet one. For while there is solidarity and shared prayer, understanding and a determination to repair damage done, the arson attack also exposes deep and profound divisions: racial, political, and economic. And what’s more, this is not a story relevant to Texas alone. As Li puts it, Victoria is a ‘microcosm’ of every American community. A Town Called Victoria needed to be a sensitively made film. It could not have found a better and more informed director than Li Lu. Enter the heart of Texas and America with Li and Matthew Sherwood. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “In terms of really reaching people, be brave and have a conversation that’s hard with someone that could use a conversation to be had with.” – Li Lu
Wed, December 06, 2023
Stamping Out Racist Lies: America’s Truth
Racism is a blight upon the United States of America, and has been all through the country’s history. In Stamped from the Beginning , a documentary film featuring and based on the book of the same name by Dr. Ibram X Kendi, director Roger Ross Williams explores the history of racist ideas in the US. Using an innovative array of methods, including VFX, animation, and music, he explores how the Trans-Atlantic slave trade gave birth to racist ideas, and how racist myths regarding black hypersexuality and criminality still impact society today. Roger and Ibram join Matthew Sherwood to discuss their film, its themes, and the role of black women, both in terms of studying racism and as the interviewees of Stamped from the Beginning . Roger also notes the reason why he uses pop culture to tell the story of racist ideas in the US. It isn’t despite the fact that it has been used over the years to perpetuate racist ideas but because of it. Roger admits that making the documentary was hard. Fortunately, he liked the challenge! The result is a film that, as Matthew says, is both stimulating and uplifting. Racism may be a big part of the US’s story, but it is not the last word. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ We hope that people – through the film – can begin the process of unlearning any racist ideas about black people that they have internalised...and that they would also begin to learn anti-racist ideas of racial equality .” – Ibram X Kendi
Thu, November 30, 2023
How the Cabbage Patch Kids Conquered America
In 1983 America was overwhelmed by a disaster, the likes of which it had never seen before. Hysteria led to riots; mayhem became the norm. And the reason? Chubby, potato faced toys: the Cabbage Patch Kids. In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood meets Dan Goodman, co-executive producer of Billion Dollar Babies , a documentary about the rise and rise of the awkward looking but homely and utterly desirable Cabbage Patch Kids. They discuss the origin of the Cabbage Patch Kids’ success, which can be traced back to the Post-Depression era but also owes a great deal to the improving economy of the early ‘80s and the increasing availability of credit. But none of that would have mattered had the Cabbage Patch Kids not had that certain something that made them so special. Despite being mass produced, improved manufacturing techniques gave each doll a seemingly unique appearance. Each one could be ‘adopted’. And, most simply, they looked cute: cute enough to go through hell and high water at the local shopping mall for. Dan shares how he managed to get the man behind the dolls’ success, Xavier Roberts, onto the doc, while he and Matthew also discuss the roles played in the film by legendary news anchor Connie Chung, and actor Neil Patrick Harris. The Cabbage Patch Kids represent 80s excess at its best or worst, depending on your point-of-view. Step back in time to enjoy the good, the bad, and the immensely cute of it all with Matthew and Dan! Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “You think about these Cabbage Patch Kid riots... and it’s not like we looked at that and thought, ‘Boy, that was a terrible idea!’... Instead, we go the opposite direction... and that’s where we got to this Black Friday mentality.” – Dan Goodman
Wed, November 22, 2023
Wisdom in the Shadows of Dementia
In 1999, Rose Tajiri, a second-generation Japanese-American, was diagnosed with dementia. She was 76. Over the following years, as her condition worsened, her daughter, filmmaker Rea Tajiri, became her caregiver. In Wisdom Gone Wild Rea documents the journey that she and her mother took together, a journey that sees them navigate both the now of life with dementia and the past as Rose recalls memories from her early years, including the time she spent in an internment camp during the Second World War. The result is, as Matthew Sherwood describes it, a film that is ‘tender, bittersweet, [and] poignant’. Rea calls the film a ‘cinematic poem’, which follows the lines of her mother’s thought process, her ‘dream logic’. As Rea makes clear, caring for her mother brought highs and lows, sometimes in unexpected places; Rose’s condition brought danger, but also the opportunity to explore, to find meaning. Most of all, it brought wisdom, not just in one area, but several: beauty, beauty in art, and in spiritual matters among others. Rea discusses her family’s accepting response to her filming her and her mother’s journey, the influence of her late father – a professional photographer – on this project, and offers advice born of her own experience to anyone who might be in the same situation: surrender, connect, enjoy. Living with dementia can be hard, but also meaningful, and even profound. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “It was important to me to centre the film around how [my mother] communicated. I wanted to maybe have the viewer adjust a little bit of how they experience dementia.” – Rea Tajiri
Wed, November 15, 2023
Carlos Santana: Discovering the Spirit of the Man.
Carlos is a documentary that takes the viewer from legendary guitarist Carlos Santana’s beginnings in Mexico to concerts across the world in a musical career that has lasted over fifty years. It goes off-stage as well, exploring his spiritual journey and life with his family, from mother and father, to siblings, and children. In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood meets Carlos ’ director, Rudy Valdez, to discuss Santana’s storied life. Their conversation reveals Carlos as an innovative and laser-focused musician, a story teller with a brilliant memory, and a man always seeking to go further, deeper and higher, whether in his music or life beyond. In addition, Rudy shares how he came to direct Carlos almost despite himself, the intimate nature of the documentary’s production, and his determination to create a film that felt just like you were hanging out with Carlos himself, something that for Matthew made the film very cool, indeed! From fame to family, stardom to spirituality, mysterious tapes and revealing videos of walls, this episode of Factual America takes you from the past, into the present, and maybe even to the future. Plus at the end of the episode Matthew and Rudy have a conversation about the Golden Age of documentary: how Rudy defines it, its duration, and where he believes documentary film making finds itself now. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... what we always tried to do throughout this process is show the music, show it in relation to spirituality, show spirituality and the relation to family. And... come back to music, come back to spirituality, come back to family... all of those things were part of this collective consciousness for Carlos and they were always equally driving his journey and his life...” – Rudy Valdez
Wed, November 08, 2023
Sylvester Stallone: Portrait of a Son, Icon, and Man
To call Sylvester Stallone a film star is only the beginning of any conversation about him. Movies such as Rocky and Rambo have made him an American icon. But even that barely scrapes the surface of who he really is. In Sly , a new documentary film available to watch now on Netflix, director Thom Zimny takes a deep dive into Sylvester Stallone’s story. He starts with the actor we all know before introducing us to the man behind the persona: Stallone the writer, director, and even, painter. He goes further still, in fact, right to the heart of Stallone’s life: his relationship with his father, a relationship that for Thom redefined how he saw Stallone’s films. In this episode of Factual America, Thom joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss Sly , both man and film. Their conversation takes them from the beginning of Thom’s relationship with Stallone to its full flowering. Thom describes his approach to interviewing Stallone, and the energy that the latter brought to their conversation. He reveals how his work with Bruce Springsteen helped him navigate Sly , and the great trust that Stallone put in him, made real with a significant gift. Along the way, Thom shares some of the surprises that came out of making Sly , and even Stallone’s musicality. Join Matthew as he and Thom Zimny pull the curtain back on the real Sylvester Stallone – Sly by name, but open hearted by nature. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “Sly went beyond a biopic for me because I felt like there was a chance to show an artist that gets lost with just a shorthand version of their life... I love the details that get lost, that make a film universal.” – Thom Zimny
Mon, October 30, 2023
Something Ghostly This Way Comes: The Enfield Poltergeist
In The Enfield Poltergeist , Jerry Rothwell uses over 250 hours of audio recordings made by paranormal investigator Maurice Grosse to revisit the case of 284 Green Street in Enfield, North London. There, for a period of eighteen months starting in August 1977, the Hodgson family witnessed furniture move of its own accord, objects get thrown across rooms, and heard disembodied voices speak. Or did they? Some investigators were convinced, others were not. In The Enfield Poltergeist , Jerry builds a replica of the Hodgson family’s house in order to recreate what – is alleged to have – happened, and he joins Matthew Sherwood to go behind-the-scenes of his film. They explore the mystery of poltergeists, disruptive activity that often centres on young people, the effect of the supposed hauntings on the Hodgson children, and how the Green Street case captured the imagination of the British press. Jerry reflects on his own background and how it might have influenced his decision to make The Enfield Poltergeist . He and Matthew also discuss the high-level background of the British Society for Psychical Research, of which Maurice Grosse was a member. Was 284 Green Street haunted? Is the question even relevant? Whatever your view, enter into the spirit of the season with The Enfield Poltergeist . Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ I think what's interesting is... how and why do a people - a group of people in a house come to believe something. [This] for me says a lot about all kinds of things in our modern world... why do we believe what we believe?... the evidence for those things is as much in the stories we tell, and are told, as in, you know, the hard scientific phenomena. ” – Jerry Rothwell
Wed, October 04, 2023
Are We Alone? UFO Encounters from around the World
Welcome to the first episode of the fifth season of Factual America! Joining host Matthew Sherwood is Yon Motskin, the director of Encounters , a new Netflix docu-series about four UFO/alien encounters from around the world. Encounters tells a story that is both epic and intimate in its range. It not only explores what occurred when a diverse range of witnesses – including school children, hoteliers, law enforcement officials, and rescue workers – came face-to-face with the seemingly impossible, but what happened afterwards to them, and those who investigated their stories. Some were able to move on; others, though, were bullied, faced ridicule, and professional ruin. All, though, have stuck to their stories. Matthew and Yon discuss what happened to the witnesses, their credibility or otherwise, and the profound differences between the interpretation of UFO sightings in Japan versus the US. They look at the nature of belief, and how what we believe can define our understanding of what UFOs may be. Yon also shares his appreciation for the involvement of Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television in the making of the film. For Yon, Encounters is fundamentally ‘a human story’ with themes such as ‘consciousness and communication’ at its core. Whether you are interested in UFOs, psychology, mysteries, or the workings of the human heart, this is an episode for you. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ I believe that they believe. Now, if whatever they say happened or not, I wasn't there, so, I couldn't tell you, but it's hard to discount... it's not one person in their backyard seeing something. It's dozens, and in many cases, hundreds of people all seeing the same thing, at the same time. ” – Yon Motskin
Wed, August 23, 2023
Wayne Shorter: Visionary, Innovator, Icon and Human Being
Wayne Shorter has long been considered one of the greatest modern composers and musicians of American music. His career reads like a Who’s Who of the genre, starting with Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, then the Miles Davis Quintet, followed by solo fame and the founding of fusion super group Weather Report. His collaborations extend beyond jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter to include Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchel, Milton Nascimento and Steely Dan, just to name a few. In Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity, acclaimed producer and director Dorsay Alavi moves beyond typical music doc territory to capture the essence of the man who touched so many lives, including her own. As Shorter’s long-time friend and music-video collaborator, Dorsay paints an intimate portrait and cinematic ode to a truly American visionary, innovator and icon. Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity is a three-part docu-series streaming on Amazon Prime from August 25th 2023, which would have been Shorter’s 90th birthday. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com "There's so many layers to Wayne, but I would say mostly, he's a very, very principled person. And I believe that he has always been very authentic and true to what he has always done on an artistic level, [and] in life as well." - Dorsay Alavi
Wed, August 09, 2023
From the Tennis Court to New York: Exploring John McEnroe’s Life
John McEnroe’s volcanic temper on the tennis court is legendary. But there was always more to him than just the explosive outbursts. In McEnroe, a documentary now available to watch on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW, John McEnroe takes a night time journey through his home town of New York, reflecting on, discussing, and interrogating his life on and off the court. Joining Matthew Sherwood is the film’s director Barney Douglas. He shares how McEnroe has changed from his wilder, younger self, the triggers that still make him a challenging person to be with, and how McEnroe sees himself in relation to today’s tennis super stars. Barney also discusses McEnroe’s ‘New Yorker perspective’ as a tennis player, his relationship with his father, and how it influences his relationship with his children. The picture that Barney builds of John McEnroe is of a complex individual, one for whom connection and communication is important, who was an entertainer as well as a highly strung sportsman, and who is a thinker, not just a slave to his emotions. In addition to discussing John McEnroe, Barney pulls back the veil on how he made his film: inevitably, Covid looms large, but so do exorbitant fees for archive footage; he had to make sure he asked McEnroe the right questions, and then, there is the use of animations inspired by Tron of all films. McEnroe is a film that is built different, just like its star. In his short career, Barney Douglas has already made two other accomplished sporting documentaries – Warriors and The Edge – thus showing himself to be the right man to help John McEnroe tell his story. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ [He is] very authentic... there’s nothing Machiavellian about McEnroe. For good or bad, you know he will be very true to how he feels, and that's actually... a very endearing quality. ” – Barney Douglas
Wed, August 02, 2023
Mining Appalachia: Preserving the Story of King Coal
For 200 years, the people of central Appalachia in the US have lived off the industry of coal. Now, though, times are changing, and the coal industry is dying. One day, it will become no more than a memory. Director Elaine McMillion Sheldon describes King Coal as “part documentary, part fable”, and the film aims to not only tell the story of Appalachia and its coal, but also to preserve Appalachians’ memory of it. And that is not all. Through Lanie and Gabby, two young Appalachian girls, Elaine looks to the future, to the new world that is now coming into being. In doing so, she is able to say truthfully that far from now ending, Appalachia’s story is just beginning. In the course of their conversation, Elaine discusses her own intimate connection to Appalachia, the surprising origin of one mark of deep respect given to miners, and how she broke her filmmaking rules in order to make the documentary. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ ... if this was just a story about facts and figures, it would make no sense. But this film is really about the psyche and soul... I think that King Coal dominates a time when work, and pride in work, of belonging was a huge part of our identity. ” – Elaine McMillion Sheldon
Sat, July 29, 2023
Transforming the Planet: Discussing the Human Footprint
Humanity is the master of the world. But how did we achieve this? And what do our actions say about us as a people? These are the questions at the heart of Human Footprint, a new PBS docu-series directed by Nate Dappen and Neil Losin. They join Matthew Sherwood to discuss the programme, which they describe as ‘a science show that explores human history and culture’. Human Footprint starts with an exploration of invasive species. Nate and Neil discuss our response to this problem, which we created. It has led to the rise of some unusual jobs: would you like to be a python hunter? Through Nate and Neil, we discover some more sedate occupations, for example, duck calling and hunting. This brings them to Ramsey Russell, who, in addition to being a duck hunter, is also ‘a poet [and] philosopher’. If humanity has transformed the world, some animals have transformed humans. Dogs are one of them. According to Nate, dogs’ relationship with humans has been ‘symbiotic’, and he describes visiting Resolute Bay in the Arctic Circle where dogs and Inuits help each other to survive. Fast evolving lizards, dancing dogs, and city ecosystems also come under discussion. However, a series like Human Footprint is not easy to make. As Neil says, ‘you have to pre-produce everything... to a really... high degree’. Despite that, however, not everything is planned out, and they did still manage to be surprised by some ‘unexpected gems’ they found during filming, and afterwards. In a conversation that ranges from evolutionary biology, how Shane Campbell-Staton came on board as presenter, to the role of rap music in the making of Human Footprint, Nate and Neil take Matthew Sherwood on a journey across the world and even through time. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... what the series reveals to me [is] that we have an enormous capacity for messing things up if we're not careful. But we also have an amazing capacity for good as a species, and it's really just a matter of what we decide to do collectively. ” – Neil Losin
Thu, July 13, 2023
Q – Inside a mysterious all-women Islamic organisation
What does it mean to belong to a cult-like religious order? How does it affect one’s family? What happens when that membership is lost? These are three of the questions at the heart of Q , Jude Chehab’s first feature documentary. Jude’s subject is her mother, Hiba, who for forty years belonged to an all-women Islamic group called Al-Qubaysiat. That ended, however, when the group’s all-powerful leader, the Anisa, ostracised her. Central to the story of Q is love: of family, truth, and of God. It is an affirming but also destructive force. In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood speaks to Jude about her film. They discuss how Qubaysiat actually ‘started with good intentions’ before losing its way, Hiba’s dedication to the group – even when she lived in the USA – and whether or not she regrets the years she spent as a member of Qubaysiat. From a personal perspective, Jude also discusses what it was like for her moving to Lebanon from the USA, the land of her birth, how she persuaded her parents to make a documentary about them, and the emotional experience of editing Q . Q is an intimate, haunting, and hopeful film. As Jude tells Matthew, there are ghosts within it. At its centre, however, is a family both in front and behind the camera, determined to make sense of the past. It is no wonder that Jude was awarded the Albert Maysles award for best new documentary director at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ I'm now going back and looking for answers, but also trying to save her.. .” – Jude Chehab
Thu, July 06, 2023
Last Flight Home: The Death and Life of Eli Timoner
Eli Timoner lived a life founded on love. As a result, long after an accidental stroke forced him into retirement, he was celebrated by his former workers. And when he died aged 92, on 3rd March 2021, he did so, surrounded by his family. Last Flight Home , a documentary by Eli’s daughter Ondi, tells the story of his last days. But more than that, it relates how Eli chose the date of his passing, something he was able to do through California’s End of Life Option Act. In this moving and poignant episode of Factual America, Ondi joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss the film, her father, family, and how her experience of his dying and death has made her an activist in support of the right to end one’s own life. Ondi speaks frankly about her fears when Eli told her that he wished to die, and how filming him – something she did with his blessing – helped her come to terms with what was happening. She reflects on the differences of opinion that existed within her family over Eli’s decision before they came together to see the world anew. She also shares how she believes Eli continues to watch over his family today. Eli’s story is not an easy one. But neither is it one sided. As Matthew and Ondi’s conversation makes clear, loss is accompanied by grace, beauty, and good memory. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ [Dad] said to me... Ondi, would you rather know the day I'm going to die? Or would you rather get a call in the middle of the night? And it's true, it really allowed us all to prepare, and to plan, and to have closure, and to be able to celebrate, even, his life. And for him, it was like wind in a sail. ” – Ondi Timoner
Wed, June 28, 2023
Masterclass: Discussing Maestra with Maggie Contreras
Once upon a time, to be the conductor of an orchestra was to be a man. No longer. Female conductors, however, are still very much a rarity. The Paris based La Maestra Competition aims to break down the barriers that women still face in becoming conductors by giving them a space to showcase their skills. In Maestra , Maggie Contreras follows five women as they prepare to take part in the 2022 La Maestra Competition. Among them are Mélisse, a Parisian from Iowa, Zoe, a single mother who juggles her preparation with looking after her young twins, and Ustina, a Ukrainian whose country was invaded by Russia just a week before La Maestra started. Maggie joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss these women and more: the physicality of being a conductor, the loneliness of preparation, and extreme limits of time that the women have in competition with their orchestra. Maggie explains why she chose Maestra’s unlikely opening scene, how she ensured that the film would be accessible to viewers with no experience of conducting, and how her own background as an actor helped her to direct the film. As with all films, Maestra could not have been made without its financial backers. These include David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants production company, and Jamie Wolf’s Foothill Productions. Maggie reflects on their contribution as well as that of the Northern Irish companies that handled the film’s editing. Maggie takes Matthew back to her own musical childhood before discussing the challenge of making Maestra , both in the shadow of Covid and by being an outsider in Paris. Together, she and Matthew look at the bond that draws her diverse range of films together. It’s all about making them entertaining. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... you always have to have an idea of what it is you're getting into, but then the magic and joy and fun and danger is you take a step back and let it blossom into what it needs to be. ” – Maggie Contreras
Wed, June 21, 2023
Arnold: Exploring Schwarzenegger‘s Three Lives
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most recognisable figures in the world today. His meteoric rise to fame began in the 1960s and 70s when he won the coveted Mr Olympia and Mr Universe bodybuilding titles multiple times. In the 80s and 90s, Schwarzenegger starred in some of the most successful action films ever to be made, including The Terminator , Terminator 2: Judgment Day , and Predator . And in 2003, he won election as governor of California, a feat he would repeat in 2007. But life hasn’t always gone so perfectly for Schwarzenegger. Drug use and allegations of sexual misconduct are just two of the controversies that he has faced. And in 2011, Maria Shriver, his wife of 25 years, left him, when he admitted to having had an affair several years earlier. In a new Netflix docu-series Arnold , Schwarzenegger reflects on the highs and lows of his life. From its humble beginnings in post-war Austria, stardom in America, to life at 75, his new ventures, and pets. Joining Matthew Sherwood is Lesley Chilcott, the director of Arnold . Amongst other things, she discusses Schwarzenegger’s ‘laser focus’, the secret to his success, his failures, his humour, and the mystery of what might be called his prescience. Lesley also talks about how she likes to ‘edit musically’, the challenge of making a docu-series about such a rich and diversely lived life, and even the comic idea of ‘Arnold’s limitlessness’. Schwarzenegger may indeed be one of the most recognisable people alive today but that doesn’t mean we know everything about him. Join Matthew and Lesley as they unpeel the layers from the life of Arnold. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... a good friend of [Schwarzenegger’s], Paul, always says, You know, I've known Arnold for 40 years, and he sees around corners, and I don't know how he does it. And I don't know what's planned versus what isn't, even though I talk to him almost every day.” – Lesley Chilcott
Wed, May 31, 2023
Early 2000s New York: the Last Romantic Age of Rock’n’Roll
It’s the 1990s, and in New York, guitar music is at its nadir. But as the new millennium approaches, new bands rise out of the ashes of the past. The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, and LCD Soundsystem, are just a few of those bringing a new, powerful sound to the Big Apple. In the middle of this renewal, however, another, wholly discordant, sound rings out over New York: that of terror on 9/11. And in the years that follow, more changes take place. Rents rise, ending the ability of upcoming musicians to live and play close by, while the advent of music downloads forces bands to find new ways to make money. Meet Me in the Bathroom explores the rise of New York’s millennial bands, their love of music, and the essential role that friendship played in their development. Using archival footage, as well as interviews with the musicians themselves, the film charts their rise, journey through 9/11, and beyond. The film’s co-directors, Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, join Matthew Sherwood to discuss this renewal of New York’s music scene at the end of the twentieth century and the tumultuous events at the start of the twenty-first. They look at the importance of Britain to the bands, the ‘romantic’ nature of this period – a time when the lack of social media meant that bands had a greater element of mystery about them – and of New York itself. Dylan and Will discuss how they made the film, the challenges they faced, and the goldmines they found, as well as how the pandemic lockdown proved to be both a blessing and a curse. Meet Me in the Bathroom is both an exploration and, as Matthew says, a tribute to another age in music, one more innocent, but no less powerful and authentic. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com ‘ What we knew we could do [is] sort of viscerally bring to life the time and a sense of the culture, a sense of the differences between then and now, just through building this kind of collage of that period. ’ – Dylan Southern
Thu, May 25, 2023
Working: What We Do All Day featuring Barack Obama
Working: What We Do All Day is a docu-series that explores both what it means to work and the ways in which the meaning of work is changing. Presented by former US President Barack Obama, the docu-series focuses on people working in three different industries: technology, hospitality, and home care. Through him, we hear of their dreams, and their reality; their hopes, and their fears. Joining Matthew Sherwood to discuss Working: What We Do All Day is its director, Caroline Suh. Among other things, she reveals how President Obama became involved in the docu-series, the discoveries that she made in the making of it, and the rationale behind choosing the featured companies. Working: What We Do All Day is a multi-layered film. As Caroline tells Matthew, it enters the lives of people up and down the corporate ladder and seeks to find points of connection between them. In doing so, the docu-series challenges our tendency to do what Caroline admits she once did; that is, only think about the work she is doing now rather than the deeper meaning of it. To quote Barack Obama, ‘our work is one of the forces that connects us’ to each other. Working: What We Do All Day helps demystify that force. In doing so, it brings us closer to one another. Find out what he means, learn about some of Matthew’s dirtier jobs (!), and even Richard Scarry on this episode of Factual America! Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... when someone does something incredibly well, no matter what it is, there’s a beauty to it, and it reaffirms your faith in humanity.” – Caroline Suh
Wed, May 10, 2023
32 Sounds: Exploring the Most Mysterious and Profound of the Senses
It’s March 2020 and the pandemic has just begun. All of a sudden, director Sam Green has a lot of time on his hands. He uses it to read a book, which mentions Annea Lockwood, a composer, who has spent fifty years recording the sound of rivers. Intrigued, he contacts her. Their conversation leads Sam to contemplate sound. The result is 32 Sounds, a documentary that he describes as a ‘meditation’ upon a subject that is both ‘mysterious’ and ‘ephemeral’ but yet can still make a powerful impact on us. In his conversation with Matthew Sherwood, Sam discusses the challenge of using a visual medium to explore sound. He affirms that watching a film at home with headphones can be just as intense as watching it in the cinema, and he opens up on his relationship with the film’s composer, JD Samson: before their meeting of minds, there was a tension between them born of different ideas about the role of music in the film. 32 Sounds is not your typical documentary. Be warned. By the end of this podcast, you may, like Matthew, start hearing all the sounds around you in a new and intense way! Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... opening your ears can be incredibly pleasurable and can bring you back to the present and root you in your body.” – Sam Green
Wed, May 03, 2023
Reimagine Wildfire: An Elemental Threat That We Can Control
In 2018, the Californian town of Paradise was destroyed by a wildfire. How did it happen? Could anything have been done to limit or even stop the inferno? Global warming has made the risk of wildfires greater than ever before, and there are people who believe that we are doing all that we can to stop them. As Trip Jennings tells Matthew Sherwood, however, he was tired of hearing this message. And so, he spent five years researching wildfires. The result is Elemental, a documentary that reveals there is more that we can do, and in some cases, easily, as well. Paradise could have been saved. Trip’s research has taken him from a flight over a wildfire to special hangers where scientists burn replicas of homes in order to observe the fire’s behaviour. He has explored how America’s indigenous people have responded to fires, and met fire survivors, as well as many experts who share their knowledge in the film. It would be easy for Elemental to be a pessimistic film, full of anger about what has happened and is happening, but that is not Trip’s way. He tells Matthew that we need to forgive ourselves and evolve our way of thinking. As part of that, he outlines specific ways in which we can make our homes, and our lives, safer. He also stands up for forests. They may be lethal when set alight, but they also have a critical role to play in the life of planet earth and Mankind. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ ... it's things like boring, non-sexy details that we should think of as doing important climate adaptation work... we shouldn't be thinking about, oh it's just drudgery... we should be thinking about these things as how we adapt as a society to climate change, which is the challenge of all of the generations that are present right now on Earth ” – Trip Jennings
Wed, April 26, 2023
Jason Isbell: Portrait of the Musician as a Young Man
In 2019, four-time Grammy award winner Jason Isbell recorded his album Reunions. As he did so, he discussed his life and work with director Sam Jones. The result is Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed, an unflinchingly honest account of a difficult childhood, Jason’s addiction to drink and drugs, the ups and downs of his marriage to fellow musician Amanda Shires, and how he has poured his life into his music. In this episode of Factual America, Sam joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss his film and its star. They explore how listening is essential to creating good cinematic visuals, the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic had on Jason Isbell’s life as well as on the process of making the documentary, the ‘triumphant ending’ to Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed that in the end didn’t even make the final cut, and points of connection between how Sam makes his films and Jason records his music. Matthew discovers a promising new form of media (!), while both he and Sam find similarities between Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires and other famous musical and Hollywood couples from the past and present. Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed is an intensely personal film about a musician at the height of his powers. With his commitment to cinéma vérité, Sam Jones is the ideal man to direct it. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... the challenge in editing the film was finding these portals between past and present. And what I found is that both past and present inform each other... knowing about his past made the present more rich, and then seeing him in the present struggle gave more context to his past.” – Sam Jones
Wed, April 19, 2023
The Rise and Fall of America's Most Corrupt Police Squad
The Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) was meant to help the Baltimore Police Department fight violent crime. Instead, its officers terrorised innocent civilians. In 2017, a criminal investigation resulted in the successful prosecution of the officers, and they were convicted of extortion, fraud, racketeering, and robbery. In I Got A Monster, director Kevin Abrams tells the story of what happened, and how a crusading defence attorney named Ivan Bates helped bring the corrupt police officers to justice. In the documentary, Kevin also speaks to the GTTF’s victims, giving a voice to people too often denied one. Kevin tells host Matthew Sherwood about the GTTF’s Jekyll and Hyde leader. Wayne Jenkins was a tough but charismatic cop. Away from the spotlight, however, he was also utterly corrupt. They explore the question of how so many officers, who were also the subject of internal police investigations, managed to end up in the same unit. Was it a coincidence or a conspiracy? Kevin and Matthew discuss the broader issue of police corruption in the US, how it has been allowed to continue, and what has happened to the Baltimore Police Department since 2017, Kevin also reflects on his experience of making I Got A Monster, which was completed thanks to the goodwill and help of a diverse range of people, including the FBI, local journalists, and Baltimoreons. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com ”... documentary has a great ability to humanise things, and to make things feel real [so] that people can get a greater understanding emotionally of what people are dealing with... police corruption and the victims of it .” – Kevin Abrams
Wed, April 12, 2023
Waco: The Tragedy that Still Haunts America
February, 1993. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has received word that the Branch Davidians, a cult based near Waco, Texas, is stockpiling illegal weapons at their compound. The ATF attempts to storm the base but the cultists know they are coming and force them to retreat. A 51-day siege follows, and it only ends when the compound is consumed by fire. 82 are killed, including 28 children. In this episode of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood meets Tiller Russell, director and producer of Waco: American Apocalypse, a new Netflix docu-series that features interviews with law enforcement officers and Branch Davidian survivors, as well as previously unseen footage from the siege. Tiller describes what happened at Waco as an ‘iconic American tragedy’ as it brought together two foundational aspects of American life – God and guns. The fate of so many children at the compound also makes it a very contemporary tragedy. Unsurprisingly, therefore, Tiller calls Waco ‘a ghost story’ that has ‘haunted America’. The impact of the Waco siege on America and the world was undoubtedly facilitated by the rise of the 24/7 news cycle which, as Matthew notes, happened at around the same time. Despite, or perhaps because of this, Tiller explains that he is ‘a big believer in the passage of time... being a necessity to retell these stories in a way that adds depth and nuance to them.’ Especially if we consume a lot of news, we need time, sometimes a lot of it, to process what has happened. If we are able to do so, we may discover the story at the heart of Waco: American Apocalypse, the one that, as Tiller says, shows it is about ‘the human experience... what it means to be alive and to die and to watch people that you love, die’. “ Nothing like this had ever happened before. So, the FBI had no idea what they were doing. They were in this uncharted territory; the ATF, the people inside the compound, the news media had never seen anything like this. ” – Tiller Russell
Wed, March 15, 2023
Charles Starkweather: The Murder Victim Who Lived
In the winter of 1957-58, 19 year old Charlie Starkweather went on a killing spree that would claim eleven victims before he and his accomplice, Caril Ann Fugate, were caught. At their trial, both were found guilty of murder. Charlie was executed while Caril was given a life sentence, later reduced. In The 12th Victim, Nicola Marsh explores what happened during the killing spree from Caril’s perspective. She shows how, contrary to what was said at the time, Caril was not Charlie’s girlfriend but his ex; neither was she his willing accomplice but his hostage. And, most importantly, although convicted of murder, she killed no one. As Nicola tells Matthew Sherwood, the Starkweather murders “coincided with the birth of live television news”. This gave both Charlie and Caril an immediate notoriety that encompassed all of America. In the years since, the case has also influenced the arts. Nicola cites Badlands (1973), True Romance (1993), and Natural Born Killers (1994) as films all inspired by what happened. They also explore how The 12th Victim was made – from Nicola’s use of archival footage to the different ways she recreated key scenes. And they look at the question of what makes the true crime genre so popular, Nicola offers this succinct answer: “You get to experience all the things you're afraid of, but in a very safe way.” At the heart of it all, however, stands a young girl whose life was ruined by the actions of others. Starkweather’s malice, incompetent policing, and bad decisions made by her attorney gave Caril Ann Fugate little chance of escaping the nightmare. Nevertheless, she continues to protest her innocence and seek a pardon. “ I think what really I found particularly compelling about the story was that for women, most women, we've all been in slightly sketchy situations. And the path out of it is laugh at the jokes until you have a clear exit strategy... If somebody gets a bit handsy, you don't turn around and punch them in the face, otherwise, you can end up dead. ” – Nicola Marsh
Wed, March 08, 2023
Investigating MH370: The Plane that Disappeared
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 represents one of the greatest mysteries in modern aviation history. On March 8th 2014 the plane left Kuala Lumpur on a scheduled flight to Beijing. Forty minutes later, the captain and Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control bade each other good night. That was the last communication between MH370 and the outside world. Less than two hours later, having been tracked by military radar, the aeroplane disappeared from sight somewhere over the Andaman Sea. In MH370: The Plane That Disappeared , a three-part Netflix docu-series, director Louise Malkinson, tells the story of how the plane vanished, and the nine-year aftermath. Louise and her producer, Harry Hewland, join Matthew Sherwood to discuss their new documentary. At the heart of the MH370 story are the families of the 239 passengers and crew who were on the plane, as well as those who, over the last decade, have sought to find out what happened. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared puts both groups front and centre as it explores what Harry calls, ‘the human story of the impact of MH370 and what this kind of mystery can do to people.’ In order to tell their story as authentically as possible, Louise and Harry were determined not to lead the viewer to any particular conclusion. When they present the various theories regarding MH370’s fate, they provide argument and counter-argument. The question of what happened to flight MH370 is yet to be solved. The docu-series is, therefore, a story without an end. It is also, however, the story of a ‘strong community’: the next-of-kin who, as Louise tells Matthew, still ‘come together, every year around the anniversary’ to remember their loved ones, and who are still intent on finding the truth about what happened on that dreadful day in 2014. “ I spoke to people in China, we spoke to people in Malaysia, we spoke to people in France... everybody's the same: we all need closure. We all need it. We need to be able to say goodbye, and the fact that they haven't been able to do that...[it’s] an unimaginable torture that they've had to go through, through all this time. ” – Louise Malkinson
Wed, March 01, 2023
The Day Fatboy Slim Narrowly Avoided Disaster
Right Here, Right Now represents a beginning and an end. As director Jak Hutchcraft tells Matthew Sherwood, the film is his directorial debut. A concert, like the one that forms the film’s subject, however, will likely never be repeated in the UK again. The year is 2002. Superstar DJ Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) has decided to put on a free concert at Brighton beach. The authorities expected “around 50,000 people to attend” explains Jak. On the day, however, 250,000 fans crowd onto the beach. The police are overwhelmed. On a hot summer’s day, the concert is surely heading for disaster. In the event, though, there are a total of just six arrests and one death – a tragic accident after the event. Matthew and Jak discuss how Cook went from being a member of 80s pop band, The Housemartins, to being a DJ, and one of the biggest stars not only in the UK, but also America. They discuss his musical genius, looking at one of Cook’s most famous songs, Rockefeller Skank. At the heart of their conversation, however, is the free concert on Brighton beach: how it nearly didn’t happen, the trauma it caused those tasked with policing it, and the impact it had on Brighton and Brightonians – an impact that is still being felt today. Matthew discovers that Jak used to be a youth worker. Redundancy made him look at where his career was going – where he wanted it to go. Ultimately, his questioning brought him to Right Here, Right Now, and the concert of a lifetime. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ [Fatboy Slim’s free concert] changed people's lives... It changed dance culture and club culture and electronic music. It changed that forever, especially in the UK, [as well as] perceptions of our DJs and what they can do .” – Jak Hutchcraft Resources: Right here, Right now The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Jak Hutchcraft Website Twitter Instagram Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/matthewsherwood/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl=
Wed, February 22, 2023
Oscar Nominations 2023: Three Tales from the Past and the Heart
The Martha Mitchell Effect Martha Mitchell, wife of John Mitchell, Attorney General of the US under President Richard Nixon, was not afraid to speak ‘truth to power’. She was so influential that President Nixon would go on to say that without her, there would have been no Watergate scandal. Despite her important role, Mitchell has, in the years since Watergate, become a forgotten figure. Co-producer of The Martha Mitchell Effect , Judith Mizrachy states that this is a result of a successful gaslighting campaign against her. The film aims to give Mitchell the credit she is due. How Do You Measure A Year? Jay Rosenblatt started filming conversations with his daughter, Ella, when she was just two years old. He continued to do so every year on her birthday until she turned 18. In How Do You Measure A Year? we see those conversations evolve as Ella goes from being a ‘toddler to [a] young woman’. How Do You Measure a Year? represents Jay’s desire to learn and help Ella grow up, to empower her, and, as Jay says, help her to be herself. Stranger at the Gate A US Marine returns home from active service filled with hatred towards Muslims. He builds a bomb, intending to blow up his local mosque. But then, he meets the Muslims who worship there. They treat him with kindness and love. And that’s after they discover what he intended to do. For director Joshua Seftel, Stranger at the Gate comes out of his wider The Secret Life of Muslims project, which is his attempt to counter the hatred Muslims received after 9/11. Stranger is an extraordinary story of friendship, forgiveness and reconciliation. Joshua notes how divided people have become today but also how we can ‘build impossible bridges between each other’ so that strangers may become friends. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com Resources: The Martha Mitchell Effect How Do You Measure A Year? Stranger at the Gate The MovieMaker Podcast Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Anne Alvergue IMDb Twitter Connect with Debra McClutchy IMDb Website Connect with J
Wed, February 15, 2023
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Whether or not you give a f*ck, this is the film for you. If you don’t care about anyone or anything, The Subtle Art shows why you should. If you do care, The Subtle Art shows why you shouldn’t. It may have something to say, but The Subtle Art says nothing new. As director Nathan Price tells Matthew Sherwood, it uses ‘very old knowledge... Buddhism... stoicism... wisdom that's existed through the ages’ but it speaks in a ‘punky’ way that makes the film’s message fresh and relatable for people today. At the heart of The Subtle Art is Mark Manson, author of the book on which the film is based. He uses the example of his life to firmly ground his words in reality. The Subtle Art is not a film that tolerates platitudes; only the truth. Matthew’s conversation with Nathan ranges from the philosophical, as they discuss the difficulty of being human, to the nuts and bolts of shooting the film, which Nathan did in just eight days. Nathan reveals how a surprising encounter alerted him to the special nature of Manson’s book, the problems caused during production by NFTs, and the kindness shown by other creatives in letting their work be used in the film. Nathan questions if The Subtle Art is even a documentary. In a way, it isn’t. It’s not even really a ‘self-help’ film for it goes much deeper than that. It’s no more, or less, than a film that helps you realise : realise that life can suck but happiness comes from solving our problems rather than avoiding them. And how do we solve them? By working out what to give a f*ck about, and what not. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ ... the human body is so complex, the human brain is so complex, it doesn't hurt to meditate upon it... and..., I guess, you could think of this [film] as a really just hyper-pitched, crafted meditation session. ” – Nathan Price What is Covered: 01:42 – Matthew Sherwood introduces this episode’s guest, Nathan Price, director of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a f*ck 04:13 – Nathan explains what The Subtle Art is all about 06:07 – Discussing Mark Manson, author of the book on which the film is based 07:10 – How The Subtle Art is a film without precursors 08:28 – How The Subtle Art is about more than its title immediately suggests 09:10 – How Mark Manson came to write The Subtle Art 10:19 – The Subtle Art: Speaking old truths in a new way 11:17 – The difficulty of being a human 14:47 – The kind of film Nathan wanted to make 16:59 – Introducing the grawlix 17:41 – Mark Metcalfe’s role in making a film version of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a f*ck 18:46 – How Nathan became involved in the making of the film 21:36 – F
Wed, February 08, 2023
Moonage Daydream: David Bowie’s Impressionistic Life
David Bowie lived a life of extraordinary creativity and success. It was also a life of controversy, radical changes of direction, and an unceasing desire to push his art to the limits. He was a cultural icon and an artistic genius. How does someone make a film about such a figure? According to the director of Moonage Daydream, and this episode’s guest, Brett Morgen, you have to first know your limitations: you won’t be able to cover everything so look for the ‘through line of action’, the theme that ties all the aspects of the film together. For Brett, the way he displays the through line is by making his film less informational and more experiential, and ‘impressionistic’. In addition to Moonage Daydream, Brett also discusses some of his previous films, including Montage of Heck, a bio-pic of Kurt Cobain, and The Kid Stays in the Picture. He shares a little of his ‘method’ approach to directing: to make The Kid he lived with its subject, Bob Evans, for a year. Coming back to Moonage Daydream, we discover how the ultimate origin of the film can be traced right back to 2007. We also learn something of how much the film cost to make. Not in money, but personally. For during the pandemic, a heart condition meant that Brett had to be physically isolated from his family. Ultimately, making Moonage Daydream was an intense experience. But also, one from which Brett was able to learn important lessons. Some he is able to share with Matthew. Others, as he admits, he is still absorbing. Great art has that effect. Fortunately, great artists stay with us to guide us through their work, and David Bowie was one of the greatest of all. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ [David Bowie] lived his life by example... he was so comfortable in his skin. I watched every frame, you know, for two years... he was always present, and always learning and viewing each moment as an opportunity for an exchange, for growth.... he was obviously an incredible artist, but there's so much more to draw inspiration from. ” – Brett Morgen
Wed, February 01, 2023
Dog Days: The Truth Behind Gunther’s Millions
Gunther’s Millions is about a dog who is living anything but a dog’s life. Gunther is a German Shepherd. He lives a life of luxury thanks to a trust fund. But did a Countess really bequeath her money to him? And what can be his interest in the homes of celebrities, pop bands, and perhaps even a sex cult? The answer, of course, is that – being a dog – he has no interest in any of these things at all. The humans who look after him, however, now that’s another matter. In this episode of Factual America, Emilie Dumay and Aurelien Leturgie, the co-creators of Gunther’s Millions, join Matthew Sherwood to discuss the strange story behind the adorable photos of a very rich dog. It is a story that crosses continents, that involves the accidental revealing of private documents, of a mastermind who is as brilliant as he is eccentric, fraud, and even scientific experiments. As Emilie and Aurelien open up Gunther’s weird and wonderful world, we find out how his story has affected them, both as filmmakers and individuals. Ultimately, though, the conversation comes back to the dog who started it: Gunther, who is not only the world’s richest dog, but also, as Aurelien suggests, a philosophy, a fantasy, and an icon. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... you can't really judge a book by its cover. And that's really also what we've learned there, through this wild ride... money does not make you necessarily happy; it just provides you a little bit of comfort to create things. And that's what [Maurizio] does best. ” – Aurelien Leturgie
Wed, January 25, 2023
Pelosi in the House – a life of service in troubling times
In the course of her 36 year – and counting – political career, Nancy Pelosi has redefined what American women may achieve in politics. Two stints as House Speaker and twenty years as leader of the House Democrats have made her one of the most important female politicians of the early twenty-first century. With her every step of the way has been her daughter, Alexandra, whose new HBO/Sky documentary, Pelosi in the House, is the fruit of their relationship as well as over thirty years of work. Alexandra joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss a diverse range of topics, including the use of an iPhone as a weapon during the January 6 insurrection, what it was like filming both her mother and in the Capitol, American decline, and when the USA was at its best. Their conversation ranges from the homely as they find a point of connection in their children’s names, to the solemn, when Matthew asks if Alexandra sees any hope for the USA in the future, to the serious, as Alexandra discusses the toxicity of social media, which nearly lead to the murder of her father. Alexandra holds nothing back; she says it as she sees it; whether they are talking about the powerful, her employers at HBO, or even herself. She is forthright, frank, and funny. This is a conversation you will not want to miss. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ The person that I put on my film is the person that I have known my entire life. There isn't another version of her that exists .” – Alexandra Pelosi
Thu, January 19, 2023
Phil Spector – Music Legend and Murderer
Phil Spector was a musical genius. His brilliance as a producer made him a legend. On February 3rd 2003 he shot Lana Clarkson dead. In 2009, he was convicted of murder, and died in prison on January 16th 2021. Spector is a four-part Showtime docu-series (available to watch on Sky Documentaries in the U.K.). In it, series co-directors Sheena M. Joyce and Don Argott examine not only Spector’s ‘life and legacy’ but also the person of Lana Clarkson. As they tell host, Matthew Sherwood, they want to make Lana ‘more than just a footnote in the Phil Spector story’ by bringing ‘her out as a fully fleshed out human being.’ In doing so, they take the viewer on a more challenging but ultimately more rewarding journey. The Phil Spector that they present is no monster. Rather, he is a deeply damaged human being; one whose flaws led ultimately to his downfall. In this episode of Factual America we learn that in order to present as full a picture of Spector as possible, Sheena and Don spoke to a wide variety of people. Among them, the lead detectives in the Lana Clarkson murder case, as well as others with first-hand knowledge of some of the incredible stories told about Spector during his career. The docu-series even has recordings of Phil Spector speaking on the night of the murder. With Matthew, Sheena and Don discuss the link between musical genius and mental illness – why it seems to affect artists and not people in other industries; the role of money and power, and whether we can still engage with the work of artists who have done terrible things. They also shed light on who Lana Clarkson was. As Sheena says, Lana ‘was more than Phil Spector’s victim. She was a successful working actress... a daughter and a sister and a friend who by all accounts brought light and joy into the lives of everyone she met.’ Spector is the story of a tragedy, of a legacy corrupted, and two lives wasted. It is a story that moves in the light, and dark. In Factual America #120, go behind the scenes with Matthew Sherwood, Sheena M. Joyce and Don Argott. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ There have also been people that criticised us for contextualising Phil’s behaviour, as if that's somehow giving him a pass... it was important to us to present him as a multifaceted human being. He was a loving and devoted father to his daughter Nicole... It doesn't negate the fact that he murdered Lana Clarkson. ” – Sheena M. Joyce
Wed, January 11, 2023
How Bernie Madoff Became the Monster of Wall Street
No one knows when Bernie Madoff created the Ponzi scheme that would one day lose $64 billion and ruin many lives. Madoff said it started late on. In this episode of Factual America, Joe Berlinger, director and executive producer of Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street , tells host, Matthew Sherwood, that he thinks it was right at the start of Madoff’s career, after he lost $30,000 of investors’ money and, upon receiving a loan to pay it back, chose to lie about what had happened rather than admit the truth. Whatever the answer, Madoff did not act alone. Others helped him, both actively and – in the case of regulators and banks – through their negligence. Year after year, Madoff’s investments remained profitable despite this being financially impossible. He got away with it though, because, as Joe tells Matthew, ‘people just look the other way when greed is involved.’ In the end, it took a ‘Black Swan’ event – the 2008 financial crisis – to bring Madoff’s sham success to a cataclysmic end. With his own longstanding interest in stock markets and thirty years experience as a documentary filmmaker, Joe Berlinger is the ideal man to tell the story of Bernie Madoff’s rise and fall. As well as discussing Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, Joe and Matthew look at how what happened with Madoff finds an echo today with the unfolding FTX scandal. They also discuss whether or not Joe worries about standing out from other filmmakers, and the struggle he had to distribute his first film, Brother’s Keeper, in 1992. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ I wanted to dissect the Ponzi and how it worked, and what all those red flags were and why it's representative of such incompetence, or worse, on the part of a lot of institutions that should have known better...I wanted people to understand just how easy it is to manipulate and cheat the system in part as a cautionary tale. ” – Joe Berlinger
Wed, January 04, 2023
I am Vanessa Guillen
Christy Wegener, director and producer of I Am Vanessa Guillen, joins Matthew Sherwood to tell the story of Private First Class Vanessa Guillen. In 2020, after suffering from sexual harassment by a superior, Vanessa was murdered by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood army base outside Killeen, Texas. In the months that followed, her family refused to let either their grief or the weight of the military silence them, and started a campaign to win justice for their sister and daughter, and all victims of sexual abuse in the military. Their campaign took them to the halls of power in Washington DC, and ultimately, success. How did they do it? As Christy tells Matthew, the Guillens are ‘an incredibly close-knit family’, one motivated by a desire to ensure that no one ever again is forced to suffer as they have done. This absolute determination, guided by expert help from their lawyer, Natalie Khawam, allowed them to weather the storm of grief and failure, and provided a springboard to their success. Today, it continues to inspire them as Vanessa’s sister, Mayra, leads the I Am Vanessa Guillen Foundation, which advocates on behalf of military sexual abuse victims. As Matthew Sherwood discovers, the US military has tried hard to deal with claims of harassment and assault within its ranks, but the military system itself remains antithetical to the demands of justice. Christy shares how the presence of cameras can help hold politicians to account, and how the Guillens managed to unite in their cause an otherwise hopelessly divided Capitol Hill. I Am Vanessa Guillen is the story of a tragedy, of enduring love and courage, and the breaking of a cycle of silence and pain. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com <p style= "box-sizing: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 1em !important; color: #2b1813; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; w
Wed, December 21, 2022
FIFA Uncovered
This week on Factual America, Matthew Sherwood is joined by Miles Coleman, writer and co-producer of Netflix docu-series, FIFA Uncovered. When the Fédération Internationale de Football Association – more popularly known as FIFA – was founded in 1904, its remit was simple: to oversee a competition between various footballing nations. Today, however, it is a multi-billion dollar organisation that operates almost as a nation state. FIFA Uncovered explores the governing body’s rise and the fall of FIFA executives following allegations of corruption in 2015. How did it happen? As Miles tells Matthew, money is at the heart of the matter. It began over fifty years ago when sportswear firm Adidas wined and dined FIFA executives in order to become a major partner. Over the years, people and interests who wanted to win at all costs passed money to executives to make sure the ‘right’ decisions were reached. For example, and allegedly, the grant of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Miles discusses the challenges of making a documentary about a subject people either know everything or nothing about, of interviewing people in the age of Covid, and his determination to let the FIFA executives interviewed in the docu-series tell their own story. He looks at the hot topic of sports washing, how FIFA preferred dealing with repressive regimes to democracies, and what benefit a country like Qatar gets from holding the World Cup: it begins with good PR but goes far beyond it. Is FIFA Uncovered a docu-series simply for football fans? No. It begins with football, but ultimately becomes ‘a story about human nature’ as well as the success and humbling of an empire. Join Matthew and Miles as they explore a topic both epic and personal. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com <p style= "box-sizing: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 1em !important; color: #2b1813; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal
Wed, December 14, 2022
Santa Camp
Every summer, a horde of professional Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves descend on a campsite in the New Hampshire woods to learn the tricks of their trade. But this year is different. As Santas adapt to a modern world and embrace inclusivity, they are met with a lot of love but a lot of hate too. Filmmakers Nick Sweeney and Stacey Reiss join us to talk about how they got such an unprecedented insight into Santa Camp, what it was like filming hundreds of Santas, and the biggest challenges they encountered while making the film. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “We had no idea of the twists and turns it would take, we never thought we’d be standing face to face with the Proud Boys, we never thought the Clauses we’d been following would have such extraordinary things happen to them, the highs and the lows.” - Nick Sweeney
Tue, December 06, 2022
Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich
Disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, was an infamous sexual predator, using his money and influence to hide is secret life preying on young girls. But he did not act alone. Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and daughter of privilege was just as much a monster as Epstein, as revealed by the new Netflix documentary, Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich . Join Matthew Sherwood as he talks with Maiken Baird and Lisa Bryant, co-directors and executive producers, about the bravery of the victims who have come forward to testify against Maxwell. They also discuss the challenges of telling this shocking tale and the ability of the powers that be to cover up the biggest scandal since Watergate. “Where are the names? We know the names. Everyone kind of knows the names. But we can’t publicly say these names because there’s not a picture, there’s no solid proof, and there’s a huge cover-up. We know there’s a huge cover-up. But who is at the head of the cover-up? Well, that’s a bit muddy, because it has been covered up!" – Lisa Bryant
Thu, December 01, 2022
Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?
In 1996 a Pepsi giveaway competition inspired John Leonard, a young mountain guide from Seattle, to do everything he could to claim the top prize – a Harrier jet. Realising that it was physically impossible to drink enough cans of cola to earn the necessary 7,000,000 points, John hatched a plan that soon had him facing off against a team of corporate lawyers. A David versus Goliath story for the ages, Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? – a new docuseries from Netflix – celebrates the human spirit and humanity’s boundless capacity for creativity and innovation, all against the backdrop of 1990s America. Join Matthew Sherwood in a laugh-filled chat with the film’s award-winning director and producer, Andrew Renzi, who relays what it was like to work with Netflix, climb a mountain in Antarctica and hang out eating hoagies with Michael Avenatti. At the end Matthew discovers that one of Andrew’s first jobs in film was working for Wes Anderson, helping to shed a light on one of Hollywood’s most idiosyncratic filmmakers. “There’s a difference for me between stories that are nostalgic and stories that are timeless…There’s a big draw right now to try to tell nostalgic stories…but that just doesn’t have enough teeth for me.” – Andrew Renzi
Wed, November 23, 2022
The Letter
Nicolas Brown’s new documentary, The Letter , takes its name from Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ 2015 letter on the care for ‘our common home’ – the earth. The film explores the journey of a group of people from different walks of life – some from the margins of society, others closer to the centre – as they make their way to the Vatican, for a meeting with the Pope. In this special episode of Factual America, Nicolas and host Matthew Sherwood discuss The Letter ’s twin themes: the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, as well as the scientific reaction to the making of the film, which was unexpectedly positive. They explore how the Pope became an environmentalist, and how St. Francis of Assisi inspired Arouna, Ridhima, and all those whose journey Nicolas followed. Nicolas also shares some light-hearted moments from the making of The Letter – such as the day he had to work out whether Pope Francis would turn left or right when entering the room on the day of their meeting – as well as some deeply personal ones from his own career – for example, the day Sir David Attenborough spoke out for the first time to warn the world of the climate crisis. The Letter is a film about a world in danger. But more than that, it is about people who are rising to meet the threat. Compelled by reality, they find in Laudato Si’ an ally in theology, and in Pope Francis, someone who is prepared to speak at the top of his voice with them, and for them, for the environment, and future generations. Made by the award-winning Off The Fence production company, The Letter can be watched for free on YouTube ( here ). <p style= "box-sizing: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 1em !important; color: #2b1813; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-dec
Wed, November 16, 2022
Who is Stan Smith?
Who is Stan Smith? A tennis legend, humanitarian, and... a shoe! Before Djokovic or Federer, McEnroe or Borg, there was Stan Smith. A brilliant player, his success on the tennis court in the ‘70s led to Adidas naming its now iconic tennis shoe after him. But there is much more to Stan Smith than tennis success and shoes. For though he set out to be the best, in the end that wasn’t enough. He wanted to do good as well. Join Matthew Sherwood as he discusses the new UNINTERRUPTED documentary Who is Stan Smith? with its director, Danny Lee. They discuss the sacrifice Stan Smith made to improve conditions for his fellow tennis players, the help he gave to South African author, Mark Mathabane, and what happened when Stan went behind the Iron Curtain to play the controversial Romanian superstar, Ilie Nastase. Who is Stan Smith? is a feelgood film about the man who is most known for the shoe, but who deserves far greater recognition for his humility, kindliness, and self-giving. Find out more with Matthew Sherwood and Danny Lee on Factual America. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “ ... the moral of the tale is, it's not necessarily all about winning... It's like the longer lasting impacts you can have on humanity... [Stan Smith is] just a wonderful human being. And I think he's a testament of the possibilities of what we can all do [when] we try to do good. ” – Danny Lee
Wed, November 09, 2022
Killer Sally
Sally McNeil killed her husband, Ray; but was it an act of self-defence or pre-meditated murder? That is the question at the heart of Killer Sally , a new three-part docu-series by Nanette Burstein, now showing on Netflix. Sally and Ray were a power couple in the truest sense of the word – both were bodybuilders. But Ray took his training to extreme levels, using steroids to increase his muscle growth. And according to Sally, it was during a ‘roid rage’ on St. Valentine’s Day in 1995 that he lost his temper and tried to kill her before she shot him. The prosecution at Sally’s trial portrayed her as a bully. But as Nanette explains, Ray was an abusive husband. So, while Sally was not an innocent victim, her husband not only abused her but also their children. The children’s lives were shattered by what happened. Since then, they have sought to break the cycle of abuse that began even before their mother and father met. Among the topics discussed by Nanette and Matthew are how Nanette handled interviewing Sally’s son, the seedy side of female body building, points of connection between Sally McNeil, Hilary Clinton and Tonya Harding, and the difficulties faced by women who are trapped by domestic violence perpetrated against them. Join Nanette and Matthew as they lift the lid on an infamous moment in body building history; a case that remains both relevant and compelling nearly thirty years later. “ ... one out of every three women globally, is the victim of physical and or sexual violence by an intimate partner... we sweep it under the rug, you know, and I think that Sally's case definitely sheds light on the fact that we need to revisit how we judicially and socially deal with domestic violence cases. ” – Nanette Burstein Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
Wed, November 02, 2022
Cat Daddies
Once, they were gods who had to be placated. Now, they still need placating, but they also help save lives and bring hope in a time of distress. We are, of course, talking about cats. In her new documentary, Cat Daddies, Mye Hoang explores the relationship between a diverse group of American men and their feline friends. At the centre of her film is homeless New Yorker David Giovanni, and his cat, Lucky. It’s 2020. David receives bad news about his health. And then, the pandemic strikes. What will happen to them next? Once upon a time, David saved Lucky’s life. Now, Lucky will save his. As Mye tells Matthew Sherwood, Cat Daddies is ‘a love letter’ to men who love cats. But more than that, it shows how cats can help men build their mental health, provide stability to them in a chaotic world, and even make friendships. Cat Daddies is a tender and inspiring film. It is also a thought provoking one, and, in Mye’s words, an ‘emotional roller coaster’ that explores the topics of masculinity and vulnerability. Join Matthew Sherwood as he discovers a world both familiar and strange, happy and sad, but always hopeful: that of the Cat Daddies. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “... it's also inspired by my own story with my husband, who, when we were first dating, he was not a cat guy at all. And then one day a cat found him... It only took a few days, and he was hooked.... it just goes to show... you think you know who you are. And sometimes life surprises you.” – Mye Hoang
Wed, October 26, 2022
38 At The Garden
1 game. 38 points. The birth of a legend. In 2011, no one knew or cared about an NBA player named Jeremy Lin. In early 2012, however, that changed, as Lin stunned opposition teams, fans, and the world alike with a series of brilliant on court performances for the New York Knicks. And chief among them were the 38 points Lin scored against the mighty LA Lakers at Madison Square Garden on 10 th February 2012. Success did not come easy for Lin. As Frank Chi, director of new HBO documentary, 38 at the Garden, tells Matthew Sherwood, Lin had to fight stereotypes about what Asian Americans were capable of before he got his chance. And even then, only a stroke of luck put him on the road to Linsanity... In this episode of Factual America, join Matthew and Frank as they discuss the career of the man whose brilliance on the court destroyed prejudice, built up hope, and left a legacy rich in glory and empowerment. “The movie is about an impossible moment... A moment when society at large assigns to a group of people, saying you can't do this, and then someone comes out of nowhere and just shatters that to pieces." – Frank Chi Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
Thu, October 20, 2022
All That Breathes
Welcome to the fourth season of Factual America! Today, Matthew Sherwood speaks to Shaunak Sen, director of All That Breathes, an award-winning documentary about two brothers, Mohammad and Nadeem, in Delhi, who have dedicated their lives to helping the Black Kite, a victim of Delhi’s ever worsening air pollution. All That Breathes is both an intimate portrayal of Mohammad’s and Nadeem’s work and, as Shaunak explains, a philosophical documentary that shows how the toxicity of Delhi’s air is reflected on the ground. Above all, though it is a film about miracles: miracles in the air and on the ground, giving hope to a world that seems doomed to disaster. Join Matthew and Shaunak as they discuss this timely documentary, which has already taken the film festival circuit by storm, winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and the Golden Eye award at Cannes earlier this year. The film is currently on release in the UK and USA and will be available to stream on HBO next year. “... every bird that flies out of their basement is a miracle.” - Shaunak Sen Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com
Thu, July 28, 2022
Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 - The Perfect Storm
Woodstock '99 was supposed to be a millennium defining celebration of peace, love and great music. Instead, the festival degenerated into an epic trainwreck of fires, riots and destruction. Utilizing rare insider footage, and eyewitness interviews with an impressive list of festival staffers, performers and attendees, Netflix docuseries Trainwreck: Woodstock '99, releasing on August 4th, goes behind the scenes to reveal the egos, greed and music that fueled three days of utter chaos. Acclaimed filmmakers, director Jamie Crawford, producer Cassie Thornton, and executive producer Tim Wardle, join us to talk about 1990s nostalgia, the rock festival that went wrong, and why they thought there should be another documentary about it. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “Woodstock ’99 was like an experiment in anarchy: what happens when you put a large number of young people together with not many rules.” - Jamie Crawford *NOTE: At the time of recording this interview, the announced title of the film was Clusterf**k: Woodstock '99, and the participants refer to the film by that title.
Thu, July 21, 2022
Menudo: Forever Young - The Rise and Fall of the First International Boy Band
Menudo was arguably the first international boy band and one of the most successful. Starting from humble roots in 1970s Puerto Rico, the group conquered the pop world in the 1980s and 1990s. As the boys grew older and their voices started changing, they soon discovered that they were easily replaceable – by a steady stream of 12- to 15-year olds waiting in the wings, ready to chase their dreams of stardom. Such success came with an unnecessary price. As revealed by former members, the boys were often overworked, neglected, emotionally and physically abused. Separated from their parents, they also became easy targets for sexual predators. <p style= "box-sizing: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 1em !important; color: #2b1813; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;
Thu, July 14, 2022
Facing Nolan Ryan, the Baseball Legend
Facing Nolan captures the life of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, arguably one of the greatest pitchers of all time. His 51 records and 27 seasons across four decades are the stuff of lore. It wasn't always so. Even as the Ryan Express was chalking up strikeouts and no-hitters like no one before him, or since, Nolan Ryan was surprisingly undervalued. Oddly enough, he may still be. What better way to understand Ryan's fierce competitive spirit and otherworldly talent than actually asking the Hall of Famers who had to face his 100-mph fastball, or 12-6 curveball on a regular basis. In acclaimed filmmaker Bradley Jackson's documentary about this living Texas legend, Nolan Ryan is revealed by those who know him best – his family, teammates, and even former US presidents. “I can’t think of an athlete that is more associated with a state than Nolan Ryan is for Texas.” - Nolan Ryan Watch the full interview at https://factualamerica.com
Wed, July 06, 2022
Girl in the Picture: A 25-Year Mystery Solved
In Netflix's latest true crime documentary Girl in the Picture, a woman named Sharon Marshall is found dying by a road, leaves behind a son, a man claiming to be her husband—and a mystery that unfolds like a nightmare. The film tells an incredibly tragic tale and the incredible story of how the mystery was eventually solved twenty-five years later. Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Skye Borgman, Girl in the Picture looks at who Sharon Marshall was, her many different lives and identities, the people whom she touched and the world that she left behind. Releasing on Netflix on July 6th, Girl in the Picture represents a tribute to this young woman and to victims everywhere. Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com “I’m mostly interested in telling human stories and crime gives us the full spectrum of humanity, from the very best to the very worst of people.” - Skye Borgman
Thu, June 30, 2022
Keep Sweet: The Cult of Warren Jeffs and FLDS
The Netflix docuseries Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey tells the chilling story of Warren Jeffs and his rise in the Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of the mainstream Mormon church. FLDS members practice polygamy and assign women husbands by divine revelation to the prophet, in this case, Warren Jeffs. The church turned into a cult under Jeffs' leadership, and its practices led to concerns from outsiders about underage marriage and statutory rape. But no one was prepared for the shocking crimes perpetrated by Warren Jeffs himself, who remains the prophet of FLDS to the present day, despite being in prison. The docuseries, directed and produced by Emmy-winning filmmaker Rachel Dretzin, looks at both the ways in which Warren and his father transformed the group, but also at the hunt for, and ultimately, conviction of Warren for crimes against children. Watch the episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/keep-sweet-pray-and-obey/ “The strongest thing about this story is that it tells you a lot about human nature and the ways that these things can happen.” - Rachel Dretzin
Thu, June 23, 2022
Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret
Three-part docuseries Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret reveals how a group of men behind the world's most successful modelling agencies were involved in a darker side of the industry. It exposes how modelling agents like John Casablancas, Jean-Luc Brunel, Claude Haddad and Gérald Marie, who denies the allegations, created a culture that enabled many of them to indulge in a spectrum of abusive behaviours, ranging from grooming and coercion to the rape of models as young as 15. The film hears from a generation of forgotten women who were promised stardom and glamour, but instead found themselves used, abused and in some cases, trafficked between networks of powerful men. Building on an ongoing investigation by Lucy Osborne for The Guardian , the series delivers the fashion industry its own 'me too' reckoning, and follows the survivors, including Carré Ottis, as they come together to take action against those responsible. Watch the episode at https://www.factualamerica.com/scouting-for-girls Clare Richards, series director, Lucy Osborne, senior producer, and Carré Ottis, model, author, wellness consultant, activist and contributor to the film, join us to discuss Scouting for Girls that airs on Sky Documentaries on June 24th. “Models are seen as beautiful people that get paid a ton of money, and that creates a discrimination against us that we shouldn’t have the same rights and protections as workers in other industries.” - Carré Ottis
Thu, June 09, 2022
Elon Musk's Crash Course in Self-Driving Technology
Based on reporting by New York Times journalists Cade Metz and Neil Boudet, Elon Musk's Crash Course zeroes in on Elon Musk, the world's richest person and CEO of Tesla, and his claims about self-driving cars. The latest in a series of films from The New York Times Presents is directed and produced by Emmy-winning journalist and filmmaker Emma Schwartz, and it reveals the quixotic nature of Musk's pursuit of self-driving technology and its tragic results. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com/elon-musk-crash-course Elon Musk made his name and fortune taking bold risks and betting on the impossible. But Musk's pursuit of self-driving cars has put them on a crash course with business realities and the limits of technology. The film, available on FX and Hulu, uncovers what many former Tesla employees have to say about Musk's claims, and the culture he has created at the self-described tech company. Is Silicon Valley's era of "move fast and break things" really over? “With self-driving cars, Elon Musk was selling a promise that was a long way off.” - Emma Schwartz
Fri, June 03, 2022
How Fiddler on the Roof Made it to Hollywood
Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen (2022) captures a bygone era of early television and blockbuster Hollywood musicals. It also shines a light on the incredible career of fellow filmmaker Norman Jewison. Jewison had critical success over more than three decades, but his crowning achievement might be bringing the famous musical Fiddler on the Roof to the big screen. Legendary film critic Pauline Kael called Fiddler the most powerful movie musical ever made. Award-winning and Oscar nominated filmmaker Daniel Raim, the director of Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen, joins us to share the unlikely story behind this iconic American film. Watch the interview at https://factualamerica.com/fiddler-on-the-roof “Like so many millions of people who learn about Jewish culture and history through “Fiddler on the Roof,” I was completely captivated by the music, the story and the production design.” - Daniel Raim
Fri, May 27, 2022
Deep in the Heart of Texas Wildlife
Deep in the Heart (2022) is a visually stunning portrait of Texas, told through the eyes of the wildlife species themselves. Narrated by Texas icon Matthew McConaughey and featuring state of the art cinematography, this documentary brings to life one of the world's most diverse, but possibly lesser known set of ecosystems. Similar in style to Planet Earth , the film shows off some of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles and eco regions in the state of Texas, weaving in the story of our society's relationship with wildlife in Texas over the past 150 years. Award winning filmmakers Ben Masters and Katy Baldock join us to celebrate the diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife of the Lone Star State. Joining us as well to co-host this conversation is Patrick Scott Armstrong, host of The Lone Star Plate podcast, who interviews famous Texans and explores compelling Texas stories. Deep in the Heart has its Texas-wide theatre release on June 3rd, and will be available on streaming platforms in July 2022. “I learned a lot about my home state during the production of ‘Deep in the heart.’” - Ben Masters
Wed, May 11, 2022
Hold Your Fire: A Call for Restorative Justice in the US
Documentary film ‘Hold Your Fire’ provides us with a riveting account of a hostage situation in Brooklyn in January 1973, when four young African American men were caught stealing guns in a sporting goods store and took a dozen hostages. The police assumed that they were members of the Black Liberation Army and came down with all the force of the NYPD. The situation snowballed into an event full of miscommunications, misunderstandings and mistaken identity, and it soon became tragically violent. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Stephen Forbes, cinematographer and director of ‘Hold Your Fire,’ shares how he brought this incredible story to the big screen. 'Hold Your Fire' has its theatrical release in the US on May 20th and will be available on iTunes. “We’re taught a domination model in interaction. The best schools in America teach that you enter a conversation to win.” - Stefan Forbes
Fri, May 06, 2022
The Invisible Pilot: Stranger than Fiction
The Invisible Pilot is an HBO Max Docuseries that captures the incredible story of Gary Betzner, an Arkansas crop duster who died under mysterious circumstances. Or did he? The mystery around this man's death would be more than enough for a compelling doc. But that is only the beginning of a story that proves that truth is most definitely stranger than fiction. Given the unlikeliest of events set against the backdrop of 1970s and 80s America and Reagan's war on drugs, the docuseries is Forrest Gump meets American Made meets All the President's Men . Emmy-winning filmmakers Phil Lott and Ari Mark, co-directors and executive producers of The Invisible Pilot, share how they discovered this amazing story and how their investigative journalism led to the creation of a compelling 3-part documentary. Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com/the-invisible-pilot "Just because it’s a documentary and not a feature, it doesn’t mean it’s solely educational or intellectual - it can also entertain." - Phil Lott
Thu, April 28, 2022
In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50
Legendary rock band King Crimson has been inspiring generations of musicians for over 50 years. After starting off with great success in 1969 in London, the band effectively split up in the same year, which then started a process of fragmentation and reinvention that has continued for 52 years. Documentary film In the Court of the Crimson King that premiered at this year's SXSW festival, captures life on the road with King Crimson. The group's legendary cult following has long waited for a doc, but you do not have to be a fan of the band to appreciate the film, which still awaits wider release. The acclaimed director, broadcaster and co-producer Toby Amies joins us to discuss the film, the essence of being in a rock band, the philosophy of music and the meaning of life. Watch the episode at https://www.factualamerica.com/king-crimson "As a filmmaker, I’m interested in human condition, and King Crimson matter as a band because they speak to human condition." - Toby Amies
Thu, April 14, 2022
Our Great National Parks with Barrack Obama on Netflix
Our Great National Parks is a breathtaking Netflix original docuseries, executive produced and narrated by President Barack Obama, who protected more public lands and waters than any other US president in history. Watch the full episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/our-great-national-parks President Obama takes us on a journey to experience nature in the world's most iconic national parks, spanning five continents. The series brims with wonder, humour and optimism as each episode tells the story of a national park through the lives of its wildest residents, both big and exceptionally small. The series explores our changing relationship with wilderness traveling from the waters of Monterey Bay, California to the bright red soil of Kenya Savo National Park, the lush rainforests of Indonesia's Gunung Leuser National Park, the majestic terrain of Chilean Patagonia and more. Our Great National Parks beckons us to get out and explore, create new ways for these wild places to thrive, and vigorously preserve them for future generations to come. Acclaimed filmmakers James Honeyborne and Sophie Todd are the executive producer and series producer behind this five-part documentary. They share their experiences making this series and what it was like working with President Barack Obama. Not all human ideas are bad. National parks were a human idea. We did that, so we can be a force for good as much as a force for bad. - Sophie Todd
Wed, April 06, 2022
I Am Here: The Most Inspirational Holocaust Survivor
Ella Blumenthal is one of the oldest living survivors of the Holocaust. Despite living through one of history's darkest chapters, she brings a joy to life that few can match. On her 98th birthday, however, Ella reveals to close friends and family profound memories of her incredible survival in a way she has never done before. Award-winning documentary I Am Here (2021) celebrates Ella's remarkable life and her magnetic personality and spirit that have remained undimmed. South African filmmaker Jordi Sank, the director and co-producer of I Am Here , relays how he met this remarkable woman and decided to bring her incredible life story to the screen. In the process Jordi's film provides us with a first-hand account of the Holocaust. “People need to learn from history so that we can have a peaceful future that’s worth living.” - Jordy Sank Watch the full episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/i-am-here/
Wed, March 30, 2022
The Andy Warhol Diaries on Screen
Andy Warhol is arguably the most famous artist of his generation, and his work still resonates today, 35 years after his untimely death. But what do we know about the man behind the cultural icon? Acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Rossi is the writer and director of the Netflix docuseries, The Andy Warhol Diaries. In this 6-part series, Andrew brings Warhol’s diaries brilliantly to life. In the process he helps us learn how Andy Warhol – the talented, sensitive, gay and religious man – was far more complex and human than his public persona ever led on. “There can be competing thoughts within someone’s worldviews and what they confess in their diaries.” - Andrew Rossi
Thu, March 24, 2022
Oscars Short Documentary Nominees
In this special episode three of the five nominees for this year's Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) join us to discuss their films. When We Were Bullies, by the Award-winning director and writer Jay Rosenblatt, follows Jay as he tracks down his fifth-grade class and their teacher to examine their memories of and complicity in a bullying incident over 50 years ago. We are next joined by award-winning director and producer Matthew Ogens. His short documentary Audible, produced by Netflix, follows football player Amaree McKenstry-Hall and his Maryland School for the Deaf teammates, as they attempt to defend their winning streak while coming to terms with the tragic loss of a close friend. A two-time Oscar nominee, Ben Proudfoot discusses his short doc The Queen of Basketball, which tells the largely unknown story of Lusia Harris, the first and only woman to be officially drafted into the NBA. “ I love using the short documentary format to circumvent the traditional gatekeepers of what kind of stories get told.” - Ben Proudfoot
Wed, March 16, 2022
The Downfall of Boeing
Once the pride of American technological know-how, Boeing took a wrong turn toward achieving the bottom line at all costs, even if it meant keeping pilots in the dark and putting passengers' lives at risk. In the end, two Boeing 737 MAX airliners crashed, killing 346 people. Boeing's PR campaign immediately went into action to disparage and cast aspersions on the flight crews and their countries. Luckily, the families and a few intrepid reporters and politicians would not take Boeing's word as final. The new Netflix documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, explores the aftermath of the two tragedies and who should be held responsible for them. Watch the full interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/the-downfall-of-boeing/ “If you went and killed one person you’d probably spend the rest of your life in prison, so why is a corporation protected, why are the people who run corporations protected?” - Rory Kennedy
Wed, March 09, 2022
Happiness is a Journey: The Unseen America
Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan are award-winning filmmakers. Their documentary films have premiered at Sundance and won multiple awards including the Directors Fortnight best short film prize at Cannes. Patrick and Ivete's body of work focuses on the seldom seen and forgotten parts of American society. Their most recent short Happiness is a Journey, produced by the Guardian , captures a night in the life of Eddie “Bear” Lopez, who spends his Christmas Eve and early Christmas Day delivering newspapers around Austin, Texas. Ivete and Patrick join us to talk about their films, upcoming projects and how they find the inspiration and subjects for their films. Watch the full interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/happiness-is-a-journey/ “It’s the process of creating beauty and music, and then thinking why that is missing from our collective consciousness of who we are as a country, or as people, that inspires to make films.” – Ivete Lucas
Wed, March 02, 2022
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road - Director's Take
Brian Wilson was the co-founder of the seminal 60s rock group The Beach Boys, as the leader and creative genius behind the band’s many hits. Brian Wilson has influenced generations of pop stars, including Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Taylor Hawkins and other pop royalty. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Brent Wilson joins us for the second time to discuss his new film, Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. The film follows Brian on a journey, both literally and figuratively, of Brian’s old stomping grounds and memories which include over a half-century of battling mental illness. Brent explains how he was able to bring a new angle to the rock legend that is Brian Wilson, all while exploring what it means to be human. Watch the full interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/brian-wilson-long-promised-road/ “Brian Wilson doesn't think in a linear fashion, so he's not going to start with the beginning of his life…and we ended up with 70 hours of footage in the car.” - Brent Wilson
Wed, February 23, 2022
Reframing Marilyn Monroe's Legacy
Marilyn Monroe almost requires no introduction. The iconic star of the silver screen still resonates with the viewing public even 60 years after her untimely death. But do we need to rethink her legacy or how she's been portrayed? Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Karen McGann certainly thinks so. Her new docu-series Reframed: Marilyn Monroe rethinks the legacy of one of the greatest icons of the 20th century's popular culture. Although in the media she was portrayed in a certain light, in reality Marilyn may have been a feminist trailblazer well ahead of her time. In the CNN docu-series, Karen explored the strategic ways Marilyn pushed her career forward, the intelligence behind her persona, and the complex nature of her life. Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com “We think we know the story of Marilyn Monroe, we have a very fixed point of view of her, and this documentary is about looking at her story from a more feminist perspective.” - Karen McGann
Wed, February 16, 2022
Secrets of Playboy: Hugh Hefner's Dark Empire | A&E Docuseries
Secrets of Playboy (2021) documents the lived experiences of Playboy playmates, the Playboy Bunnies, and employees of the Playboy empire, and the abuse they went through at the hands of its founder Hugh Hefner. Award-winning filmmaker Alexandra Dean joins us to discuss the making of this 10-part series currently streaming on A&E, and what it was like to uncover the abuses that occurred at Playboy. She explains how Hugh Hefner broke women and was able to build up a persona of sexual liberation while creating a culture of abuse. Through the series she also explores why it was so difficult for old playmates to talk about what had happened behind closed doors at the mansion. <p style= "box-sizing: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !impor
Wed, February 09, 2022
Writing with Fire: Oscar Nominee for Best Documentary
Writing with Fire (2021) is an inspiring story about India's only newspaper run by Dalit, low-caste women. Armed with smartphones and tenacity, chief reporter Meera Devi and her journalists break traditions as they break stories and tackle India's biggest issues. In the process, they are redefining what it means to be powerful socially. Writing with Fire is one of this year's Academy Award nominees for The Best Feature Documentary. The film has already won the Audience Award and Special Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival 2021, and a host of other awards at over a hundred film festivals around the world. Award-winning co-director, co-producer, editor and cinematographer of Writing with Fire, Sushmit Ghosh, joins us to share the five-year journey of making this film in collaboration with his partner in film and life, Rintu Thomas. He reveals what drew him and Rintu to this story, how they chose the subjects, and how the film was received worldwide. Watch the full interview at: https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/writing-with-fire/ “It’s not just a story about a journalist who’s managing an institution that may or may not grow, it’s a story about a mother, a wife and a daughter, and the guilt that women have to bear in making choices on a day to day basis.” - Sushmit Ghosh
Wed, February 02, 2022
Neymar: The Perfect Chaos - The Director's Perspective
Neymar: The Perfect Chaos, currently streaming on Netflix, tells the story of the beloved but often criticised footballer Neymar, the highs and lows of his personal life, and his brilliant football career. Award-winning filmmaker David Charles Rodrigues joins us to discuss the film and reveals how he gained almost full access to Neymar’s life. During filming of this documentary, David found sides to Neymar that he found surprising. In the process, he managed to build a strong relationship with the player. We also touch on what it was like working with LeBron James, who serves as Executive Producer on the series, and his athlete empowerment brand Uninterrupted. Watch the full interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/neymar-the-perfect-chaos/ “Neymar understood that he really needed to give me everything so that I could tell the best story possible.” - David Charles Rodrigues
Tue, January 18, 2022
Dear Rider: Snowboarding Legend Jake Burton
HBO's original documentary Dear Rider tells the inspirational story of Jake Burton Carpenter, who pioneered the sport of snowboarding. Fernando Villena, award-winning filmmaker and the director of Dear Rider, discusses Jake’s life as a snowboarding legend. The film shows how Jake took his favourite childhood toy and turned it into a global cultural phenomenon. Fernando not only talks about Jake's vision and passion for the sport he invented, but also how multiple diseases tragically ended his life prematurely. The legacy Jake left behind inspired millions including Woody Harrelson, who narrates the film. “His mind exploded and he thought, oh my god, I can actually surf on snow. And that became his obsession, that along with making a lot of money.” – Fernando Villena Watch the interview at https://factualamerica.com
Wed, January 12, 2022
Hell or High Seas: Adventure Therapy for U.S. Military Veterans
Hell or High Seas (2021) follows U.S. Navy veteran Taylor Grieger and writer Stephen O’Shea on their two-year adventure sailing around Cape Horn, in some of the world’s most treacherous waters. The purpose of this extreme journey was to raise awareness about PTSD and the challenges facing veterans as they return to civilian life. Taylor Grieger, director Glenn Holsten and producer Chayne Gregg join us to share the incredible story of how two high school buddies embarked on a journey to help veterans with PTSD—in the process helping Taylor to find healing himself. Taylor, Glenn and Chayne discuss how the adventure became a film and how Taylor and Stephen managed to get such amazing footage even with minimal filming experience, while facing up to the challenges of shooting in such dangerous conditions. We discuss Taylor's experience with PTSD, how it affects military veterans and what can be done to help PTSD sufferers recover. “There’s no performance here. It’s just their daily life together on this boat.” - Glenn Holsten Watch the interview at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/hell-or-high-seas/
Mon, December 20, 2021
Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice
Joining us is Vicky Ward, a New York Times bestselling author, investigative journalist and the host and co-producer of Chasing Ghislaine . In 2002 Vicky conducted one of the few interviews ever given by Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. Vicky has now turned her sights on Epstein's former confidante, Ghislaine Maxwell. The British socialite is currently on trial for allegedly helping Epstein to prey on young girls. Subsequently, Vicky has turned her investigative work into a hit podcast series and new 3-part docuseries, which is available on Discovery+ in the UK and US. Vicky fills us in on the latest events surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell's trial and continuing efforts to get to the bottom of this murky tale. “I’ve never had such a horrific experience reporting, before or since.” - Vicky Ward
Wed, December 15, 2021
The First Wave: The Human Face of COVID-19
The National Geographic documentary The First Wave captures the harrowing first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic as it played out in one of New York City’s hardest-hit hospital systems. Joining us is Matthew Heineman, an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker who directed and produced this film. The incredible footage he obtained and shaped into The First Wave represents a testimony to the strength of the human spirit and how people come together in the face of crisis. He shares how he gained access to the hospital at the beginning of the crisis, the heroes he filmed, and the inevitable emotional toll the production had on him and his crew. “I saw an obligation to take this issue that was so relegated to stats, headlines, and misinformation, and try to put a human face to it.” - Matthew Heineman
Tue, December 07, 2021
Listening to Kenny G, All-Time Best-Selling Instrumentalist
Kenny G is the best-selling instrumentalist of all time, but why does he elicit such heartfelt, negative criticism from some listeners? Penny Lane’s new HBO documentary Listening to Kenny G shows the world-famous saxophonist speaking candidly about his musical background, his stringent work ethic, and his controversial standing in the jazz world. Penny joins us to discuss the making of the film and how she gained access to such a high-profile music star. She also reveals her original impressions of Kenny G and his music, but shares what it was like getting to know the real artist behind the music while shooting this documentary. “I would never have thought who Kenny G is, why he makes this music, it just never crossed my mind that behind that music was an artist.” - Penny Lane
Wed, December 01, 2021
Mothers of the Revolution: The Women Who Ended the Cold War
On September 5th 1981 a group of women came together to change the world. These women marched from Wales to Berkshire to protest nuclear weapons being kept at RAF Greenham Common, a British airbase. Feature-length documentary Mothers of the Revolution (2021) tells the true story of the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp and how it helped to bring the Cold War to an end. B etween 1981 and 2000, in one of the longest protests in history, thousands of women from around the world came together at Greenham Common to take a committed stand against nuclear proliferation. Joining us is a subject of the documentary, Olga Medvedkov. A peace activist in Soviet Russia along with her husband Yuri, Olga faced severe persecution, partly for her friendship with the Greenham Common Women. Olga explains how she was introduced to the Greenham Common Women and the role they may have had in the collapse of the Soviet Union. “You live in an Orwellian society, of course you can comply and 99% do because it’s dangerous, but 1% doesn't, and we belonged to that one tiny percent.” - Olga Medvedkov
Tue, November 23, 2021
Becoming Cousteau: Legendary Explorer and Environmentalist
The National Geographic documentary Becoming Cousteau explores the life of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, a man well ahead of his time in bringing climate change and environmental devastation to the world’s attention. Mridu Chandra, award-winning filmmaker and one of the producers of Becoming Cousteau, joins us to discuss Cousteau's remarkable life and passion for the environment . A scuba diving pioneer, Cousteau also was an accomplished filmmaker and three-time Oscar winner. Mridu talks about the challenges that she and director Liz Garbus faced in making a film using only archival footage, and how Garbus was keen to bring Cousteau's story to life. “Throughout his life, he was always ahead, and when it came to his environmentalism, it stemmed fro m his genuine passion, being an honest witness and decades of experience.” - Mridu Chandra
Tue, November 16, 2021
Curse of the Chippendales: a True Crime Story Stripped Bare
The Discovery+ docuseries Curse of the Chippendales chronicles the dark side of the 1980s all-male striptease dance troupe. The muscular men of the Chippendales captured the hearts, minds, and dollars of the 1980s in their iconic cuffs and collars, but what started out as a first in women’s entertainment soon turned into a story of greed, jealousy and murder for hire. Executive producer Suzanne Lavery and writer and director Jesse Vile discuss what drew them to the Chippendales, how they created the film and the biggest challenges they faced in bringing this outrageous story to life. “It’s a true-crime series but it’s true crime with a heart, there’s a lot more going on than murder and mayhem.” - Jesse Vile Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Curse of the Chippendales.
Wed, November 10, 2021
Hawking: Can You Hear Me? The Remarkable Human Story of Stephen Hawking
Hawking: Can You Hear Me? is a Sky Original documentary that explores the remarkable human story of Stephen Hawking, through candid interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues. The film brings to life the man behind the persona of legendary theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking and in the process shows the impact fame and disability had on those closest to him. Joining Factual America to discuss the making of the film and the challenges they faced are director Oliver Twinch and producer Anthony Geffen. “If you know how difficult things were and how challenging things were through his everyday life, you came to understand more how extraordinary his triumphs were.” - Oliver Twinch
Tue, November 02, 2021
The Rescue: A Story of Bravery, Cave Diving & Generosity
The Rescue explores the story of the dramatic Tham Luang cave rescue in 2018, when twelve boys and their soccer coach were saved from deep inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand. But like all great documentaries, it is about so much more – bravery, cave diving, the human spirit and ultimately, generosity. The Rescue is the latest masterpiece by the Oscar-winning director Chai Vasrahelyi, which she co-directed and co-produced with her partner in film and life, Jimmy Chin. Chai joins us to discuss how the filmmakers were able to bring to life one of the most perilous and extraordinary rescues in modern times. She explains the main challenges in the making of the film, why they used re-enactments, and how they obtained access to exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage from this dramatic event. The Rescue, produced by National Geographic Documentary Films, had its theatrical release in the US on October 8th and in the UK on October 29th. “The ordinary people were able to do something so extraordinary.” - Chai Vasarhelyi
Tue, October 26, 2021
Detainee 001: 'The American Taliban' John Walker Lindh
A young man from the San Francisco suburbs journeys to the Middle East and soon finds himself as the face of Islamist extremism in post-9/11 America. This is the story of John Walker Lindh, as explored in the recent Showtime hit documentary Detainee 001 . Emmy-winning director Greg Barker joins us to discuss this unlikeliest of stories. The film shows how America grapples with justice in the fog of war, and how narratives were built and destroyed in the aftermath of 9/11. We discuss the misconceptions people have about John Walker Lindh, the life of freelance war journalists, and how Greg has managed to gain access to high-profile subjects over the years. “They all either got totally hooked on the adrenaline of war reporting, or they had a moment where they thought, I don’t want to get killed.” - Greg Barker
Tue, October 12, 2021
The Space Station: The Wonderful Story of Human Co-Operation
International Space Station and international co-operation in space has outlived presidents, regimes, current events, 9/11, and it has been carrying on for several decades now. It is fascinating how many people it takes to get someone into space. This is what inspired director and producer Clare Lewins in her new documentary The Wonderful: Stories From the Space Station. The Wonderful is a story about humanity, played out against the vast backdrop of the universe. It shows what it’s like to live and work in space, hurtling through space 250 miles above the Earth’s surface. Clare Lewins shares with us the difficulties she faced making this film, and amazing stories from some of the astronauts she met during filming. “It’s a fundamental part of human DNA to want to explore and want to push boundaries.” - Clare Lewins
Mon, August 09, 2021
The Lone Star Plate and Factual America Season Highlights and Top Episodes
Factual America meets The Lone Star Plate for the second time. We are wrapping up Season 2 of Factual America, and our sister podcast The Lone Star Plate, which features interviews with famous Texans and explores compelling Texas stories, has just closed Season 3. Two fellow Texans, hosts Matthew Sherwood and Patrick Scott Armstrong, discuss the highlights of the last season, celebrating the most challenging year of our lives, and what episodes, guests and topics left a particular impression on them. Each host has chosen three episodes to talk about and to recommend to the audience to revisit. This is not exactly a top list. The hosts give shoutouts a lot of episodes that they enjoyed during the last season, and a t the end of the episode, they introduce the teams behind both shows.
Wed, August 04, 2021
Under the Volcano: The Secret Birthplace of the 80s Greatest Hits
In 1979 The Beatles producer Sir George Martin turned a Caribbean paradise into a 1980s hit making crucible for the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John, and such acts as the Rolling Stones, The Police, and Dire Straits. His vision was to create a studio where artists could come and be free to express their creativity and record albums. After a decade of hits, and at the peak of its popularity, AIR Studios Montserrat was destroyed when hurricane Hugo hit the island in 1989, followed by the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano in 1995. Acclaimed filmmaker Gracie Otto wrote and directed Under the Volcano (2021), in which she documented this incredible story. She shares how she tracked down all those who were involved with AIR Studios Montserrat in the 1980s and how she obtained the rights for the amazing soundtrack for the film ("Money for Nothing", "Every Breath You Take"). Under the Volcano came out on digital platforms in the UK on July 26th and releases in the US on August 17th, and Australia and New Zealand on September 1st. “AIR Studios Montserrat was such a representation of the time, of the music industry, of what was allowed, and how big the budgets were.” - Gracie Otto
Mon, July 19, 2021
Echoes of the Invisible: Pushing the Limits of Human Experience
Award-winning documentary Echoes of the Invisible (2020) looks at timelessness, the origins of the universe, and what it means to be one of the almost 8 billion inhabitants of Planet Earth. The film follows the explorers who are pushing the human body and technology beyond known limits in the most extreme environments on Earth. One of them is Paul Salopek, a journalist walking across the world in the footsteps of the earliest human migrations. Others include scientists like Joe Incandela, building machines to look back nearly to the beginning of time. Joining us is the award-winning director, cinematographer, and editor Steve Elkins, and two other participants in this film – particle physicist Joe Incandela, and Julia Payne, who is the project manager for Paul Salopek at the Out of Eden project. Echoes of the Invisible took almost 7 years to make, as Steve travelled the globe interviewing scientists, monks, and athletes. We discuss the journey of making this film, and the great wealth of human experiences on this marvellous planet. “I take a whole bunch of stories that absolutely deserve their own documentaries, but I try to see what sparks fly off when you collide these different stories together.” - Steve Elkins
Thu, July 15, 2021
The Phantom: The Case of Carlos DeLuna 40 Years Later
After covering The State of Texas vs. Melissa (2021), once again we are talking on Factual America about the death penalty in the state of Texas. The recently released documentary The Phantom (2021) shines a light on a capital murder case, but probably in ways that most of us have never experienced before. The film follows Carlos DeLuna, who was arrested in 1983 for the murder of a woman service station attendant, but protested his innocence until he was executed, stating another Carlos had committed the crime. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, Carlos DeLuna's family members, and legal experts, the film examines if the judicial system executed an innocent man, and whether or not there could be another Carlos that the prosecution called 'the phantom'. We’re joined by award-winning director, Patrick Forbes, to discuss how he found out about the case of Carlos DeLuna and how he got involved with making the film. We also talk about the death penalty in Texas and the art of storytelling that Patrick deploys in this documentary. “Humans are endlessly interesting and curious. You don’t do this job to get rich, you do this job because you like stories and you like people.” - Patrick Forbes
Tue, July 06, 2021
Fernando Sulichin: Producer of JFK Revisited and Flag Day
Acclaimed producer Fernando Sulichin has built his career by working with film giants such as Spike Lee, David Lynch, Sean Penn, and Oliver Stone. Now Fernando has two films debuting at the Cannes Film Festival. Flag Day is directed by and stars Sean Penn, while JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass is the latest documentary from director Oliver Stone. JFK Revisited is the follow-up to Stone's political thriller JFK (1991) about the John F Kennedy assassination. Using recently declassified archives – part of a congressional review sparked by the 1991 film – JFK Revisited sheds new light onto this seminal event in American history. Fernando talks about his partnership with Stone and how he has gained the trust of high-profile figures such as Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela and Vladimir Putin. Fernando's strong passion for film comes through loud and clear and has him contemplating stepping behind the camera himself. “It’s not about judgment, it’s about discovery.” - Fernando Sulichin
Tue, June 29, 2021
The State of Texas vs. Melissa: The Death Penalty's Problems
Melissa Lucio is the only Hispanic woman to ever be sentenced to death in the state of Texas. She is currently facing her last appeal, having spent 13 years on death row. Her case, as well as the problems with the American justice system and the death penalty, are captured in the documentary The State of Texas vs. Melissa (2020). Having made its festival debut, the film has received great reviews and won multiple audience choice awards. Joining us is French-American journalist and filmmaker Sabrina Van Tassel, who directed, wrote and produced the film. This is also a joint episode with Factual America's sister podcast, The Lone Star Plate , hosted by Patrick Scott Armstrong, who interviews famous Texans and explores compelling Texas stories. “I believe Melissa would already have been executed if I hadn’t made this film.” - Sabrina Van Tassel
Sun, June 20, 2021
Mary J Blige: The Unheard Story of the Album 'My Life' on Amazon Prime
Mary J Blige is a multi-platinum R&B and Hip Hop recording artist, a 9-time Grammy award-winner, and celebrated actress. She is also the subject of a new Amazon Studios documentary that releases on June 25th, Mary J Blige’s My Life, that marked the 25th anniversary of the artist's acclaimed 1994 album, propelling her to international stardom. Joining us to talk about Mary J Blige and the making of this documentary is the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, best known for her short documentary Freeheld (2007) and Netflix series Daughters of Destiny (2017). She tells us about how Mary’s life inspired and influenced the My Life album and her music career, about the challenges of making music documentaries, as well as what it was like working with Amazon Studios. “Once you’re given the opportunity, you need to do the work.” - Vanessa Roth
Tue, June 15, 2021
HBO's Revolution Rent: Broadway in Cuba
The Tony and Pulitzer-Prize winning musical Rent celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Broadway premiere on June 15th. The musical's message still resonates today, as captured by the HBO documentary Revolution Rent about the first commercial American production staged in Havana, Cuba in over 50 years. Stage director and filmmaker Andy Señor, Jr played Angel in the Broadway play, directed the Havana production, and co-directed Revolution Rent with Victor Patrick Alvarez. Both join us to recall the experience of staging Rent in Cuba in 2014. They also discuss the intentions behind making Revolution Rent and the challenges they faced bringing the film to a worldwide audience. Revolution Rent is debuting on HBO and HBO Max on June 15th. "I've always told Andy that this is a sacred experience. As someone who's known a lot about the culture in Cuba, I could have went there and stirred the pot, but that's not why I was there. It was Broadway, it was Rent, it was Jonathan Larson's play, Andy was there, it was America and Cuba working together." - Victor Patrick Alvarez
Tue, June 08, 2021
Guy Clark: Texas Music Legend
Five years after the legendary Texas singer and songwriter Guy Clark passed away, his life and legacy is celebrated in a new documentary. Without Getting Killed or Caught brings Guy's colourful life and career to the big screen. The film is the brainchild of Grammy award-winning music producer, award-winning author, and documentary filmmaker Tamara Saviano. She and her partner in life Paul Whitfield are the co-directors and co-producers. The film looks at Guy Clark’s life as he struggles to write poetic songs, while balancing a complicated marriage with his wife Susanna. It is also a story of Guy's friendship with another legendary Texas singer-songwriter, Townes Van Zandt, on whom Susanna forged a passionate dependence. Tamara and Paul talk about what led them to make the documentary, how they gained access to Susanna’s diary and audio tapes, and which other films inspired them the most in their filmmaking. “They are so good at what they do, yet they remain so grounded and humble, and that attracts people to them.” - Tamara Saviano
Tue, June 01, 2021
Mike Tyson: The Truth Behind The Knockouts
Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. Unfortunately, he is just as famous for his exploits outside of the ring as he is for his many knockouts. The new docuseries Mike Tyson: The Knockout is currently streaming on ABC and Hulu. Senior Executive Producer for original non-fiction content at ABC News, Roxanna Sherwood, joins us to discuss the film. Roxanna shares how she collaborated with the Oscar-winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher and Grammy-winning composer Terence Blanchard to create a new approach to Mike Tyson's story. She explains what it was like for Mike growing up, how he ended up in so many scandals, and why this story is relevant now more than ever. “We are prone these days to shuffle things under the black and white. The grey has disappeared, but the truth is in the middle, the truth is grey.” - Roxanna Sherwood Time Stamps: 00:14 - The trailer for Mike Tyson: The Knockout . 05:21 - The new context the documentary gives to Mike’s life. 08:54 - What it was like for Mike growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn. 11:26 - First clip showing Brownsville in the 1970s and '80s. 13:40 - The difficulties Mike Tyson had as a boy. 16:48 - Second clip revealing the fortune Mike gained in a short period of time. 19:34 - The misguided trust Mike had in Robin Givens. 25:22 - Third clip looking at how Mike's lavish lifestyle turned self-destructive. 28:29 - Which knockout the title refers to. 30:43 - The rape committed by Mike Tyson and the subsequent trial. 37:36 - The importance of understanding unconscious bias and racism. 44:43 - Why this documentary is so relevant at the moment. 47:14 - How Geoffrey Fletcher and Terence Blanchard became involved with the film. 50:53 - The type of content ABC News will be making in the future. 53:30 - How to be a successful documentary filmmaker. 55:18 - What’s next for Roxanna.
Tue, May 25, 2021
Moby Doc: A Life in Reprise
Richard Melville Hall, better known to most of us as Moby, is an electronic music pioneer. In the 1990s he scored numerous top ten hits on the Billboard Dance Club chart and his album Play (1999) has sold over 12 million copies. Even with all that success, Moby still found himself hitting rock bottom, contemplating suicide and wondering why he wasn't happy despite achieving everything he wanted. Joining us is the director and writer of the Moby Doc, Rob Gordon Bralver. Rob teamed up with Moby to make a documentary about the musician’s life, activism and his struggles along the way in the quest for happiness. Rob tells us how he got the opportunity to make this film and what it was like closely collaborating with Moby. Moby Doc will be released online at the same time as Moby’s new album Reprise on May 28th. “There’s an element that’s meant to be a cautionary tale for not just aspiring artists, but aspiring anything. It’s seldom the road that you believed that it would be when you started.” - Rob Gordon Bralver
Tue, May 18, 2021
Some Kind of Heaven: Inside Disneyland for Retirees
The Villages is a self-contained retirement community located in central Florida. Often referred to as a “Disneyland for Retirees,” it is home to over 130,000 seniors. The Villages offers residents a utopian version of a bygone America: wide, safe streets, perfectly manicured lawns, and countless activities all in the service of enjoying the golden years. Directed by filmmaker Lance Oppenheim, Some Kind of Heaven (2020) reveals cracks in The Villages' facade and explores life inside its palm-tree-lined streets, while challenging stereotypes around ageing. The film follows four residents for whom The Villages is not living up to its reputation. By aiming the camera lens at this usually closed-off community, Lance captures what The Villages is really like. What type of people live in these retirement villages? How did residents respond to Lance filming there? And why did Lance choose to delve into this bizarre world? Some Kind of Heaven is available on demand in the UK from May 14th 2021. “There’s something beautiful to the idea that no matter how old you get, you are still becoming.” - Lance Oppenheim
Wed, May 12, 2021
The Crime of the Century: Pharma and the US Opioid Crisis
The opioid crisis in the US has killed half a million people and created millions of addicts, all because the pharmaceutical companies pushed opioid medicines as not being prone to abuse or addictive. In his latest HBO doc-series The Crime of the Century (2021) , Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney provides the most comprehensive look to date at the opioid crisis in the US. Alex joins us to discuss the making of the film, arguing that the opioid crisis has deeply criminal roots. The film finds fresh evidence that shows just how deep that criminality runs. The Crime of the Century premiered on HBO and HBO Max on May 10th and May 11th. It comes to Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW on Sunday, May 16th at 9pm. It’s the little acts of corruption that get bigger and bigger, and over time you get a fully corrupted system. – Alex Gibney
Tue, May 04, 2021
Apocalypse '45: The Harrowing Reality of The Pacific War
Premiering to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Pacific War's end, the documentary Apocalypse '45 combines pristine raw, colour footage of the last months of World War II in the Asia-Pacific theatre with the voices of the two dozen men who lived through the nightmare. Critically acclaimed director, producer and writer, Erik Nelson, joins us to discuss the making of Apocalypse ‘45 . Erik shares how he found this never-before-seen footage of the war and made contact with the veterans who had lived through these gruesome events. He talks about how, as director, he created the narrative of the film and what the creative process looked like. We also learn what it was like for Erik, as producer of Grizzly Man (2005), to work with the legendary director Werner Herzog. “A good deal of that footage was filmed by a cameraman who was killed on Iwo Jima. He was sealed up in a cave alive. The man literally died to make this footage.” - Erik Nelson
Tue, April 27, 2021
Allen v. Farrow after the Media Storm
Hollywood icons Woody Allen and Mia Farrow had a 13-year relationship that ended in flames in 1992 in front of the nation's eyes. At the centre of the breakup were allegations that Woody Allen sexually abused Dylan Farrow, the daughter he had adopted with Mia Farrow. The case and the resulting fallout still resonate nearly 30 years later. The scandal has been resurrected this year with the release of the HBO docuseries Allen v. Farrow . Joining us to discuss the social and cultural consequences of this story, the film and the reaction are the Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering. “Dylan Farrow stood strong, and provided an example to Hollywood, to the country, and maybe in some ways to the rest of the world, about the courage of coming forward and standing by your truth.” - Kirby Dick s Father
Tue, April 20, 2021
The Notorious B.I.G. Has Got a Hip-Hop Story to Tell
Today, we’re talking about Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls or The Notorious B.I.G., the acclaimed rapper who was tragically murdered at the age of just 24 in a drive-by shooting. Talking to us about Biggie Smalls' life and his legacy on hip-hop is Grammy-award-winning director Emmett Malloy, who directed and produced the original Netflix documentary Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell . We talk about who Christopher Wallace really was, as well as how Emmett got access to never-before-seen footage used in the film. With this documentary, Emmett succeeds in shining a different light on Biggie’s life, onto his artistic side and childhood influences that other filmmakers may have overlooked. My goal was to present him as the artist he was, so people understand that greatness doesn’t come from nowhere, people work at it and this kid was a curious kid with a tremendous artistic gift. - Emmett Malloy or of the 20th Century
Tue, April 13, 2021
White Boy Rick: A Call for a Better American Justice System
Richard Wershe, Jr, aka White Boy Rick, is the subject of a true-crime documentary that recently landed on Netflix. Shawn Rech, the award-winning director and producer of White Boy (2017), joins us to talk about the tragic circumstances surrounding White Boy Rick's over-30-year incarceration for a nonviolent offence. Shawn is well-known for creating documentaries that help to overturn wrongful convictions or over-sentencing. White Boy tells the story of Richard, who was a n FBI informant as a child and an alleged cocaine kingpin in Detroit in the 1980s. Richard received a life sentence despite being just 17 years old. The film looks at his case, shining a stark light onto 1980s Detroit and the American justice system. We talk about the White Boy Rick's reputation, who he really was, and the racism and unjust laws that allowed a child to be groomed by the FBI. “Don’t always trust the government, and don’t always trust the media. Do your own investigating and vet your sources.” - Shawn Rech a on a Collision Course
Mon, April 05, 2021
Murder Among the Mormons: The Mark Hoffman Story
Murder Among the Mormons (2021) is the new Netflix true-crime docuseries about Mark Hofmann, who is one of the most notable forgers in history. Hofmann created forgeries related to the Latter Day Saint movement, which led to fame and fortune. But the truth caught up with Hofmann one fateful day in 1985, as two innocent people lost their lives. We are joined by award-winning co-director and producer of Murder Among the Mormons, Tyler Measom . His previous work includes Leaving the Cult: Sons of Perdition (2010) , An Honest Liar (2014) and Biography: I Want My MTV (2019). Tyler directed this docuseries with Jared Hess, who is best known for his films Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Nacho Libre (2006) and Gentlemen Broncos (2009). Tyler talks about how he and Jared came to turn this story into a docuseries, as well as what they discovered about Mark Hoffman and the nature of belief. In the process we also learn about getting a film idea to the big screen. “The power he must have felt to create and change history, to alter what millions of people believe, and know and pray to every day – to have the power to change that in your basement is a remarkable feeling I suspect.” – Tyler Measom
Tue, March 30, 2021
Moment of Truth: The Murder of Michael Jordan's Father
James Jordan, the father of basketball legend Michael Jordan, was found tragically murdered in the middle of swamp just days after his 57th birthday in 1993. There were many mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, but the investigation and trial were deemed a success, resulting in the conviction of two teenage boys. But why does one of the convicted still proclaim his innocence almost 30 years later? We are joined by award-winning director and producer of the soon to be released docu-series Moment of Truth , Matthew Perniciaro. The five-part series uses never-before-seen archive footage to tell the story behind the murder of James Jordan. It also tackles police corruption in Robeson County, North Carolina, and how that may have influenced the murder investigation. Matthew aims to give us insights into h ow Michael dealt with his father's death, and what made this crime so hard to solve. He explains what motivated him to make Moment of Truth , and the challenges he faced along the way. Moment of Truth premieres on IMDb TV, Amazon’s premium free streaming service, on April 2nd. “Despite the fact that we think we’ve made so much progress as a society and as a culture, this just shows how far we still have to go.” - Matthew Perniciaro
Tue, March 23, 2021
Tina Turner: The Queen of Rock'n'Roll's Untold Story
On paper, Tina Turner probably should never have become a rock-and-roll superstar. But there she is anyway, o ne of the greatest survivors in modern music, who has overcome extreme adversity to define her career, her identity and her legacy on her own terms. TINA (2021) offers a fresh perspective on the life and career of Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock and Roll. Through never-before-seen footage and previously unreleased recordings, t he film draws back the curtain on Tina's life, introducing us to a private side of Tina too often hidden from the cameras. We are honoured to be joined by the Oscar- and Emmy-winning producers of TINA , cousins Simon and Jonathan Chinn, the co-founders of Lightbox. Between them they have worked on such acclaimed documentaries as Searching for Sugarman (2012), Man on Wire (2008), LA 92 (2017), and Whitney (2018) . Simon and Jonathan talk about how they discovered new ways of telling Tina's story, the revelations that they uncovered about Tina while making the film and what it takes to make a great documentary. Directed by Academy Award-winners Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin, TINA is being released on March 27th on HBO and streaming on HBO Max in the US, and in the UK on 28 th March at 9:00PM on Sky Documentaries and NOW and via altitude.film. “What an incredible trailblazer of a performer Tina was, even before her solo success. Seeing the full trajectory of her career as a performer is, in some sense, a revelation.” - Jonathan Chinn
Thu, March 18, 2021
Underground Inc.: The Legacy of Alternative Rock
When we think of alternative music of the 1990s, bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine or Green Day immediately come to mind – bands who were supported by major labels and commercially viable. However, there was a whole sea of other underground bands, spanning a few generations, who were completely fobbed off by the corporate music labels, who didn't sell as many records, and whose careers were overshadowed by their commercially successful counterparts. Joining us in this episode is Shaun Katz, director and producer of Underground Inc: The Rise and Fall of Alternative Rock (2019). His film dives into the meteoric rise and fall of the hardcore, underground alternative rock scene of the late 80s to mid-90s. The film includes interviews with the likes of Joey Castillo from Queens of the Stone Age, Sean Yseult from White Zombie, Steve Albini (the record producer for Nirvana, the Pixies, and PJ Harvey), Todd Huth from Primus, and many more. Underground Inc. will be available on all major cable and VOD platforms and on DVD on March 23rd. "There was a generational shift happening at the underground rock scene, that left the music industry not knowing what to do." - Shaun Katz of Rock and Roll
Tue, March 09, 2021
Martha Cooper: The Unlikely Hero of Street Art
Martha Cooper is an iconic American photojournalist and the unlikely hero of street artists across the globe. She documented New York's underground graffiti scene in the 1970s, at a time when street art was looked down upon as being immoral and lacking in artistic merit. But Martha instead fell in love with the scene and in 1984 published her photos in Subway Art . After a failed launch, the book has gone on to be one of the most sold, and stolen, art books of all time. It also influenced a generation of street artists, including OSGEMEOS. Selina Miles is the Australian director of the new feature documentary Martha: A Picture Story , which follows the life and work of Martha Cooper. Selina shares what she's learned about Martha's life, her global reputation, and what parts of her life the film documents. We also talk about how Selina and Martha met, how Selina came up with the idea for the documentary, and what her thoughts are on the value of street art. “Martha’s now in her 70s, still traveling the world documenting street art in places like Mongolia and Tahiti.” - Selina Miles Stalone Became a Star
Tue, March 02, 2021
Tim O'Brien: The Final Book on the Vietnam War
Tim O'Brien is one of the most influential living American writers, a National Book Award winner and the author of the groundbreaking book The Things They Carried . Tim joins us along with award winning director and producer Aaron Matthews to discuss Aaron's film, The War and Peace of Tim O’Brien . Aaron spent over a year filming Tim as he battled to write one final book – a legacy for his young family about life and fatherhood – even as Tim and his family remain haunted by the ghosts of the Vietnam War. Tim talks about the intrusion of allowing a film crew delve deeply into his and his family's personal lives. But by doing so, the film captures the day-to-day intrusions of family life on Tim's creative process. The discussion naturally leads to the importance of fatherhood, and Tim’s perception of all wars – past, present and future – given his own experiences as an infantryman in the Vietnam War. “I find it outrageous that we can spend 15 years in Vietnam killing 3 million people, and you can go to a school in America and they know nothing about the Vietnam War.” - Tim O’Brien
S2 E49 · Tue, February 23, 2021
Billie Eilish: A Portrait of the Artist
In the blink of an eye, Billie Eilish has gone from being an aspiring musician to a five-time Grammy Award winner and global superstar with a multimillion-fan following on social media. Brilliantly capturing this incredible journey in his new documentary, award-winning director RJ Cutler returns to the podcast to discuss Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry (2021). Inspired by musicals, concert films and observational cinema, the film takes an intimate look at Billie Eilish’s remarkable rise to superstardom. RJ spent a year with Billie Eilish and her family, and what he found was an extraordinary teenage artist creating remarkable music with her brother Finneas. He also found a young woman in full control of her career with the support of those who love and respect her. Available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+ from February 26th 2021, this film is destined to become an instant classic to be revisited for many years to come. “She’s demanding, she’s exacting, she displeases herself. Did we just describe the teenager or the artist? - R.J. Cutler
Tue, February 16, 2021
The Last Hillbilly of Rural Appalachia
Rural Appalachia is a part of America that’s vanishing before our eyes. With the loss of the coal industry, the future for the people of eastern Kentucky is uncertain. However, this is what inspires the self-proclaimed "last hillbilly" Brian Ritchie. French directors and writers, Diane Sara Bouzgarrou and Thomas Jenkoe, join us to discuss their award-winning documentary The Last Hillbilly (2020). The film won the Best International Doc Award at the Torino Film Festival, and received a special mention at IDFA under the First Appearance Category. The Last Hillbilly follows Brian Ritchie, who is among other things, a poet, philosopher and not what you would expect from your stereotypical hillbilly. A daunting, yet poetic look at a part of America that will never be the same again, this film dives into Brian's stream of consciousness and explores the gap between his identity and his existence. “There are no more mines, there are no more jobs, and their identity is kind of stuck in the past. There is no future ahead of them.” - Diane Sara Bouzgarrou
Tue, February 09, 2021
McMillion$: McDonald's Monopoly Fraud Revisited
The HBO documentary miniseries McMillion$ tells the gripping tale behind the McDonald's Monopoly promotion scam. Between 1989 and 2001 a criminal ring defrauded more than $24 million in prizes from McDonald's. If not for a tipoff to a backwater FBI office, McDonald's never would have found out about the fraud. The ensuing investigation resulted in the arrests of over 50 people. Directors and executive producers James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte bring this incredible story to life. They share how they developed the project. James and Brian also discuss the series' entertaining cast of characters, including the FBI investigators who broke the scandal. McMillion$ has earned five primetime Emmy nominations and scores of rave reviews. It is a refreshingly funny docuseries that captures the activities of a criminal syndicate, and it also has something to say about our willingness to believe the unbelievable. “Some people knew what they were doing, but some people were legitimately duped into participating and claiming prizes, without ever knowing that this was a federal crime they were participating in.” - Brian Lazarte
Tue, February 02, 2021
Steve McQueen: The Lost Formula 1 Movie
Steve McQueen, the Hollywood icon, had a passion for car racing. However, his long lost Formula 1 film project never saw the light of day – until now. Joining us to talk about this incredible story are the filmmakers behind Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie (2021), director, writer and producer Alex Rodger, and archivist Richard Wiseman. The film elegantly captures Steve McQueen's stardom and passion for car racing. It is set against the backdrop of the 1960s – glory days for both Formula 1 and Hollywood. Narrated by David Letterman, the documentary chronicles a race between two identical films. As we watch iconic directors and film studios battle it out, we learn the story behind the story of Day of the Champion – McQueen's lost Formula 1 film. Just as strikingly, the film brings to the big screen incredible, never-before-seen racing footage that captures the glamour, and the danger, of Formula 1 racing in the 1960s. Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie is available on SKY Documentaries and NOW TV. “Car racing in 1960s was unbelievably dangerous, and Steve McQueen saw this as a way into the drama of Formula 1." - Alex Rodger
Tue, January 26, 2021
Miles Davis: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century
Miles Davis was among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. An iconic trumpeter and composer, Miles changed the genre of jazz more times than anyone before him or anyone since. He invented what we today call cool jazz, hard bop, and jazz fusion. His album Kind of Blue is one of the greatest pieces of art of the 20th century. Award-winning director and producer, Stanley Nelson, joins us to discuss his documentary Miles Davis: Birth of The Cool. W e learn about the music innovator's life journey, and the challenges that Stanley faced bringing Miles's story to the big screen. Available to watch on PBS, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, the film tells the story of Miles’s genius. His career encapsulated everything from playing with Charlie Parker and Dizzie Gillespie to influencing generations of musicians. Miles was also a trend-setter and fashion icon, who way too often succumbed to his destructive drug addictions. “Miles was an icon to the African-American community; he became a black man that demanded excellence in his music and his life.” - Stanley Nelson
Tue, January 19, 2021
Belushi: The Brilliance and Tragedy of a Comedy Genius
Saturday Night Live , The Blues Brothers , and the National Lampoon — John Belushi was an iconic figure of the 1970s comedy scene. But he was more than just a comic genius. At one moment, Belushi had the number one show on television, the number one film at the box office, and the number one record on the charts. Just three years later he died from a heroin overdose aged just 33. How did such a talented figure come to such a tragic end? The award-winning director, producer, and writer, R.J. Cutler, helps us find out as we talk about his new film Belushi (2020). He uses previously-recorded phone interviews combined with archival footage to help us relive the extraordinary life of the beloved actor and comedian. R.J. explains how he obtained access to the interviews, love letters and home movies needed to make the film, and why it has been so hard to accurately depict Belushi’s life until now. Belushi is available to watch now on Sky On Demand and NOW TV. “We talk about the joy, and the brilliance, and the magic, but we also talk about darker things.” - R.J. Cutler
Tue, January 12, 2021
MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course
For years Martin Luther King Jr, the leader and hero of the civil rights movement, faced constant surveillance and harassment by the US government. Helping us to learn more about this dark chapter in America's history is award-winning director, editor and producer, Sam Pollard, whose latest film MLK/FBI premieres on January 15th 2021, ahead of Martin Luther King Jr Day on January 18th. As a filmmaker with a career spanning more than three decades, Sam Pollard has won three Emmys and along with Spike Lee received an Oscar nomination for Four Little Girls (1997) . He is a teacher at the Tisch School of the Arts in New York, and a member at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. MLK/FBI is not a biopic. It is a complex and nuanced story with a clear protagonist, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, and the antagonist, J Edgar Hoover, who served as the Director of the FBI for almost four decades. Each man had his fatal flaws and each man had his own view of what America should be. "I’m someone who would do a survey film about anything and anybody. I want to be able to dig in as an anthropologist and archaeologist, to look at the pros and cons, and nuances of human beings and different institutions." – Sam Pollard
Tue, December 22, 2020
The Mysterious Photo of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln may have been America's greatest leader. The 16th president ended slavery and led the nation out of one of its darkest periods. However, Lincoln's life and legacy were cut short that fateful night in 1865, when the actor John Wilkes Booth entered Ford's Theatre and killed the president with an assassin's bullet. Today, only 130 photographs of President Lincoln are known to have survived. But is it possible that another image exists, secretly taken after he was shot, and kept hidden for over 150 years ? We find out as we meet director Jason Cohen and executive producer Dr Whitny Braun, the filmmakers behind the new documentary The Lost Lincoln . Jason and Whitny take us on their journey to authenticate a newly discovered photo of Abraham Lincoln, one supposedly taken right after he died. In the process, we learn about this great American whose legacy still resonates with us today. “Here’s this great man who means so much to us, and he was ultimately human. What do all humans experience? We ultimately experience death, and it's a tribute to the fallibility of humanity.” - Dr. Whitny Braun
Tue, December 15, 2020
The Great Hack: Big Tech and the Post-Truth World
We live under the spell of big data. We give the big tech firms access to our personal data and they shape our lives without us even knowing it. This includes how we choose our leaders. Award-winning directors and producers Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer join us to discuss their film The Great Hack , released by Netflix last year. The Great Hack observes the actors in the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal surrounding the 2016 US presidential election. Jehane and Karim discuss how data has become a commodity, more valuable than oil, making big tech firms the richest companies of all time. In the process, we now all live public lives in a post-truth world. Would world-changing events like Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in 2016 have been possible without big tech and big data? The Great Hack lets you be the judge. “There’s 5,000 data points on me, but who owns that information?” - Jehane Noujaim
Tue, December 08, 2020
The Political Wit and Persona of Molly Ivins
Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins is a documentary that chronicles the career of the acclaimed Texas columnist and journalist. Molly was nominated multiple times for the Pulitzer Prize for her commentary, and her Texas twang became an unlikely voice of liberal America. Now 13 years after Molly’s untimely death, award-winning director and producer, Janice Engel, brings Molly’s acerbic wit and no-holds-barred approach to journalism to the big screen. Janice shares with us how she went from not knowing who Molly was to making a film about her. She also talks about the sometimes tragic private side to Molly's larger-than-life public persona. Even in death, Molly remains as unique now as she did when she was unveiling the hypocrisy of the political establishment. And she sure can still make us laugh. “Everybody needs a dose of Molly Ivins. Firstly, how many documentaries make you laugh? And secondly, she has something to teach us all.” - Janice Engel “Everybody needs a dose of Molly Ivins. Firstly, how many documentaries make you laugh? And secondly, she has something to teach us all.” - Janice Engel
Tue, December 01, 2020
Horton Foote: The Greatest Playwright You've Never Heard Of
Today we're talking about Horton Foote (1916-2009), the award-winning playwright and screenwriter. In the recently released documentary Horton Foote: The Road to Home , the celebrated screenwriter Anne Rapp helps us to learn more about this unsung Texas and American legend. Foote was born and raised in Wharton, Texas, and he went on to become a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, the winner of two Academy Awards for screenwriting, an Emmy Award for television writing, and was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts among numerous other theatrical and literary prizes. His best known works are the Oscar-winning screenplays for To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Tender Mercies (1983). Ann Rapp met Foote on the set of Tender Mercies , where she worked as a screenplay supervisor. She developed a life-long friendship with this unsung gentleman playwright. With this documentary, she wants to share with everybody her inside look into Foote's humanity, integrity and empathy that played into his work during his whole life. “To be a good writer, you don’t have to be educated, you don’t even need to speak good grammar. If you are an observer and a listener, and you find a voice to reflect that, then you can write. Horton was the best listener I've ever known.” - Anne Rapp
Tue, November 24, 2020
Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock and Roll
Chuck Berry (1926-2017) was the original King of Rock and Roll. That is according to Jon Brewer, and being referred to as 'God of rock docs,' he should know. Jon discusses Chuck Berry and the making of his documentary about the American icon. The film tells the story of Chuck’s life through the lens of his relatives and friends, and also uses dramatic reenactments of certain situations Chuck Berry lived through. Jon goes on to share a host of amazing stories drawn from his 50 years in the music business. He worked with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, he was David Bowie's manager at one point, he produced some of Gerry Rafferty's songs, and he spent significant time with B.B. King. And that's just to name a few. As Jon has more documentary projects under way, Factual America will be following his work and bring him back for more exciting stories about iconic musicians. “Chuck Berry was the original king of rock and roll. He was a poet, he invented many words, and he created the teenage audience.” - Jon Brewer
Tue, November 17, 2020
Kiss the Ground: How We Can Reverse Climate Change
On a daily basis, we are inundated with more bad news about the environmental catastrophe caused by climate change, unfolding in front of our very eyes. But is it too late? Can anything really be done? It's enough to make us give up. Many of us have. But a simple solution may be literally underneath our feet, according to the Netflix documentary Kiss the Ground from award-winning filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell. Kiss the Ground reveals that by regenerating the world's soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilise the Earth's climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Is it really that simple? An inspiring, solution-based approach, focusing on regenerative agriculture, this film is a must-watch for anyone interested in how we can reverse climate change. “There’s so much joy to put your hands in the dirt, feel the dirt, and literally kiss the ground.” - Rebecca Tickell
Tue, November 10, 2020
Robin’s Wish: Who Robin Williams Really Was
On August 11th 2014, the world was shocked to find out that Robin Williams had died by suicide. For someone who brought so much humour to the world, it was a tragic, traumatic end. But no one knew how much more there was to the story. Left to speculate on Robin’s motives, the media circus spun out of control, leaving the public in the dark about a complicated and obscured truth. Robin, bright, funny, quick witted, had lost a battle against an unknown enemy, the nearly impossible to diagnose brain disease – Lewy Body Dementia. Filmmaker Tylor Norwood brings this story to the screen for the first time in his documentary Robin’s Wish. Robin Williams was larger than life, but Robin was a wonderful human being who was behind all that incredible work, and Robin was better than Robin Williams. – Tylor Norwood
Tue, November 03, 2020
Boys State: A Reflection of a Polarised Society
Today is a special US presidential election edition of Factual America . Americans are heading to the polls. Will they re-elect Donald Trump? Or will they opt for a change and vote for Joe Biden? We can’t say either way with any certainty. What we can say is that America is a polarised society. And whatever the result, the politics of division are here to stay, so it seems. That division and polarisation are captured brilliantly in Boys State , the Sundance Jury Prize Winner from filmmakers Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss. The documentary shows what would happen if you put a thousand teenage boys together and put them in charge of the political landscape of America. Despite the hand-me-down politics of their parents and grandparents, can a bunch of Texas teenage boys provide hope and point the way ahead? We found out when we caught up recently with Amanda and Jesse from their home in California. “It’s a little bit like the Stanford Prison Experiment, but for the Government.” – Jesse Moss
Tue, October 27, 2020
Linda Ronstadt: An Homage to Mexican Americans
The singing career of Linda Ronstadt spanned five decades. A versatile and talented artist, she has won ten Grammys, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards and an Emmy. Along the way, she recorded the biggest selling foreign language album of all time. Now retired from singing, Linda continues to give back to the community, as captured by award-winning director and producer James Keach in Linda and the Mockingbirds. James joins us to share a side of Linda Ronstadt that few have seen. His music-filled, road trip-style film captures the essence of Mexican-American culture and the immigrant experience. The film provides a beautiful look into the coming together of two cultures. It also portrays the hardships far too many immigrant children must go through. “With the internet, social media, and the amount of interactions we have, we realise there are so many different human experiences to ours that we’re curious about.” – James Keach
Tue, October 20, 2020
A Life on Our Planet: Sir David Attenborough’s Witness Statement
Sir David Attenborough is a broadcast legend. And probably no individual has seen more of the Earth’s wilderness in his illustrious nearly 70-year career. That makes him the perfect witness to the devastating changes afflicting our planet. In David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (2020), which premiered on Netflix, co-director Keith Scholey of Silverback Films and producer Colin Butfield of the World Wildlife Fund bring us Sir David’s witness statement. In the process, they also provide us with simple solutions to saving our planet before it is too late. “The things that are happening to this world are unnecessary. Not getting out of the problem is unnecessary. So make sure that your voice is heard, so that we solve it.” – Keith Scholey
Tue, October 13, 2020
Public Trust: The Urgency to Protect US Public Lands
America is a land of natural beauty and natural resources. Unfortunately, these too often come into conflict. Never was this more true when it comes to America’s 640 million acres of public lands. Filmmakers David Byars and Jeremy Rubingh document the fight to protect America’s public lands for future generations in their film Public Trust which recently premiered on YouTube with tremendous success. The executive producers of the film are Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard and famous actor and founder of the Sundance Film Festival Robert Redford. Factual America caught up with David Byars from his home in Ojai, California, and Jeremy Rubingh aboard his sailboat in the Puget Sound. “Public lands is this huge democratic American idea that you don’t really see really in many other countries around the world. It’s an opportunity for unity and healing, and for everybody to come together and protect something good for future generations.” – Jeremy Rubingh
Tue, October 06, 2020
RBG: The Iconic American Supreme Court Justice
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on September 18, 2020. She had a long and illustrious career as an advocate for gender equality, a jurist and most famously as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Joining us to pay tribute to this true American icon is Julie Cohen, together with Betsy West, the co-director and co-producer of RBG. RBG is a documentary that beautifully captures the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The film itself premiered in 2018 at the Sundance Film Festival, was nominated for an Academy Award, and is one of the top grossing documentaries of all time. We caught up with Julie from her home in Brooklyn as we revisit her work on RBG and her memories of this powerful woman. “Justice Ginsburg was a very intimidating woman. Tiny, though she might had been, and with her quiet little voice, she just had this whole force and this penetrating stare – everything about her was quite intimidating.” – Julie Cohen
Tue, September 29, 2020
Class Action Park: America’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park
Action Park in Vernon, New Jersey was straight out of a Gen X teenager’s dream. The R-rated version of a John Hughes film, or as Jason Bailey at the New York Times puts it, “a rule-free stew of dangerous rides, teen guests, teen employees, raging hormones, 80s-style machismo, and booze”. But for all the nostalgia, the place comes with bad memories for those whose loved ones were seriously injured, and in some cases killed by the reckless actions of Gene Mulvihill, the fallen Wall Street mogul who owned and ran the park. Seth Porges and Chris Charles Scott, the co-directors of Class Action Park streamed on HBO Max, brilliantly capture both the time and place – Northern New Jersey in the 1980s and 1990s – that will never be repeated. And many would say thank God for that. “The laughter of Action Park isn’t a designed joke; it’s not a comedy routine. It’s the laughter of a brain having no other way to process what it’s hearing. Laughter is something that happens when you can’t cry, you can’t scream, you can’t do anything else, all you can do is laugh. ” – Seth Porges
Tue, September 22, 2020
Good Ol Girl: Cowgirls in Modern Ranching
When we think of Texas, we think of wide open spaces, ranches, rugged individualism, the Wild West, and invariably cowboys. But where do women fit into this mix? In their film Good Ol Girl , Sarah Brennan Kolb and Kyle Kelley put this question into the context of present-day Texas. The film tells the stories of three young modern-day Texan cowgirls, and explores the role of women in cowboy culture. Women are increasingly taking a larger role in the traditionally male dominated industry of ranching. As we found out, Texas is going to have to change if the legacy of the past is to be handed down to the next generation. “I’ve always hoped that women would see themselves as heroes, and men would understand that women can be heroes.” – Sarah Brennan Kolb
Tue, September 15, 2020
Imagining the Indian: De-Mascoting Native Americans in Sports
America is famous for its sports franchises and rabid fans. However, there is one group of Americans for whom sports raise painful memories. These are the Native Americans. At least some people are trying to put an end to racial stereotyping in US sports. And they have already succeeded in changing the name of the Washington Football Team. Aviva Kempner is the award-winning director of successful docs like “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg”. Kevin Blackistone is an award-winning national sports columnist. Together they are working on bringing Imagining the Indian to the screen. We caught up recently with Aviva and Kevin at their homes in Washington DC. “I’ve come to be opposed to all these names. The Not Your Mascot slogan is so true. People are not property of others, certainly when it is a culture that is being appropriated. We’re supposed to be past that.” – Kevin Blackistone
Tue, September 08, 2020
Air Jordan: A Cultural Phenomenon
Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. He may also be America’s first black cultural icon, blazing a trail for other African American athletes like LeBron James. Besides his performance on the court, Jordan rocketed to fame on the back of a clever and innovative marketing campaign to sell sneakers, and a shrewd business model that made him a billionaire. However, has success come with a price? Well, Nike and Jordan have made billions of dollars. They have also created a shoe culture that see some misguided youth literally killing each other to get their hands on the latest pair of Air Jordans. Yemi Bamiro and Will Thorne capture all of this in their recently released documentary One Man and His Shoes . We recently caught up with Yemi and Will from their homes in London and Berlin.
Tue, August 11, 2020
They’re Trying to Kill Us: Diet, Poverty and Racism
In our final episode of Season One, we’re joined by John Lewis, aka Badass Vegan. John’s upcoming documentary, They’re Trying to Kill Us , touches on so many of the issues that we’ve looked at this year on the podcast – factory farming, race and Big Pharma, just to name a few – but this time through the unique lens of hip hop. They’re Trying to Kill Us explores the connections between diet, poverty and systemic racism. As well as looking at veganism, we discuss Big Pharma and the link between mind and body. John’s life is literally the material for a great movie, as we found out recently when we joined John from his home in Wilmington, North Carolina. “I don’t think we can wait for the governments and the rich to make a change. We have to make the change ourselves.” – John Lewis
Tue, August 04, 2020
Uprooted: American History Through Jazz Dance
The history of jazz dance is the history of America. That history is not well documented, however, especially when it comes to the leading role played by African Americans. In Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance , filmmakers Khadifa Wong and Zak Nemorin trace jazz dance back to its roots in Africa, and follow its evolution up to the present. Along the way Khadifa and Zack address difficult subjects such as appropriation, racism and sexism within this quintessential American art form, and in the process shine a light on this chapter in America’s history. But in the end, their film is a celebration of this most human of art forms, where as they say, “what all people have in common is rhythm and a basic human need to get down”. “ Whether it was jazz, whether it’s hip hop, there are cultures that step out of oppression, and out of wanting to speak out, and jazz dance was just an iteration of that.” – Khadifa Wong
Tue, July 28, 2020
Insert Coin: The Arcade Video Game Revolution
For those of us who grew up in the 1980s and 90s, the arcade was a home away from home. And most likely we were playing a video game that was the creative genius of a scrappy group of renegade designers in Chicago. In his film Insert Coin (2020), director Josh Tsui captures what it was like for the fellows at Midway Games to revolutionize the video game industry. And along the way, Josh perfectly captures 1990s pop culture. Insert Coin is an interesting take on the arcade gaming world, showing us its business side and how games were designed to be addictive and suck in quarters. “Once you make a game you can’t get that out of your system. It’s one of the most fulfilling and frustrating creative mediums out there and it’s intoxicating. ” – Josh Tsui
Tue, July 21, 2020
Closed For Storm: The Abandoned Six Flags Theme Park
What is it about old abandoned buildings that can be so compelling and alluring? We find out today as we welcome filmmakers Jake Williams and John Shaw to the podcast. Their film Closed For Storm is about a theme park left for ruin in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 15 years ago. Closed For Storm shows Six Flags New Orleans in its glory days and current state of abject dereliction. Along the way, the film also captures the broken dreams and fleeting aspirations of a community still looking for hope. We find Jake and John in the eye of a different kind of storm in the summer of 2020, as they join us from their homes in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They tell us how they got legal access to the property, and why so many of us share a fascination with abandoned buildings. We also talk about how the virus has affected the film industry and what the release of the documentary will look like as film festivals shut down worldwide… “When Katrina was happening nobody’s minds were on how the theme park was doing. But once the helicopter images came out of the park underwater, it was staggering. They took whatever was valuable, left and abandoned the property.” – Jake Williams
Tue, July 14, 2020
Hamtramck, USA: A Multicultural Landscape
The US is a nation of immigrants. And there’s no better example of this than Hamtramck, Michigan, America’s first Muslim-majority city. No bigger than two square miles, Hamtramck is home to a myriad of nationalities and ethnic groups. Over 30 different languages can be heard on its streets. Using a city government election as a backdrop, producers and directors Justin Feltman and Razi Jafri eloquently capture the dynamism stemming from successive waves of immigration. Is America a melting pot or a mosaic? Or does it matter what we call it? We find out as we catch up with Justin and Razi from their homes in Washington, DC, and Hamtramck, Michigan. They tell us how they managed to gain such unprecedented access, and formed such close relationships with their subjects. Hamtramck, USA is a deep dive into multiculturalism and what the future landscape of America could look like. “Our nation is changing. Our demographics are changing very quickly and there’s a lot to be learnt from places like Hamtramck” – Razi Jafri
Tue, July 07, 2020
Becoming Rocky: How Sylvester Stallone Became a Star
In 1976, Sylvester Stallone was a struggling actor with a big dream and the courage of his convictions. That dream became Rocky , one of the most iconic films of all time. Using home movies shot mostly by the director John Avildsen, director and producer Derek Wayne Johnson perfectly captures the moment when Sylvester Stallone became a superstar. 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic , as it is known in the USA and Canada, or Becoming Rocky: The Birth of a Classic , as it is known everywhere else, reminds us that while Sylvester Stallone is known for a lot of things, consummate filmmaker should be first among them. We caught up recently with Derek from East Texas. Not only does he give us insights on what it is like to work closely with Sylvester Stallone, but we learn how he too has chased his own dreams to success in Hollywood. “I think he’s a genius and I stand by that. Because this is a guy who is not only a wonderful actor, but also wonderful writer who writes from the heart, which is very rare.” – Derek Wayne Johnson
Tue, June 30, 2020
Streetlight Harmonies: The Lasting Legacy of Doo-Wop
In the late 1950s, doo-wop music took America by storm. And its legacy lasts to this day in the music of such recording artists as Bruno Mars and Meghan Trainor. Award-winning director and producer Brent Wilson is shining a light on this genre of pop music . Using original interviews with doo-wop recording artists, and those they influenced, Brent’s documentary Streetlight Harmonies perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the 50s and early 60s. Doo-wop originated with African-American teenagers on the street corners of urban America – places like New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Detroit. With the rise of vocal harmony singing, teenagers started recording music for themselves for the first time in history. However, these teenagers had to face up to racism, predatory producers and the pressures of being in the spotlight. Looking back on their lives, they reveal a love and passion for their music that inspires us to this day. “I wanted it to feel fresh, I wanted it to feel present. My goal was it would be seen by people who don’t like doo-wop music.” – Brent Wilson
Tue, June 23, 2020
Crip Camp: Cradle of the Disability Rights Movement
In the 1970s Camp Jened was not just any old summer camp in the Catskills. Hippy values, the Grateful Dead and pot smoking shaped this utopia for teens with disabilities. Before long, a generation of summer campers with disabilities became a social movement that soon changed the world. We welcome Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham, co-directors of the Netflix documentary Crip Camp , to the podcast. Jim and Nicole share their experiences making a documentary about one of the most compelling, previously untold stories of our time. In the process, we find out what it is like to work with executive producers Barack and Michelle Obama. Jim and Nicole also discuss the next items on the agenda for disability rights. “I had no mental model for imagining disability communities, and I didn’t have any mental model for thinking about wild, horny teenagers listening to Bob Dylan at a summer camp. It was just joyous.” – Nicole Newnham
Tue, June 16, 2020
Stewart Brand: America’s Last Great Optimist
Stewart Brand has been at the forefront of multiple societal trends since the 1960s, and now he’s trying to bring back the woolly mammoth and other species from extinction. Is this folly or is he once again ahead of the curve? Stewart might just be one of the most influential people that none of us have heard of. He traveled around with the novelist Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters. Afterwards, he kick-started the modern environmental movement, by pressuring NASA to release a satellite image of the earth. Stewart’s Whole Earth Catalog inspired a whole generation, including Steve Jobs. As if that was not enough, Stewart went on to mentor the early pioneers of Silicon Valley. We talk to the directors of We Are As Gods , David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg, about Stewart’s life and the different inspirational movements he has been involved with. Since the coronavirus has delayed the releasing of the documentary, we also discuss how the pandemic has affected the film industry as a whole. And we learn what it is like to have your premier at SXSW cancelled at the last minute. “We are as gods and we might as well get good at it.” – Stewart Brand
Tue, June 09, 2020
Baywatch: The American Dream
Baywatch was a 1990s phenomenon well ahead of its time, going ‘viral’ long before there was something called social media. Director and producer Matt Felker is an acclaimed observer of pop culture and social media trends. As a result, Matt is making a documentary that takes a serious look at Baywatch – a show that still resonates with a global audience 20 years later. Recently, Factual America caught up with Matt, producer Nicole Eggert, who played Summer Quinn on the show , and Jeremy Jackson, who played Hobie Buchannon. Besides sharing their experiences and memories of Baywatch , they explain how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting their day-to-day lives and their ability to complete production on the documentary. Moreover, all three examine why Baywatch became the most watched TV show in the world. In addition, Nicole and Jeremy share with complete candour what it was like being child actors and the ‘family’ they have built around Baywatch . “I’ve been in the trailer when packages of cocaine and alcohol arrived. I’ve seen the predators around the kids. Baywatch wasn’t like that, it was very different to a lot of sets I’ve been on in my life.” – Nicole Eggert
Tue, June 02, 2020
Natalie Wood: Cinema Icon
Natalie Wood was an iconic American actress, featuring in many influential Hollywood movies in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Her life was tragically cut short when she drowned at the age of 43. Today we talk with Laurent Bouzereau, the director and producer of the recently released HBO documentary Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (2020). The film explores Natalie’s life and career through the unique perspective of her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, and others who knew her best. Had she lived, Natalie Wood would have undoubtedly become one of the most influential Hollywood figures of our time. The impact she left on the industry she loved so much is nothing short of remarkable. She was an incredible woman, glamorous and relatable, who was ahead of her time, and tragically died far too young. “If you don’t like Natalie Wood, you don’t like cinema. If you don’t know Natalie Wood, you don’t know cinema.” – Laurent Bouzereau
Tue, May 26, 2020
The Hart Family Tragedy
The Hart Family had the perfect American life. At least, that is what their social media accounts showed the world. But the reality was very different. A Thread of Deceit: The Hart Family Tragedy documents a family’s spiral into abuse and despair. Ultimately, Jennifer and Sarah Hart decided to drive their family SUV off a cliff, killing them and their six adopted children. How could this happen? The Harts’ social media accounts were full of beautiful images – playing in the garden with the kids, trips out on a frozen lake or cozy nights by the fire. And everyone thought they were living the perfect American life. As the film reveals, however, Jen and Sarah Hart carefully curated their family’s online personas. As a result, they were able to hide a life of mental illness and abuse. That life eventually led to the tragic loss of their six innocent children. We caught up recently with the filmmakers, producer Rachel Morgan and executive producer Chuck Lewis. As they point out, A Thread of Deceit: The Hart Family Tragedy provides us with valuable lessons about social media, our society and the American adoption system. Rachel and Chuck note that our so ciety’s addiction to social media is damaging our mental health. “This story needed to be told. There were a lot of people speculating, a lot of very strong feelings.” – Chuck Lewis
Tue, May 19, 2020
The Life of Modern-Day American Cowboys
Cowboys are as American as hot dogs and apple pie. But what is life like for the modern-day American cowboy? Filmed on eight of the nation’s largest cattle ranches across ten states in the American West, Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait (2019) provides an intimate look at life in the modern world for this most American of icons. A cowboy’s life has always been one of solitude and hard work. This is still the case. Even as they adapt to modernity, the modern-day cowpoke provides us with lessons in how to cope with isolation. But with cell phones and the internet becoming commonplace on the range, some long for the “good old days”. The filmmakers behind this ode to the modern-day cowboy join Factual America to tell their compelling story. How did the filmmakers create such an intimate portrait? How did they gain ranchers’ trust while capturing the magnificence of the American West? Director Bud Force is a former rodeo cowboy. His co-director, John Langmore, is a former working cowboy who spent five years photographing life on “big outfit” ranches. Bud and John are joined on the podcast by Feli Funke, creative producer and author of Gathering Remnants – a Tribute to The Working Cowboy (2020), Emmy award-winning editor Lucas J. Harger and Ian McLeod of Cleod9 Music. So join us, as we enter into the life of the modern cowboy… “We’ve created this career out of trying to create cinematic footage in difficult conditions in the field. Whether it’s cowboying, ice climbing, or shooting scuba diving, you have to operate light and fast.” – Bud Force
Tue, May 12, 2020
I Am Not Your Negro: Racism in the US
Narrated by Samuel L Jackson, I Am Not Your Negro (2016) uses James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript to tell the horrific history of racism in America. Following the lives of three slain civil rights leaders, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr, Baldwin’s words still resonate today. Since the beginning, race has defined America and racism permeates its politics to this day. To discuss the issue, Dr Richard Johnson, lecturer in US politics and international relations at Lancaster University, joins the podcast. Richard’s work examines the US’s increasingly racially polarised politics. He draws parallels between contemporary America and the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction. Richard believes we are living in the twilight of the ‘second reconstruction’ – an era that began with the civil rights movement. Are there signs that a ‘third reconstruction’ is dawning? Despite the election of Barack Obama in 2008 – the US’s first black president – the 2010s were a decade of increasing racial polarisation. But with white, working class voters searching for an anti-establishment voice, could there be a glimmer of hope? “There are racial dimensions to all issues.” – Dr. Richard Johnson
Tue, May 05, 2020
Opioid Addiction: This Drug May Kill You
Warning: This Drug May Kill You (2017) by broadcast journalist Perri Peltz is a heart-wrenching account of opioid addiction in the US. Before the coronavirus, a different epidemic plagued America. Medical researchers will hopefully develop a vaccine for Covid-19 in the near future. But more than 2 million Americans remain addicted to opioids. Is there any hope in sight? Norman Stone, award-winning director, producer and screenwriter, joins Factual America to discuss Peltz’s film. Norman has researched the opioid epidemic in America. Norman’s latest film, The Final Fix (2020), offers a glimmer of hope to the addicted. Warning: This Drug May Kill You shows how opioid addiction affects people from all walks of life. Americans who would never seek illicit drugs find themselves hooked on prescription painkillers. Many move on to heroin. The opioid epidemic costs the US economy many billions of dollars annually and destroys many lives. However, Norman says the problem is big pharma, which doles out trillions of dollars to the US medical establishment. Inspired by Peltz’s film, Norman’s The Final Fix shows that there might be a relatively simple cure to opioid addiction – Neuroelectric Therapy (NET). But the authorities refuse to give NET a clinical trial. “While they made billions upon billions of dollars out of this, they killed hundreds of thousands, with cold calculated precision.” – Norman Stone
Tue, April 21, 2020
Louis Theroux, Religion and Free Speech in America
In America religion and politics are inextricably linked, despite what the US Constitution might say. Using The Most Hated Family in America (2007) by Louis Theroux and its sequel, America’s Most Hated Family in Crisis (2011), Factual America explores the history of religion in US politics. Not only does religion polarise American society, but it also played a big role in determining the winner of the 2016 US presidential election. Will the same be true in 2020? Emma Long, Senior Lecturer in American Studies at the University of East Anglia, joins the podcast to discuss the ways religion looms large in US politics. To help illustrate her points, Emma utilises Theroux’s films, which focus on the controversial Westboro Baptist Church. While nothing short of shocking, Theroux’s documentaries shine a bright light on belief in America and quintessentially American views of free speech. The films show firsthand Westboro’s protests at the funerals of American military service personnel. Are there limits to what can be considered offensive? Or is anything fair game when it comes to free speech and 1st Amendment rights? Explaining how religion continues to affect American politics to this day, Emma enlightens us with her research and expertise… “The US apparently has a separation of church and state, and yet every time you look at American politics religion is there.” – Emma Long
Tue, April 07, 2020
Eating Animals, Factory Farming and the Pandemic
How many of us think about where the meat on our tables comes from? Well, we all should! That’s the message of Eating Animals (2017), produced and narrated by Natalie Portman and based on the best-selling book on factory farming by Jonathan Safran Froer. The film shines a light on corporate farming. Besides being inherently cruel to animals, it has destroyed entire ways of life and is devastating our environment. Now factory farming is threatening to kill us all by fostering a pandemic. However, those who blow the whistle face the wrath of this trillion-dollar industry. In this episode we are joined by Phil Brooke, Research and Education Manager at Compassion in World Farming, who discusses how his organisation is fighting to change the way we think about raising livestock. Along the way, Phil and host Matthew Sherwood talk about what is being done to stop factory farming. And as the current pandemic shows us, at the very least we need to change the way we view our food and how we source it. “The more animals we keep, the worse we keep them, the more at risk we are of more of these diseases.” – Phil Brooke
Tue, March 24, 2020
Capital Punishment: Life and Death Row
Is it ever right to kill someone? Are lethal injections really humane? Is capital punishment going to be around forever? In some parts of the world the US is infamous for its continued use of the death penalty. Using the BBC’s Life and Death Row – The Mass Execution as a backdrop, Dr Vivien Miller discusses the history of capital punishment in America. In doing so, she reveals how the death penalty divides the US along several different fault lines: race, gender, religion and region. The first episode in a four-part series, Life and Death Row – The Mass Execution is a riveting and heartbreaking account of recent events that unfolded in Arkansas as drugs used in legal injections were soon to become unavailable. The state planned to execute eight men in ten days, leading to a heated debate about the complicated legal, moral, and social factors that are involved in these kinds of decisions. With lives on the line, and issues of racism arising, this is what some would call a ‘21st-century injustice’… “It’s much more likely that a black defendant with a white victim will end up with an execution.” – Dr Vivien Miller
Tue, March 10, 2020
Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore and Climate Change
An Inconvenient Truth (2006) won two Academy Awards, and turned former Vice President of the United States Al Gore into an international celebrity. More importantly, it brought climate change and global warming to the forefront of our collective consciousness. Drawing on his own research, our guest Dr James Lyons shows how director Davis Guggenheim uses performance to dramatically animate risk in the film. In doing so, does he change the focus, away from climate change? Do the camera lights instead shine more brightly on the former senator from Tennessee, rather than the existential threat facing our planet?
Tue, February 25, 2020
2020 American Election: Super Tuesday
Factual America caught up with director and producer Adithya Sambamurthy, who is heading to the US to cover the 2020 American election for The Guardian newspaper. We discuss the upcoming elections and take a look back at President Donald Trump’s rise to power. In 2016 and 2018 Adi spent weeks on the campaign trail filming and producing Anywhere but Washington . He shares his experiences criss-crossing America, where he was able to meet with Trump supporters and observe first hand the changing American political landscape. We also look at how Trump has been so successful in certain areas that should be considered Democrat territory. Why do these communities reject Democrats and feel more hopeful and optimistic under Trump? While there is a long way to go until the election in November, Trump has emerged from impeachment looking stronger. His campaign team and strategy have improved immensely since 2016. Conversely, he remains a highly polarizing figure despite his popularity in many parts of America. Which Democrat will emerge from Super Tuesday the front runner? Do they even stand a chance against President Trump? We also look at similarities and differences between the US and UK on the political front, in light of Brexit and the rise of Boris Johnson as prime minister. “A lot of what we’ve seen has been Donald Trump’s attempts to run against Washington; he gets to claim outsider status even as he becomes the establishment.” – Adithya Sambamurthi
Tue, February 11, 2020
Globalisation of Factory Farming
Soyalism (2018) explores how factory farming has become a giant global business concentrated in the hands of a few Western and Chinese companies. Across the globe, people are eating more and more meat. Demand has increased sevenfold since 1960 with 70 billion animals currently being killed per year. That number is set to reach 120 billion by 2050. To meet this demand, corporate giants have taken over farming, creating massive ‘factories’ for the housing and feeding of livestock and waste disposal. Using buzz words like ‘vertical integraton’, Western and Chinese corporations now dominate supply chains and wield great power. At the same time, more and more land is being dedicated to growing the grains and soya needed to support the world’s burgeoning demand for meat. In the process, factory farming has put thousands of small producers out of business and permanently transformed entire landscapes. Factual America caught up with Soyalism’s director Enrico Parenti and producer Susana Trojano at the Global Health Film Festival. Their journey started with a question about how to feed the world’s fast-expanding population. They soon uncovered a tale that starts in America, winds through Brazil and China and finally takes them all the way to Mozambique. We also talk about what it’s like being a European filmmaker working in the United States, and some of the difficulties Enrico and Susana encountered there. “It’s even hard to find where the investors inside a company come from.” – Enrico Parenti
Tue, January 28, 2020
Gun Violence and Mass Shootings in America
America’s love affair with guns is one of its defining attributes, and the number of mass shootings hit an all-time high in 2019. While politicians vow to tackle the problem, a powerful gun lobby stands in the way. To help us understand why the US struggles with gun violence on such a massive scale, Dr Peter Squires, an expert on the subject, joins the show. He is a sociologist and professor of criminology and public policy at the University of Brighton, who has worked with many different police forces, and is respected globally for his research into firearms and crime. Peter screens British director Marc Silver’s acclaimed 3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets (2015) in his classes. This film focuses on the 2012 shooting of Jordan Russell Davis and the trial, media coverage and public reaction following the event. This particular shooting raised a lot of questions about gun legislation in America, particularly the ‘stand your ground’ law in Florida, while Marc Silver’s observational documentary lets the audience draw its own conclusions. With Peter’s in-depth knowledge of gun crime, we examine the case and talk about why gun violence is so much more prevalent in America compared with other countries, even those with high rates of gun ownership. We also investigate why America got into this situation and more importantly what steps can be taken to minimize gun violence in the future. Like Peter’s students, we too can watch Marc Silver’s film and make up our own mind about what is really behind the culture of fear afflicting so many Americans. “People can become a dark celebrity very quickly by a horrific act against society.” – Peter Squires
Tue, January 14, 2020
DA Pennebaker’s Dont Look Back
As a tribute to documentary film pioneer DA Pennebaker, who passed away in August 2019, Factual America explores his groundbreaking Dont Look Back (1967), considered one of the best documentary films of all time. Dr Stella Bruzzi, author of the acclaimed New Documentary , demonstrates how the film about Bob Dylan is a shining example of the direct cinema style pioneered by Pennebaker and in the process shows us why people like Michael Moore have called him the “grandfather of modern American documentary filmmaking.” “It’s a scientific truism, that the minute you look at something or intervene you change it, and it doesn’t mean to say it’s untruthful…it’s just a different truth.” – Stella Bruzzi
Tue, January 14, 2020
Alex Gibney’s Theranos Scandal Documentary
In Silicon Valley, where “fake it till you make it” is a mantra, Elizabeth Holmes stood out. Theranos, the company she founded, drew the support and accolades of investors and senior statesmen alike – that is until a Wall Street Journal reporter’s prying questions spelled the beginning of the end. What originally looked like a revolutionary technology in blood sampling quickly became a scandal that swept the nation. Today we are joined by award-winning business and tech broadcaster, and host of the Gender Knot , Nastaran Tavakoli-Far, as we explore the Theranos saga through the lens of Alex Gibney’s The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019). We discuss how this fraud was able to happen and to what extent the culture of Silicon Valley is to blame. A fantastically made documentary about a dangerous company, it makes us question yet again the cult of charismatic leaders. “That’s the beauty of America that if you’ve got a big idea you’re not necessarily going to be laughed at. She kept referencing a Thomas Edison quote, that if you fail ten thousand times, that’s so you get it right the ten thousand and first time.” – Nastaran Tavakoli-Far
Tue, January 14, 2020
Building Trump’s Border Wall in Texas
In The River and the Wall (2019), a group of modern-day adventurers led by filmmaker Ben Masters sets out on a 1,200-mile journey along the Texas-Mexico border to understand the economic, environmental and social impact of President Donald Trump’s border wall. They not only encounter a land of soaring vistas, outstanding natural beauty and unrivaled ruggedness but also discover something about themselves and the immigrant experience. In this episode we are joined by Sebastian Sauerborn, German entrepreneur, founder of Alamo Pictures and CEO of Mount Bonnell Advisors. Sebastian immigrated to Texas when he moved his business, and shares his experiences living and working there to discuss an issue that divides America but unites those who make their living along the Rio Grande river. “Immigration was not a problem in Texas, these immigrants they are not on the public pocket. They have jobs, they work hard, they are needed, these jobs need to be done. So I think a very positive approach would be the right answer.” – Sebastian Sauerborn
Fri, January 10, 2020
Salesman by Albert and David Maysles
Award-winning journalist, Kevin Turley, joins Factual America to discuss Albert and David Maysles’ seminal documentary. Kevin places Salesman in the context of 1960s America and traces the film’s influence on documentary filmmaking to this day. Along the way Kevin and host Matthew Sherwood discover that the film about hard-luck Bible salesmen is actually about so much more — namely the pursuit of the American Dream. They talk about the day to day difficulties that many people had to face back then, and how although the landscape of America has changed, the film still keeps its relevance even today. The greatest gift of any documentarian is patience. – Kevin Turley
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