Actual Facts – Details, episodes & analysis

We talk to filmmaker Elisa Levine about her documentary 'Sweetheart Deal.' The film tells the story of four women—Kristine, Krista, Tammy, and Sara—who navigate life on Seattle's infamous Aurora Avenue, a street packed with traffic, motels, and liquor stores, and known for being one of the city's main hubs for street-based sex work. 'Sweetheart Deal' explores the women’s complex relationships with each other, their families, and a man named Elliott, a self-proclaimed healer who offers the women food, shelter, and a place to detox in his RV. At first, Elliott seems like a savior, but as time goes on, the lines between helper and exploiter begin to blur. 'Sweetheart Deal was shot over several years in vérité style and captures the women’s humanity and resilience as they search for hope amidst the hardships of their daily lives.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

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'Sweetheart Deal': https://www.sweetheartdealmovie.com/

MovieMaker Magazine: https://www.moviemaker.com/ 

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We speak with filmmaker Alice Gu about her 2020 documentary 'The Donut King.' The film tells the story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who escaped the Khmer Rouge and built a donut empire in California in the 1970s. Ted's success helped hundreds of fellow refugees start their own shops, transforming the West Coast's donut industry. But as Ted enjoyed the American Dream, personal struggles with gambling and infidelity led to a dramatic fall from grace. In our conversation, Alice reflects on the rise and fall (and rise again) of Ted's fortune, and the immigrant experience at the heart of his story.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Send us a note: actualfactspod@gmail.com

Theme music by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/

'The Donut King': https://www.donutkingmovie.com/

MovieMaker Magazine: https://www.moviemaker.com/ 

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We talk with acclaimed filmmaker Ondi Timoner about her deeply personal 2022 documentary, 'Last Flight Home.' The film chronicles the last days of Ondi’s father, Eli Timoner, a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded a successful airline in the 1970s.

'Last Flight Home' captures the final weeks of 92-year-old Eli’s life after he decides to end it under California’s End of Life Option Act. The film offers a profoundly intimate portrayal of love, loss, and the courage it takes to say goodbye. In our conversation, Ondi reflects on the emotional journey of making the film and the powerful impact art can have on audiences.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Send us a note: actualfactspod@gmail.com

Theme music by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/

'Last Flight Home': https://www.interloperfilms.com/lastflighthome

MovieMaker Magazine: https://www.moviemaker.com/ 

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We’re joined by sister-and-brother filmmaking duo Rebecca and Pete Davis, whose new documentary, 'Join or Die,' examines the pivotal role that joining clubs and civic groups plays in shaping the future of our society.

Drawing on the work of renowned social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking book 'Bowling Alone' exposed the alarming decline of community connections, 'Join or Die' offers profound insights into the current crisis facing our democracy. The film combines Putnam’s story with perspectives from politics, economics, public health, and urban design. It also incorporates historic home videos and contemporary community profiles to highlight the essential role civic organizations play in maintaining a healthy democracy.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Send us a note: actualfactspod@gmail.com

Theme music by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/

'Join or Die': https://www.joinordiefilm.com/ 

MovieMaker Magazine: https://www.moviemaker.com/

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MovieMaker Magazine's documentary podcast Actual Facts is back to talk docs! Eric and Jason discuss 'American Pain,' a film that tells the story of twin brothers and bodybuilders Chris and Jeff George, who operated a notorious network of pain clinics in Florida, raking in millions by prescribing and dispensing large quantities of opioids with reckless abandon. The film's director, Darren Foster, stops by to chat.

Hosts: Eric Steuer and Jason Betrue

Theme music: Yalls (https://yalls.bandcamp.com)

Send us a note at actualfactspod@gmail.com

Visit MovieMaker Magazine online: https://www.moviemaker.com

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Come on down! Director C.J. Wallis joins us to talk about his documentary 'Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much,' which tells the story of Ted Slauson, a math assessment test writer and “The Price Is Right” fanatic. From an early age, Slauson studied the prices of the show’s prizes, and even wrote software to help him memorize them. He eventually gets caught up in a controversy when one contestant gets a price a little *too* right. Plus: Eric and Jason discuss their love for comfort TV classics and needing to take a break from intense media content.

Hosts: Eric Steuer and Jason Betrue

Theme music: Yalls (https://yalls.bandcamp.com)

Send us a note at actualfactspod@gmail.com

Visit MovieMaker Magazine online: https://www.moviemaker.com

This episode is sponsored by Evermoon Media: https://www.evermoonmedia.com/learn

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We speak with Bianca Stigter, director of 'Three Minutes: A Lengthening.' The documentary is a beautiful and devastating tribute to a Jewish community in Poland that was captured on film in 1938 and wiped out by the Nazi regime a year later. We also talk about Nathan Fielder's unique (and hard to describe) docuseries 'The Rehearsal' and discuss fascinating artifacts uncovered in record stores, flea markets, and neighbors' homes.

Hosts: Eric Steuer and Jason Betrue

Theme music: Yalls (https://yalls.bandcamp.com)

Send us a note at actualfactspod@gmail.com

Visit MovieMaker Magazine online: https://www.moviemaker.com

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Welcome to Actual Facts, where we discuss documentary films and talk to the filmmakers behind them. In this first episode, we speak with Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller, directors of 'Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song.'

Hosts: Eric Steuer and Jason Betrue

Theme music: Yalls (https://yalls.bandcamp.com)

Send us a note at actualfactspod@gmail.com

Visit MovieMaker Magazine online: https://www.moviemaker.com

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Clair Titley joins to discuss her documentary 'The Contestant' (2023). The film tells the surreal story of Nasubi, an aspiring Japanese comedian who, in 1998 at the age of 22, was selected for a reality TV show produced by the team behind the popular series 'Denpa Shonen.' Stripped of his clothes and placed in a tiny apartment, Nasubi was tasked with surviving solely on magazine sweepstakes winnings until he amassed 1 million yen in prizes. For 15 months, he lived in isolation, unaware that his every move was being broadcast to millions under the title 'A Life in Prizes,' making him one of Japan’s biggest TV stars—without his knowledge or consent. Clair is a BAFTA-nominated director who began her career making oral history films for the BBC. She premiered 'The Contestant' at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it quickly became a favorite at festivals like Camden and Doc NYC.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Send us a note: actualfactspod@gmail.com

Theme music by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/

Clair Titley: https://clairtitley.com/

MovieMaker Magazine: https://www.moviemaker.com/ 

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We speak with Nick August-Perna about his documentary 'Tell Them You Love Me' (2023). The film explores the complex and controversial case of Anna Stubblefield, a former Rutgers ethics professor who was convicted in 2015 for the sexual assault of Derrick Johnson, a nonverbal Black man with cerebral palsy. Stubblefield, a white woman, met Johnson while working to improve his communication skills using Facilitated Communication, a controversial and often disputed method in which a facilitator helps guide a person with disabilities in typing or pointing to letters. Stubblefield claimed that, through this process, she and Johnson developed a deep emotional bond, which led to a consensual sexual relationship. However, Johnson's mother, Daisy, his brother, John, and ultimately the court argued that Derrick lacked the cognitive ability to consent, accusing Stubblefield of manipulating both his communication and his capacity for intimacy. Nick is an award-winning director, producer, and editor, known for co-directing 'The Oxy Kingpins' (2021) and 'The Swell Season' (2011), among other works.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Send us a note: actualfactspod@gmail.com

Theme music by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/

Nick August-Perna: https://www.nickaugustperna.com/

MovieMaker Magazine: https://www.moviemaker.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.