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/

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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

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

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'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

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'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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Clair Titley: https://clairtitley.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

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

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

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We discuss ‘The House From …,’ a fun new documentary about iconic homes from movies and TV shows like ‘Home Alone,’ ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Friday,’ ‘The Outsiders,’ ‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’, ‘A Christmas Story,’ and many more. The film looks at the lives of the homeowners who navigate the unique challenges and joys of living in pop culture landmarks. We wrap up the episode with an interview with the film’s director, Tommy Avallone.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Guest co-host: Jason Betrue

Send us a note at actualfactspod@gmail.com

Our show's theme music is by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/

For more from MovieMaker Magazine, visit https://www.moviemaker.com/ 

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We talk with Benjamin Ree about his documentary 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' (2024). The film tells the story of Mats Steen, a young man in Norway born with a severe form of muscular dystrophy that left him physically isolated for most of his life. Through the online multiplayer game 'World of Warcraft,' however, Mats found connection with a community of people around the world. Unbeknownst to his family, he had created a second life in the game as his character, Ibelin, building deep friendships with other players while keeping his real identity and health struggles private. When he passed away at just 25 years old, his family mourned what they thought had been a lonely life – until they began receiving an outpouring of messages from Mats' friends across the globe.

To bring Mats' online world to life, Benjamin collaborated with animators to recreate scenes from Mats' life in 'World of Warcraft,' allowing viewers to experience the exact environment, characters, and activities Mats had been immersed in. These scenes are blended with selections from the extensive video footage Mats' family captured of his life in the physical world.

Benjamin Ree is a three-time Sundance award-winning director, known for several documentaries, including 'Magnus' and 'The Painter and the Thief.'

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Send us a note: actualfactspod@gmail.com

Our show's theme music is by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/

Benjamin Ree: https://benjaminree.com/

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

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Joining us is Nicholas Ma to discuss his documentary 'Leap of Faith' (2024), which follows twelve diverse Christian leaders from Grand Rapids, Michigan, as they gather for a series of retreats led by Michael Gulker, organizer of a project called the Colossian Forum. Over a year, these pastors—five women and seven men from various denominations and with differing beliefs and approaches—engage in deep conversations on divisive issues, exploring perspectives shaped by their faith and experiences. We witness moments of deep pain and frustration as their views clash, but we're also there for the discovery of surprising points of connection.

Nicholas collaborated on the film with longtime partner Morgan Neville; the duo also made the great Fred Rogers documentary, 'Won’t You Be My Neighbor?'. An award-winning director, writer, and producer, Nicholas's work includes the WNBA documentary 'Unfinished Business' and his feature debut 'Mabel,' which was awarded the Sloan Prize. A former DOC NYC fellow and Film Independent Fellow, he also previously worked on global economic policy on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Send us a note: actualfactspod@gmail.com

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'Leap of Faith': https://leapoffaithmovie.com/

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

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Sail away with us as we discuss 'Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary,' the new film from director Garret Price. Part of Bill Simmons' Music Box series, the doc explores the rise—and modern-day reevaluation—of the breezy, easy-listening rock that emerged from Southern California in the late '70s and early '80s.

Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer

Guest co-host: Jason Betrue

Send us a note at actualfactspod@gmail.com

Our show's theme music is by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/

For more from MovieMaker Magazine, visit https://www.moviemaker.com/ 

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