The HBO Original two-part documentary WISE GUY David Chase and The Sopranos directed by Academy Award®-winner Alex Gibney (HBO’s “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” and “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley”) debuts SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. 25 years after the show first debuted, HBO’s paradigm-shifting series “The Sopranos” remains a cultural phenomenon and a touchstone for prestige television. On a replica set of Dr. Melfi’s psychiatrist’s office, Gibney flips the script on David Chase, excavating and analyzing the origins of “The Sopranos,” his creative process, and the intimate connections between his own life and many of his characters.

Producer Director JEFF ZIMBALIST has two terrific documentaries released at the same time. HOW TO COME ALIVE with NORMAN MAILER explores the rollercoaster life of America’s most controversial and bestselling author of the 20th Century. Propelled by his tremendous ego and contrarian spirit, Mailer’s ceaseless visibility in the public eye lasted 6 decades, during which he had 6 tumultuous marriages, 9 children, 11 bestsellers, 3 arrests, and 2 Pulitzer Prizes. SKYWALKERS; A LOVE STORY is about a pair of Moscow daredevils who’ve made a career out of scaling some of the world’s tallest buildings. Their climbs are often technically considered trespassing — and completed with minimal or nonexistent safety precautions in place. But they aren’t just climbing buddies — they’re also in love. Skywalkers is on Netflix now and while Mailer is in theaters now and video on demand soon. See more documentary episodes on www.westdoc.net

Available now on Westdoc, our new episode # 148 with renowned cinema vérité filmmakers Joan Churchill and Alan Barker spoke to us from the cozy living room of their Ojai, California home. We covered a wide range of subjects: improv; traditional camera gear vs iPhones; being “in the circle” when filming; the FBI, IRS, and HUAC; the historic value of cinema vérité; and their documentary workshops. The couple has four short films coming out about Oscar winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler. The conversation reveals a rich history of two people who have devoted their lives to filmmaking.

Young filmmaker Ben Proudfoot went searching for the process behind student instrument repair in the vast Los Angeles City school system, but his Oscar nominated short, The Last Repair Shop, uncovered instead a warehouse filled with human tales of struggle, endurance, and success. Proudfoot speaks to Westdoc about magic, funding, and a wealth of future projects. His wonderful short is available free on YouTube.

Just two miles from mainland China, but still part of Taiwan, sits the tiny island of Kinmen. "Island In Between" is American/Taiwanese filmmaker S. Leo Chiang’s powerful, Oscar nominated short doc about international tension and changing times. Chiang speaks with Westdoc about growing up both there and here, seeing both the danger and the beauty, and trying to make sense of it all.

The war in Ukraine rages on. Veteran “conflict journalist” Mstyslav Chernov captures the terror and panic of the initial assault in his stark documentary. He speaks to Westdoc about the need to be multi-lingual, surviving in a war zone, hiding the digital evidence in a tampon, which itself had to be hidden — and the universal destructiveness of war: to civilians, soldiers, and filmmakers. “20 Days in Mariupol” is in contention for an Oscar nomination and can be seen now free on Frontline and YouTube. 

It’s been a disappointing year for quality scripted features, but not for documentaries. One of the most provocative is bio doc, "The Disappearance of Shere Hite,” with the liberation of the female orgasm center stage. The Hite Report was one of the best-selling books of all time. On the new edition of Westdoc, director Nicole Newnham talks about why Shere Hite left the country, renounced her US citizenship, and disappeared.  

There is a great pleasure in finding something you believe very few people have yet discovered. As a member of the Motion Picture Academy, I have access to most of this year's films, and all the documentaries submitted. I try to watch as many as possible and I stumbled upon this film and am very happy to share it with you. The 1930's and 40's is a fascinating period of time and then throw in Orsen Welles, FDR, and some other characters with great stories. The first-time director Danny Wu is a Chinese immigrant to Canada in his mid 20's. His film school was YouTube. Watch our conversation and then view the doc now on the Oscar web portal for members, or on Amazon, YouTube, AppleTV, and Google Play.

Tune in to a world full of sound with Westdoc Online host, Chuck Braverman, and guest, Sam Green. Documentary "32 Sounds" immerses you in the elemental phenomenon of sound and its ability to profoundly shape our reality.

Life can be a struggle, whether you are a polar bear searching for food on melting ice or a black man searching for justice on shrinking real estate. The inevitability of rising sea levels have Miami’s developers turning a covetous eye toward the black ghetto, located, as it is, on the highest-and-driest ground in the city. Ghetto residents are bracing for another fight - Climate Gentrification.  "Razing Liberty Square" is a story of climate change, race, altitude, and attitude. German born filmmaker Katja Esson tells us about her history in Miami, applying and re-applying for grants, and the value of personal relationships in film. Her film is in limited release now and will be on PBS in January. 

Filmmaker Justin Monroe discovered that his next door neighbor Tim Carey was bidding to create the world’s largest stained glass window. What Justin didn't know is that Tim had no idea how to make that size window. HOLY FRIT combines the ancient art of glazing with the high-tech art of documentary filmmaking. Justin and Tim talk with Westdoc about their nine years on the project, its challenges, the meaning of art, financing, distribution, and an artist they collaborate with named Narcissis. Bonus video — how you can learn to glaze — follows end credits. Hang in.

TO KILL A TIGER is the story of one fathers' fight against everyone in his small village in northern India after his 13 year old daughter is raped by three local men. Supporting his daughter was virtually unheard of and his journey unprecedented. The locals suggested she marry one of attackers to protect her honor.

In our conversation with director NISHA PAHUJA, she tells us how the film was originally following another subject and the prosecution of the three men was a side issue. But in the edit room in Toronto it became clear that they had to pivot and make this the main story. The film is being released in select theaters starting this week and is well worth the effort to view. Watch our conversation on the Westdoc site.

I LIKE IT HERE is about the simple pleasures of being alive. An American documentarian for more than 50 years, Ralph Arlyck has created an eloquent cinematic meditation on the reality and surprising beauties of moving through life. Arlyck conveys how it feels to experience the winding down of one's days as he visits friends from past and present, most of them rather lively, plus children and grandchildren. He punctuates those scenes with reflections on the challenges of feeling your joints and thoughts stiffen, as the camera confronts - both seriously and humorously -- the obstacles that loom up in front of anyone who is on the last lap. Interviewed here by Chuck Braverman on Westdoc. See more episodes at www.westdoc.net

In 1988 when the Errol Morris film "The Thin Blue Line" was screened for the Academy doc branch to be eligible for an Oscar, it was allegedly stopped after only 10 minutes following the first recreation scene and disqualified. What Morris did with the Thin Blue Line, was to revolutionize nonfiction filmmaking. His reenactments were Roshomon like from the POV of different people. The Academy apparently got over their sentiments about reenactments as Morris won the Oscar in 2003 for his documentary "The Fog of War."

In The Pigeon Tunnel he has a conversation with best-selling author David Cornwell, aka John le Carré who is the master of fictional espionage based in no small part on his own spying history. BTW, did you know that before Errol Morris was a director, he was a private detective? The Pigeon Tunnel will premiere on AppleTV+ October 20th.

 "When we got the keys to the storage unit, everything changed and the film was cracked open in a new way" said Karen O'Connor. This documentary is an unusually intimate psychological portrait of folk singer and activist Joan Baez. It's not a traditional bio pic or concert film as it shifts back and forth in time. And with three directors on different continents, it took a while for all the pieces to fall into place. Newly discovered home movies, audio tapes, diaries, and artwork added to the 60 years of Baez memories and music.

Our conversation with the directors covers the details of producing a complex story, raising money, clearing music, and a searingly honest look at the living legend, her heartbreaking romance with Bob Dylan, lifelong emotional struggles, being on the road, and performing in front of thousands.  In other words, sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll.

 Director Denny Tedesco's father was one of the musicians in The Wrecking crew and he grew up surrounded by some of the superstars featured in the film. Following in the footsteps of 1960’s session icons in The Wrecking Crew, musicians Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, and Waddy Wachtel backed iconic singer-songwriters of the 70s, 80s, and beyond, creating some of the most recognizable tunes in rock music.

Included is music and commentary from superstars like Carole King, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards, Don Henley, David Crosby, Jackson Browne and Phil Collins, “Immediate Family” is a backstage tour of rock history. This film should be in a theater near you soon.

DYLAN WEISS is a non fiction television producer who makes films about the world's fastest motorized machines. He has produced for National Geographic, Discovery, Science Channel, and more. His shows are usually about the fastest most expensive cars made. And he wrote the book on FACTUAL TELEVISION PRODUCING. You can learn his secrets to success from the book and our conversation on Westdoc.

THE HIGHEST OF STAKES follows the journey of Richard Heart, the top hat wearing, no-bullshit-talking, Louis Vuitton-collecting creator of HEX coin, which grew 10,000x in value during the financial market crash of 2022. Throughout that time, Heart raised a staggering $1 billion from the devoted HEX community in "sacrifices" to develop his latest product. Last week the SEC charged Heart with fraud and this week Regal Cinemas is releasing the feature documentary in more than 40 markets. Westdoc speaks with the two directors Patrick Moreau and Grant Peelle about their unique backgrounds and duo director filming techniques.  

Nicknamed “The Golden Boy,” Oscar De La Hoya, with his good looks, electric charisma, and heartfelt story of winning Olympic gold for his dying mother, rocketed to national prominence as a superstar both in and outside the ring. Yet, all was not what it appeared to be behind that polished facade. Westdoc interviews the director of this two part HBO Max documentary, Fernando Villena. 

The story of Black baseball begins a century before Jackie Robinson. Black people have been playing baseball as long as white people – as far back as the Civil War. And while some segregation in the sport always existed, the color line on the ball field was not rigidly enforced until the end of the nineteenth century, as racial lines hardened in all aspects of American life. The new documentary (in theaters and streaming now) THE LEAGUE by SAM POLLARD explores Black baseball as an economic and social pillar of Black communities and a stage for some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game, while also examining the unintended consequences of integration.

Ever wonder how nature film crews get up close and personal with wild animals in the most remote locations in the world? It is not by accident. It usually takes months of research and years of filming. This four part series currently streaming on Netflix is extraordinary in many ways with never before seen original footage. Our conversation with producers Huw Cordey and Keith Scholey is open, honest and revealing on the years of hard work that went into this show.

Her grandfather is the co-creator of Mickey Mouse and has an Oscar. Her father is a legend at Disney and has an Oscar. She graduated from USC Film School and has an Oscar nomination. She's a writer, producer, director and is the chosen one to make 100 YEARS of WARNER BROS. The four part series currently on the new Max streamer, is nothing less than spectacular. If you like films, you will love this documentary produced and directed by LESLIE IWERKS. Watch our conversation on the latest Westdoc now.

The iconic 1969 Academy Award winner Midnight Cowboy set the tone for films to come, revealed the seedy side of New York, and closed the book on a decade of flower power. Feature doc DESPARATE SOULS, DARK CITY and the LEGEND of MIDNIGHT COWBOY digs deep into not only  “the making of,” but “the moment of “ as well. Director Nancy Buirski talks with Westdoc about her background as a photographer and painter, editorial collaboration, and why the original film was “inevitable.” 

Producer, Director, Cinematographer Amy Nicholson shot Happy Campers, a bittersweet anthem to a working class paradise, virtually by herself. Her low budget, minimalist approach, combined with her beautiful photography, produced a powerful film and a reminder of the importance of community. Westdoc host Chuck Braverman talked with her about cameras, sound, day jobs, and the joy of work. Join us and see all the episodes at www.westdoc.net.

Mary Tyler Moore was a revolutionary throughout her nearly sixty year career. She redefined the roles in show business, transforming how women were defined in media. Director James Adolphus reveals to Westdoc Online how newly released documentary "Being Mary Tyler Moore" managed to capture her essence. Are there limits on who can tell what stories? How did their team navigate vast archival footage during the editing process? How did Adolphus himself get hired on? Tune in to find out.

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@westdoc

Founder of The D-Word, an online community for thousands of documentary professionals around the world, Doug Block spoke with host, Chuck Braverman, at length about vlogging, his side business of wedding videography, the documentary community, and the complexities of marriage. Two of his excellent docs, “51 Birch Street” and “112 Weddings,” are available on Kanopy, iTunes, and Amazon Prime.

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@westdoc

How difficult is it to know the family you are a part of?

Nira Burstein spent five years creating an intimate portrait of her unique family in Charm Circle, her debut cinema vérité feature documentary.  “My parents gave me so much magic, it was my job not to screw it up.” Discover how this film came to life, hear about Burstein's journey into film, mental health, and her upcoming projects. There’s no place like home. 

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@westdoc

"Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie" will take you straight back to the 80s as it tells the touching story of actor Michael J. Fox and his confrontation with Parkinson's disease.

Hear from the director, Davis Guggenheim, who gives us insight into the making of this documentary, interview hacks, and an even deeper look into the life of Michael J. Fox.

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

"The Visitors" covers Veronika Lišková's journey to the most northern city in the world, Svalbard. The young anthropologist and her family not only face the harsh living conditions of the North, but confront the quickly melting icebergs and permafrost with the community she initially planned to observe. 

How does one go about filming a documentary like this? What was the editing process like? And what led Lišková to tell this story? Find out answers on this episode of Westdoc Online with host, Chuck Braverman. 

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@westdoc

Hear from the director of "38 at the Garden," Frank Chi. 

"38 at the Garden" unpacks the monumental cultural impact Jeremy Lin evoked as a Taiwanese-American basketball player for the New York Knicks. 

Learn how Frank Chi was inspired to make this film on this episode of Westdoc Online, hosted by Chuck Braverman. 

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@westdoc

"Full Swing," a docuseries now on Netflix, is not just about golf, but the dramas of life. You don't need to understand golf to fully immerse yourself in the tension as these golfers undergo a season of high-stake competitions during the PGA Tour. In this episode of Westdoc Online, producer Paul Martin involves us in the process of filming, editing, and producing this enticing series.

You can watch "Full Swing" now on Netflix

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@westdoc

"Navalny" recently won an Oscar for Best Documentary (Feature). Hear from director, Daniel Roher.

The film covers the 2020 assassination attempt on Alex Navalny, a Russian opposition leader. Given the tense political climate, Roher had to carry out his filmmaking in secrecy, relying on encryption. Learn more about how Roher navigated this risky film with host, Chuck Braverman, on this episode of Westdoc Online.

You can watch "Navalny" on DIRECTV and HBO Max

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

Can an artist be separated from their art? Hear from director Brett Morgen and get the behind the scenes of award-winning documentary Moonage Daydream. In this episode, host Chuck Braverman uncovers Morgen's history as a filmmaker and his journey to making his most recent film on David Bowie. 

Hear from the director of Oscar nominated short doc "Stranger at the Gate," Joshua Seftel.

"It's a film about grace, passion, forgiveness and hope," says Seftel.

"Stranger at the Gate" follows the story of a U.S. Marine and his planned attack on a small-town American mosque. The story takes an unexpected turn when the two groups meet face to face. How did Seftel come across this film? What did the filmmaking process entail? And a how Seftel became a filmmaker? Discover the answers to these questions and more as Westdoc Online's host, Chuck Braverman, dives into the details.

You can watch "Stranger At The Gate" here: https://www.newyorker.com/video

To learn more, visit Westdoc Online at...

Our website: https://www.westdoconline.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonFiction.docu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westdoconline/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestdocOnline

"Mountain Queen

The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa"

Lucy Walker’s heart stopping new film, Mountain Queen: the Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa, is not just about mountain climbing but about a woman who struggled with social norms, language, and personal demons to get to the top. Lhakpa Sherpa has climbed Everest a record ten times, helped others to do so, protected her daughters from abuse, all while supporting them in a country that barely values her gifts. This is an important conversation. 

“This is a story about design,” says the subject of "Geoff McFetridge: Drawing A Life." He and producer/director Dan Covert speak with Westdoc about the experience of filming his life. McFetridge, who designed faces on the Apple Watch, though he doesn’t wear one himself, shares his feelings about art, money, the “danger of sincerity,” and the importance of self-awareness. Director Covert wanted to push the film past the normal “artist doc” tropes to create a larger meditation on creativity, family, and identity. What emerged is a film that asks big questions: What defines a life? How do you decide what matters?

The film is available on multiple VOD platforms July 2nd.

Showbiz is famous for siblings — the Coen brothers, the Marx Brothers, the Jackson 5, Warner Bros — but Bill and Turner Ross, have been gaining momentum with feature films like "Nose Bleed and Empty Pockets," and have created a unique format with Gasoline Rainbow: semi-scripted narrative with a documentary style. Speaking to Westdoc on our latest episode published today, they discussed sharing the director’s chair, working with five, first-time actors, a long prep and a short shooting schedule, and capturing acceptable audio on the fly.

ANDREW JARECKI, producer director of THE JINX - The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, is even more interesting than the subjects of his films. Which is saying something, considering that his subjects include a convicted three-time murderer and family with multiple accused pedophiles (Capturing the Friedmans). He speaks to Westdoc at length about his privileged background, an accidental entrance into filmmaking, creating and running Moviefone, and a curious incident involving Harvey Weinstein.

THE JINX II is in release now on HBO MAX. 

A video of a young boy in Nigeria dancing barefoot in the dirt goes viral. Soon he has a seven year scholarship at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in England. Westdoc moderator Chuck Braverman interviews co-directors Matt Ogens and Joel “Kachi” Benson about their new Disney+ feature documentary MADU, shot on two continents with post-production on three.  They touch on film style, point of view, social impact, budget, and the sheer joy of following Anthony Madu’s story. This is a real life “Billy Elliot” story. 

In HENDRIE, comics and producers including Judd Apatow, Bill Hader, and Henry Rollins, talk about Phil Hendrie, a comic genius whose satirical radio show rocked the airwaves in the 1990s. Patrick Reynolds produced, directed, shot, and edited Hendrie on a mini budget, but his path to filmmaking was somewhat curvy; he published a boating magazine, worked as a photographer, made sizzle reels and art films. He spoke frankly with Westdoc about representation, distribution, festivals (they’re not right for every film), and budgets. Hendrie is available now on most video on demand platforms. 

In the year that has passed since the brutal Hamas attack of October 7, families grieve for lost love ones, other families pray for the return of hostages, and a sympathetic movement has arisen for the Palestinians of Gaza. The horror of the attack, told in first-person video accounts, unfolds in director Yariv Mozer’s profound documentary, We Will Dance Again. Westdoc talks with Mozer, along with See It Now executive producers Susan Zirinsky and Terrance Wrong about access to the restricted war zone, gathering and editing hundreds of hours of footage from both sides, finding and interviewing survivors, and the path forward. This important film, which everyone should see, will be released on Paramount + this Tuesday, September 24.

DAYTIME REVOLUTION chronicles one week in 1972 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted the most popular show on daytime TV, bringing together iconic leaders of the cultural, musical, and political revolution. Producer/director Erik Nelson found the old video, restored it beautifully, and created this powerful feature doc. A return guest on Westdoc, with Chuck Braverman he talked about the three essentials of doc films; subject, access, filmmaker, and the two most important moments in any film; the open and the close, and his only option in today’s climate as a filmmaker, to fund the film himself. Join us for this very interesting conversation.

Documentary filmmaker Marc Marriott directs his first scripted feature film and discusses the challenges of a very low budget and short shooting schedule. The film is charming, funny, and beautifully shot by cinematographer Oscar Jimenez. “This is a story about finding untapped reservoirs of courage and empathy from your own culture, while also reaching out and connecting with others. Highlighting this character journey is the natural beauty of the Montana landscape.

In this conversation with Westdoc’s Chuck Braverman, Annie Roney discusses her extensive experience in the documentary film industry, particularly through her global distribution company Roco Films. She elaborates on the difficult challenges faced today in documentary distribution, both foreign and domestic, the launch of the In Real Life Movie Club aimed at fostering community engagement through film, and the evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking. The feature doc “Join or Die” is the first film the non profit distributed. Roney emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and the role of documentaries in addressing social issues, while also highlighting the need for innovative distribution methods in a changing market.

Producer Director Raoul Peck in a conversation about the making of his new feature documetary ERNEST COLE: LOST AND FOUND, the injustices of apartheid, the grueling necessity of film promotion, the connections between all stories, cinema’s death-by-streaming, and the need to sometime self-finance. 32 minutes, recorded November 19, 2024.

Christopher Reeve played the Man of Steel in four films, but his real superpowers didn’t emerge until after his tragic accident. Filmmakers Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, who made Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, speak with Westdoc about their long journey to get the film made, Reeve’s family and their personal memories, clearance, licensing, financing and the essence of documentary characters. Heroism requires challenge. Christopher Reeves met the challenge and soared faster than a speeding bullet.

Four extraordinary artists — an older couple moving toward the end, a younger couple chronicling the journey — come together to make "Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other." Filmmakers Jacob Perlmutter and Manon Ouimet spent a year living with world famous photographer Joel Meyerowitz and his wife writer Maggie Barrett, resulting in an exquisite cinéma vérité of tremendous depth and intimacy. The filmmakers spoke from their London home about their “soulful collaboration,” small light camera gear, large emotional gains, and of course, distribution. Quite a journey.

Sugarcane is a documentary about injustices to Native American children for generations done by the Catholic Church in the US and Canada. This is an interview with the Producers.

Here is an episode of Westdoc Online with Chuck Braverman that is an interview with the director of the documentary "The Only Girl in the Orchestra" about Orin O'Brien, the first full time member and a double bassist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

An interview with the director of the documentary "I am Richard Pryor."