Filtra per genere
- 147 - Knife, an interview with Salman Rushdie and Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Knife, an interview with Salman Rushdie and Rachel Eliza Griffiths
# Exploring the Depths of Trauma in 'Knife'
> A candid conversation with Salman Rushdie and Eliza about their documentary journey.
In this deeply moving episode, we dive into the making of the documentary *Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie*, featuring insights from Salman Rushdie, Eliza, and co-hosts Bart, John, and Justina. Together, they explore the personal and artistic challenges of depicting such a traumatic event.
## A Personal Journey Through Trauma The episode opens with Bart introducing the guests, highlighting the significance of the film in providing a deeper understanding of an event that many know about, yet few truly comprehend. Justina expresses gratitude for Salman and Eliza's willingness to share their deeply personal story, framing it as an inspiring tale of love amidst adversity.
Eliza discusses her approach to filming, sharing how she utilized her professional camera to document the painful yet pivotal moments following the attack on Salman. "Every ugly tear snot coming out of my nose," she recalls, describing the emotional release she felt when her camera arrived, symbolizing a return to her identity as a storyteller.
> "It was like a part of my name or a part of my body, like an organ had been given back to me... Here is something about my identity that I still have that is empowering." - Eliza
## The Impact of Collaboration Salman reflects on the unique experience of being the subject rather than the maker of the film. He mentions the importance of surrendering creative control to director Alex, believing that their proximity to the material made it essential to have another artist's perspective. "We were too close to the material to make the film ourselves," he states, emphasizing the necessity of collaboration in storytelling.
They discuss the emotional weight of revisiting the scene of the attack, a decision that stemmed from Salman's desire for closure. Eliza shares her initial hesitation, but ultimately felt it was a journey they needed to undertake together.
> "I wanted to go back from quite an early point in the recovery. I had this strong instinct that I wanted to revisit the scene of the crime." - Salman Rushdie
## Blurring the Lines of Past and Present As they recount their visit to Chautauqua, where the attack occurred, the discussion shifts to how Alex skillfully interwove past footage with their present experience, creating a powerful narrative. Eliza describes the emotional transformation she witnessed in Salman as he confronted the past, highlighting the significance of revisiting such a traumatic site.
> "I could have been standing there by myself. So there were a lot of powerful forces in that moment." - Eliza
The episode concludes with a powerful reflection on the necessity of sharing stories, particularly those steeped in trauma. The film not only serves as a testament to resilience but also sheds light on the complex emotions tied to revisiting painful memories.
This episode is a compelling exploration of art, trauma, and the healing process, offering listeners a profound understanding of the emotional landscape navigated by Salman and Eliza as they brought their story to life. For the full experience, listen to the complete episode.
Mon, 14 Sep 2026 - 28min - 146 - Sam Green and "The Oldest Person in the World
In this episode, filmmaker Sam Green discusses his latest film about aging and the oldest person in the world, exploring themes of time, mortality, and the power of vulnerability in documentary filmmaking. Host Bart and Sam delve into the creative process, influences, and future projects, offering insights for aspiring filmmakers and curious minds alike.
00:00 Introduction to Sam Green and his latest film
01:52 Sam Green's early career and influential films
03:57The concept and inspiration for the film about the oldest person in the world
07:07 The significance of time and the use of cardboard signs
10:05 Personal elements and family in the documentary
12:04 The influence of Marlon Riggs and experimental documentary
15:03 Organizing vast amounts of footage and the editing process
19:55 Vulnerability and authenticity in personal filmmaking
23:59 Future projects: a film about trees and live orchestral cinema
25:56 Current oldest person in the world and closing thoughts
Fri, 28 Aug 2026 - 27min - 145 - Flag DayTue, 09 Jun 2026 - 29min
- 144 - The Lorraine
This interview explores the making of a powerful documentary about the Lorraine Motel, its historical significance, and its cultural impact. The conversation covers the film's development, archival research, and its importance in preserving African American history.
Key Topics
The evolution of the Lorraine Motel documentary Archival research and footage collection Cultural significance of the Lorraine Motel and Memphis music scene Chapters 00:00The Genesis of a Documentary Project 03:09Exploring the Cultural Significance of the Lorraine Motel 06:06The Role of Archival Material in Storytelling 09:02The Impact of Editing on Documentary Filmmaking 12:00The Importance of Cultural Representation in FilmWed, 03 Jun 2026 - 15min - 143 - Steal This Story Please
In this episode of the Fog of Truth, Bart John and Justina delve into the complexities of disinformation, the role of media in society, and the necessity of critical thinking in navigating the digital landscape. They emphasize the importance of being informed and discerning consumers of information. But mostly is it about Amy Goodman and the great film that Carl Deal and Tia Leesin made about her.
In a world where mainstream media often prioritizes corporate interests over the truth, Amy Goodman stands out as a beacon of integrity and relentless pursuit of justice in journalism. The recent film "Steal This Story Please" explores her remarkable journey and the impact of her work with Democracy Now!, an independent news source that provides the public with uncensored information.
This blog post unpacks the key insights from the film and highlights why Goodman's contributions are vital to understanding contemporary media. ## About Amy Goodman Amy Goodman is the founder and executive producer of Democracy Now!, a groundbreaking independent news program that operates without corporate sponsorship. For years, she has dedicated her career to covering stories often overlooked by mainstream media. Her fearless reporting, especially in war zones and during protests, showcases her commitment to uncovering the truth and holding those in power accountable. ## The Relentless Pursuit of Truth One of the film's most striking themes is Goodman's unwavering dedication to her craft. From chasing down officials at climate summits to covering war zones, Goodman's tenacity is emblematic of her commitment to journalistic integrity. -
**Why It Matters:** In an era where news is frequently sanitized, Goodman's approach provides a refreshing reminder of the essential role of journalists in democracy. - **Example from the Film:** The opening scene highlights her determination as she relentlessly pursues a government official for comments, showcasing her physical and mental stamina in the field. - **Common Mistake:** Many journalists may shy away from confrontation or challenging the status quo, but Goodman exemplifies the importance of persistence in reporting. ## The Importance of Independent Media Goodman's work with Democracy Now! emphasizes the necessity of independent journalism in today's media landscape. - **The Conventional Thinking:
** Many believe that mainstream media provides a comprehensive view of current events, but this is often far from reality. -
**What the Film Reveals:** The film contrasts the coverage of major networks during pivotal events, like the 2008 Republican Convention, with Goodman's on-the-ground reporting of protests and grassroots movements. - **Why This Matters:** Independent media sources like Democracy Now! challenge the narratives presented by corporate news outlets, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives are heard.
Mon, 25 May 2026 - 28min - 142 - Shuffle
Benjamin Florey on 'Shuffle': Recovery, Fraud in Treatment, and Building Impact Beyond the Film The Fog of Truth returns with an interview with filmmaker Benjamin Florey about his documentary Shuffle, described as a powerful film on drug abuse and institutions that harm people through fraud in addiction treatment. Florey explains why he framed the film with his own sobriety story, citing authenticity, his relationship to participants, and work-in-progress feedback from the Austin Film Society. He discusses the emotional toll of years of editing largely alone, the support of his wife, grants and screenings, and help from an investigative journalist consultant and editors Jackie Sein and Robin Schwartz. Florey outlines resisting salacious rabbit holes, using darkly humorous, repetitive editing to reflect the absurdity and cycle of relapse, and staying in touch with participants like Corey, Nicole, and Daniel's mom. He describes growing advocacy responsibilities, screenings with Thomas McClellan at Brown, calls for reforming fee-for-service insurance toward outcomes, and plans for a university tour, virtual screenings, and eventual streaming release via stoptheshuffle.com and Instagram. 00:00 Welcome Back Intro 00:33 Film Shuffle Overview 01:34 Why I'm In The Film 04:39 Editing Through The Pain 10:11 Keeping The Story Focused 16:28 Dark Humor Editing Style 19:03 Where Are They Now 20:59 Becoming The Spokesperson 26:19 Fixing Insurance Incentives 29:20 No Talking Heads Approach 34:19 If The Film Had A Foreword 36:51 How To Watch And Support 01:34 Sobriety Framing Choice 04:39 Editing Emotional Toll 10:11 Staying On Narrative Track 16:32 Dark Humor Cut Style 19:03 Where Are They Now 20:59 Becoming The Spokesperson 26:19 Policy Fixes And Obamacare 29:20 Why No Talking Heads 34:19 Forward For The Film 36:51 Where To Watch Next 39:14 Final Thanks And Wrap
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 - 41min - 141 - Natchez
Suzannah Herbert and Darcy McKinnon discusses their feature film Natchez. The story begins with a wedding invitation that sparks an exploration of how historic locations are utilized for modern purposes, leading to a road trip through the South and research into the antebellum era. Initial filming faced setbacks when access was denied by the board of a plantation, prompting a pivot to Natchez, Mississippi. The film focuses on Rev, an engaging character met during a tour, and the complex, often painful history of the South. The documentary, characterized by a visually striking style, aims to entertain while provoking thought on history, culture, and racism. It is set for theatrical release and a later broadcast on PBS.
Thu, 08 Jan 2026 - 22min - 140 - Fog of Truth: Ai Weiwei's Revolutionary Turandot
In this episode of Fog of Truth, Bart, John, and guest Daphne Street, an opera aficionado, discuss the documentary about Ai Weiwei's modern adaptation of Puccini's last opera, 'Turandot.' They explore Weiwei's unique interpretation, which highlights feminism and political discourse, and the challenges faced during production, including COVID-19 disruptions and Weiwei's brief incarceration. The documentary offers detailed insights into the production's visual and symbolic layers, bridging the gap between traditional opera and modern audiences. Daphne highlights Weiwei's calm and solution-oriented approach amidst obstacles, showcasing his confidence and versatility as an artist. 00:00 Introduction and Special Guest 00:37 Overview of the Documentary 01:24 Puccini's Last Opera: Turandot 03:28 I Weiwei's Unique Interpretation 04:52 The Visual Spectacle 10:21 The Impact of COVID-19 11:57 Art and Politics Intertwined 14:09 Final Thoughts and Reflections 18:42 Closing Remarks and Future Episodes
Thu, 18 Dec 2025 - 24min - 139 - Commune
Bart, John, and Justina Explor 'Commune': A Dive into the History and Ideals of Communal Living
In this episode of 'Fog of Truth', the hosts delve into the movie 'Commune', a documentary made 20 years ago about a 40-year-old commune in Northern California. The film serves as a time capsule, exploring the lives of people who lived at Black Bear Ranch. The discussion explores the challenges and complexities of intentional communities, shares personal anecdotes from hosts who have lived in communes, and examines the impact of communal living on individuals' later lives. The episode also touches on the unique cultural and political context of the 60s and 70s, including how the commune's funding involved contributions from rock and roll musicians. The hosts discuss the relevance of the film in today's troubled times, the practicality of modern communes, and the documentary's anthropological significance. 00:00 Introduction to Fog of Truth 00:04 Overview of the Commune Documentary 01:29 Personal Connections to Commune Life 03:12 Challenges and Dynamics of Communal Living 04:16 Modern Reflections on Communal Living 06:35 Moral Dilemmas in the Commune 08:28 Archival Footage and Historical Context 09:49 Notable Stories and Personalities 13:43 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 18:06 Closing Remarks and CreditsFri, 10 Oct 2025 - 20min - 138 - Torn
The Fog of Truth Episode 101: Interview with Nim Shapira In the 101st episode of The Fog of Truth, Bart interviews filmmaker Nim Shapira about his new documentary, which chronicles the aftermath of the October 7th attacks and the subsequent putting up and taking down of Photos of the hostages taken by Hamas,in New York City. Shapira discusses the emotional significance behind the posters put up by communities as a form of action and grief, the experiences of various individuals affected by the conflict, and the importance of empathy and dialogue. The film, shot in winter 2023, focuses on the social fabric of New York City and explores themes such as freedom of speech, diverse perspectives, and the importance of difficult conversations. Additionally, Shapira highlights the involvement of Israeli artists and shares some of the challenges faced during production. Introduction and Milestone Celebration Interview with Nim Shapira Begins Nim Shapira's Background and Initial Reactions The Documentary's Themes and Focus Artists Behind the Posters Challenges and Risks Faced Finding and Working with Documentary Subjects Emotional Anchors and Personal Stories Public Reactions and Social Impact Screenings and Audience Reactions Final Thoughts and How to Watch the Film
Mon, 22 Sep 2025 - 24min - 137 - Alan Govenar, and the making of " Voices in a Noisy World: the Struggle for Change in Jasper, Texas"Mon, 15 Sep 2025 - 30min
- 136 - Architecton interview with Viktor KossakovskyMon, 04 Aug 2025 - 17min
- 135 - Talking and Dancing with Doc
John and Bart discuss three Documentaries that played at the Dancing with Film Fest in LA. The films we cover are ONE BUT MANY, FOLSOM'S RUN, and I NEED YOU: 53 YEARS OF THE BAND AMERICA. While we agree on two of the films, John and Bart have very different perspectives about America, specifically the band, not the country.
Tue, 22 Jul 2025 - 36min - 134 - Underland with Robert Petit
In this episode, Bart interviews Robert Petit about the documentary film "Underland." That showed at DC/DOX Robert discusses the recent screening of the film at DC Docs, describing it as a unique cinematic and poetic documentary that explores the depths beneath the earth. He shares insights into the film's production, the challenges faced by the filmmakers, and the process of casting the intriguing characters. Robert also highlights the importance of cinematography, sound design, and the team's collaborative efforts. The episode concludes with Robert's thoughts on the distribution and the significance of viewing the film on large screens.
Mon, 23 Jun 2025 - 17min - 133 - The Right Track
Bart talks to
Shareen Anderson Director
Melanie Thompson Survivor, Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator, Coalition Against Trafficking Women
and Yasmin Vafa Human Rights Attorney and Executive Director, Rights4Girl
about their film The RIght Track
Through the eyes of those who live it, this documentary spotlights the fight to end sex trafficking and human exploitation across North America. At its heart is the Survivor Model—a transformative approach that decriminalizes prostituted individuals while imposing strict penalties on pimps, traffickers, and sex buyers.
Discover the courage it takes to escape "the life" on and off the track and the momentum needed to end sex trafficking for good. The Right Track is a must-watch for anyone invested in human dignity and justice.
Tue, 17 Jun 2025 - 14min - 132 - Any Problem is No ProblemMon, 16 Jun 2025 - 17min
- 131 - The Age of Audio a pod about podsTue, 03 Jun 2025 - 23min
- 130 - The Liberians With Kim A SnyderMon, 12 May 2025 - 30min
- 129 - RESISTANCE OF VISION
John and Bart to talk to Anna Feder about the short films series Resistance of Vision
The brainchild of San Francisco IndieFest founder/director Jeff Ross, with veteran film curator, documentarian, and cinema exhibition consultant Anna Feder serving as the Director of Programming, the Resistance of Vision film festival kicks off with debut presentations across the country, with screenings taking place in locations on each coast, as well as the Midwest and the South. The four short film programs/topics announced for the inaugural festival are Fight The Power (Racial Justice), Our Bodies, Our Choice (Gender and Reproductive Justice), This Is An Emergency (Environmental Justice), and Which Side Are You On? (Labor and Housing Justice). Regarding the film selections for the groundbreaking film festival series' debut, Feder said, "As so many people around the country look to find voice for their grave concerns due to actions taken by the current administration or make some kind of sense out of living within this unprecedentedly frightening political climate, these films and film programs help to articulate that and start vital conversations we need to have to educate and inspire change." Resistance of Vision is committed to showcasing stories of resilience and the fight for liberation that are often excluded by corporate-controlled exhibition channels.
Sun, 04 May 2025 - 22min - 128 - Thank You Very MuchFri, 02 May 2025 - 38min
- 127 - Goodby Horses The Many Lives of Q LazzarusFri, 04 Apr 2025 - 25min
- 126 - Silent Trees
Silent trees
In this episode of The Fog of Truth, Bart interviews filmmaker Agnieszka Zwiefk, discussing her new film 'Silent Trees,' which won the Breakout Feature Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival. The film, available on Mubi, follows a young woman's resilience as she cares for her family in a refugee camp. Angelica shares her experiences meeting the protagonist, filming in challenging conditions, and incorporating animation based on the young woman's drawings. The conversation also touches on the fundraising process, the film's reception, and Angelica's future projects, including a forthcoming film about political divides in Poland.
00:59 Interview with Angelica: Silent Trees
02:36 Challenges and Filming Techniques
04:34 Animation and Visual Style
07:25 Funding and Distribution
09:43 Future Projects and Conclusion
Sat, 01 Mar 2025 - 13min - 125 - End of Year in docs 2024 John Justina and Bart, together in PERSON!
In this special episode of 'The Fog of Truth', hosts Bart
John and Justina discuss the current state and future of documentaries, while recording together in Dallas for the first time. They talk about the attendance and challenges at regional film festivals, the shift towards streaming, the types of documentaries that succeed, and the impact of socio-political climates on documentary viewership. The conversation also touches upon the role of publicists, the importance of eventizing documentary screenings, and the potential threats from political changes. Despite the challenges, they express hope for the future of documentaries and stress the need for communities to support and engage with documentary films.
Introduction and ReunionWelcome to a very, very special episode of The Fog of Truth.... Discussing the State of DocumentariesWhat do you think about the year 2024 in documentary?... Audience Engagement and Festival AttendanceOh, John, let me ask you a question, since you brought up that you, um, work with a lot of regional.... Challenges in Documentary DistributionAnd all of that is absolutely true.... Impact of Social Media on Documentary ConsumptionI, I think what feeds that for me now is social media.... The Importance of Visual StorytellingWhen we get our dose of what's true from TikTok and social media and not from documentaries and, and, and that's context.... Diversity in Documentary ProductionI. Um, there's another kind of interesting thing to talk about in terms of, you know, the current state of documentary and there, there are, as anybody who judges at regional festivals, there are many, many, many, many documentaries at many different budget levels.... The Struggle of Selling Award-Winning FilmsLike, you know, archival footage and some sit down interviews and what have you, but how it was presented was, was slick and amazing.... The Importance of Entertainment Value in DocumentariesYou know, uh, uh, you know, and there, and there are other, but I think again, we are in a time where at the entertainment value, it's really the onus is on the filmmakers.... Opportunities for Women in Documentary FilmmakingAnd also, you know, as, as a woman, uh, in filmmaking, there is, uh, a danger here because the ratio of, uh, women filmmakers in narrative film is very low still.... The Future of Documentary: Engaging AudiencesAnd, and I think part of this, if we think about the future of documentary and if we want a future documentary is, is we have to learn how to get people excited about it.... Creating Events Around DocumentariesMore and more we're seeing, you know, that, that even with documentaries, you know, we talked about this in narrative films all the time, that you need to create an event.... The Role of Impact ProducersWell, and, and, and we're seeing more and more what we call impact producers.... Challenges in Documentary FundingSomething I, I wanna talk about this film called No Other Land, which is a film about, um, uh, it's a Palestinian who's whose, um, small town is being destroyed over and over again by the Israeli government in a really harsh and ugly, wet manner.... The Role of Regional Film FestivalsHere's an interesting thing also, is that this brings us around to something that, you know, I'm constantly, you know, singing out this, the, the, you know, the, the, this song of, um, the Business Benefit of the Regional Film Festival tour.... Hopes for the Future of DocumentariesUh, last year we all got exhausted and didn't wanna see anything at all....Mon, 30 Dec 2024 - 51min - 124 - Don't Fall in Love with Yourself
Justina Walford talks about the documentary Don't Fall in Love with Yourself with director Jon Nix and the film's subject Justin Pearson. The film dives deep into the personal and professional life of Justin Pearson—from his punk rock roots in San Diego to his rise in the punk world to cult celebrity after appearing on Jerry Springer. Through gritty, never-before-seen VHS and Mini-DV footage, the documentary offers an unflinching look at a career built on controversy, passion, and a refusal to conform. Pearson opens up about the highs, lows, and the tragic moments that shaped him, while reflecting on a three-decade journey through one of the most influential, underground music scenes.
Sun, 15 Dec 2024 - 16min - 123 - Separated, interview with Errol Morris and Jacob Soboroff
The Fog of Truth: An Interview with Filmmakers of 'Separated' In this special episode of The Fog of Truth, Justina and Bart interview Errol Morris and Jacob Soboroff about their new film 'Separated,' set to air on MSNBC on December 7th. The film, adapted from Jacob Soboroff's book, includes explosive interviews and narrative vignettes that reveal the purpose behind immigration policies causing family separations. The discussion covers the genesis of the project, the emotional impact of the film, and the importance of its message in context to the Trump administration's policies. The filmmakers stress the ongoing relevance of the topic and the power of public opposition to enact change. The episode underscores the urgency of addressing immigration issues and the moral responsibilities that lie ahead. 00:00 Introduction to a Special Episode 00:08 Overview of the New Film 01:11 Interview with the Filmmakers 01:30 The Making of the Documentary 03:34 Themes and Messages 06:39 Current Relevance and Future Implications 08:55 Reflections and Final Thoughts 19:04 Call to Action and Conclusion 21:17 Closing Remarks and Credits
Tue, 26 Nov 2024 - 18min - 122 - #Untruth The Psychology of Trumpism with Dan Partland
Untruth: The Psychology of Trumpism with Dan Partland
In this episode of The Fog of Truth, Bart welcomes Dan Partland, the producer and director of Untruth: The Psychology of Trumpism. They discuss Trumpism's psychological underpinnings, its comparison to Partland's previous film Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump, and the broader implications of authoritarianism, disinformation, and oligarchy in today's society.
Introduction
About the Film 'Untruth: The Psychology of Trumpism'
Comparison with 'Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump'
The Role of Disinformation and Authoritarianism
And aside from that sense of the autocracy, there's that sense of misinformation and disinformation...
Impact of Trump's Disinformation on Supporters
Doc vs Narrative
Dan's experience with Al Masyles
The Sixties and archival docs
Storytelling in Documentary
Moving the culture
Mon, 09 Sep 2024 - 31min - 121 - Bad Press
Fof of Truth: Bad Press and the Fight for Free Press In this episode of 'The Fog of Truth,' we delve into the documentary film 'Bad Press,' which highlights the significance of free press within Native American communities, specifically focusing on the Muscogee Creek Nation. The film's directors, Rebecca Lansbury Baker and Joe Peeler share their journey of making the documentary and the challenges faced by Indigenous journalists. Introduction to the Episode with clip from the film. Discussion on the Film 'Bad Press Meet the Directors The Importance of Free Press The Making of 'Bad Press" Challenges and Trust Building Economic Implications Fundraising for the Film Editing and Storytelling Global Relevance of the Film Shooting and Editing Dynamics Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Mon, 26 Aug 2024 - 35min - 120 - The Present and Future of Docs in Theaters
The Future of Theatrical Distribution: Challenges and Adaptations In this episode, John Justina and Bart discuss the evolving landscape of theatrical distribution, addressing the recent bankruptcies of Alamo Drafthouse theaters in Dallas and the acquisition of these theaters by Sony. They explore the broader implications for independent films and documentaries, the impact of corporate ownership on cinema culture, and the necessity for filmmakers to create unique, event-driven experiences to attract audiences. They also examine the challenges of promoting films in the digital age and the potential for documentaries to find new avenues for distribution beyond traditional theaters. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:08 The State of Theatrical Distribution 05:58 Challenges for Independent Films and Documentaries 09:12 The Future of Cinematic Experiences 11:08 The Role of Digital and AI in Filmmaking 13:15 The Evolution of Documentary Films 21:37 Case Studies and Real-World Examples 25:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Mon, 08 Jul 2024 - 26min - 119 - The legacy of Morgan Spurlock, and Mitchell Block
Morgan Spurlock's Documentary Legacy In this episode of 'Fog of Truth,' the hosts discuss the impact and legacy of Morgan Spurlock, the influential filmmaker known for 'Supersize Me.' The episode explores Spurlock's unique approach to documentaries, marked by his performative style and integration of personal experience into his storytelling. The conversation covers the evolution of his career, the influence of his films on social media and performative investigative reporting, and specific works like 'Supersize Me 2.' Additionally, the hosts touch on Spurlock's personal challenges and the implications of his actions during the Me Too movement. The episode also honors the late Mitchell Block, another influential figure in documentary filmmaking. 00:00 Introduction and Setup 01:02 Morgan Spurlock's Impact on Filmmaking 03:09 Supersize Me: A Deep Dive 08:30 Supersize Me 2: Holy Chicken 14:36 Morgan Spurlock's Legacy and Controversies 18:12 Closing Remarks and Additional Tributes 21:09 Conclusion and Credits
Wed, 05 Jun 2024 - 22min - 118 - Who is Stan Smith with an interview with Danny Lee
Who is Stan Smith? A Journey Through Tennis, Fashion, and Legacy In this episode, John, Justina and Bart discusses the documentary film 'Who is Stan Smith?' which explores the life and legacy of tennis legend Stan Smith. Known for his peak achievements in the 60s and 70s, as well as his friendship with Arthur Ashe, Smith is also famously associated with the iconic Adidas Stan Smith tennis shoe. The film delves into his career, personal life, social impact, and enduring influence in fashion. The episode highlights the compelling narrative of his love story with wife Margie, and the broader cultural and historical contexts influencing tennis and civil rights. Additionally, insights from the film's director, Danny Lee, reveal the meticulous process behind its creation, balancing archival footage with modern storytelling techniques. 00:00 The Timeless Appeal of Stan Smith Sneakers 01:02 Exploring the Legend: Who is Stan Smith? 01:38 The Cultural Impact and Fashion Icon Status of Stan Smith 02:06 Personal Insights and Reflections on Stan Smith 02:44 The Documentary's Exploration of Sports, Fashion, and Social Justice 10:14 Behind the Scenes: Making the Stan Smith Documentary with Danny Lee 20:12 Remembering Morgan Spurlock: A Documentary Pioneer 22:18 Closing Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up
Wed, 05 Jun 2024 - 23min - 117 - Water Wars with Mario Mattei
In this episode of The Fog of Truth podcast, host Bart Weiss discusses the documentary 'Water Wars' with its director, Mario Mattei.
The documentary, which recently screened at the Dallas International Film Festival, delves into the complex issue of water rights in West Texas, depicting a struggle over the control and distribution of one of the most vital resources. Mattei shares insights into his dual role in the project, his creative process, and the importance of visual storytelling across various mediums.
The conversation highlights the documentary's exploration of American freedom, property ownership, and the ethical dimensions of resource sharing. The film illustrates the legal battles faced by farmers and ranchers in Hudspeth County and the broader implications for water rights across Texas. Key characters, such as the Guitar family and Laura Lynch, are discussed, offering a glimpse into the deeply personal and community-wide impacts of the water wars.
Mattei reflects on the challenges of presenting a balanced view of the conflict and the significance of water in human life. The episode sheds light on the engaging narrative and the collaborative effort behind the documentary, from pre-production to securing distribution.
00:26 Welcome to The Fog of Truth Podcast
00:37 Diving Deep with Director Mario Mattei
01:29 The Art of Visual Storytelling
03:10 Behind the Scenes of Water Wars
05:35 The Essence of Water Wars: A Story of Conflict and Resource
09:56 The Battle for Water Rights: Farmers vs. Ranchers
15:22 Navigating Legal Waters: The Fight for Fairness
18:17 The Heart of the Story: Laura Lynch's Emotional Journey
23:04 The Future of Water Wars and What's Next for Mario Mattei
26:09 Signing Off from The Fog of Truth
Thu, 09 May 2024 - 26min - 116 - Oscar Nominated Docs
Justina, Bart, and John are back! In this episode of 'The Fog of Truth', the hosts engage in a vibrant discussion about the Oscar-nominated short films. As they anticipate the Oscar celebration broadcast, they share their individual experiences and projects, including attending South by Southwest and working on book drafts. The debate opens with remarks on the absence of American-made documentaries in the best feature documentary category, celebrating international contributions instead. They meticulously review each short documentary nominee, providing insights into their themes, distribution, and impacts on audiences. The films discussed include 'The ABCs of Book Banning', 'The Barber of Little Rock', 'Island in Between', 'The Last Repair Shop', and 'Na, Nai and Wipo'. Special attention is given to the importance of storytelling, the role of major distributors in supporting short films, and the impact of these documentaries on real-world issues such as book banning, community banking, and cultural identities. The hosts express their favorites and speculate on potential Oscar winners, emphasizing the power of documentaries to frame pressing societal issues compellingly. 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:51 Oscar Features and Controversies 01:35 Oscar Nominated Short Films: A Discussion 19:50 The ABCs of Book Banning: A Deep Dive 24:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Fri, 08 Mar 2024 - 25min - 115 - The Blind Eye Artist and ObjectsTue, 09 Jan 2024 - 28min
- 114 - Sound of the PoliceThu, 21 Sep 2023 - 22min
- 113 - Docs we watch over and over again.Thu, 24 Aug 2023 - 20min
- 112 - TRUE CRIMESat, 05 Aug 2023 - 29min
- 111 - Interview with Roddy Bogawa about Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink FloydThu, 13 Jul 2023 - 25min
- 110 - Jack Has a Plan, Interview with Bradley BermanThu, 08 Jun 2023 - 19min
- 109 - Jack Has a Plan Joint Review Season 14 Episode 3Thu, 08 Jun 2023 - 18min
- 108 - Pink Floyd X2
Bart, Justina, and John talk about 2 new documentaries centering on Pink Floyd. The first is "Squaring the Circle (the story of hipgnosis)," a film by Anton Corbijn about the legendary company that made some of the most iconic album covers but started by working with Pink Floyd. The second, "Have you Got it Yet? The Story of Syd Barett and Pink Floyd," was made by one of the founders of Hipgnosis, Storm Thorgerson and Rody Bogawa. Storm started the film years ago and passed away in 2013. Bogawa picked it up and finished it.
Thu, 18 May 2023 - 26min - 107 - Women in the Front seatThu, 04 May 2023 - 21min
- 106 - The Pez Outlaw Episode 104Thu, 20 Apr 2023 - 18min
- 105 - sun/slam/sxsw/oxMon, 10 Apr 2023 - 31min
- 104 - Episode 102 And the King Said, What a Fantastic MachineThu, 23 Mar 2023 - 31min
- 103 - Episode 101! Nanook of the NorthThu, 26 Jan 2023 - 16min
- 102 - Season 13 Episode 6 (Our 100th Episode!) The Best docs of 2022Thu, 12 Jan 2023 - 34min
- 101 - Season 13 Episode 5 Queer for FearThu, 29 Dec 2022 - 25min
- 100 - Season 13 episode 4 Is That Black Enough for you?Thu, 15 Dec 2022 - 30min
- 99 - Season 13 episode 3 The Subject is the SubjectThu, 08 Dec 2022 - 37min
- 98 - Season 13 Episode 2 Theaters of War
Bart Interviers Roger Stahl, director of the Documentary Theaters of War
If you've seen Top Gun or Transformers, you might suspect all that military machinery comes with strings attached. This influence is not limited to a handful of movies, though. A vast new trove of internal documents reveals that the Pentagon and CIA have doctored thousands of film and television scripts. Parting the curtains on this world, media professor Roger Stahl engages an array of other stunned scholars, frustrated veterans, PR insiders, and industry producers. He reveals in unsettling detail how the US military-industrial complex pushes a version of history that scrubs the screen of war crimes, corruption, criticism of the nuclear arsenal, racism, sexual assault, assassinations, and torture. From James Bond to Jack Ryan, Captain Marvel to Cake Boss, the creation of this other "cinematic universe" is one of the great PR coups of our time.
Mon, 21 Nov 2022 - 11min - 97 - Season 13 Episode 1- Not Depressing DocsWed, 26 Oct 2022 - 18min
- 96 - Season 12 Episode 7 Moonage DaydreamSat, 24 Sep 2022 - 20min
- 95 - Season 12 Episode 6 LABOR!Sat, 03 Sep 2022 - 16min
- 94 - Season 12 Episode 5 AbortionThu, 30 Jun 2022 - 18min
- 93 - Season 12 Episode 4 GUNS!Thu, 09 Jun 2022 - 30min
- 92 - Season 12 Episode 3 Category WomanMon, 16 May 2022 - 14min
- 91 - Season 12 Episode 2 FireboysSun, 01 May 2022 - 17min
- 90 - Season 12 E 1 Docs in FestivalsSat, 09 Apr 2022 - 15min
- 89 - Fog of Truth 1107Sat, 05 Feb 2022 - 25min
- 88 - Fog of Truth- Bonus Slamdance with Summre GarberTue, 01 Feb 2022 - 08min
- 87 - Fog of Truth Episode 1106 ProcessionTue, 11 Jan 2022 - 22min
- 86 - Episode 1105 The Best of 2021Fri, 31 Dec 2021 - 18min
- 85 - Season 11 Episode 4 The Beatles Get BackFri, 17 Dec 2021 - 27min
- 84 - Fog Truth Season 11 Episode 3Sat, 27 Nov 2021 - 20min
- 83 - Fog of Truth Season 11 Episode 2Thu, 18 Nov 2021 - 20min
- 82 - The Fog of Truth Season 11 Episode One RoadrunnerWed, 03 Nov 2021 - 25min
- 81 - Bonus Episode: Slamdance 2021
In this bonus episode, we invite back our former cohost Summre Garber to talk about the documentary slate at the 2021 Slamdance Film Festival, where she is co-captain of the documentary-features program. Then we all discuss, in depth, the following three films: Code Name: Nagasaki, Everyone Wants to Be the Next Weismann and Holy Frit. This episode marks the departure of Chris Reed as permanent cohost, leaving Bart Weiss in charge of the future. Should be fun! Enjoy!
Group Review Documentaries:
Code Name: Nagasaki (Fredrik S. Hana, 2021) Everyone Wants to Be the Next Weismann (Alberto Triano, 2020) Holy Frit (Justin S. Monroe, 2021)Other Films/Series Mentioned:
Bleeding Audio (Chelsea Christer, 2020) Dick Johnson Is Dead (Kirsten Johnson, 2020) Firebones (Greg Brownderville/Bart Weiss, 2021) 306 Hollywood (Elan Bogarín/Jonathan Bogarín, 2018) Workhorse Queen (Angela Washko, 2021)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of Code Name: Nagasaki Hammer to Nail review of Everyone Wants to Be the Next Weismann Hammer to Nail review of Holy FritTimestamps:
00:40 – Intro 03:49 – Summre's recap of Slamdance 2021 documentary slate 07:33 – Group discussion of Code Name: Nagasaki 13:33 – Group discussion of Everyone Wants to Be the Next Weismann 21:35 – Group discussion of Holy Frit 31:51 – Outro and End CreditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Fri, 26 Feb 2021 - 35min - 80 - Bonus Episode: Best Documentaries of 2020
In this bonus episode, cohosts Bart and Chris revisit their favorite documentaries of 2020, and then invite, each in turn, six guest hosts from the past year to chat about their own favorites. Those guests, in alphabetical order, are: Hannah Buchdahl, Sandie Angulo Chen, Leslie Combemale, Roxana Hadadi, Lisa Sanchelo and Debra Zimmerman. Chris and Bart each gave a Top 10, while our guests each listed a Top 5. Those lists follows, below, in the order given on the episode. Enjoy, and see you in 2021!
Chris's List (in alphabetical order):
Boys State (Amanda McBaine/Jesse Moss) Capital in the Twenty-First Century (Justin Pemberton) Collective (Alexander Nanau) Crip Camp (James Lebrecht/Nicole Newnham) Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (Mary Wharton) John Lewis: Good Trouble (Dawn Porter) Mayor (David Osit) 76 Days (Hao Wu/Weixi Chen/Anonymous) Space Dogs (Elsa Kremser/Levin Peter) A Thousand Cuts (Ramona S. Diaz)Bart's List (in alphabetical order):
Boys State (Amanda McBaine/Jesse Moss) Capital in the Twenty-First Century (Justin Pemberton) Disclosure (Sam Feder) Feels Good Man (Arthur Jones) Jasper Mall(Bradford Thomason/Brett Whitcomb) John Lewis: Good Trouble (Dawn Porter) The Last Dance (Jason Hehir) (10-part Netflix series) Mayor (David Osit) A Thousand Cuts (Ramona S. Diaz) Totally Under Control (Alex Gibney)Sandie's List (in alphabetical order):
Boys State (Amanda McBaine/Jesse Moss) The Dissident (Bryan Fogel) John Lewis: Good Trouble (Dawn Porter) River City Drumbeat (Anne Flatté/Marlon Johnson) Time (Garrett Bradley)Hannah's List (in order of preference):
- Collective (Alexander Nanau) Tie: John Lewis: Good Trouble (Dawn Porter) / The Way I See It (Dawn Porter) Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (Mary Wharton) Tie: The Dissident (Bryan Fogel) / A Thousand Cuts (Ramona Diaz) Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You (Thom Zimny)
Debra's List (in order of preference):
- Collective (Alexander Nanau) Tie: Belly of the Beast (Erika Cohn) / Coded Bias (Shalini Kantayya) Capital in the Twenty-First Century (Justin Pemberton) Tie: Dick Johnson Is Dead (Kirsten Johnson) / Time (Garrett Bradley) The Earth Is Blue as an Orange (Iryna Tsilyk) – not yet released
Roxana's List (in alphabetical order):
Boys State (Amanda McBaine/Jesse Moss) Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy (Elizabeth Carroll) The Last Dance (Jason Hehir) (10-part Netflix series Midnight in Paris (James Blagden/Roni Moore) Time (Garrett Bradley)Lisa's List (in alphabetical order):
American Murder: The Family Next Door (Jenny Popplewell) Athlete A (Bonni Cohen/Jon Shenk) Baby God (Hannah Olson) Becoming (Nadia Hallgren) Class Action Park (Seth Porges/Chris Charles Scott III)Leslie's List (in order of preference):
- Crip Camp (James Lebrecht/Nicole Newnham) Welcome to Chechnya (David France) The Painter and the Thief (Benjamin Ree) Boys State (Amanda McBaine/Jesse Moss) John Lewis: Good Trouble (Dawn Porter)
Other Films Mentioned:
Born to Be (Tania Cypriano) The Disrupted (Sarah Colt/Josh Gleason) The Fight (Eli Despres/Josh Kriegman/Elyse Steinberg) Icarus (Bryan Fogel) The Mole Agent (Maite Alberdi) The Social Dilemma (Jeff Orlowski)Timestamps:
00:52 – Intro + Chris and Bart's respective Top 10 lists 11:31 – Sandie Angulo Chen's top docs of the year 18:02 – Hannah Buchdahl's top docs of the year 23:58 – Debra Zimmerman's top docs of the year 30:03 – Roxana Hadadi's top docs of the year 37:11 – Lisa Sanchelo's top docs of the year 43:42 – Leslie Combemale's top docs of the year 50:51 – Closing + End creditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 23 Dec 2020 - 53min - 79 - Episode 1006: White Noise / American Dharma
We wrap up Season 10 with returning guest host Anuradha Rana (Associate Professor, School of Cinematic Arts, DePaul University) as we review Daniel Lombroso's White Noise, a profile of some of the current leading figures among the alt-right. This leads to a discussion of the dangers of turning one's lens on problematic ideologues, given how the camera may amplify their message even as it deconstructs and criticizes it. From there, Bart and Chris interview the great Errol Morris, whose American Dharma offers a portrait of right-wing activist Steve Bannon. We've wanted to have Morris on an episode since we started, given how we named our podcast partly in homage to his The Fog of War. Though occasionally contentious, as Chris questions Morris on his approach to Bannon, our conversation proves fascinating and respectful. What a great way to end the season! Listen in and enjoy.
Group Review Documentary:
WHITE NOISE (Daniel Lombroso, 2020)
Available now on demand. Clips provided courtesy of director.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
AMERICAN DHARMA (Errol Morris, 2018)
Streaming now on Topic.
Other Book/Films Mentioned:
Donald Trump on Citizen Kane (Errol Morris, 2002) Errol Morris's Oscar Short Film: 2002 Oscars (Errol Morris, 2002) First Person IFC/Bravo series (Errol Morris, 2000-2001) The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (Errol Morris, 2003) My Psychedelic Love Story (Errol Morris, 2020) Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know book (Malcolm Gladwell, 2019) The Thin Blue Line (Errol Morris, 1988) Triumph of the Will (Leni Riefenstahl, 1935) Twelve O'Clock High (Henry King, 1949) The Unknown Known (Errol Morris, 2013) Us Kids (Kim A. Snyder, 2020) Wormwood Netflix series (Errol Morris, 2017)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of White Noise Hammer to Nail review of American DharmaTimestamps:
00:42 – Intro 04:33 – Group Discussion of WHITE NOISE 21:49 – Bart and Chris interview Errol Morris on AMERICAN DHARMA 47:43 – Doc Talk 55:14 – Closing and End CreditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 11 Nov 2020 - 57min - 78 - Episode 1005: Citizen Bio / Picture a Scientist
We have our second new guest host of the season join us this week: Inkoo Kang, formerly of Slate and now of The Hollywood Reporter. Together, we review the new Showtime documentary Citizen Bio, which profiles the late Aaron Traywick and his (not so) merry band of biohackers at Ascendance Biomedical, and pair that with an interview that Bart and Chris conduct with Sharon Shattuck, one of the directors of Picture a Scientist, an examination of pervasive gender bias in the sciences. Yes, the nation may be riven by election madness and discord, but we thought we'd take a break from our recent political coverage to talk about different topics. Enjoy!
Group Review Documentary:
CITIZEN BIO (Trish Dolman, 2020)
Playing now on Showtime.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
PICTURE A SCIENTIST (Ian Cheney/Sharon Shattuck, 2020)
Currently only available for educational and private group screenings. One can request a screening at www.pictureascientist.com. Sign up for mailing list on the website for broadcast and streaming announcements.
Other Films/Podcast/Series Mentioned:
All About Almodóvar podcast (Inkoo Kang/Daniel Schroeder) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Jason Woliner, 2020) Fyre Fraud (Jenner Furst/Julia Willoughby Nason, 2019) Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (Chris Smith, 2019) Human Nature (Adam Bolt, 2019) The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (Alex Gibney, 2019) McMillions HBO series (James Lee Hernandez/Brian Lazarte, 2020) Radiolab podcast (Jad Abumrad, WNYC) Spaceship Earth (Matt Wolf, 2020) Surviving R. Kelly Lifetime series (now on Netflix) (Joel Karsberg/Jesse Daniels/ Dream Hampton/Tamra Simmons, 2019) The Vow HBO series (Karim Amer/Jehane Noujaim, 2020)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of Citizen Bio Hammer to Nail review of Picture a ScientistTimestamps:
00:43 – Intro 04:11 – Group Discussion of CITIZEN BIO 21:16 – Bart and Chris interview Sharon Shattuck of PICTURE A SCIENTIST 40:47 – Doc Talk 50:36 – Closing and End CreditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 04 Nov 2020 - 52min - 77 - Episode 1004: Totally Under Control / The Fight
This week, as the conclusion to the 2020 election season looms, and everyone anxiously awaits the results, we examine the grotesque incompetence, selfishness and venality of Donald Trump and others in his administration, as evidenced by their response to the coronavirus pandemic, through the lens of Alex Gibney's latest documentary, Totally Under Control (made with co-directors Ophelia Harutyunyan and Suzanne Hillinger). New guest host Shilyh Warren makes her debut to help us express our outrage. Then, Chris interviews filmmakers Eli B. Despres, Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg about their profile of the ACLU, The Fight, which we previously reviewed in Episode 906. Listen in and then, please, if you have not done so, already … VOTE!
Group Review Documentary:
TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL (Alex Gibney/Ophelia Harutyunyan/Suzanne Hillinger, 2020)
Available on VOD from NEON.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
THE FIGHT (Eli B. Despres/Josh Kriegman/Elyse Steinberg, 2020)
Available on VOD from Magnolia Pictures.
Other Films Mentioned:
The American President (Rob Reiner, 1995) Billie (James Erskine, 2019) Chicago 10 (Brett Morgen, 2007) Couples Therapy Showtime series (Eli B. Despres/Josh Kriegman/Elyse Steinberg, 2019) Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich Netflix series (Lisa Bryant, 2020) The Kid Stays in the Picture (Brett Morgen/Nanette Burstein, 2002) Medium Cool (Haskell Wexler, 1969) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Aaron Sorkin, 2020) The Vow HBO series (Karim Amer/Jehane Noujaim, 2020) Weiner (Josh Kriegman/Elyse Steinberg, 2016)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of Totally Under Control Hammer to Nail review of The FightTimestamps:
00:43 – Intro 04:18 – Group Discussion of TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL 20:12 – Chris interviews Eli B. Despres, Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg of THE FIGHT 38:40 – Doc Talk 49:45 – Closing and End CreditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 28 Oct 2020 - 51min - 76 - Episode 1003: The Social Dilemma / Feels Good Man
The internet and its many connected sites and apps is a fraught place, filled with algorithms that manipulate the user beyond what she or he comes close to realizing. Both films we discuss this week, The Social Dilemma and Feels Good Man, look at the more sinister aspects of online culture. Returning guest host Jennifer Proctor joins us a for a review of the first, and then Bart and Chris interview the director, Arthur Jones, and producer, Giorgio Angelini, of the second. Afterwards, we all share a film much on our individual minds following the recent passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the rushed confirmation hearings for her chosen successor, Amy Coney Barrett. These are troubling times, so listen in and listen up.
Group Review Documentary:
THE SOCIAL DILEMMA (Jeff Orlowski, 2020)
Available on Netflix.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
FEELS GOOD MAN (Arthur Jones, 2020)
Available on VOD.
Other Films Mentioned:
The Abortion Diaries (Penny Lane, 2005) Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* But Were Afraid to Ask (Woody Allen, 1972) Finding Vivian Maier (John Maloof/Charlie Siskel, 2013) Hal (Amy Scott, 2018) Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story (Michael Stabile, 2015) Trapped (Dawn Porter, 2016) Vessel (Diana Whitten, 2014) Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Morgan Neville, 2018)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of The Social Dilemma Hammer to Nail review of Feels Good ManTimestamps:
00:42 – Intro 04:19 – Group Discussion of THE SOCIAL DILEMMA 18:47 – Bart and Chris interview Arthur Jones and Giorgio Angelini of FEELS GOOD MAN 42:19 – Doc Talk 50:02 – Closing and End CreditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 21 Oct 2020 - 52min - 75 - Episode 1002: Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President / Desert One
Our nation's 39th president, Jimmy Carter, is on the documentary docket this week as we review Mary Wharton's Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President, joined by returning guest host Sedika Mojadidi. That film looks at Carter's love of music and how it helped shape both his insurgent 1976 campaign and his time in the White House, revealing the compassionate humanitarian in all his glory. Then, Bart and Chris interview the great Barbara Kopple about her Desert One, which analyzes what went wrong with Carter's attempted rescue of the American hostages held in Iran following its 1979 revolution. Just as much complexity, far less glory (to tragic results). It's a fascinating combination of films, and we hope you enjoy.
Group Review Documentary:
JIMMY CARTER: ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT (Mary Wharton, 2020)
Available on VOD from Greenwich Entertainment.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
DESERT ONE (Barbara Kopple, 2019)
Available on VOD from Greenwich Entertainment.
Other Films Mentioned:
Harlan County U.S.A. (Barbara Kopple, 1976) Italianamerican (Martin Scorsese, 1974) John Lewis: Good Trouble (Dawn Porter, 2020) Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese, 1973) Miracle Fishing (Miles Hargrove/Christopher Birge, 2020) A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (Martin Scorsese, 1995) The Way I See It (Dawn Porter, 2020) Winter Soldier (Winterfilm, Inc., 1972)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President Hammer to Nail review of Desert OneTimestamps:
00:42 – Intro 04:19 – Group Discussion of JIMMY CARTER: ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT 19:16 – Bart and Chris interview Barbara Kopple of DESERT ONE 40:39 – Doc Talk 51:51 – Closing and End CreditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 14 Oct 2020 - 53min - 74 - Episode 1001: Bird Island / Space Dogs
We are back! We start Season 10 with two documentaries about the animal kingdom: Bird Island and Space Dogs. With returning guest host Leslie Combemale (owner of ArtInsights Gallery), we review the former, and then Bart and Chris interview Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter, the directors of the latter. Given the political season and the upcoming episodes that deal with all of that fraught material, we thought that we would first begin with a look at something else. But stay tuned, as more directly relevant topics to our current time are on the agenda …
Group Review Documentary:
BIRD ISLAND (Sergio Da Costa/Maya Kosa, 2019)
Available on MUBI USA until October 24. 2020.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
SPACE DOGS (Elsa Kremser/Levin Peter, 2019)
Currently out in theaters and on VOD.
Other Films/Websites Mentioned:
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Birthright: A War Story (Civia Tamarkin, 2017) Cinema Siren An Inconvenient Truth (Davis Guggenheim, 2006) Los Reyes (Iván Osnovikoff/Bettina Perut, 2018) Kanopy streaming service Masks by Leslie's friend Julie Chandler The Mole Agent (Maite Alberdi, 2019) Motion Pictures Association The Private Life of a Cat (Alexander Hammid/Maya Deren, 1947)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of Bird Island Hammer to Nail review of Space DogsTimestamps:
00:43 – Intro 07:17 – Group Discussion of BIRD ISLAND 17:44 – Bart and Chris interview Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter of SPACE DOGS 43:23 – Doc Talk 51:50 – Closing and End CreditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 07 Oct 2020 - 53min - 73 - Bonus Episode: Fog Favorites
In this special bonus episode, the last before we begin our momentous Season 10 … can you believe it? … Bart and Chris revisit some favorite moments from past shows, including: all the previous clip-montage intros; excerpts from our interviews with filmmakers Chelsea Hernandez, Stanley Nelson and Morgan Neville; an excerpt from Bart's interview with Patricia Aufderheide about Fair Use; an opening chatter sequence about Sexy Beast; a Doc Talk about James Bond; and a Doc Talk where guest host Sedika Mojadidi discussed her plans for her then new job as a college professor. You'll hear our former third cohost, the incomparable Summre Garber, in many of the early moments. Enjoy! Thanks to all who submitted suggestions of their own favorite moments from past shows. We'll be back some time in October with more (i.e., Season 10)!
Films Mentioned:
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Marielle Heller, 2019) Becoming Bond (Josh Greenbaum, 2017) Best of Enemies: Buckley vs. Vidal (Robert Gordon/Morgan Neville, 2015) The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (Stanley Nelson, 2015) The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords (Stanley Nelson, 1999) Building the American Dream (Chelsea Hernandez, 2019) Casino Royale (Val Guest/Ken Hughes/John Huston/Joseph McGrath/Robert Parrish/Richard Talmadge, 1967) Facing the Dragon (Sedika Mojadidi, 2018) Freedom Riders (Stanley Nelson, 2009) Grey Gardens (Ellen Hovde/Albert Maysles/David Maysles/Muffie Meyer, 1975) Grey Gardens (Michael Sucsy, 2009) Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (Stanley Nelson, 2006) Little Dieter Needs to Fly (Werner Herzog, 1997) Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (Stanley Nelson, 2019) On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Peter R. Hunt, 1969) The Other Side of the Wind (Orson Welles, 2018) A Place of Our Own (Stanley Nelson, 2004) Rescue Dawn (Werner Herzog, 2006) Sexy Beast (Jonathan Glazer, 2000) Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities (Stanley Nelson, 2017) They'll Love Me When I'm Dead (Morgan Neville, 2018) 20 Feet from Stardom (Morgan Neville, 2013) Two Dollars and a Dream (Stanley Nelson, 1989) Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Morgan Neville, 2018)Timestamps:
00:41 – Bart and Chris intro of show's topic 02:03 – Clip-montage intro from Seasons 1 and 2 03:49 – Opening chatter about Sexy Beast (Episode 203) 06:30 – Doc Talk about James Bond (Episode 203) 11:27 – Clip-montage intro from Seasons 3 and 4 12:56 – Excerpt from Stanley Nelson interview (5/8/19 Bonus Episode) 21:09 – Excerpt from Chelsea Hernandez interview (Episode 602) 25:25 – Clip-montage intro from Seasons 5 and 6 27:01 – Excerpt from Patricia Aufderheide interview (8/28/19 Bonus Episode) 32:38 – Doc Talk with Sedika Mojadidi about teaching (Episode 701) 36:56 – Clip-montage intro from Seasons 7 and 8 38:12 – Excerpt from Morgan Neville interview (1/14/20 Bonus Episode) 41:07 – Conclusion 43:01 – End creditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moored
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 02 Sep 2020 - 44min - 72 - Bonus Episode: Filmmaker Laurens Grant
In this bonus episode, Bart and Chris interview filmmaker Laurens Grant, first briefly reviewing two of her documentaries, the 2016 Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement and the brand-new Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier, before launching into an in-depth examination of her career. Both a director and a producer, Grant has a lot to say about the art, craft and business of documentary cinema, as well as about the challenges of being a black woman in this industry. She offers wonderful insights that are especially relevant to the world of today, so listen in!
In addition, we ask our loyal listeners, old and new, to help us out for the next bonus episode, which will drop at the end of August. Please email us at disinfo@fogoftruth.com to let us know some of your favorite moments – reviews, interviews, Doc Talk, banter and more – from past episodes, and we will put together a compilation of those excerpts for that episode. What a great way to lead us in to our 10th season!
Films Mentioned/Song Featured:
Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier (Laurens, Grant, 2020) Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement (Laurens, Grant, 2016) "Gray Area," by Greenspan, feat Josh Lay, Obias, Ashley Alexander (excerpted from Stay Woke)Timestamps:
00:41 – Bart and Chris intro of show's topic 04:33 – Reviews of Stay Woke and Black in Space 14:40 – Conversation with Laurens Grant 41:52 – Closing Remarks and End creditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moored
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Fri, 31 Jul 2020 - 44min - 71 - Episode 906: The Fight / A Thousand Cuts
In this final episode of our 9th season, film critic Hannah Buchdahl (of chickflix.net) joins us to review the upcoming documentary on the many battles fought on our behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union in the age of Donald Trump, The Fight. Then, Bart and Chris interview Ramona Diaz about her (also upcoming) A Thousand Cuts, which profiles the challenges faced by journalist Maria Ressa, CEO of the Philippine news site Rappler, under the rule of strongman Rodrigo Duterte. Both films premiered at Sundance 2020, have also just played at AFI DOCS, and together form a bracing call to action to resist authoritarianism at all costs. Care about your freedoms? Then care about these films.
We'll be back in a month or so with the first of two bonus episodes to drop before the start of season 10. Until then, stay safe and healthy. Do not, however, stay out of trouble.
Group Review Documentary:
THE FIGHT (Eli B. Despres/Josh Kriegman/Elyse Steinberg, 2020)
Available in theaters (if possible) and on demand from Magnolia Pictures on July 31.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
A THOUSAND CUTS (Ramona Diaz, 2020)
Acquired by Frontline (PBS) for a Summer 2020 theatrical release (if possible) and/or Fall 2020 broadcast.
Other Films/Series Mentioned:
Boys State (Amanda McBaine/Jesse Moss, 2020) Charm City (Marilyn Ness, 2018) Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Lisa Bryan, 2020) (4-part Netflix series) The Innocence Files(Sarah Dowland/Liz Garbus/Alex Gibney/Andy Grieve/Jed Rothstein/Roger Ross Williams, 2020) Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (Mary Wharton, 2020) LA 92 (Dan Lindsay, TJ Martin, 2017) Motherland (Ramona Diaz, 2017) Rebuilding Paradise (Ron Howard, 2020) Weiner (Josh Kriegman/Elyse Steinberg, 2016) Women in Blue (Deirdre Fishel, 2020)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of The Fight Hammer to Nail review of A Thousand CutsTimestamps:
00:42 – Intro 04:53 – Group discussion of THE FIGHT 21:54 – Bart and Chris interview director Ramona Diaz about A THOUSAND CUTS 43:28 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 - 56min - 70 - Episode 905: Jeffrey Epstein–Filthy Rich / Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Money makes the world go round, does it not? Let the capital flow, so its profits may trickle down in a wellspring of bounty for all … except that the greater the flow, the faster it trickles up, away from the masses and into the hands of a rarefied, entitled elite that never seems to stop wanting more. In this week's episode, Women Make Movies' Executive Director Debra Zimmerman joins us for a discussion of the new Netflix series Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, which follows the rapacious, billionaire pedophile's life and career while giving voice to the women he abused. Then, Bart and Chris interview director Justin Pemberton about his recent Capital in the Twenty-First Century, a rousing, enraging examination of how the world is rapidly heading away from the equalizing tendencies of the 20th century's middle period. Sad, but true. Now what are you going to do about it?
Group Review Documentary:
JEFFREY EPSTEIN: FILTHY RICH (Lisa Bryant, 2020) (4-part Netflix series)
Available now on Netflix.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
CAPITAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY (Justin Pemberton, 2020)
Available now in virtual theatrical screenings via Kino Lorber's Kino Marquee initiative.
Other Book/Films/Series/Songs Mentioned:
Capital in the Twenty-First Century (book), by Thomas Piketty (Belknap Press, 2014) Citizenfour (Laura Poitras, 2014) Conscience Point (Treva Wurmfeld, 2019) Elysium (Neill Blomkamp, 2013) Family Guy (Seth MacFarlane/David Zuckerman, 2019 - ) (Fox TV series) #FemalePleasure (Barbara Miller, 2018) Free Solo (Jimmy Chin/Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, 2018) The Grapes of Wrath (John Ford, 1940) The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (Andrew Jarecki, 2015) (6-part HBO series) Kids in America (song), by Kim Wilde (1981) Making Unorthodox 9 to 5 (Colin Higgins, 1980) 9 to 5 (song), by Dolly Parton (1980) Paulette (Heather Rae, 2019) Pride & Prejudice (Joe Wright, 2005) Rewind (Sasha Joseph Neulinger, 2019) The Simpsons (James L. Brooks/Matt Groening/Sam Simon, 1989 - ) (Fox TV series) Sisters Rising (Brad Heck/Willow O'Feral, 2020) Unorthodox (Anna Winger, 2020) (4-part Netflix series) Waging Change (Abby Ginzberg, 2019) Wall Street (Oliver Stone, 1987) Yours in Sisterhood (Irene Lusztig, 2018)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich Film Festival Today review of Capital in the Twenty-First CenturyTimestamps:
00:42 – Intro 04:35 – Group Discussion of JEFFREY EPSTEIN: FILTHY RICH 21:04 – Bart and Chris interview Justin Pemberton of CAPITAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY 41:49 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 17 Jun 2020 - 52min - 69 - Episode 904: Diana Kennedy–Nothing Fancy / Agave–The Spirit of a Nation
This week, we briefly step away from our problems at home (while never forgetting or minimizing them) to celebrate the culinary traditions of our neighbors to the south. Guest host Sandie Angulo Chen (of Common Sense Media) joins us as we review Elizabeth Carroll's Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy, which profiles the titular nonagenarian, British-born specialist of Mexican cuisine. Then, Chris interviews director Nick Kovacic about his 2018 documentary Agave: The Spirit of a Nation, which brings the viewer on a journey to Jalisco, Oaxaca, and other locations in Mexico to explore agave's place in the economy and culture. Eat and drink your fill!
Group Review Documentary:
DIANA KENNEDY: NOTHING FANCY (Elizabeth Carroll, 2019)
Available now on VOD from Greenwich Entertainment.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
AGAVE: THE SPIRIT OF A NATION (Nick Kovacic/Matthew Riggieri, 2018)
Available on VOD on Amazon or on SVOD from Kanopy.
Other Films/Series Mentioned:
The Biggest Little Farm (John Chester, 2018) Brewmore Baltimore (Nick Kovacic, 2015) (Nick Kovacic, 2016) Homecoming: The Journey of Cardboard (Anna Thorson Mayer/Yuko Shiomaki, 2020) Ingrid (Morrisa Maltz, 2018) King Corn (Aaron Woolf, 2017) The Last Dance (Jason Hehir, 2020) (10-part ESPN series) 20 Feet from Stardom (Morgan Neville, 2013) Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Morgan Neville, 2018)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy Hammer to Nail review of Agave: Spirit of a NationTimestamps:
00:42 – Intro 04:37 – Group Discussion of DIANA KENNEDY: NOTHING FANCY 19:51 – Chris interviews Nick Kovacic of AGAVE: SPIRIT OF A NATION 36:03 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 10 Jun 2020 - 45min - 68 - Episode 903: Becoming / John Lewis–Good Trouble
Our nation is burning, and the fire has deep roots in our past. The police violence against communities and people of color is nothing new, emerging from the legacy of slavery that taints our history. In this week's episode, with guest host Lisa Sanchelo (of the podcast I Love That Movie!), we review Becoming, the recent documentary about Michelle Obama and her eponymous memoir. Then, Bart and Chris interview director Dawn Porter about her upcoming film John Lewis: Good Trouble, coming out on July 3. Given Congressman Lewis' participation in the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s, the film is especially appropriate to discuss at this time. So listen in and learn about two great movies to check now and in the near future.
Group Review Documentary:
BECOMING (Nadia Hallgren, 2020)
Available now on Netflix.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE (Dawn Porter, 2020)
In theaters (where possible) and on demand July 3, 2020. CNN will broadcast in September.
Other Films/Podcasts/Series Mentioned:
Bobby Kennedy for President (Dawn Porter, 2018) (4-part Netflix series) Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (Robert Drew, 1963) Dolores (Peter Bratt, 2017) Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (Laurent Bouzereau, 2020) Over My Dead Body (podcast) RBG (Julie Cohen/Betsy West, 2018) Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (Rebecca Chaiklin/Eric Goode, 2020)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of Becoming Hammer to Nail review of John Lewis: Good TroubleTimestamps:
00:00 – Pre-intro, on how current events provide context for content of episode 01:47 – Intro 05:50 – Group Discussion of BECOMING 21:54 – Bart and Chris interview Dawn Porter of JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE 44:18 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 03 Jun 2020 - 55min - 67 - Episode 902: Spaceship Earth / We Are As Gods
In this week's episode, we discuss cults (or not) and the science of climate change, de-extinction, space exploration and more, all in a brief 50 minutes, as we review Spaceship Earth and interview directors David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg about their We Are As Gods. Joining us as guest host this time is film critic and fellow podcaster Jessica Baxter (whose "Paid in Puke" is worth a listen). Looking for some exciting times and ideas of how to save humanity? Tune in to our show!
Group Review Documentary:
SPACESHIP EARTH (Matt Wolf, 2020)
Available now on VOD, on multiple platforms, courtesy of Neon.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
WE ARE AS GODS (David Alvarado/Jason Sussberg, 2020)
Film would have premiered at 2020 SXSW Film Festival. Distribution pending.
Other Films/Series Mentioned/Referenced:
Bill Nye: Science Guy (David Alvarado/Jason Sussberg, 2017) Dosed (Tyler Chandler, 2019) Fantastic Fungi (Louie Schwartzberg, 2019) Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (Donick Cary, 2020) The Immortalists (David Alvarado/Jason Sussberg, 2014) The Last Dance (Jason Hehir, 2020) (10-part ESPN series) Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (Matt Wolf, 2019)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of Spaceship Earth Hammer to Nail review of We Are As GodsTimestamps:
00:42 – Intro 04:12 – Group Discussion of SPACESHIP EARTH 20:45 – Bart and Chris interview David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg of WE ARE AS GODS 40:35 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 27 May 2020 - 50min - 65 - Episode 901: Natalie Wood–What Remains Behind / Kubrick by Kubrick
Welcome back! We kick off Season 9 with two documentaries about famous film people, starting with a group review of the biopic Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind and then cutting to an interview with French director Gregory Monro about Kubrick by Kubrick, which would have premiered at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, had it happened. Joining us as guest cohost is critic Danielle Solzman, of Solzy at the Movies. Get ready for a profound journey into the cinematic firmament!
Group Review Documentary:
NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND (Laurent Bouzereau, 2020)
Is available on HBO NOW, HBO GO and on demand.
All clips from film courtesy of HBO.
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
KUBRICK BY KUBRICK (Gregory Monro, 2020)
Film would have premiered at 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Distribution pending.
Other Films/Series Mentioned:
The Art of Directing series (Allan Holzman, 2016-2019) The Art of Directing: Frank Capra (https://vimeo.com/186212170, Password = capra) The Art of Directing: John Huston (https://vimeo.com/238011168, Password = falcon) The Art of Directing: David Lean (https://vimeo.com/307867555, Password = 716) The Art of Directing: David Lynch (https://vimeo.com/93046694, Password = 716) The Art of Directing: Spielberg, Hitchcock, Truffaut (https://vimeo.com/122920103, Password = 716) Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975) Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Paul Mazursky, 1969) Brainstorm (Douglas Trumbull, 1983) Circus of Books (Rachel Mason, 2019) A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick, 1971) Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick, 1999) Fear and Desire (Stanley Kubrick, 1953) Five Came Back (Laurent Bouzereau, 2017, three-part Netflix series) From Here to Eternity (Buzz Kulik, 1979, three-part NBC series) Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson, 2014) The Great Race (Blake Edwards, 1965) Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel (Seth Kramer/Daniel A. Miller/Jeremy Newberger, 2018) Miracle on 34th Street (George Seaton, 1947) Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick, 1957) Rebel Without a Cause (Nicholas Ray, 1955) The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980) Splendor in the Grass (Elia Kazan, 1961) Tomorrow Is Forever (Irving Pichel, 1946) 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968) West Side Story (Robert Wise, 1961)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind Hammer to Nail review of Kubrick by KubrickTimestamps:
00:42 – Intro 04:19 – Group Discussion of NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND 24:08 – Bart and Chris interview Gregory Monro of KUBRICK BY KUBRICK 42:36 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 20 May 2020 - 53min - 64 - Bonus Episode: The Innocence Files
In this bonus episode, Bart and Chris review the new nine-part Netflix documentary series The Innocence Files and then interview Sarah Dowland, director of the final episode. The series is divided into three sections – ""The Evidence," "The Witness" and "The Prosecution" – each of which is comprised of three episodes, some of which are linked narratively, as well as thematically, and some of which stand alone. Dowland's film tells the story of Kenneth Wyniemko, a Michigan man who served 9 years in jail for a crime he did not commit (a short sentence compared to most of the other subjects). A profile as much of the hard-working defense attorneys at The Innocence Project (and elsewhere) as of the poor folks unjustly imprisoned, the series is both an example of fine filmmaking and a call to action to reform the criminal-justice system. Listen in to hear what Dowland has to say about guilt, innocence and … The Innocence Files.
Group Review and Interview Documentary:
THE INNOCENCE FILES (Sarah Dowland/Liz Garbus/Alex Gibney/Andy Grieve/Jed Rothstein/Roger Ross Williams, 2020)
Now playing on Netflix
Other Netflix Series Mentioned:
How to Fix a Drug Scandal (Erin Lee Carr, 2020) Making a Murderer (Moira Demos/Laura Ricciardi, 2015/2018) Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (Rebecca Chaiklin/Eric Goode, 2020)Link to review by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of The Innocence FilesTimestamps:
00:35 – Intro 02:14 – Discussion/review of The Innocence Files 09:33 – Interview with director Sarah Dowland 32:42 – End creditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 22 Apr 2020 - 34min - 63 - Bonus Episode: How to Film Fest During a Pandemic
In this bonus episode, Bart and Chris chat with Melanie Addington, Executive Director, Oxford Film Festival (which was supposed to run March 18-22); Leslie Raymond, Executive Director, Ann Arbor Film Festival (running online March 24-29); and Lela Meadow-Conner, Executive Director, Film Festival Alliance. Together, we discuss the current state of film festivals in the age of COVID-19, and how the move to online screenings is mostly a net positive, at least for now, and how the future might see greater inclusion of online elements, even as we (hopefully) return to something resembling normalcy. The times may be fraught, but we push on, bringing art and films to all who want them!
Festivals, Films and Organizations Mentioned:
Ann Arbor Film Festival Art House Convergence Ashland Independent Film Festival Dallas VideoFest Film Festival Alliance Freeland (Mario Furloni/Kate McLean, 2020) Oxford Film Festival Spenser Confidential (Peter Berg, 2020) SXSW Thin Line FestivalLink to review by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of FreelandTimestamps:
00:35 – Bart and Chris intro of show's topic 04:36 – Introduction of show's 3 guests and the state of their festivals 11:56 – Immediate and long-term future of festivals, and benefits of moving online 20:31 – What is missing from online (vs. live) festival experience? 25:19 – Closing remarks 27:09 – End creditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 25 Mar 2020 - 28min - 62 - Episode 806: Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations / The Monster Among Us
Documentarian and educator Elizabeth Coffman joins Bart and Chris to review Andrew Goldberg's powerful examination of the resurgent scourge of antisemitism across the globe, the just released Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations. Bart then interviews Allen and Cynthia Mondell, directors of the 2008 documentary The Monster Among Us, which profiled antisemitism in Europe 10 years ago. Plus ça change … It may be a dispiriting topic, but we have a spirited conversation about the films and the issue, which should be of concern to everyone, everywhere.
And so concludes our 8thseason. We'll be back with a few bonus episodes over the next 6 to 8 weeks before we launch the next season. Until then, you can go back through our now significant catalog if you need your fix of the fog. As always, enjoy, and thanks for listening!
Group Review Documentary:
VIRAL: ANTISEMITISM IN FOUR MUTATIONS (Andrew Goldberg, 2020)
Now playing in theaters
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
THE MONSTER AMONG US(Allen Mondell/Cynthia Salzman Mondell, 2008)
Available for rental online
Other Films Mentioned:
Acasă, My Home (Radu Ciorniciuc, 2020) Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: The Resurgence (Andrew Goldberg, 2007) Flannery (Elizabeth Coffman/Mark Bosco, 2019) The Great Hack (Karim Amer/Jehane Noujaim, 2019) The Reason I Jump (Jerry Rothwell, 2020)Link to review by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of Viral: Antisemitism in Four MutationsTimestamps:
00:36 – Intro 03:59 – Group Discussion of VIRAL: ANTISEMITISM IN FOUR MUTATIONS 17:55 – Bart interviews Allen and Cynthia Mondell of THE MONSTER AMONG US 33:08 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 04 Mar 2020 - 44min - 61 - Episode 805: They've Gotta Have Us / Always in Season
Joining Bart and Chris as guest host for a robust discussion of the three-part 2018 BBC documentary series They've Gotta Have Us, just recently released on Netflix, is film critic Roxana Hadadi. We discuss that program's approach to the history of African American and Black British actors and directors in Hollywood. Then, Bart interviews director Jacqueline Olive about her film Always in Season, which explores America's tortured legacy of lynching (we previously reviewed the documentary on episode 705). It's a brutal subject, but one that cannot be ignored.
Group Review Documentary:
THEY'VE GOTTA HAVE US (Simon Frederick, 2018)
Now playing on Netflix
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
ALWAYS IN SEASON (Jacqueline Olive, 2019)
In theaters and film festivals now
Other Films/Shows Mentioned/Referenced:
The Alpinist (Peter Mortimer/Nick Rosen, 2020) Amistad (Steven Spielberg, 1997) Chavela (Catherine Gund/Daresha Kyi, 2017) Color Adjustment (Marlon Riggs, 1992) Daughters of the Dust (Julie Dash, 1991) The Dawn Wall (Josh Lowell/Peter Mortimer, 2017) The Edge of Democracy (Petra Costa, 2019) Ethnic Notions (Marlon Riggs, 1986) Flannery (Elizabeth Coffman/Mark Bosco, 2019) Free Solo (Jimmy Chin/Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, 2018) Get Out (Jordan Peele, 2017) Gone Too Far (Destiny Ekaragha, 2013) Hollywood Shuffle (Robert Townsend, 1987) The Kingmaker (Lauren Greenfield, 2019) Moonlight (Barry Jenkins, 2016) Once Upon a Time in Venezuela (Anabel Rodríguez Ríos, 2020) RBG (Julie Cohen/Betsy West, 2018) Selma (Ava DuVernay, 2014) She's Gotta Have It (Spike Lee, 1986) She's Gotta Have It (Spike Lee, 2017-2019 Netflix series) Wormwood (Errol Morris, 2017 Netflix series)Link to review by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Todayreview of Always in SeasonTimestamps:
00:37 – Intro 04:01 – Group Discussion of THEY'VE GOTTA HAVE US 22:28 – Bart interviews Jacqueline Olive of ALWAYS IN SEASON 43:02 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 26 Feb 2020 - 52min - 60 - Episode 804: Miss Americana / Narrowsburg
How high above soar the stars, enchanting us with their blazing glory! Or perhaps we only project such power onto them, and they are merely ordinary beings, elevated by our own desires. In today's episode, guest host Leslie Combemale (the Cinema Siren, herself) joins us as we review the new Taylor Swift biopic Miss Americana, which just premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and is now available on Netflix. In addition, Chris interviews director Martha Shane about her documentary Narrowsburg, a tragicomic tale of grifters bedazzling a small town with promises of Hollywood glory. Join us for a look at the pros and cons of fame and fortune.
Group Review Documentary:
MISS AMERICANA (Lana Wilson, 2020)
Now playing on Netflix
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
NARROWSBURG(Martha Shane, 2019)
Now playing in festivals
Other Films Mentioned:
After Tiller (Martha Shane/Lana Wilson, 2013) American Factory (Steven Bognar/Julia Reichert, 2019) Analyze This (Harold Ramis, 1999) Beauty and the Beast (Gary Trousdale/Kirk Wise, 1999) Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982) Crip Camp (James Lebrecht/Nicole Newnham, 2020) The Departure (Lana Wilson, 2017) T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982) Four Deadly Reasons (Paul Borghese, 2002) Gaga: Five Foot Two (Chris Moukarbel, 2017) Guest of Cindy Sherman (Tom Donahue/Paul Hasegawa-Overacker, 2008) Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (Alexandre O. Philippe, 2019) The Lion King (Roger Allers/Rob Minkoff, 1994) Lost in La Mancha (Keith Fulton/Louis Pepe, 2002) Memory: The Origins of Alien (Alexandre O. Philippe, 2019) 78/52: Hitchcock's Shower Scene (Alexandre O. Philippe, 2017) Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)Links to reviews and interviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nailreview of Miss Americana Hammer to Nail review of Narrowsburg Hammer to Nail interview with director Martha Shane of NarrowsburgTimestamps:
00:37 – Intro 04:38 – Group Discussion of MISS AMERICANA 21:53 – Chris interviews Martha Shane of NARROWSBURG 40:46 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 19 Feb 2020 - 51min - 59 - Episode 803: 2020 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Shorts / For Sama
Well, the 2020 Academy Awards may have come and gone, but that's no reason to stop watching the nominated films, even the ones that did not win. In this week's episode, returning guest host Patricia Aufderheide joins Bart and Chris to discuss all 5 of the Oscar-nominated short documentaries, after which Chris interviews co-directors Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts (along with al-Kateab's husband, Hamza) about their collaboration on the (also Oscar-nominated) documentary feature For Sama.
Group Review Short Documentaries:
IN THE ABSENCE (Yi Seung-Jun, South Korea, 28 min.)
Available in select theaters or at www.fieldofvision.org
*LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WARZONE (IF YOU'RE A GIRL) (Carol Dysinger, UK, 39 min.)
Available in select theaters or through shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/
*This year's Oscar winner
LIFE OVERTAKES ME (John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson, Sweden/USA, 39 min.)
Available in select theaters or on Netflix
LOUIS SUPERMAN (Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan, USA, 28 min.)
Available in select theaters or through shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/
WALK RUN CHA-CHA (Laura Nix, USA, 21 min.)
Available in select theaters or at www.nytimes.com/video/op-docs
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
FOR SAMA (Waad al-Kateab/Edward Watts, 2019)
Still playing in select theaters and on PBS
Other Films/Shows Mentioned:
BoJack Horseman (Raphael Bob-Waksberg, 2014-2020 Netflix series) Cheer (Greg Whiteley, 2020 Netflix series) Collective (Alexander Nanau, 2019) The Kingmaker (Lauren Greenfield, 2019) Les Misérables (Ladj Ly, 2019) Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak (Doug Shultz, 2020 Netflix series) Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul (Orlando von Einsiedel, 2011) A Thousand Cuts (Ramona Diaz, 2020)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nailreviews of all 2020 Oscar-nominated short films Film Festival Todayreview of For Sama Film Festival Todayinterview with Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts and Hamza al-Kateab of For SamaTimestamps:
00:37 – Intro 03:27 – Group discussion of the Oscar-nominated documentary shorts 25:55 – Chris interviews Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts and Hamza al-Kateab of FOR SAMA 41:07 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 12 Feb 2020 - 50min - 58 - Episode 802: The Edge of Democracy / Citizen K
Democracy is under worldwide threat, from dictators, would-be dictators and those followers who seek power at the expense of liberty. In this week's episode, we discuss two recent documentaries about this very trend. First, with guest host Mirella Martinelli – a Brazilian filmmaker living in Florida – we review Petra Costa's Oscar-nominated The Edge of Democracy, which tells the disturbing tale of Brazil's takeover by right-wing forces. After that, Bart and Chris interview prolific documentarian Alex Gibney on his latest movie, Citizen K, about formerly imprisoned, and now exiled, Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. These are scary times. Be afraid, be very afraid!*
Group Review Documentary:
THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY (Petra Costa, 2019)
Now playing on Netflix
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
CITIZEN K(Alex Gibney, 2019)
Now playing in theaters
Other Films Mentioned:
American Look (Jam Handy Organization, 1958) The Armstrong Lie (Alex Gibney, 2013) Catching Hell (Alex Gibney, 2011) Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (Alex Gibney, 2005) The Fly (David Cronenberg, 1986) Frenemies (Mirella Martinelli, 2020) George Harrison: Living in the Material World (Martin Scorsese, 2011) The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (Alex Gibney, 2019) The Kingmaker (Lauren Greenfield, 2019) Mea Maxima Culpa:Silence in the House of God (Alex Gibney, 2012) No Stone Unturned (Alex Gibney, 2017) Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine (Alex Gibney, 2015) Taxi to the Dark Side (Alex Gibney, 2007) Three Colors: Blue (Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1993)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nail review of The Edge of Democracy Film Festival Todayreview of Citizen KTimestamps:
00:38 – Intro 03:37 – Group Discussion of THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY 16:11 – Bart and Chris interview Alex Gibney of CITIZEN K 40:43 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
*A quote from the ad campaign for David Cronenberg's 1986 The Fly, which we reference within the episode.
Wed, 05 Feb 2020 - 51min - 57 - Episode 801: Slamdance 2020
Welcome to Season 8! In this episode, we invite back our old friend and cohost Summre Garber to talk about the documentary slate at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival, where she is co-captain of the documentary-features program. We learn what she is up to now and hear about her favorites at this year's fest. In addition, Bart and Chris interview the directors of two of those movies, Film About a Father Who (Lynne Sachs) and Jasper Mall (Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb). Enjoy!
Group Review Documentaries:
BASTARDS' ROAD (Brian Morrison, 2020) BIG FUR (Dan Wayne, 2019) FILM ABOUT A FATHER WHO (Lynne Sachs, 2020) JASPER MALL (Bradford Thomason/Brett Whitcomb, 2020) LOVEMOBIL (Elke Margarete Lehrenkrauss, 2019)Films Featured in Interview Portions:
FILM ABOUT A FATHER WHO (Lynne Sachs, 2020) JASPER MALL (Bradford Thomason/Brett Whitcomb, 2020)Other Films Mentioned:
Almost Sunrise (Michael Collins, 2016) GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (Brett Whitcomb/Bradford Thomason, 2012) The World Before Your Feet (Jeremy Workman, 2018)Link to review by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nailreview of Film About a Father WhoTimestamps:
00:37 – Intro 02:55 – Group Discussion of Slamdance 2020 documentaries, Part 1: Bastards' Road, Big Furand Jasper Mall 10:44 – Bart and Chris interview directors Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb of Jasper Mall 26:16 – Group Discussion of Slamdance 2020 documentaries, Part 2: Lovemobiland Film About a Father Who 30:35 – Bart and Chris interview director Lynne Sachs of Film About a Father Who 44:42 – Outro and End CreditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 29 Jan 2020 - 46min - 56 - Bonus Episode: Morgan Neville
In this bonus episode, cohosts Bart Weiss and Chris Reed talk with Oscar-winning documentarian Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom), discussing his career and thoughts on the art of filmmaking. In addition, we consider two different approaches to the same topic, comparing Neville's 2018 nonfiction Won't You Be My Neighbor? to Marielle Heller's 2019 fictional A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, each of which take the late, great Fred Rogers as their subject. Listen in for a vibrant conversation on documentaries and more!
Other Films (and One Show) Mentioned:
Best of Enemies: Buckley vs. Vidal (Robert Gordon/Morgan Neville, 2015) Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942) California's Goldwith Huell Howser( KCET, 1991 –) The Cool School (Morgan Neville, 2008) The Devil and Daniel Johnston (Jeff Feuerzeig, 2005) Grey Gardens (Ellen Hovde/Albert Maysles/David Maysles/Muffie Meyer, 1975) Grey Gardens (Michael Sucsy, 2009) Little Dieter Needs to Fly (Werner Herzog, 1997) The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (Morgan Neville, 2015) The Other Side of the Wind (Orson Welles, 2018) Rescue Dawn (Werner Herzog, 2006) Shotgun Freeway: Drives Through Lost L.A. (Morgan Neville/Harry Pallenberg, 1995) Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (Joe Berlinger/Bruce Sinofsky, 2004) They'll Love Me When I'm Dead (Morgan Neville, 2018) Troubadors (Morgan Neville, 2011)Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Hammer to Nail review of They'll Love Me When I'm Dead Hammer to Nail review of Won't You Be My Neighbor?Timestamps:
00:35 – Intro 04:24 – Morgan Neville interview 30:42 – End creditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Tue, 14 Jan 2020 - 32min - 55 - Bonus Episode: Best Documentaries of 2019
In this bonus episode, cohosts Bart and Chris revisit their favorite documentaries of 2019, and then invite, each in turn, all the podcast's Season 7 guest hosts to chat about their favorites. Those guests, in order of appearance, are: Sedika Mojadidi, Betsy McLane, Anuradha Rana, Jennifer Proctor, Sonali Gulati and Patricia Aufderheide. Given how many films Chris and Bart always watch, they each listed ten films, while each guest host only listed five. Enjoy, and see you in 2020!
Chris's List (in alphabetical order):
- American Factory (Steven Bognar/Julia Reichert) Apollo 11 (Todd Douglas Miller) The Brink (Alison Klayman) Cold Case Hammarskjöld (Mads Brügger) Los Reyes (Iván Osnovikoff/Bettina Perut) Maiden (Alex Holmes) Mike Wallace Is Here (Avi Belkin) One Child Nation (Nanfu Wang/Lynn Zhang) Pahokee (Patrick Bresnan/Ivete Lucas) Tell Me Who I Am (Ed Perkins)
Bart's List (in alphabetical order):
- Amazing Grace (Alan Elliott/Sydney Pollack) American Factory (Steven Bognar/Julia Reichert) Apollo 11 (Todd Douglas Miller) Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops (Jenifer McShane) Flannery (Elizabeth Coffman/Mark Bosco) Hail Satan? (Penny Lane) Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (Midge Costin) Midnight Traveler (Hassan Fazili) Mike Wallace Is Here (Avi Belkin) Pahokee (Patrick Bresnan/Ivete Lucas)
Sedika's List (in alphabetical order):
- Amazing Grace (Alan Elliott/Sydney Pollack) American Factory (Steven Bognar/Julia Reichert) Honeyland (Tamara Kotevska/Ljubomir Stefanov) Midnight Traveler (Hassan Fazili) One Child Nation (Nanfu Wang/Lynn Zhang)
Betsy's List (in alphabetical order):
- American Factory (Steven Bognar/Julia Reichert) The Cave (Feras Fayyad) College Behind Bars (Lynn Novick) Fire in Paradise (Zackary Canepari/Drea Cooper) Tell Me Who I Am (Ed Perkins)
Anuradha's List (in alphabetical order):
- The Biggest Little Farm (John Chester) The Distant Barking of Dogs (Simon Lereng Wilmont) One Child Nation (Nanfu Wang/Lynn Zhang) Our Time Machine (S. Leo Chiang/Yang Sun) Reason (Anand Patwardhan)
Jennifer's List (in alphabetical order):
- Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (Chris Smith) Fyre Fraud (Jenner Furst/Julia Willoughby Nason) Hail Satan? (Penny Lane) The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (Alex Gibney) Maiden (Alex Holmes)
Sonali's List (in alphabetical order):
- Always in Season (Jacqueline Olive) Apollo 11 (Todd Douglas Miller) The Biggest Little Farm (John Chester) Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War (Kerry David) One Child Nation (Nanfu Wang/Lynn Zhang)
Patricia's List (in alphabetical order):
- The Apollo (Roger Ross Williams) For Sama (Waad al-Kateab/Edward Watts) Our Time Machine (S. Leo Chiang/Yang Sun) Smog Town (Meng Han) A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem (Yu Gu)
Timestamps:
00:46 – Intro + Chris and Bart's respective Top 10 lists 08:39 – Sedika Mojadidi's top docs of the year 16:49 – Betsy McLane's top docs of the year 24:33 – Anu Rana's top docs of the year 30:08 – Jen Proctor's top docs of the year 37:32 – Sonali Gulati's top docs of the year 42:46 – Pat Aufderheide's top docs of the year 51:03 – End creditsWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Editing by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Mon, 23 Dec 2019 - 52min - 54 - Episode 706: Mike Wallace Is Here / This Is Not a Movie
For our final episode of Season 7, we invite Patricia Aufderheide, of American University, back on the show (she was Bart's interview subject, discussing her role in developing the modern rules of Fair Use, on our August 28 bonus episode). The theme this time is the role of journalism in today's world (and how we got here), as we review the new documentary Mike Wallace Is Here and Chris interviews director Yung Chang of This Is Not a Movie, about the journalist Robert Fisk. It's been an exciting season, with a different guest host for each episode. Stay tuned for more foggy truths ahead, first with a few more bonuses in the months ahead, and then with a new season early in 2020. Enjoy!
Group Review Documentary:
MIKE WALLACE IS HERE (Avi Belkin, 2019)
Still in select theaters, and out on DVD as of October 29
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
THIS IS NOT A MOVIE (Yung Chang, 2019)
Currently playing in festivals
Other Books, Films, Shows and Sites Mentioned:
Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment (Peter Wintonick, 1999) The Corporation (Jennifer Abbott/Mark Achbar) Decade of Fire (Gretchen Hildebran/Vivian Vazquez, 2019) Foreign Correspondent (Alfred Hitchcock, 1940) The Fruit Hunters (Yung Chang) From Beirut to Bosnia (Michael Dutfield, 1993) Independent Television Service (ITVS) Made in Boise (Beth Aala, 2019) Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (Mark Achbar/Peter Wintonick, 1992) Night Beat Owning Mahowny (Richard Kwietniowski, 2003) Picture of Light (Peter Mettler, 1994) Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (Sam Dunn/Scot McFadyen, 2010) Seeing Is Believing: Handicams, Human Rights and the News (Peter Wintonick, 2002) 60 Minutes 60 Minutes and the News: A Mythology for Middle America (Richard Campbell, 1991) Stories We Tell (Sarah Polley, 2012) Tell Me Who I Am (Ed Perkins, 2019) The Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers This Is Not a Film (Mojtaba Mirtahmasb/Jafar Panahi, 2011) Zelig (Woody Allen, 1983)Links to review and interview by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of Mike Wallace Is Here Film Festival Today interview with Avi Belkin of Mike Wallace Is Here Hammer to Nail review of This Is Not a MovieTimestamps:
00:37 – Intro 04:39 – Group Discussion of MIKE WALLACE IS HERE 18:54 – Chris interviews Yung Chang of THIS IS NOT A MOVIE 42:46 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 30 Oct 2019 - 55min - 53 - Episode 705: Always in Season / Flannery
As our seventh season enters its final third, Bart and Chris join guest host Sonali Gulati, a filmmaker and faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University, for a review of Jacqueline Olive's searing look back at America's violent history of lynching, Always in Season. Then, Bart interviews Elizabeth Coffman, co-director of Flannery, a documentary about the late, great southern writer Flannery O'Connor, which was just awarded the inaugural Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film. Inspiring artists deserve inspiring discussions, and that's what we bring to the podcast. Enjoy!
Group Review Documentary:
ALWAYS IN SEASON (Jacqueline Olive, 2019)
In theaters and film festivals now
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
FLANNERY (Elizabeth Coffman/Mark Bosco, 2019)
Currently playing in festivals
Other Films and Sites Mentioned:
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (Pamela B. Green, 2019) Diary of a Harlem Family (Gordon Parks, 1968) Equal Justice Initiative Gordon Parks exhibit at the Amon Carter Museum I Am (Sonali Gulati, 2011) Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton, 2019) National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Shaft (Gordon Parks, 1971) True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality (George Kunhardt/Peter W. Kunhardt/Teddy Kunhardt, 2019) The World of Piri Thomas (Gordon Parks, 1968)Link to review by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Todayreview of Always in SeasonTimestamps:
00:38 – Intro 05:02 – Group Discussion of ALWAYS IN SEASON 20:14 – Bart interviews Elizabeth Coffman of FLANNERY 38:01 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 23 Oct 2019 - 51min - 52 - Episode 704: #FemalePleasure / Searching Eva
This week, we welcome guest host Jennifer Proctor, filmmaker and Associate Professor of Journalism and Screen Studies at University of Michigan-Dearborn, for a robust discussion of the new documentary#FemalePleasureand its examination of female agency in the modern world. Following that group review, we play Chris's interview with director Pia Hellenthal and writer Giorgia Malatrasi, co-creators of Searching Eva, a highly stylized portrait of feminist intellectual and sex worker Eva Collé. Join us as we follow women forging their own paths, patriarchy be damned.
Group Review Documentary:
#FEMALEPLEASURE (Barbara Miller, 2019)
Begins releasing in U.S. theaters on October 18
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
SEARCHING EVA (Pia Hellenthal, 2019)
Currently playing in festivals
Other Films and Sites Mentioned:
Born into Brothels(Zana Briski/Ross Kauffman, 2005) CinemAbility(Jenni Gold, 2012) Detrás de la Realidad(SMU Meadows School of the Arts' Ignite/Arts Dallas Initiative/The Community Action Network, a program of Bachman Lake Together/ The Meadows School's Division of Film and Media Arts, 2019) EDIT Media Eva Collé's Instagram Eva Collé's Tumblr JFK(Oliver Stone, 1991) Lincoln(Steven Spielberg, 2012) One of Us(Heidi Ewing/Rachel Grady, 2017)Links to review and interview by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Today review of #FemalePleasure Film Festival Today interview with director Pia Hellenthal and writer Giorgia Malatrasi of Searching EvaTimestamps:
00:37 – Intro 05:53 – Group Discussion of #FEMALE PLEASURE 21:53 – Chris interviews Pia Hellenthal and Giorgia Malatrasi of SEARCHING EVA 37:40 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 16 Oct 2019 - 49min - 51 - Episode 703: Memory: The Origins of Alien / Beyond the Bolex
Joining us this week is documentarian Anuradha Rana – Associate Professor, School of Cinematic Arts, DePaul University – as we discuss Alexandre O. Philippe's Memory: The Origins of Alienand interview director Alyssa Bolsey and cinematographer Camilo Lara of Beyond the Bolex. Both films deal, albeit in very different ways, with behind-the-scenes looks at the art of filmmaking. From blood-curdling chest-bursting scenes to the perfect windup, rotating-lens-turret camera, we've got you covered.
Group Review Documentary:
MEMORY: THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN (Alexandre O. Philippe, 2019)
Now playing in theaters and on demand
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
BEYOND THE BOLEX (Alyssa Bolsey, 2019)
Currently playing in festivals
Other Films and Sites Mentioned:
Alien(Ridley Scott, 1979) American Dharma(Errol Morris, 2018) The Brink(Alison Klayman, 2019) Doc of the Dead(Alexandre O. Philippe, 2014) The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara(Errol Morris, 2003) Jodorowsky's Dune(Frank Pavich, 2013) Kartemquin Films The Language of Opportunity(Anuradha Rana, in progress) Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice(Rob Epstein/Jeffrey Friedman, 2019) The People vs. George Lucas(Alexandre O. Philippe, 2010) Reason(Anand Patwardhan, 2018) 78/52: Hitchcock's Shower Scene(Alexandre O. Philippe, 2017) The Thin Blue Line(Errol Morris, 1988) Twelve O'Clock High(Henry King, 1949) What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael(Rob Garver, 2018)Links to review and interview by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nailreview of Memory: The Origins of Alien Hammer to Nailreview of Beyond the Bolex Film Festival Todayinterview with Alyssa Bolsey and Camilo Lara of Beyond the BolexTimestamps:
00:37 – Intro 05:58 – Group Discussion of MEMORY: THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN 19:43 – Chris interviews Alyssa Bolsey and Camilo Lara of BEYOND THE BOLEX 39:21 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 09 Oct 2019 - 51min - 50 - Episode 702: Harlan County U.S.A. / American Factory
For this second episode of our current season we try something new with a look back at an important film from the past, Barbara Kopple's 1976 Harlan County U.S.A., which won the 1977 Best Documentary Oscar. Why this trip down docu-memory lane? Two reasons: 1) our guest host this week is actually a guest historian, Betsy McLane, who not only knows just about everything there is to know about documentary history, but also knows quite a lot about Kopple; and 2) the coal miners of Harlan County, Kentucky, are once again on strike, gaining national and international attention over the summer. Plus ça change …
And while we're on the topic of great films about unions, we thought we'd also play a recent interview Chris did with directors Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert of American Factory, just recently released on Netflix, which tells the story of what happens when a Chinese glass company takes over an abandoned GM plant. It starts out so well, but then, well … you'll just have to listen to our podcast and then watch the movie. Enjoy!
Group Review Documentary:
HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A. (Barbara Kopple, 1976)
Available on disc and online
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
AMERICAN FACTORY (Steven Bognar/Julia Reichert, 2019)
Now on Netflix
Other Books and Documentaries Mentioned:
American Dream(Barbara Kopple, 1990) Hillbilly(Sally Rubin/Ashley York, 2018) The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant(Steven Bognar/Julia Reichert, 2009) Monterey Pop(D.A. Pennebaker, 1968) Murder on a Sunday Morning(Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, 2001) My Generation(Thomas Haneke/Barbara Kopple, 2000) A New History of Documentary Film, 2nd Edition (BOOK), by Betsy McLane (Bloomsbury Academic, 2013) One Child Nation(Nanfu Wang/Jialing Zhang, 2019) ReFocus: The Films of Barbara Kopple(BOOK), edited by Jeff Jaeckle and Susan Ryan (Edinburgh University Press, 2019) The Staircase(Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, 2004-2018) Woodstock(Michael Wadleigh, 1970) Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation(Barak Goodman, 2019)Links to review and interview by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Hammer to Nailreview of American Factory Film Festival Todayinterview with Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert of American FactoryTimestamps:
00:40 – Intro 04:27 – Group Discussion of HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A. 25:58 – Chris interviews Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert of AMERICAN FACTORY 43:38 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 02 Oct 2019 - 54min - 49 - Episode 701: Cold Case Hammarskjöld / Crime + Punishment
We are back for a new season, and this time with a series of guest hosts – a new one each episode – to accompany Bart and Chris on their journey through documentary cinema. Our guest for this episode is filmmaker Sedika Mojadidi, whose Facing the DragonI mentioned on our April 17 bonus episode. We review Danish director Mads Brügger's Cold Case Hammarskjöld, a wild romp of an investigative movie, just recently released in theaters, and interview director Stephen Maing about last year's Crime + Punishment. Curious about the connection? Listen on … Finally, at the end, in "Doc Talk," since Sedika has just taken up a teaching position at Savannah College of Art and Design, we discuss her planned strategies to train the next generation of documentarians. And all that in just over 50 minutes. Enjoy!
Group Review Documentary:
COLD CASE HAMMARSKJÖLD (Mads Brügger, 2019)
Now in theaters and on demand
Film Featured in Interview Portion:
CRIME + PUNISHMENT (Stephen Maing, 2018)
Now on Hulu
Other Documentaries, Sites and Topics Mentioned:
BORAT Danes for Bush(Mads Brügger, 2004) Don't Look Back(D.A. Pennebaker, 1967) Facing the Dragon(Sedika Mojadidi, 2018) Field of Vision High Tech, Low Life(Stephen Maing, 2012) The Intercept The Surrender(Stephen Maing, 2016) The Yes MenLinks to reviews/interview by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Todayreview of Cold Case Hammarskjöld Hammer to Nailreview of Crime + Punishment Hammer to Nailinterview with Stephen Maing of Crime + PunishmentTimestamps:
00:37 – Intro 06:02 – Group Review of COLD CASE HAMMARSKJÖLD 24:47 – Bart and Chris interview Stephen Maing of CRIME + PUNISHMENT 43:34 – Doc TalkWebsite/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Editing and Shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Wed, 25 Sep 2019 - 50min - 48 - Bonus Episode: Patricia Aufderheide and Fair Use
In this bonus episode, Bart interviews Patricia Aufderheide, of American University's Center for Media & Social Impact, about how she first developed the guidelines for "fair use," those rules whereby documentary filmmakers place footage from other sources in their films without fear of lawsuits. It's one of the most important developments in the nonfiction filmmaking worldof the last 20 years, and Aufderheide made it happen. This is her story.
Films and Texts Mentioned:
Best Practices in Fair Use manual(American University, School of Communication, Center for Social Media) Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction, by Patricia Aufderheide (Oxford University Press, 2007) Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes / 2006 (Director: Byron Hurt) Rat Film / 2016 (Director: Theo Anthony)Timestamps:
00:40 - Intro
06:58 - Interview with Patricia Aufderheide
30:40 - Closing
Website/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Editing by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Wed, 28 Aug 2019 - 33min - 47 - Bonus Episode: The Great Hack
Release date – 7/24/19
Bonus Episode – "The Great Hack"
This bonus episode features a review of the new Netflix documentary The Great Hack– which opens today on the site – and an interview with its directors, Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim, from this year's AFI DOCS film festival. The film discusses both the 2016 Brexit and 2016 U.S. presidential elections and how the public's personal data was misused by the now-defunct political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. It's a visually exciting and dramatically gripping look at how social-media activity leads to the hacking of our brains.
Sadly, this is also the first Fog of Truthepisode done without our erstwhile colleague Summre Garber, who has left the podcast to pursue other opportunities. We miss her. Stay tuned for more information about the guest hosts that Chris Reed and Bart Weiss will invite onto the show for Season 7, which we plan to launch some time in September, after first recording one more bonus episode between now and then.
Group Review + Interview Documentary:
THE GREAT HACK / 2019 (Directors: Karim Amer & Jehane Noujaim)
Now playing on Netflix
Other Films Mentioned:
The Interview/ 2014 (Directors: Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen)
The Square/ 2013 (Director: Jehane Noujaim)
Startup.com/ 2001 (Directors: Chris Hegedus & Jehane Noujaim)
Links to review/interview by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:
Film Festival Todayreview of The Great Hack Film Festival Today interview with The Great Hack's Karim Amer and Jehane NoujaimTimestamps:
00:40 - Intro and Farewell to Summre
04:10 - Group Review of THE GREAT HACK
13:20 - Chris interviews Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim of THE GREAT HACK
31:25 - Closing
Website/Email:
Credits:
Artwork by Hilary Campbell
Intro music by Jeremiah Moore
Editing by Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Transitional music by BELLS (thanks to Christopher Ernst)
Wed, 24 Jul 2019 - 34min
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