The Documentary Blog Podcast

This Hot Docs specific episode of The Documentary Blog Podcast was recorded in collaboration with The Film Junk Podcast. Listen to more episodes of The Film Junk Podcast here. 0:00 - Intro 2:44 - Dragon Girls 13:17 - Shooting Bigfoot 28:48 - 12 O’Clock Boys 35:34 - The Unbelievers 43:29 - The Expedition to the End of the World 51:17 - The Great North Korean Picture Show 59:18 - We Always Lie To Strangers 1:06:17 - NCR: Not Criminally Responsible 1:13:21 - Aatsinki: The Story of Arctic Cowboys 1:16:21 - The Last Station 1:20:51 - Which Way is the Front Line From Here? 1:25:05 - Bending Steel 1:27:57 - The Crash Reel 1:31:56 - Caucus 1:33:42 - Blackfish 1:38:17 - The Circle 1:39:14 - 15 Reasons to Live 1:40:42 - Who Is Dayani Cristal? 1:42:57 - Searching For Bill 1:45:04 - Maidentrip 1:48:16 - Our Nixon 1:49:58 - Just the Right Amount of Violence 1:54:47 - Downloaded 1:58:30 - Outro Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed

This special Hot Docs 2012 episode of The Documentary Blog Podcast is designed specifically for those of you who like listening to four guys talk about documentaries for nearly three hours. Other sites might consider breaking such a massive show into two parts, but we like to keep things LONG around these parts. On this episode, myself (Jay), Sean Dwyer (Film Junk), Frank Knezic (Film Junk), and Kurt Halfyard (Twitch, Row Three) blather on about 27 of the 198 films at this year’s festival. Even at nearly three hours, it feels like we barely scratched the surface. 0:00 – Intro 1:30 - Tchoupitoulas 16:30 - Indie Game: The Movie 44::30 - Meaning of Robots/Mechanical Bride 1:00:00 - Beauty is Embarrassing 1:07:09 - We Are Legion: The Story Of The Hacktivists 1:17:43 - GLOW: The Story Of The Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling 1:22:48 - Detropia 1:29:40 - The Ambassador 1:40:09 - Francophrenia (Or: Don’t Kill Me, I Know Where The Baby Is) 1:43:46 - Despite the Gods 1:50:46 - The Imposter 2:02:37 - Women With Cows 2:04:12 - The Tundra Book. A Tale Of Vukvukai, The Little Rock. 2:05:29 - China Heavyweight 2:13:43 - Marley 2:15:45 - Love Story 2:21:48 - Jeff 2:22:50 - Private Universe 2:23:57 - The Job 2:25:04 - Chasing Ice 2:26:36 - Shut Up and Play the Hits 2:28:02 - Dreams of a Life 2:29:48 - Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet 2:31:41 - Low and Clear 2:33:11 - Only the Young 2:36:45 - Platform Moon 2:39:16 - Family Nightmare Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed

In this recap of the 2012 Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals, Joshua Ligairi is joined by Jeff Goldsmith of The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith, Jimmy Martin and Jeff Vice of Big Movie Mouth-Off, and Adam Palcher from A Damn Movie Podcast. The podcast features more than 25 mini-reviews and in-depth reviews of West of Memphis, The Impostor, Bones Brigade: An Autobiography, and the Grand Jury Prize winning documentary film, The House I Live In. If you are looking for a review of a specific film, check the show notes because a couple of them come up multiple times with different guests. Filmmaker interviews conducted at Sundance 2012, including Stacy Peralta, Kirby Dick, Don Argott Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, will be saved for future podcast episodes. 00:00 Intro 04:05 Josh’s Sundance Reviews 04:11 The Atomic States of America 06:14 Chasing Ice 07:08 Detropia 09:51 The House I Live In 12:07 The Invisible War 15:06 Live Free or Die 19:07 Bones Brigade: An Autobiography 23:16 China Heavyweight 23:50 The Impostor 25:56 Josh’s Slamdance Reviews 25:58 Danland 26:58 I Want My Name Back 27:37 Getting Up: The Tempt One Story 28:57 Buffalo Girls 29:21 We Are Legion 29:58 Sundance / Slamdance Documentary Shorts 34:22 Jeff Goldsmith Introduction 39:10 The House I Live In 53:41 Adam Palcher Introduction 59:19 West of Memphis 1:05:41 Indie Game: The Movie 1:08:13 The Meaning of Robots 1:09:12 The Ambassador 1:14:59 Jimmy Martin and Jeff Vice Introduction 1:19:58 Big Boys Gone Bananas 1:22:55 Indie Game: The Movie 1:24:23 Chasing Ice 1:24:51 The Impostor 1:26:32 Bones Brigade: An Autobiography 1:29:18 China Heavyweight 1:29:36 Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap 1:30:49 West of Memphis 1:38:01 Outro Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Credits -Intro Music “We Swarm” – The Glitch Mob [iTunes] -Outro Music “Bizness” – Tune-Yards [iTunes] Links The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith on iTunes Jeff Goldsmith’s Twitter A Damn Movie Podcast on iTunes A Damn Movie Podcast Blog Big Movie Mouth Off on Facebook The Documentary Blog on Twitter The Documentary Blog on Facebook Josh’s Twitter

Surprise, we’re back! In Episode 14 of the podcast, Joshua Ligairi talks with American Hardcore director Paul Rachman about the making the seminal punk rock doc, Rachman’s early days in the bourgeoning hardcore scene, making grunge music videos with David Fincher in the early 90s, co-founding the Slamdance Film Festival, finally garnering Sundance acceptance, and the production of his new film, Lost Rockers. 00:00 INTRO Where have we been? Beauty Day Hot Docs names Charlotte Cook director of programming Cleanflix 06:13 Paul Rachman interview 1:05:45 OUTRO Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Links and clips after the jump Credits -Intro Music “The Other Place” – Gang Green [i-Tunes link] -Outro Music “Ameoba” – Adolescents [i-Tunes link] American Hardcore Website Lost Rockers on Facebook Paul Rachman Website Paul Rachman on Twitter Joshua Ligairi on Twitter The Documentary Blog Twitter The Documentary Blog Facebook RELATED VIDEOS American Hardcore Trailer Lost Rockers Teaser

Well it’s been nearly a month since the start of Hot Docs 2011 and looking back, it was definitely a great year. In this special (and epically long) episode of The Documentary Blog Podcast, I’m joined by fellow blogger/podcaster Kurt Halfyard of Row Three and Twitch Film. We sit down and talk in detail about some of the films we caught at the festival, including Morgan Spurlock’s meta take on movie marketing, ‘POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold’. We also dig into Rodman Flender’s hilarious tour film ‘Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop’, Jon Foy’s cryptic ‘Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Files’, and one of my favourite films of the festival (and the year), James Marsh’s ‘Project Nim’. It doesn’t end there; in total we discussed fifteen films across just over two and a half hours! Yikes. You guys are in for the long haul with this one. You can download the mp3 below (or listen via the embedded player) and be sure to subscribe to our iTunes feed to stay on top of future episodes of the show. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section and let us know which films you think were the best of the fest at this years Hot Docs film festival! 0:00 – Intro 9:00 - POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold 18:00 - Fightville 33:20 - Superheroes 48:40 - Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop 1:02:45 - Resurrect Dead: The Mystery Of The Toynbee Tiles 1:18:00 - Wisconsin Death Trip 1:27:40 - Project Nim 1:56:40 - Eco Pirate: The Story Of Paul Watson 1:58:30 - Abendland 2:02:15 - Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey 2:08:10 - Hell and Back Again 2:13:30 - Position Among the Stars 2:17:20 - Hot Coffee 2:28:10 - Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo 2:32:00 - Boy Cheerleaders 2:42:00 – Outro Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Show notes after the jump. Credits: -Intro Music “Speed of Life” – David Bowie [iTunes link] -Outro Music “Super Duper Rescue Heads!” – Neon Trees [iTunes link] Contact Info: Kurt Halfyard on Twitter Row Three The Cinecast at Row Three Twitch Film Jay Cheel on Twitter Beauty Day Website Beauty Day Twitter Beauty Day on Facebook Trailers: Beauty Day POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Fightville Superheroes Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles Project Nim Eco Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson Abendland Being Elmo : A Puppeteer’s Journey Hell and Back Again Position Among the Stars Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo Boy Cheerleaders

In Episode 13 of the podcast, host Joshua Ligairi is joined by special guest-host Malcolm Ingram. The Bear Nation director talks about the Kickstarter campaign for his new film, Continental, and together the two bears (one gay, one straight) interview Michael Webber about his new film, The Elephant in the Living Room, which features actual bears (along with lions and tigers) wreaking havoc in America’s suburbs. Michael reveals a lot of scary facts about wild animals living in domestic settings, which eventually leads Josh to admit his deep-seated fear of baboons. This episode also includes some recommendations of documentaries new to DVD and is jam-packed with discussion about documentary distribution, the current state of the independent film industry, and what Malcolm calls a “cruel cinematic Darwinism.” Enjoy! 00:00 INTRO Beauty Day at HotDocs 03:18 How was your weekend? (features lots of conversation about indie film distribution) The Elephant In the Living Room distribution Continental Kickstarter campaign The Cockettes 21:21 Recommendations Cool It If God is Willing and Da Creek Dont Rise Marwencol 27:35 Elephant in the Living Room interview 1:01:28 OUTRO Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Links and clips after the jump Credits -Intro Music “Winter’s Love” – Animal Collective [i-Tunes link] -Outro Music “Animal” – Neon Trees [i-Tunes link] Elephant in the Living Room Website Elephant In the Living Room Facebook Continental Kickstarter Campaign (still accepting donations!!!) Bear Nation Website Malcolm’s Twitter Cleanflix Website Josh’s Twitter Beauty Day Website The Documentary Blog Twitter The Documentary Blog Facebook RELATED VIDEOS Elephant In the Living Room Trailer Howard Stern on Elephant in the Living Room Malcolm’s 2nd Continental Pitch Video Bear Nation Trailer Beauty Day Q&A Cleanflix Teaser Neon Trees Animal Music Video

It’s hard to believe we’re at episode 11 of the podcast already! This time Josh and I talk to the directors of Sons of Perdition, Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten, and discuss the True/False Film Festival, Josh’s latest project the Apocalypse Radio Concert and my newfound love for Justin Bieber. This was one of the most fun podcasts I’ve had the chance to be on so far and we really hope you enjoy it (and I apologise in advance for any audible sniffing, as I had the flu during recording). We also give a heads up for some films coming up on future podcasts so listen out for those. The show notes are below and further links and videos are after the jump. Please do let us know what you think in the comments section. 00:00 Intro USA Today’s Pop Candy Beauty Day 05:44 How Was Your Weekend? True/False Apocalypse Radio 12:34 Recommendations Charlotte Family Instinct Buck Everyday Sunshine Dragon Slayer Convento Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Josh Survivor Elephant In the Living Room Cropsey Last Train Home The Oath American Hardcore 32:26 Sons of Perdition Interview 1:05:30 Outro Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Credits -Intro Music “Where Angels Fear” – Apocalypse Radio [i-Tunes link] -Outro Music “Lost Souls” – Apocalypse Radio [i-Tunes link] Links Sons of Perdition Website Sons of Perdition Facebook Cleanflix Website Josh’s Twitter Charlotte’s Twitter The Documentary Blog Twitter The Documentary Blog Facebook Related Videos Sons of Perdition Trailer Apocalypse Radio Promo Beauty Day Trailer

In Episode 10 of The Documentary Blog Podcast, host Josh Ligairi has yet more filmmakers interviews and this time from the 2011 Slamdance Film Festival. Featuring four interviews with the filmmakers of Superheroes, Last Fast Ride, Fordson, and Bhopali we really hope you enjoy this special episode. As always links to more information about each film and trailer are below. 00:00 Intro Slamdance Filmmaker Interviews 04:47 Superheroes 19:20 Last Fast Ride 27:56 Fordson 37:05 Bhopali 50:46 Outro Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Credits: Intro Music: “Slamdance” – Paperclip People [itunes link] Outro Music: “Whore” – The Insaints [link] Superheroes Website Superheroes Facebook Last Fast Ride Website Last Fast Ride Facebook Fordson Website Fordson Facebook Bhopali Website Bhopali Facebook Josh’s Twitter Cleanflix Website Cleanflix Facebook Slamdance Website Slamdance Facebook Slamdance Twitter The Documentary Blog Facebook Page The Documentary Blog Twitter Related videos and trailers Bhopali Trailer Fordson Trailer

Yes Sundance was a few weeks ago, but I promise this will have been worth the wait. Jay was busy finishing his film, but Josh and I were fortunate enough to go to the festival again this year, and while we were there we recorded a special Sundance episode of the Documentary Blog Podcast. Josh must take all the credit as he ran around getting no less than seven interviews for this show with filmmakers at the festival (I think he may even have a few more up his sleeve for future shows). We really hope you enjoy the podcast, the filmmakers featured are Steve James of The Interrupters, Peter D. Richardson of How to Die in Oregon, Joy Foy of Resurrect Dead, Constance Marks of Being Elmo, Leonard Retel Helmrich of Position Among the Stars, Matthew Bate of Shut Up Little Man! and Göran Olsson of Blackpower Mixtape. 00:00 Intro 02:56 Recommendations: Josh: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, Satan Since 2003 Charlotte: Reagan, Hell and Back Again, Beats Rhymes and Life, Project Nim, Life In a Day 19:45 Interviews with the Sundance Documentary Filmmakers 19:52 Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz of The Interrupters 38.06 Joy Foy of Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles 48.09 Constance Marks and James Miller of Being Elmo 1:00:23 Leonard Retel Helmrich of Position Among the Stars 1:08:35 Matthew Bate of Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure 1:24:50 Peter Richardson of How to Die in Oregon 1:35:28 Trevor Anderson of The High Level Bridge 1:40:22 Göran Olsson of The Blackpower Mixtape: 1967-75 1:52:48 Outro Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Credits: Intro Music “Check the Rhime” – A Tribe Called Quest [i-Tunes link] Outro Music “Trains X” –  Bramble [link] Links and clips mentioned in the show after the jump. -The Interrupters Website -Resurrect Dead Website -Being Elmo -Position Among the Stars Facebook -Shut Up Little Man! Website -How to Die In Oregon Facebook -The High Level Bridge Website -Blackpower Mixtape Website -Josh’s Twitter -Cleanflix Website -Cleanflix Facebook -Charlotte’s Twitter -The Documentary Blog Twitter Related Videos The Interrupters Trailer Resurrect Dead Trailer Being Elmo Teaser Position Among the Stars Trailer Shut Up Little Man! Teaser The High Level Bridge Trailer The Blackpower Mixtape Teaser Bramble Live at Sundance Last Year

HEAR YE, HEAR YE! Welcome to episode number 8 of The Documentary Blog Podcast! This week/month/whatever we’re excited to be joined by two men of noble birth, raised by the sword and driven by vengeance… directors Andrew Neel and Luke Meyer! WHAT GOD DROVE THEM TO FIGHT WITH SUCH A FURY? Find out as we discuss two of their films; the hilarious and exciting live action role playing doc Darkon, and their look at conspiracy theorists, New World Order. We also discuss a few films we’ve been watching lately, including (but not limited to) Restrepo, La Danse, And Everything is Going Fine, The Oath, and much more! Have a listen below and be sure to subscribe to our feed over at “the iTunes”. Enjoy! 0:00 – Intro 3:05 – What We Watched Jay: Inferno: The Making of The Expendables, Middletown: Seventeen, The Devil and Daniel Johnston, Helvetica, Restrepo Andrew: Modern Life, La Danse, Boxing Gym, Anvil! The Story of Anvil Luke: And Everything Is Going Fine, Speed Racer: Welcome to the World of Vic Chesnutt Josh: Dogtown and Z-Boyz, Lost In La Mancha, Catfish, The Oath 57:25 – Darkon Interview 1:34:05 – New World Order Interview 2:07:50 – Outro Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Related Videos: Darkon Trailer New World Order Trailer 10 Minutes of Silence For John Lennon Lightening Bolt Plus 20 Broadsword See Think Website See Think Facebook Darkon Website Darkon Facebook New World Order Website New World Order Facebook Jay’s Twitter Beauty Day Website Documentary Blog Facebook Josh’s Twitter Cleanflix Website Cleanflix Facebook -Intro Music “Oh” – Alex Metric [iTunes Link] http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/alex-metric/id258076810 -Outro Music “+20 Broadsword” – Rotten Musicians [iTunes Link]

After a short hiatus, The Documentary Blog Podcast is back home for the holidays. In this episode, hosts Jay Cheel and Joshua Ligairi are joined by Julien Nitzberg, fearless director of The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. Executive Produced by Jeff Tremaine and Johnny Knoxville, Nitzberg’s film lives up to the Jackasses’ shocking reputations. Recent projects and documentary recommendations are briefly discussed before barreling head-on into into hilarious and cringe-inducing tales from the making of Nitberg’s film. As Ligairi describes them, The White Family is like “a nightmare version of the Dukes of Hazzard” and their story is sure to make you thankful for your own family–perfect timing for the holiday season! Have a listen to the show below and be sure to subscribe to the show on iTunes (and rate us while you’re at it). Happy Holidays from The Documentary Blog Podcast! 0:00 – Intro 2:52 – How Was Your Weekend? Beauty Day, Film Junk “Cooking with Gerry” Christmas Special 10:09 – Recommendations Jay: The Larry Sanders Show Complete Series Josh: Winnebago Man, I’m Still Here, Exit Through the Gift Shop, My Kid Could Paint That, Mae Day 22:03 – Interview: Julien Nitzberg 01:09:27 – Outro Download the MP3 Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Julien’s Twitter The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia Website The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia Facebook Page Jay’s Twitter Film Junk Podcast Beauty Day Website Josh’s Twitter Cleanflix Website Cleanflix Facebook Credits Intro Music: “Straight to Hell” – Hank Williams III [iTunes Link] Outro Music: “The Legend of D Ray White” – Hank Williams III [iTunes Link] Related Videos: The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia Trailer Norman Mailer and Rip Torn Fight Norman Mailer Feuds with Gore Vidal and Dick Cavett Norman Mailer on Women’s Liberation Cap’n Video Tyrone Davies Pukes on Live TV

Documentary News and Interviews with Filmmakers

Hello and welcome! It is time once again for another episode of The Documentary Blog podcast. This week we’re lucky enough to be joined by the only filmmaker who has won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival twice, director Ondi Timoner. She joins us to discuss her latest film, Cool It, which premiered at this years Toronto International Film Festival (you can read my thoughts on Cool It here). We also talk a bit about her previous work, specifically her last film We Live in Public. On top of that, we talk about what we’ve been watching and we introduce a brand new segment to the show titled ‘How Was Your Weekend?’. All in all a great time and a definite must listen! Be sure to check the show notes after the jump for all of the info you need about Ondi’s films and please subscribe to The Documentary Blog Podcast iTunes feed. Enjoy! 0:00 – Intro 1:35 – How Was Your Weekend? Flyway Film Festival Cooking With Gerry: Poutine Reed’s House Cantankerous Podcast Library of Dust Ondi Casts James Franco 23:10 – Recommendations Ondi Catfish Jay Prisoner of Her Past, absence/presence Josh The Elephant In the Living Room, The Tiger Next Door 33:35 – Interview: Ondi Timoner, We Live In Public, Cool It 1:43:52 – Outro Download the MP3 (51MB) Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe to our RSS Feed Credits: Ondi’s Website Ondi’s Twitter We Live In Public Website We Live In Public Facebook We Live In Public Twitter Cool It Website Cool It Facebook Film Junk Jay’s Twitter Beauty Day Website Josh’s Website Josh’s Twitter Cleanflix website Intro Music: “Not If You Were the Last Dandy On Earth” – Brian Jonestown Massacre Outro Music: “The Godspell According to A.A. Newcombe” – Brian Jonestown Massacre