Bleav No Script No Problem

Emmy-nominated director and editor GREG TILLMAN tells me about his gripping and essential Netflix documentary - "Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror" - and I elucidate the reasons I took a break from the podcast, including producing an unforgettable dating show in India.

Greg also shares some keys to his successful career as an editor, which led to his opportunities to direct. He also describes stories working on projects like "Waco: American Aftermath" and "Brockmire". Listen anywhere you get podcasts or watch on YouTube. Follow me on Instagram or Threads @stevemberkowitz or email me here: [email protected]. Thanks!

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This week, I have an emotional chat with director NATALIE RAE about her beautiful, award-winning NETFLIX documentary, "DAUGHTERS," which won two awards at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, was shortlisted for the 2025 Oscars, and is now up for a Peabody. Listen as Natalie tells me about the 8 long years it took her and co-director ANGELA PATTON to make "Daughters" and what it felt like to finally get into Sundance and then sell the project to Netflix after hearing "no" so many times. Find out how Natalie's music video background inspired and influenced her to mix camera formats and develop a unique look to the film.

"Daughters" chronicles how a group of young girls and their incarcerated fathers prepare for and then attend a "daddy-daughter-dance." Because these fathers almost never see their daughters, this singular event is incredibly special for all involved. Check out the Daughters Trailer and watch the film now only on Netflix.

Plus, I give you my take on the "White Lotus" season finale. "The Coconut Milk was off." And I share some footage from my trip to the LA "Fighting Oligarchy" rally. Listen to the full episode anywhere you get podcasts or watch it on my YouTube channel. 

My Website

My YouTube Channel

Brent Freeburg's GoFundMe for his recovery after a stroke

GoFundMe for Jessica Honeycutt to help her fight against cancer

GoFundMe for documentary filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos

GoFundMe for producer Laura Korkoian

GoFundMe for editor and producer Buzz Chatman

GoFundMe producers Dustin and Erin Rubin

GoFundMe for producer/director CJ Russo

for Black Families Impacted by LA Wildfires

Fundraisers for Hollywood Crew Members Affected by LA Fires

Wildfire Relief Fund 2025

Los Angeles Fire Department

Other organizations to donate to

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This week I talk to Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker GEETA GANDBHIR about two of her latest documentary projects: "Eyes on the Prize III," which is streaming now on MAX, and "The Perfect Neighbor," which just won best directing for a U.S. documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. Listen as Geeta describes her early inspirations, working with the great Spike Lee and the esteemed Sam Pollard and how those experiences shaped her into the filmmaker she is today.

Geeta explains the importance of MAX's six-part civil rights-focused docu-series, "Eyes on the Prize III," at this moment in our nation's perilous history and why her independent doc, "The Perfect Neighbor," about Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law is exactly the type of story streamers need to make more of. Geeta also provides some terrific advice for young filmmakers that is definitely worth listening to. You can find the episode anywhere you get your podcasts, including on YouTube. Links to my website and YouTube channel are below. Thanks!

My Website

My YouTube Channel

Adolescence Behind the Scenes

Brent Freeburg's GoFundMe for his recovery after a stroke

GoFundMe for Jessica Honeycutt to help her fight against cancer

GoFundMe for documentary filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos

GoFundMe for producer Laura Korkoian

GoFundMe for editor and producer Buzz Chatman

GoFundMe producers Dustin and Erin Rubin

GoFundMe for producer/director CJ Russo

for Black Families Impacted by LA Wildfires

Fundraisers for Hollywood Crew Members Affected by LA Fires

Wildfire Relief Fund 2025

Los Angeles Fire Department

Other organizations to donate to

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This week, I chop it up with filmmaker ALEXANDRA LACEY, the writer and director of "The Twister: Caught in the Storm," a coming-of-age NETFLIX documentary about the devastating 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, told from the perspective of a group of young people, who encounter the extreme power of a rare EF-5, mile-wide monster tornado on high school graduation day. This catastrophic event ravaged Joplin, and yet its community overcame, rebuilt, and became an enduring symbol of hope. The film features adrenaline-inducing real-life footage, filmed by people in Joplin, taking us into the eye of the storm. Here is the The Twister: Caught in the Storm trailer 

Listen as Alex explains the painstaking effort that went into creating the sound and look of this epic documentary, so the audience can truly appreciate what the people of Joplin experienced on that fateful day, which changed all of their lives forever. Alexandra also details why she chose a group of then teenagers as her main participants in the documentary and how resilient the citizens of Joplin are. Stream the doc now on Netflix and watch my interview with Alex on my My YouTube Channel or just listen to it anywhere you get podcasts

Thanks!

Adolescence Behind the Scenes

Brent Freeburg's GoFundMe for his recovery after a stroke

GoFundMe for Jessica Honeycutt to help her fight against cancer

GoFundMe for documentary filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos

GoFundMe for producer Laura Korkoian

GoFundMe for editor and producer Buzz Chatman

GoFundMe producers Dustin and Erin Rubin

GoFundMe for producer/director CJ Russo

for Black Families Impacted by LA Wildfires

Fundraisers for Hollywood Crew Members Affected by LA Fires

Wildfire Relief Fund 2025

Los Angeles Fire Department

Other organizations to donate to

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This week, I chat with the adventurous National Geographic Explorer, TV host, and wildlife filmmaker MALAIKA VAZ, the co-founder and CEO of Untamed Planet, a production company dedicated to making incredible environmental documentary films and nonfiction series that will impact and educate the public. Malaika was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list and won Best On-Screen Talent at the 2024 Wildscreen Awards. Malaika's amazing work has taken her across some of the most hostile terrain on all seven continents - including hiking across glaciers in the Antarctic, filming undercover with criminal syndicates and diving with tiger sharks. Listen as we discuss how she got started making films at such a young age, why she has chosen to focus on wildlife and the environment with her films, what it means to be a National Geographic Explorer, and how she goes about telling environmental stories differently than celebrities like Al Gore and Leo DiCaprio. You can also watch the show on YouTube.

Below are some links to GoFundMe pages for folks who have lost their homes as well as some other ways to donate to people or groups in need due to the wildfires. I've also included a link to a GoFundMe for a camera operator I worked with named Brent Freeburg. A few weeks ago he suffered two strokes. If you are able, please give these folks a few bucks. Thanks!

Brent Freeburg's GoFundMe for his recovery after a stroke

State of Create Report

GoFundMe for documentary filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos

GoFundMe for producer Laura Korkoian

GoFundMe for editor and producer Buzz Chatman

GoFundMe producers Dustin and Erin Rubin

GoFundMe for producer/director CJ Russo

for Black Families Impacted by LA Wildfires

Fundraisers for Hollywood Crew Members Affected by LA Fires

Wildfire Relief Fund 2025

Los Angeles Fire Department

Other organizations to donate to

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America loves true crime documentaries... especially if they are about serial killers. This week, I chat with true crime aficionado AMY GOODMAN KASS about her latest project, ""RICHARD RAMIREZ: THE NIGHT STALKER TAPES," which she executive produced and directed for PEACOCK, and we discuss why our country is obsessed with the stories of the worst of the worst. We dig into how Amy was able to take never-before-heard audio tapes from the notorious Night Stalker and bring them to life. Listen as Amy also shares her experiences working on other critically acclaimed projects like Showtime's "Love Fraud" and "Hollywood Black" (MGM+) and explains why it's important to explore other genres outside of true crime.

And of course, we take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about our times attending the one and only Washington University in St. Louis.

Lastly... Below are some links to GoFundMe pages for folks who have lost their homes as well as some other ways to donate to people or groups in need due to the wildfires. If you are able, please give these folks a few bucks. Thanks!

GoFundMe for documentary filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos

GoFundMe for producer Laura Korkoian

GoFundMe for editor and producer Buzz Chatman

GoFundMe producers Dustin and Erin Rubin

GoFundMe for producer/director CJ Russo

for Black Families Impacted by LA Wildfires

Fundraisers for Hollywood Crew Members Affected by LA Fires

Wildfire Relief Fund 2025

Los Angeles Fire Department

Other organizations to donate to

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In this episode, I talk to filmmakers EMILY KASSIE and JULIAN BRAVE NOISECAT, who are nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Documentary Feature category for their incredible documentary film, "SUGARCANE," which hails from National Geographic Documentaries.

"Sugarcane" chronicles a groundbreaking investigation into decades of systemic abuse at Indigenous boarding schools in Canada. Listen as I talk to Emily and Julian about how they were able to embed with the participants of the film for 160 days of shooting. Learn how the co-directors raised money to make their first documentary feature and how Julian balanced participating on camera with his father while also co-directing with Emily. We also dig into their bold stylistic and story choices, as this film looks and sounds unlike any of the other Oscar nominees. Watch "Sugarcane" on Hulu, Nat Geo, or Disney+ and catch our interview anywhere you get podcasts, including YouTube.

Additionally... Below are some links to GoFundMe pages for folks who have lost their homes as well as some other ways to donate to people or groups in need due to the wildfires. If you are able, please give these folks a few bucks. Thanks!

GoFundMe for documentary filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos

GoFundMe for producer Laura Korkoian

GoFundMe for editor and producer Buzz Chatman

GoFundMe producers Dustin and Erin Rubin

GoFundMe for producer/director CJ Russo

for Black Families Impacted by LA Wildfires

Fundraisers for Hollywood Crew Members Affected by LA Fires

Wildfire Relief Fund 2025

Los Angeles Fire Department

Other organizations to donate to

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, I chat with award-winning filmmakers MARY ROBERTSON and ARIANNA LAPENNE, the creative forces behind AMAZON PRIME VIDEO'S four-part documentary series, "Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story." Listen as Mary and Arianna explain how and why they investigated the rise and fall of this famously colorful but internally and privately troublesome company. As director, Arianna takes us inside her creative process of how she shaped the unique interview looks, which help drive the series and illustrate who these former employees really are. Plus, Mary discusses why her company - MAXINE PRODUCTIONS - likes these types of nostalgic documentaries that shine a light on certain issues that may not have been so obvious back then.

Lastly, I discuss the effects of the horrendous wildfires that are destroying the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in the Los Angeles area. While I am safe, several of my former colleagues and friends have lost their homes. It is the most destructive and devastating fire in my 20 years of living in LA. Below are some links to GoFundMe pages for folks who have lost their homes as well as some other ways to donate to people or groups in need due to the wildfires. If you are able, please give these folks a few bucks. Thanks!

GoFundMe for documentary filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos

GoFundMe for producer Laura Korkoian

GoFundMe for editor and producer Buzz Chatman

GoFundMe producers Dustin and Erin Rubin

Fundraisers for Hollywood Crew Members Affected by LA Fires

Wildfire Relief Fund 2025

Los Angeles Fire Department

Other organizations to donate to

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Gladiator II co-editor SAM RESTIVO joins "No Script No Problem" to talk about cutting the massive action sequel to the Academy-Award winning film and how he came to collaborate with legendary director RIDLEY SCOTT for the 5th time. Listen as Sam shares intimate details of how he and co-editor Claire Simpson cut critical scenes in the film, working with over 10 cameras on some scenes and heavy VFX at times to bring this epic movie to life. Sam brings us amazing stories from inside the edit bay and on the set of this hit film, which has grossed over $435-million at the global box office so far.

In the interview, Sam also explains how he got his start in the industry and worked his way diligently up the Hollywood ladder to be able to edit a blockbusters like Gladiator II and Napoleon. He provides some valuable advice for anyone working their way up in the entertainment industry. Sam and I also discuss the ongoing debate about AI's presence in Hollywood. And lastly, I give you my take on Netflix's foray into broadcasting NFL games on Christmas Day. Thanks for listening! You can also watch on YouTube.

Gladiator II Trailer

The Berk Report

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This week on "No Script No Problem," I chat with award-winning filmmakers RICKI STERN and JESSE SWEET, the directors of the fascinating new HBO documentary, "NATURE OF THE CRIME," which chronicles the emotional journeys of three inmates, as they try to make parole while serving long prison sentences for serious offenses. Listen as they describe a tough 4-year production process and how they were able to get access to the prisons. Plus, Ricki and Jesse describe the struggle to balance the sensitivity with victims of the crimes along with the effort to tell a unique story about the quest for a second chance. Lastly, we discuss the state of documentaries today and what AI's role might be in the future of nonfiction. Listen to the episode anywhere you get podcasts and stream "Nature of the Crime" on MAX. You can check out the trailer below. Thanks!

Nature of the Crime trailer

My website

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