Documentary First: Conversations on Documentary Filmmaking

Imagine standing in an ancient Egyptian tomb, camera in hand, as a sarcophagus is opened for the first time in thousands of years. For filmmaker Jeffrey Roth, that moment sparked a realization: "No, this is real."

This is the first-ever episode of Documentary First: The Deep Dive—a new companion series where Christian Taylor takes one insight from recent podcast conversations, explores it deeply, and connects it to the universal experience of creative work.

In this episode, Christian unpacks why "mountaintop moments"—the ones you've worked years to reach—often feel completely different than you expect. Drawing from her own journey filming at Brecourt Manor in Normandy (the most famous house on D-Day), Christian explores the psychology behind why doubt doesn't disappear when dreams come true, and how the discipline of presence keeps us from missing the very moments we worked so hard to achieve.

What You'll Explore:

· • The Imposter Gap: Why calling yourself an "actor" or "filmmaker" for the first time feels like a lie

· • Hedonic Adaptation: The psychological reason our brains move to the "next worry" before a breakthrough even sinks in

· • Presence vs. Panic: How to stay grounded when you're terrified the "file won't play" during your big debut

· • The Mountaintop Rule: Why valleys aren't failures—they're just part of the terrain

Three Practical Steps to Stay Present:

1. Breathe: Let the exact moment sink in; it will never come again
2. Gratitude: Think of the people who helped you get to this field or tomb
3. Perspective: Learn to ride the highs with joy and the lows with steadiness

Featured Filmmaker: Jeffrey Roth—documentary filmmaker whose work includes being embedded with archaeological teams uncovering ancient Egyptian tombs. His insight about realizing "no, this is real" sparked this entire exploration.

About The Deep Dive: This new mini-podcast airs opposite weeks from the main Documentary First podcast. Every other week, Christian takes one powerful idea from a recent conversation and explores it more deeply—examining what it means, why it matters, and what to do about it.

Hear the full interview with Jeffrey Roth: Listen to his complete Documentary First episode for the backstory behind this moment and his incredible filmmaking journey.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fyVxSooH2HViLHVhAln3i?si=f6fe555b10d24a70

If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review!

Emmy-winning editor Charles Olivier reveals how he restructured HBO's Surviving Ohio State and what it's like getting notes from George Clooney.

Charles has cut some of the biggest docs of the last decade—The Jinx, Magic and Bird, The Redeem Team. Surviving Ohio State, produced by Clooney and directed by Oscar winner Eva Orner, exposes decades of abuse in college athletics. In this episode, Charles breaks down how he pitched a new vision to the production team, why he structures documentaries like symphonies instead of three-act narratives, and his advice for editors finding their voice.

What You'll Learn:

• How documentary editors get hired (the "fresh eyes" audition)
• The editor as "midwife" to the director's vision
• Structuring docs like music—themes, movements, dynamics
• Editing trauma narratives without losing emotional resonance
• Finding your film's "grain" (why the lead isn't always who you expect)
• What it's actually like working with George Clooney

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:00 What is Surviving Ohio State?

09:00 How Charles got hired

12:00 The editor as "midwife"

14:00 Career path: film school to HBO

17:00 Why relationships matter more than subject matter

19:00 The message of the film

24:00 Layers of betrayal: institutions vs. individuals

28:00 Structuring documentary like a symphony

34:00 Finding the emotional center

37:00 Trusting yourself as an editor

41:00 Collaboration: when to push back

44:00 Working with George Clooney

49:00 Advice for emerging editors

52:00 DocuView Déjà Vu: FYRE (Netflix)

About Charles Olivier:

Emmy and Peabody Award-winning editor. Credits: Surviving Ohio State (HBO), The Jinx, The Redeem Team (Netflix), Magic and Bird. Based in France.

If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review!

Jeffrey Roth has spent his career letting extraordinary people tell their own stories—Apollo astronauts, President George H.W. Bush, and now Dr. Zahi Hawass. In this episode, Christian Taylor inquires about the logistics of independent documentary filmmaking in Egypt: working with fixers, navigating permits, shooting in ancient tombs with one hour of access, and why he withholds narration. Plus: the personal moments that make his films unforgettable.

Links:

Trailer- The Man with the Hat - Official Trailer

The Man with the Hat

instagram.com/themanwiththehatmovie

Tiktok: @themanwiththehatmovie

Socials:

instagram.com/themanwiththehatmovie

tiktok.com/@themanwiththehatmovie

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585782550439

zahifilm.com

Dr. Zahi Hawass

“41”, 2021, 98 mins, Watch on HBO MAX, IMDB Link: 41 (2012) ⭐ 6.6 | Documentary, Biography

President in Waiting, 2020, 77 mins, Watch on Fawsome or Pluto TV or Roku Channel or Tube or Prime Video, IMDB Link: President in Waiting (2020) ⭐ 7.8 | Documentary, History

DocuView Déjà Vu:

“The Kid Stays In The Picture”, 2002, 93 mins, Watch on Amazon Prime, IMDB Link: The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002) ⭐ 7.3 | Documentary, Biography

• 00:00:00 — Introduction: Jeffrey Roth’s filmmaking philosophy
• 00:03:00 — Filming in Egypt: How Jeffrey connected with Dr. Zahi Hawass
• 00:09:00 — The fixer system: Permits, crew, and equipment in Egypt
• 00:15:00 — Self-funded filmmaking: Creative freedom vs. financial challenges
• 00:21:00 — Character-driven documentary: Why no narration or talking heads
• 00:27:00 — Shooting in tombs: One-hour windows and no scouting
• 00:33:00 — The role of fixers: Language barriers and local crew
• 00:39:00 — Unplanned magic: Discovering five mummies and the family photo moment
• 00:45:00 — Filming during October 7th: 140 miles from Gaza
• 00:51:00 — Making 41: How a screening led to three years with President George H.W. Bush
• 00:57:00 — The Presidential Medal of Freedom: One camera, no audio, and a personal moment
• 01:03:00 — Collaboration in filmmaking: Working with DPs and editors
• 01:09:00 — The business of independent documentary distribution
• 01:17:00 — DocuView Déjà Vu: Jeffrey’s documentary recommendation (The Kid Stays in the Picture)

Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/

Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with filmmaker Peter Kelly to explore his remarkable journey from his Mississippi roots to documenting the rich cultural and maritime history of Salt Cay in the Turks and Caicos. Peter reflects on how growing up in a small Mississippi community shaped his storytelling sensibilities, his love of history, and the creative instincts that now guide his work.

The conversation dives into the realities of filming in a remote island location—limited resources, environmental challenges, and the unexpected surprises that come with working far off the grid. Peter shares the thought process behind crafting his documentary: how he chose his subjects, the equipment he relied on, and why capturing a holistic portrait of the island mattered deeply to him.

Ultimately, this episode celebrates the art of discovery—of place, of story, and of self. It’s a thoughtful look at the creative process behind documentary filmmaking and the passion that drives filmmakers to preserve cultural heritage and amplify unheard stories.

Links:

The ShipwreckSurvey: Home - The Shipwreck Survey

Prom Night In Mississippi: Prom Night in Mississippi (2009) ⭐ 7.2 | Documentary

Cotopaxi: Cotopaxi - Gear For Good | Free shipping on orders $99+

Ikelite: Ikelite

PK Production Services: Peter Kelly | Storyteller // Adventurer // Speaker

Socials: instagram.com/PCKELLY1369

https://www.instagram.com/salt_n_silence/

DocuView Déjà Vu

Virunga, 2014, 100 mins, Watch on Netflix, IMDB Link: Virunga (2014) ⭐ 8.1 | Documentary, War

00:00 — Introduction: The Art of Documentary Filmmaking

01:30 — Growing Up in Mississippi: The Roots of Peter’s Storytelling

11:04 — Discovering Salt Cay: The Heartbeat of the Documentary

15:34 — Creative Decision-Making: From Writing to Filming

20:13 — Filming on a Remote Island: Gear, Environment & Resourcefulness

27:19 — Maritime Archaeology: Uncovering Hidden History

28:45 — Surprises, Setbacks & Learning Opportunities on Location

33:02 — DocuView Déjà Vu: Documentary Recommendations

Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/

Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor interviews acclaimed documentary filmmaker, writer, photographer, and cultural documentarian Alan Govenar—a storyteller with a 44-year career devoted to preserving overlooked American lives and histories.

The conversation centers on Govenar’s powerful film Quiet Voices in a Noisy World, which examines the struggle for change in Jasper, Texas, and the long shadow of racial violence on a community searching for truth, healing, and forward movement.

Govenaris the president of Documentary Arts, a nonprofit media production company. He and Christian explore what it means to document communities with integrity—earning trust, listening deeply, and building narratives that uplifts the voices of others.

Links:

Documentary Arts: Documentary Arts, Inc. > Home

Cigarette Blues: Cigarette Blues (Short 1985) ⭐ 6.8 | Short, Documentary

Stoney Knows How: Stoney Knows How (Short 1981) ⭐ 7.8 | Documentary, Short

Truth In Photography: TRUTH IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Quiet Voices in A Noisy World: Quiet Voices in a Noisy World (2025) | Documentary , Quiet Voices in a Noisy World

DocuView Déjà Vu

“Night & Fog, 1956, 32 mins, French Short, Watch on HBO MAX, IMDB Link: Night and Fog (Short 1956) ⭐ 8.6 | Documentary, Short, History

00:00 — Meet Alan Govenar + why his work matters

02:49 — How Alan found documentary storytelling

05:26 — The evolution of documentary arts (film, photo, writing, music)

08:08 — Mentorship, networking, and learning the craft

10:48 — Distribution realities filmmakers don’t talk about enough

13:23 — Documentary arts as community impact

16:14 — Preserving African-American history in Texas

19:01 — Community, photography, and who gets seen

21:42 — Juneteenth, local history, and cultural memory

24:30 — Personal reflections on race and community

27:04 — Storytelling as cultural dialogue

30:11 — Upcoming projects + what’s next

34:03 — Jasper and the legacy of racial violence

40:13 — The art of documentary storytelling (craft + ethics)

41:51 — Hope and resilience as a creative engine

45:38 — The power of music in documentaries

51:06 — Community connection and cultural preservation

57:33 — DocuView Déjà Vu Recommendation

Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/

Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

Susan Lacy—the iconic creator of PBS’s American Masters and one of the most influential voices in biographical documentary filmmaking joins us. From her early roots in journalism to building a landmark series that reshaped cultural storytelling on public television, Lacy shares the real behind-the-scenes truth of what it took to launch American Masters, fight for ambitious filmmaking, and evolve from producer to director.

Together, Christian and Susan dig into what makes a documentary last: deep research, emotional access, trust with subjects, and interviews that go beyond “good questions” to uncover the soul of a story. Lacy also reflects on being a woman leading at the highest levels of the industry, the power of mentorship, and how shifting economics—from the DVD era to today’s streaming landscape—have changed development, financing, and distribution.

If you care about documentary storytelling, PBS history, HBO documentaries, or how to direct intimate, character-driven films that preserve legacy and culture, this conversation is essential listening.

No DocuView Déjà Vu

Links:

American Masters: American Masters (TV Series 1985– ) ⭐ 8.2 | Documentary, Biography, History

Pentimento Productions: HOME

Spielberg: Spielberg (TV Movie 2017) ⭐ 7.7 | Documentary, Biography

Billy Joel: And So It Goes: Billy Joel: And So It Goes (TV Mini Series 2025) ⭐ 8.6 | Documentary, Biography, Music

Episode 256 | HBO Max "Billy Joel And So It Goes" Interview with Executive Producer, Steve Cohen - Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1v6X33Wu3IPCczl0uL4SvN?si=cc53ba405c254126

Episode 264 | Billy Joel: Telling the Story Behind the Musician (with Jessica Levin): https://open.spotify.com/episode/5GRU4wDlnYa9cmXBAo3eKz?si=1d721c5270ed4a37

00:00 — Welcome + Susan Lacy Intro

05:38 — Journalism roots and learning the value of truth

08:55 — Breaking into PBS (Channel 13) and the art of public television

12:06 — Launching a cultural institution: American Masters in 1986

22:08 — HBO era + Directing Debut

32:16 — Billy Joel: And So It Goes Documentary

43:00 — Interview + Story Tips

57:12 — Final thoughts, American history

Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/

Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor welcomes back Emmy-nominated director and producer Nicholas (Nick) Bruckman for his third visit to the show. Together, they pull back the curtain on the real world of documentary filmmaking—from getting into top festivals like Sundance and Tribeca, to navigating labs and markets, to landing a doc on Netflix.

Nick shares how his early narrative feature Valley of Saints got into Sundance off a “cold” submission, and how he’s since used programs like Gotham Week, Film Independent’s labs, and Tribeca’s Creators Market to build meaningful relationships with programmers and industry partners. He breaks down his rough-cut screening process (including Google forms and phone-watching “tells”) and explains why being radically open to feedback is one of the most powerful tools a filmmaker has.

Christian and Nick also dive into Minted: The Rise and Fall of the NFT, exploring why that film became Netflix’s “definitive” NFT documentary—and what that reveals about marketplace demands, cultural buzz, and why some critically acclaimed films (Not Going Quietly) still don’t land on major streamers.

The conversation then turns to Nick’s latest four-part docuseries, The Price of Milk, which premiered at Tribeca. Christian shares her strong personal reaction to the series, especially its portrayal of small family dairy farmers and the government “checkoff” program that was supposed to support them. Nick unpacks the hidden story behind the “Got Milk?” campaign, how money flows from farmers to industry groups, and why transparency, policy, and political engagement matter more than simply switching what’s in your grocery cart.

Finally, Nick reveals how Oatly helped fund The Price of Milk while still allowing full editorial independence—and offers practical advice for filmmakers on working with brands, nonprofits, and mission-aligned partners to get ambitious projects made and seen. He closes with a DocuView Déjà Vu recommendation: Secret Mall Apartment, a doc that not only tells a wild story but also models what’s possible with clever, independent distribution outside traditional gatekeepers.

Links:

Minted - on Netflix & Prime Video, IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27548035/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

Valley of Saints - on Prime Video, IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2088967/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_3

Catapult Film Find: Catapult Film Fund

Gotham Week: Gotham Week

TriBeca X: Tribeca X

Peoples TV: People's Television

DocuView Déjà Vu

Secret Mall Apartment, 2024, 91 mins, Watch on Prime Video, IMDB Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21221386/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_secret%2520mal

00:00 Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking

03:31 Navigating Film Festivals

09:50 The Importance of Feedback in Filmmaking

16:04 Getting Projects on Netflix

21:58 Understanding Market Demands in Documentary Filmmaking

27:47 Exploring 'The Price of Milk'

34:13 The Role of Government in Dairy Industry

42:05 Funding Documentaries: A New Approach

47:13 Collaborating with Brands for Storytelling

54:06 Conclusion and Recommendations

Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/

Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

In this episode of Documentary First, Christian sits down with filmmaker Jessica Levin, co-director and producer of the Critics Choice Documentary Awards in the Best Music Documentary-nominated HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Jessica shares what it was like to tell the story of Billy Joel—not just as a legendary musician, but as a human being full of depth, contradiction, humor, and heart.

Together, they explore the craft of music documentary filmmaking: how to build trust during intimate interviews, how to follow emotional truth rather than timeline, and how music itself can become the spine of a narrative. Jessica opens up about the collaborative process behind shaping the film’s nonlinear structure, as well as the responsibility that comes with telling a story about someone the world already feels like they know.

Whether you are a filmmaker, a musician, or someone whose life has ever been held by a song — this conversation is creative, heartfelt, and filled with insights about storytelling, memory, and what it means to truly listen.

Links:

American Masters: American Masters (TV Series 1985– ) - Reference view - IMDb

Billy Joel: And So It Goes: Billy Joel: And So It Goes (TV Mini Series 2025) - Reference view - IMDb

Inventing David Geffen: "American Masters" Inventing David Geffen (TV Episode 2012) - Reference view - IMDb

Joni Mitchell: A Women of Heart and Mind: "American Masters" Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind (TV Episode 2003) - Reference view - IMDb

The Janes: The Janes (2022) - Reference view - IMDb

DocuView Déjà Vu

The Andy Warhol Diaries, 2022, Limited Series with 6 episodes, watch on Netflix, IMDB Link: The Andy Warhol Diaries (TV Mini Series 2022) - Reference view - IMDb

00:00 — Opening Reflections

02:54 — Early Relationships and Artistic Roots

05:31 — Balancing Myth and Humanity

08:19 — Creating Space for Vulnerability in Interviews

11:06 — Collaboration as Creative Strength

13:50 — Following Emotional Truth, Not Just Timeline

16:38 — How Personal Relationships Shape Art

19:15 — Challenges of Documenting a Cultural Icon

22:03 — Crafting a Nonlinear Story Structure

24:55 — The Reality of Producing a Major Music Documentary

27:42 — Audience Reaction and Cultural Memory

30:14 — Tracking Billy Joel’s Musical Influences

33:02 — What Makes His Music Resonant

36:46 — Lyrics as Self-Understanding

40:06 — Love, Loss, and the Songs Between

42:49 — Building Trust On and Off Camera

47:34 — Leadership in Storytelling

51:26 — Scoring the Emotional Arc

56:01 — Why Structure Matters

58:59 — Personal Growth Through Filmmaking

1:02:01 — Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/

Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

In this episode of Documentary First, return guest filmmaker Elise Jaffe, first-time director of documentary project: UnScarred, and special guest, Stacie Rae Weir, a tattoo artist and breast-cancer previvor featured in the film join us!

UnScarred explores how survivors of trauma and illness—those living with scars from breast cancer, self-harm, and other life-altering experiences—reclaim their bodies and identities through the art of tattooing. Elise and Stacie share powerful personal stories of healing and transformation, and share what it takes to fund and finish an independent documentary in today’s filmmaking landscape.

Together, they unpack the real-world lessons behind UnScarred’s ongoing Kickstarter campaign. Stacie Rae also shares her journey from mastectomy to artistry—and how she’s now offering a personal tattoo session perk as part of one of the Kickstarter rewards to help bring this story to life.

This episode is not only an inspiring look at art, trauma, and recovery—it’s a practical, candid conversation every documentary filmmaker should hear.

Links:

Kickstarter:

UNSCARRED - Documentary Film

D-Word: The D-Word: the worldwide community of documentary professionals

Bri Castellini : Bri Castellini

Stacie-Rae: Home | Stacie-Rae | Calgary, AB

No DocuView Déjà Vu

Timecodes:

00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to UnScarred

05:15 — The Origins of the Film: Inspiration During the Pandemic

10:27 — The Power of Tattoos in Healing and Identity

17:42 — Introducing Stacie Rae Weir: Artist, Survivor, and Healer

24:52 — From Mastectomy to Masterpiece: Stacie Rae’s Journey

29:51 — Tattoos as Therapy: The Collaboration Between Artist and Survivor

33:10 — The Art of Crowdfunding: Lessons for Independent Filmmakers

35:04 — Behind the Scenes of UnScarred’s Kickstarter Campaign

39:26 — The Pros and Cons of Crowdfunding for Filmmakers

44:48 — Building Community Support for Independent Films

46:33 — Transformation Through Art & What’s Next for UnScarred

Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/

Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

Why would a punk rock filmmaker spend 10 years and his own money telling the story of an actor most people have never heard of?

Michael Parks starred in Then Came Bronson, sang its theme song "Long Lonesome Highway" onto the Billboard charts in 1970, and walked away from the kind of career most actors chase. Decades later, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith brought him back in Kill Bill, From Dusk till Dawn, Red State and Tusk. Josh Roush met him on the set of Tusk, where Parks was in poor health and Josh was the young behind-the-scenes filmmaker assigned to look after him. They did not like each other. Then one day, alone in the trailer, Parks started singing an old Johnny Cash song to him.

In Episode 262, Christian Taylor sits down with Josh Roush, the director of Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks. Josh grew up in Middletown, Ohio, moved west at 19 to play punk rock in Orange County, and turned to filmmaking because it was a creative life he did not have to share with a band. He went from playing poker at Kevin Smith's merch nights to running cameras on Smith's podcasts, shooting his behind-the-scenes documentaries, and eventually directing his own features.

Josh talks about the friendship that grew out of that trailer: the stories about Lenny Bruce and James Dean, the margaritas, the three or four house moves he helped with. He explains why Parks wanted $25,000 to take part, how the first financing fell apart, and why the film was only made after Parks died in 2017. He talks honestly about waiting years for Quentin Tarantino, paying to re-clear all of the archival under fair use, and finishing the film for about $50,000. And he admits he hates being on camera, until a producer told him the film did not work without him in it. As Christian tells him, "It's this guy that decided to make this film because he saw something in Michael Parks."

WATCH THE FILM

Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks (2025) is available to rent or buy on Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0KDZR30QEJ8VDQNOEKHUIPGO3H

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Josh Roush went from Orange County punk bands to directing documentaries
• How a grumpy actor and a young filmmaker became friends on the set of Tusk
• Why Michael Parks asked for $25,000 to be in his own documentary
• Why the film went ahead without Quentin Tarantino
• How fair use let Josh tell the story with archival clips and photos
• Why photos can be harder to clear under fair use than clips
• How a documentary like this gets made for about $50,000
• Why a producer told Josh to put himself in the film
• What Michael Parks's career says about doing things your own way
• The five stages of an actor, in Michael Parks's own words

CHAPTERS

0:00 From Punk Rock to Filmmaking

5:41 A 10-Year Road to Long Lonesome Highway

8:36 Why Tarantino Isn't in the Film

10:36 Meeting Michael Parks on Tusk

17:06 His Son James, Kevin Smith and Poker

22:32 How Does Fair Use Work?

27:00 Making a Documentary for $50,000

29:29 Why Josh Stepped In Front of the Camera

33:42 A Man Ahead of His Time

39:28 The Five Stages of an Actor

42:12 Burden of Dreams and Werner Herzog

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who was Michael Parks?

Michael Parks (1940 to 2017) was an American actor and singer. He starred in the 1969 series Then Came Bronson, and his recording of its theme, "Long Lonesome Highway," reached the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. After years away from the spotlight, he returned in films by Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith, including Kill Bill, From Dusk till Dawn, Red State and Tusk.

What is Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks about?

Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks is a 2025 documentary directed by Josh Roush, who befriended Parks on the set of Kevin Smith's Tusk. It follows Parks's rise, the choices that cost him his early career, the losses in his life, and his late comeback, with Kurt Russell, Justin Long and Parks's son James among the voices in the film.

How did Long Lonesome Highway use archival footage without a big budget?

Josh Roush relied on fair use, with attorneys reviewing the cut. He bought Parks's films and recordings himself and used short clips where someone on screen is talking about what the viewer sees. When the film had to be re-cleared years later, some photos were swapped for clips, which Josh found easier to clear. He paid for only a few photos.

How much did it cost to make Long Lonesome Highway?

Josh Roush says the film was budgeted at about $40,000 and ended up at about $50,000 after a second round of legal fees. Kevin Smith helped finance it. Josh says profit was never the goal; he wanted to honor his friend's legacy and priced the DVD as low as the distributor would allow.

DOCUVIEW DÉJÀ VU PICKS

Josh's pick:

• Burden of Dreams (1982), Les Blank's documentary about Werner Herzog making Fitzcarraldo, which Josh calls a story of refusing to give up when everything goes wrong at once: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083702/

SPONSORED BY VIRGIL FILMS ENTERTAINMENT

This episode is brought to you by Virgil Films Entertainment, distributor of Super Size Me and the Oscar-nominated Restrepo, with over 25 years of distribution experience. https://virgilfilms.com

LISTEN AND FOLLOW

Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts: https://pod.fo/e/4a7f9d

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@documentaryfirst

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Join our community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DocumentaryFirst

CONNECT WITH DOCUMENTARY FIRST

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/doc1st

Christian Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetchristiantaylor

ABOUT THE GUEST

Josh Roush

Director, Anti Current Multimedia

Josh Roush is a filmmaker from Middletown, Ohio, based in North Hollywood, California. He studied film at Cal State Fullerton and often writes, directs, shoots, edits and sound designs his own projects. He made behind-the-scenes documentaries for Kevin Smith's films, including Walrus Yes: The Making of Tusk, directed the punk rock thriller Wrong Reasons, and directs music videos for punk bands including Social Distortion and Bad Cop / Bad Cop.

Website: https://anticurrent.com

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshRoush

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/joshroush.bsky.social

ABOUT MICHAEL PARKS

Michael Parks was born in Corona, California, in 1940 and died in Los Angeles in 2017. He recorded several albums, played Jean Renault on Twin Peaks, and played Texas Ranger Earl McGraw in From Dusk till Dawn and Kill Bill.

ABOUT DOCUMENTARY FIRST

Documentary First is a weekly podcast about the people behind documentaries and how the work changed them. Host Christian Taylor, director of the award-winning The Girl Who Wore Freedom, talks with filmmakers from Ken Burns to first-time directors. Listen Notes ranks the show in the top 5% of all podcasts worldwide.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks (IMDb): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7847308/
• Michael Parks (Wikipedia, source for the dates and credits above): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Parks
• Josh Roush (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Roush
• Tusk (2014), directed by Kevin Smith
• La La Land (2016), the film Christian quotes about loving something because someone else loves it