Documentary First: Conversations on Documentary Filmmaking

In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor opens up with heartfelt personal updates and reflections on the journey of documentary filmmaking. Fresh off a moving trip to Normandy, Christian is joined by team members Peyton Rabb and Todd Anderson to share stories, challenges, and unforgettable moments from the experience.

Together, they explore how veterans continue to impact younger generations, the role of gratitude in storytelling, and how filmmaking shapes not just the audience but the filmmakers themselves. From moments of humor and surprise to deeply emotional encounters with history, this episode captures the resilience, growth, and transformative power of telling true stories.

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

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

In Part 2 of our crossover with MovieRob Minute WWII veteran Ceo Bauer (95th Infantry Division, “Iron Men of Metz”) continues his powerful story. At 102 years old, Ceo reflects on forgiveness, receiving his Purple Heart, and returning decades later to the battlefields of Metz and Luxembourg.

He explains the mystery of WWII “invasion money,” shares how he first met Christian Taylor—sparking the journey that became The Girl Who Wore Freedom—and reads an unforgettable letter of gratitude written by French citizen Elizabeth Gosso for the 50th anniversary of Metz’s liberation.

This conversation captures Ceo’s humor, candor, and resilience, while reminding us why keeping these stories alive matters.

👉 Part 1 of this unforgettable conversation with Ceo is available on streaming platforms.

Documentary First Website, support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

Timecodes:

00:00 – Reflections on forgiveness and fellow soldiers

03:00 – Returning to Metz and finding Steele’s grave

06:00 – Receiving the Purple Heart after being wounded

10:00 – Transport, hospitals, and survival memories

15:00 – WWII “invasion money” explained

19:00 – How Christian and Ceo first met & The Girl Who Wore Freedom

34:00 – Ceo reads Elizabeth Gosso’s powerful French gratitude letter

42:00 – Passing on memory to the next generation

50:00 – Reflections on peace, Israel, and supporting allies

In this powerful crossover episode, Christian Taylor joins Rob of MovieRob Minute to introduce a very special guest: Ceo Bauer, a 102-year-old WWII veteran of the 95th Infantry Division, 377th Infantry Regiment, I Company—better known as the “Iron Men of Metz.”

Rob begins by asking Ceo about Saving Private Ryan: what he thought of its accuracy, whether it stirred memories, and how Hollywood compares to the realities of war. From there, Ceo opens up about his experiences in Normandy in 1944, his injury at Metz, and the reasons many veterans choose not to share their stories.

For one of the first times, Ceo speaks candidly about what it was like landing at Omaha Beach 100 days after D-Day, the sign that moved him to tears, and the symbolic “pump handle dance” he’s performed across the world. His reflections are raw, sometimes emotional, and always full of wisdom.

This episode also captures something unique: guests in the room listening in—reminding us that these conversations are not just about history, but about keeping memory alive for future generations.

👉 Tune in for Part 1 of this unforgettable conversation, and stay tuned for Part 2 where Ceo continues sharing stories of bravery, loss, and survival.

Documentary First Website, support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/

What can an actor do with half a day on the Saving Private Ryan beach?

Corey Johnson's part in Saving Private Ryan took half a day to film. He played the radioman in the foxhole whom Tom Hanks grabs to report that "Dog One is not open." While the camera panned away to Hanks and Tom Sizemore, two crew members pulled him out and slid in a dummy with its face blown open, so the camera could come back to the horror. Spielberg shot only a handful of takes. Later, while Corey was posing for pictures with his dummy, Spielberg had him say a line a few more ways, then turned to an assistant director: "This guy's a good actor. Can we get him in something else?"

In Episode 258, the second of two parts, Christian Taylor shares the rest of her Movie Rob Minute crossover with Rob and her college friend Corey, on minute 131 of Saving Private Ryan. Corey tells stories from Band of Brothers, Ed Burns's overnight discovery at Sundance, and why a stage actor learns to protect himself on a film set. Christian ties the minute's shared stick of gum to what she has seen among World War II veterans and her own sons in the military: the bond of a tribe, and what happens when soldiers lose it, and she recommends Sebastian Junger's book Tribe.

The last 20 minutes are Maestro Monday: Christian and Corey each name their top five John Williams scores, from Jaws and Jurassic Park to Schindler's List and Star Wars, and talk about the power of silence. Christian admits she would take a little music out of The Girl Who Wore Freedom if she could.

SPONSORED BY ARTILLERY SPORTS

This episode is brought to you by Artillery Sports, which makes durable sports equipment and uses a portion of its profits to help care for the nation's veterans. Use the code DocFirst for 10% off your first order. https://artillerysports.com

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Corey Johnson's half day on the Saving Private Ryan set involved
• How a dummy replaced Corey in the foxhole in the middle of a shot
• What Steven Spielberg said about Corey after hearing him read a line
• Why the soldiers sharing gum in minute 131 shows a band of brothers
• Why soldiers leaving the military can lose their tribe
• Which John Williams scores Christian and Corey rank highest
• Why Christian thinks she overscored The Girl Who Wore Freedom

CHAPTERS

0:00 Part 2 and a Font of Crap

2:19 Corey's Half Day on the Beach

7:19 "This Guy's a Good Actor"

11:32 Sharing Gum and a Band of Brothers

17:07 Trauma Bonding, in Combat and on Set

19:53 Ed Burns, Tom Hardy and Protecting Yourself

24:24 The Tank Passes, and Spielberg's Genius

30:14 Maestro Monday: Harry Potter, Jaws, Superman, Jurassic Park

37:03 Catch Me If You Can and Schindler's List

43:03 The Power of Silence, and Star Wars

48:04 Where to Find Us, and Midnight Caller

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What did Corey Johnson do in Saving Private Ryan?

Corey Johnson played the radioman in the foxhole whom Tom Hanks grabs to report that "Dog One is not open." His part took half a day to film. While the camera panned away, crew members pulled him out and replaced him with a dummy whose face had been blown open, so the camera could return to it.

What are Christian Taylor's and Corey Johnson's top five John Williams scores?

Christian Taylor's top five, from five to one: Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Catch Me If You Can, Jaws and Star Wars. Corey Johnson's: Jaws, Superman, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List and Star Wars. Both put Star Wars at number one, and Raiders of the Lost Ark also gets an honorable mention.

What is the book Tribe about?

Christian Taylor recommends Sebastian Junger's Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging. She says it explains why soldiers who leave the military can struggle: they lose the tribe they belonged to. Junger was embedded with the soldiers in the documentary Restrepo, which, Christian says, Joe Amodei of Virgil Films distributes.

LISTEN AND FOLLOW

Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts: https://pod.fo/e/4a7fa1

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

Corey Johnson

Actor and Documentary Narrator

Corey Johnson grew up in New Orleans, studied drama at Catholic University and in London, and has built his career in London on stage, on screen and in voiceover. His film and television work includes Saving Private Ryan, The Mummy, Hellboy, Band of Brothers, September 5 and Midnight Caller, and he has narrated hundreds of documentaries, as well as the first trailer for The Girl Who Wore Freedom.

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.

THE COREY JOHNSON EPISODES

• Part 1 of this Movie Rob Minute conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDDoJx1DmVw
• Corey Johnson's interview with Christian, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-K2VyTmhDE
• Corey Johnson's interview with Christian, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoc5mvMwlUw

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Saving Private Ryan (1998) on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/
• Midnight Caller, Corey's latest film, made in 2020; he believes it's streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV
• Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger
• The Movie Rob Minute podcast, with Rob

How does a theater kid who never finished high school end up beside Billy Joel for 50 years?

Steve Cohen grew up in Canoga Park, California, cut school to sneak onto Hollywood studio lots, and learned to run sound and lights at the Starwood club on Santa Monica Boulevard. At 20 he started a lighting company with a couple of partners, cold-called every manager listed in the back of Billboard, and landed Billy Joel and Earth, Wind & Fire in the same day, with only one lighting rig between them. At his first rehearsal, the band played "The Ballad of Billy the Kid," and Steve heard a story he could light.

In Episode 257, the second of two parts, Christian Taylor sits down with Steve Cohen, Billy Joel's creative director and an executive producer of the HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Last time the conversation was about the film. This time it is about Steve: how he grew from lighting into directing Billy's early music videos, designing tours for other artists, and producing the documentary Last Play at Shea, and what has kept him in Billy Joel's world for half a century.

Steve gives a plain list of what lasting takes: a work ethic that matches Billy's, keeping your mouth shut, never getting too full of yourself, and knowing when to leave the room. He explains why Billy wears a jacket on stage, why every one of the 56 musicians who played in the band is listed in the film's credits, and how the music was remixed in 5.1 for the film. He and Christian share the same wish, Billy Joel's return to center stage at Madison Square Garden, and Steve sums up what the four-year project taught him: "We're put on this earth to be of service."

WATCH THE FILM

Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO, 2025), directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, is streaming on HBO Max: https://www.hbomax.com/show/2abc1a61-f4ac-4b0e-ae84-3cc5a3b53d03

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How a California theater kid found his talent for lighting music
• How cold calls from a Billboard list led to Billy Joel in 1974
• What "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" taught Steve about telling a story with light
• What it takes to last 50 years in a creative partnership
• Why the film's credits list all 56 musicians who played with Billy Joel
• How Steve went from lighting to music videos to producing documentaries
• Why Billy Joel wears a jacket on stage
• How the music for And So It Goes was remixed in 5.1
• How archival producers and editors shaped the film
• Why Steve says the film made him new lifelong friends at 71

CHAPTERS

0:00 From Canoga Park to the Starwood

4:10 Cold-Calling Billy Joel's Manager

8:51 How Do You Last 50 Years in a Band?

13:15 From Music Videos to Last Play at Shea

18:20 Hoping for One More Night at the Garden

25:03 Why He Wears a Jacket on Stage

28:59 Editors, Sound and a 5.1 Remix

33:15 We're Put on This Earth to Be of Service

37:27 The Archival Team and the Mean Brothers

44:32 The Kid Stays in the Picture and More

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How did Steve Cohen start working with Billy Joel?

In 1974, Steve Cohen and a couple of partners started a lighting company and cold-called every manager listed at the back of Billboard magazine. Steve landed Billy Joel the same day a partner landed Earth, Wind & Fire, with one lighting system between them. He rented gear, went to rehearsals, and has worked with Billy Joel ever since.

How do you last 50 years in a creative partnership?

Steve Cohen credits a work ethic that matches Billy Joel's, knowing when to keep quiet, never getting too full of himself, and knowing when to leave the room. He also kept a career of his own, designing for other artists, which he says Billy enjoyed hearing about. His role grew over time, and Billy encouraged it.

Why does Billy Joel wear a jacket on stage?

According to Steve Cohen, Billy Joel started wearing a suit coat and tie on stage because the audience had paid money to see him, and he wanted to show them a little respect. It also gave him a simple style that never had to chase trends. Steve says it reflects Billy's belief that you show up and do the work.

How was the music remixed for Billy Joel: And So It Goes?

Steve Cohen says the team brought in recording engineer Bradshaw Leigh, who worked on Billy Joel's records with producer Phil Ramone, to remix the songs in 5.1 surround sound for the film, rather than faking a surround mix. Pieces of Billy's music were also reworked as score for the section on his family history.

DOCUVIEW DÉJÀ VU PICKS

Steve's picks:

• The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002), about film producer Robert Evans: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303353/
• Sinatra: All or Nothing at All (2015), told without on-screen talking heads: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3838978/
• David Foster: Off the Record (2019), directed by Barry Avrich: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10655608/
• Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note (1998), Susan Lacy's American Masters film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0199708/

SPONSORED BY ARTILLERY SPORTS

This episode is brought to you by Artillery Sports, which makes durable sports equipment and uses a portion of its profits to help care for the nation's veterans. Use the code DocFirst for 10% off your first order. https://artillerysports.com

LISTEN AND FOLLOW

Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts: https://pod.fo/e/4a7fa2

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

Steve Cohen

Creative Director for Billy Joel; Executive Producer, Billy Joel: And So It Goes

Steve Cohen grew up in Canoga Park, California, and started a lighting company at 20. Billy Joel was his first major client, in 1974, and Steve has been his lighting designer and creative director ever since. He has designed tours and television for many other artists, directed Billy Joel's early music videos, produced the documentary Last Play at Shea, and was the executive producer and lighting designer of the special on Billy Joel's 100th show at Madison Square Garden.

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

• Billy Joel: And So It Goes (IMDb): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36458116/
• Part 1 of this conversation, on the making of the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4S-XT5UM4g

How do you make an honest film about Billy Joel when Billy Joel doesn't want to talk about himself anymore?

Steve Cohen walked into a rehearsal in 1974 as a 20-year-old lighting guy who didn't much care for "Piano Man." After his first show with the band, Billy Joel poured him a Black Russian by a Holiday Inn pool in Milwaukee and told him the audience had reacted in places it never had before. "So here," Billy said, "welcome to the band." Fifty years later, Steve is Billy's creative director and an executive producer of the HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes.

In Episode 256, the first of two parts, Christian Taylor sits down with Steve Cohen. Christian, a Billy Joel fan since her teens on Long Island, admits at the top that this is the interview of a lifetime for her. Steve tells the story of how the film came together: a three-and-a-half-hour first conversation with Susan Lacy, the founder of PBS's American Masters, who turned out to be his neighbor on the East End of Long Island; a pitch from Todd Milliner and Sean Hayes; and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, who signed on as long as Susan Lacy would direct. When Steve told Billy he would have no editorial control, Billy answered, "What have I got to hide?"

Steve explains what made the film work. Co-director Jessica Levin brought a superfan's knowledge of every corner of the catalog. Susan Lacy insisted on interviewing Billy at a piano, his security blanket, and most of the interviews moved to Steve's own homes, where Billy could relax. Steve talks about persuading Billy's first wife, Elizabeth, to sit down for the film, about the songs that grew out of their relationship, and about the line from Billy, quoted in the film, that Christian and Steve agree explains the whole catalog: if there's a skeleton key to his work, it's his relationships with other people. As Billy once told Steve, "It's not for you to call yourself an artist. Let someone else call you an artist."

WATCH THE FILM

Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO, 2025), directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, is streaming on HBO Max: https://www.hbomax.com/show/2abc1a61-f4ac-4b0e-ae84-3cc5a3b53d03

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How a 20-year-old lighting designer became part of Billy Joel's band in 1974
• Why Billy Joel refused to tell his own story for years
• How Susan Lacy came to direct And So It Goes
• How Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner got the film made at HBO
• Why Billy Joel agreed to a documentary with no editorial control
• How two co-directors, one classical music lover and one superfan, shaped the film
• Why Billy Joel was interviewed at a piano, and why the location changed
• How Steve persuaded Elizabeth to take part
• Why relationships are the key to Billy Joel's songwriting
• How Susan Lacy builds scenes from stacks of printed transcripts

CHAPTERS

0:00 An Interview of a Lifetime

2:07 How Steve Cohen Met Billy Joel in 1974

5:10 The 100th Show and a Five-Hour Film

11:48 "Let Someone Else Call You an Artist"

13:50 How Susan Lacy Came to Direct

18:00 "What Have I Got to Hide?"

22:21 Classical Roots and the Holocaust Story

25:05 Elizabeth Weber and the Love Songs

30:33 Relationships Are the Skeleton Key

33:53 Interviewing at the Piano

38:15 Stacks of Transcripts and Nonlinear Editing

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Billy Joel: And So It Goes?

Billy Joel: And So It Goes is a 2025 two-part HBO documentary directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, running about five hours. Its executive producers include Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner and Steve Cohen. Billy Joel sat for interviews but had no editorial control, and the film ties his life story back to his songs.

Who is Steve Cohen?

Steve Cohen is Billy Joel's longtime creative director and lighting designer. He started a lighting company at 20, cold-called managers, and began working with Billy Joel in 1974. He has since designed tours for many other artists, produced the documentary Last Play at Shea, and served as an executive producer of Billy Joel: And So It Goes.

How did Susan Lacy get Billy Joel to open up?

According to Steve Cohen, Susan Lacy insisted on interviewing Billy Joel at a piano, which Steve calls his security blanket. After a first interview at Billy's house full of distractions, most sessions moved to Steve's homes, where Billy felt at ease. Each interview went deeper, and Billy told her she got him to go places he doesn't normally go.

Did Billy Joel have editorial control over And So It Goes?

No. Steve Cohen says he told Billy Joel that saying yes meant no editorial involvement and trusting the filmmakers to tell the story. Billy's answer was, "What have I got to hide?" Steve's role was to open doors: arranging interviews, opening the archives, and persuading people like Billy's first wife, Elizabeth, to take part.

SPONSORED BY ARTILLERY SPORTS

This episode is brought to you by Artillery Sports, which makes durable sports equipment and uses a portion of its profits to help care for the nation's veterans. Use the code DocFirst for 10% off your first order. https://artillerysports.com

LISTEN AND FOLLOW

Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts: https://pod.fo/e/4a7fa3

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

Steve Cohen

Creative Director for Billy Joel; Executive Producer, Billy Joel: And So It Goes

Steve Cohen grew up in Canoga Park, California, and started a lighting company at 20. Billy Joel was his first major client, in 1974, and Steve has been his lighting designer and creative director ever since. He has designed tours and television for many other artists, directed Billy Joel's early music videos, produced the documentary Last Play at Shea, and was the executive producer and lighting designer of the special on Billy Joel's 100th show at Madison Square Garden.

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

• Billy Joel: And So It Goes (IMDb): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36458116/
• Part 2 of this conversation, on Steve Cohen's own story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utxNaispGyw
• American Masters, the PBS series Susan Lacy created

In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with Finnish film composer Panu Aaltio to dive into the fascinating world of film scoring.

From his early days as a cello player to becoming a successful composer for films and documentaries, Panu shares his unique journey and the challenges and joys of crafting music for the screen. The conversation explores the intricate relationship between music and film, the influence of video game music, and how directors' styles shape a composer’s approach to scoring. Panu discusses the creative process behind composing scores that evoke emotional responses, the importance of collaboration with directors, and the role of music as a character in a film. He also offers valuable insights on his experiences working on Netflix originals, the significance of documentaries in his career, and advice for aspiring composers looking to break into the industry.

Watch the hit show "Little Siberia" on Netflix!

Discover Panu Aaltio's work: https://www.panuaaltio.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Panu Aaltio’s musical journey began with the cello at age six and evolved into a passion for film scoring.
• Film scoring started as a hobby for Panu before it became his professional career.
• Panu’s education in music technology and film scoring helped shape his approach to composing.
• The emotional impact of music in film is crucial, and understanding the narrative is key to crafting effective scores.
• Collaboration with directors is essential in understanding their vision and creating a score that complements the film.
• Panu shares the importance of experimentation in music composition to create unique soundscapes.
• Documentaries have played a significant role in Panu’s career, offering insight into the unique scoring techniques needed for this genre.
• Music can act as a character in a film, adding depth and enhancing storytelling.
• Panu reflects on his experiences with Netflix and shares advice for aspiring composers looking to make their mark in the film industry.

Sound Bites:

• "I started playing the cello at six."
• "I got really, really into film music."
• "Music carries the emotion of the scene."
• "You cannot micromanage everything."
• "What do you want to achieve?"
• "You need to be very careful with the music."

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Film Scoring

05:35 Panu's Musical Journey

12:16 From Hobby to Profession

20:13 Navigating Directorial Styles

25:30 The Language of Music in Film

26:24 Understanding Emotional Impact through Score

28:48 Creating Unique Soundscapes for Film

30:41 The Role of Music as a Character

32:13 Experimentation in Composition

35:34 The Importance of Early Composition

41:12 Navigating the Netflix Experience

42:26 The Significance of Documentaries in Career

43:09 DocuView Déjà Vu

44:18 Advice for Aspiring Composers

45:17 Influential Scores and Future Projects

What was it like to film the D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan, as a young actor with a small part?

Corey Johnson was booked for two weeks on Saving Private Ryan. He spent most of the first week on location in Ireland waiting to be called, eating Irish steak every night with the other actors at their bed and breakfast. When the cameras finally rolled on the landing, he watched Irish soldiers, amputee extras and machine-gun squibs turn a beach into chaos, and saw Steven Spielberg quietly ask Tom Sizemore for one more take after the one where his helmet flew off, the take Corey believes Spielberg already knew he would use.

In Episode 254, the first of two parts, Christian Taylor shares her guest appearance on the Movie Rob Minute, the podcast where Rob, an American film lover living in Israel, goes through a movie one minute at a time. For minute 131 of Saving Private Ryan, Christian brought her college friend Corey, who played a radioman in the film. The three trace how they found each other, from Christian's distributor Joe Amodei of Virgil Films back to It's a Wonderful Life and The Great Escape, then talk about the minute itself: Mike moving rocks in a ditch as the tanks close in, and Captain Miller looking up for help.

Christian talks about what nine years of working with World War II veterans on The Girl Who Wore Freedom have taught her: why so many veterans never talked about the war, why the French, Belgians and Dutch are still so grateful, and why every veteran should share their story with their family.

SPONSORED BY ARTILLERY SPORTS

This episode is brought to you by Artillery Sports, which makes durable sports equipment and uses a portion of its profits to help care for the nation's veterans. Use the code DocFirst for 10% off your first order. https://artillerysports.com

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How the Movie Rob Minute reviews a film one minute at a time
• What minute 131 of Saving Private Ryan shows, and why it works
• Why so many World War II veterans didn't talk about the war
• Why the people of France, Belgium and the Netherlands are still grateful 80 years later
• How Corey Johnson got his part in Saving Private Ryan
• What filming the D-Day landing on location in Ireland was like
• Why Steven Spielberg shot one more take for security

CHAPTERS

0:00 Why We Joined the Movie Rob Minute

4:25 Minute 131 and How We All Met

11:06 It's a Wonderful Life and a Literate Audience

14:43 Moving Rocks and a Deus Ex Machina

17:20 Why Veterans Didn't Talk

23:02 The Girl Who Wore Freedom and French Gratitude

26:17 Memorial Day and Sharing Your Story

29:33 How Corey Landed a Part in Saving Private Ryan

33:31 On Location in Ireland

38:39 Waiting to Shoot, Then Filming the Landing

43:07 Spielberg Shoots One More for Security

47:10 Seeing the Opening in 1998

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Movie Rob Minute?

The Movie Rob Minute is a podcast hosted by Rob, an American film lover who lives in Israel, that goes through a film one minute at a time with guests. Christian Taylor and actor Corey Johnson joined him for minute 131 of Saving Private Ryan, and Documentary First is airing those conversations.

Who did Corey Johnson play in Saving Private Ryan?

Corey Johnson played a radioman in Saving Private Ryan. He was cast in London for a small part and booked for two weeks on location in Ireland, where the D-Day landing was filmed. He says he got the part through luck and perseverance.

Why didn't many World War II veterans talk about the war?

Christian Taylor says veterans have given her two reasons. When they tried to talk, people's eyes glazed over, and the memories were so traumatic that repeating them was painful. She encourages veterans to share their stories with their families, because civilians often don't know what to ask but want to know.

LISTEN AND FOLLOW

Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts: https://pod.fo/e/4a7faf

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

Corey Johnson

Actor and Documentary Narrator

Corey Johnson grew up in New Orleans, studied drama at Catholic University and in London, and has built his career in London on stage, on screen and in voiceover. His film and television work includes Saving Private Ryan, The Mummy, Hellboy, Band of Brothers and September 5, and he has narrated hundreds of documentaries, as well as the first trailer for The Girl Who Wore Freedom.

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.

THE COREY JOHNSON EPISODES

• Part 2 of this Movie Rob Minute conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnFnXJ5Ny0g
• Corey Johnson's interview with Christian, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-K2VyTmhDE
• Corey Johnson's interview with Christian, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoc5mvMwlUw

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Saving Private Ryan (1998) on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/
• Memorial Day (2012), Rob's recommendation, with James Cromwell, about a young man whose grandfather agrees to tell him three World War II stories: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1694118/
• The Movie Rob Minute podcast, with Rob
• The Girl Who Wore Freedom, with the trailer Corey narrated: https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.com

In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor and co-host Hunter Taylor are joined by Josh Nowell and Jim Rasberry, the dynamic duo behind The Heirloom Hotel & Cooking School in Laurel, Mississippi.

They discuss the transformative power of storytelling, being on HGTV's Hometown, and community revitalization. As serial entrepreneurs, Josh and Jim share their journey of creating The Heirloom, a unique project blending hospitality and digital storytelling to preserve legacies and foster community connections. The conversation delves into the evolution of media consumption, focusing on the impact of streaming platforms, social media, and the shift in how content creators engage with their audiences. They highlight the significance of building authentic relationships and digital communities, a concept that is central to both their business and storytelling philosophy. We learn how their work is reshaping the hospitality industry and how the Heirloom network is using storytelling to bridge the past and future.

Link: https://theheirloom.us/

No DocuView Déjà Vu

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What can an actor learn from watching Anthony Hopkins, Sam Mendes and Brendan Fraser at work?

Corey Johnson's first film was John Schlesinger's The Innocent, as Anthony Hopkins's right-hand man. He watched Schlesinger struggle to get a menacing line out of Hopkins, then stop to reload the camera, ask Hopkins about Laurence Olivier, let him do his impressions for the crew, and roll while he was still relaxed. The line came out exactly right. Corey says you don't always realize what you've learned on a set.

In Episode 252, the second of two parts, Christian Taylor and her friend from Catholic University pick up where Part 1 left off. Corey talks about The Mummy, his biggest film role, and why a remark about Brendan Fraser always finding the camera left him feeling that screen acting wasn't what he did: he was a theater actor. He describes rehearsing just two scenes for a week each on a new Alejandro González Iñárritu film, shot partly on real film, and watching Sam Mendes direct a West End play like someone playing three-dimensional chess.

Then the two friends disagree. Christian believes acting school should teach the business of acting; Corey says every out-of-work actor already runs a business, and the craft is what matters. Christian listens back to her own work; Corey never watches his on-screen performances, because, as he puts it, "that way madness lies." He ends on what he believes acting really is: reacting, staying open and letting yourself be vulnerable.

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In this episode, you'll learn:

• How John Schlesinger relaxed Anthony Hopkins into the take he needed
• What Corey learned on The Mummy about acting for the camera
• How a film rehearsal differs from a stage rehearsal
• What it was like to watch Sam Mendes direct
• Whether actors should be taught the business of acting
• Why Corey never watches his own performances
• Why Corey believes acting is reacting

CHAPTERS

0:00 Part 2, and His First Film, The Innocent

4:54 The Trick That Unlocked Anthony Hopkins

7:05 Trust on a Film Set

13:42 The Mummy and Finding the Camera

16:57 Rehearsing a Film for a Week

19:32 Shooting Out of Order

21:54 Watching Sam Mendes Direct

27:05 Generous Actors and a Great Cinematographer

31:57 Is Acting a Business?

34:48 Learning the Camera on the Fly

38:05 Why Corey Doesn't Watch Himself

44:48 Acting Is Reacting

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What was Corey Johnson's first film?

Corey Johnson's first film was The Innocent, directed by John Schlesinger and shot in 1992, with Anthony Hopkins, Campbell Scott and Isabella Rossellini. Corey played Hopkins's right-hand man and later helped him with his American accent during dialogue replacement.

How did John Schlesinger get the performance he wanted from Anthony Hopkins?

Corey Johnson says Schlesinger wanted a line to sound threatening without looking threatening. While the camera was reloaded, he asked Hopkins about Laurence Olivier, and Hopkins entertained the crew with his impressions. Schlesinger then rolled while Hopkins was still relaxed, and the line landed.

Why doesn't Corey Johnson watch his own performances?

Corey Johnson says watching himself would make him judge the result instead of the character, from his hair to how his suit sat. He believes changing how you work to fix the end result is "a snake eating its own tail." Christian Taylor, who listens back to her own work, admits he has a point.

DOCUVIEW DÉJÀ VU PICKS

Corey's picks: Strangest Things, a documentary series he narrated, and the documentary he narrated for the 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Square.

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ABOUT THE GUEST

Corey Johnson

Actor and Documentary Narrator

Corey Johnson grew up in New Orleans, studied drama at Catholic University and in London, and has built his career in London on stage, on screen and in voiceover. His film and television work includes The Innocent, Saving Private Ryan, The Mummy, Hellboy, Band of Brothers and September 5, and he has narrated hundreds of documentaries.

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.

THE COREY JOHNSON EPISODES

• Part 1 of this conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-K2VyTmhDE
• Saving Private Ryan with Corey on the Movie Rob Minute, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDDoJx1DmVw
• Saving Private Ryan with Corey on the Movie Rob Minute, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnFnXJ5Ny0g

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Corey Johnson on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424819/
• The Innocent (1993) on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106185/