This week, we hit the ground running with documentarian/filmmaker Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman. Jacob gives us an exclusive look into his current documentary project, rooted in his deep-dive research on the “Rationalists”—a community of thinkers who live at the intersection of tech and philosophy, and seem to both dread tech/AI's inevitable takeover and welcome it with open arms. Jacob walks us through what it’s been like to study them from the inside, and why their contradictions make them such compelling documentary subjects.

From there, we get into why casting is one of the most underrated components of nonfiction storytelling, and how contradictory personalities and sudden left turns make documentaries so exciting to be a part of. Jacob speaks with real passion about documentary filmmaking as a poetic and ambiguous artform. In contrast, we also discuss how some worthwhile documentaries are often overshadowed by the oversaturated, formula-driven true-crime landscape. Jacob's mission: to approach the form with more curiosity, artistry, and humanity.

We also unpack his lifelong love for music, how he weaves it into the DNA of his films, and how his eclectic sensibility has shaped his path into commercial work. Jacob shares how he uses the skills, instincts, and aesthetics he’s honed as an artist to stand out—and stay grounded—in a commercial industry that can easily dilute a filmmaker’s voice. 

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FAR OFF SOUNDS