The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Ken Burns's latest on The Greatest

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Vox's Jamil Smith talks with acclaimed documentary filmmakers Ken and Sarah Burns. The father-daughter team discuss their latest documentary about The Greatest, Muhammad Ali, trying to say something new about a famous and already well-documented figure, how to tell the best story from 500 hours of raw footage, and what it's like when filmmaking centered around American history is the family business.

Host: Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith), Senior Correspondent, Vox

Guests: Ken Burns (@KenBurns) & Sarah Burns (@sarah_l_burns), documentary filmmakers

References: 

  • Muhammad Ali, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, & David McMahon (premieres Sept. 19)
  • King of the World: Muhammad Ali and the Rise of an American Hero by David Remnick (Vintage; 1999)


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    This episode was made by: 

    • Producer: Erikk Geannikis
    • Editor: Amy Drozdowska
    • Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall
    • VP, Vox Audio: Liz Kelly Nelson

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