What’s the best way for a filmmaker to manage the weight of making a film about a true iconoclast? Having no idea who the subject is going into pitching yourself is a great start! 

That’s just one of the many honest and insightful stories the wickedly talented Fernado Villena shares with host Dan Napoli on this episode of Reel Life!  Fernado’s passion for the life of Jake Burton beams through the discussion as he gives an incredible peak into the making of this documentary currently at the top of the HBO Max charts.  

Fernando goes deep with Dan, sharing his inspirations for certain looks used in the film, meeting Jake Burton, why an iconic song almost didn’t making the cut, how he may have pissed off narrator Woody Harrelson, and the last thing Fernado said to Jake Burton as walked out of the room that may have gotten him the gig. 

A must- listen if you’ve ever picked up a camera or snowboard. You can catch the film, Dear Rider: The Jake Burton Story streaming free for subscribers on HBO Max now.

Kendall and Vera Whelpton are not only robots, ninjas, and filmmakers, but they are also husbands and wife! Host Dan Napoli visits with the couple behind Robot Ninja Media (their production company) and their SVOD paranormal doc smash The House In Between. 

Kendal and Vera share their unique approach to paranormal genre, and the difference between how film and television view the subject matter, walking the fine line being embraced by both the science and paranormal communities, and the secrets to making sure the Producer-director relationship doesn’t follow them to the grocery store too often. 

Don’t miss another unique conservation from the world of indie-produced documentaries with Kendall (Robot) and Vera (Ninja) and Hurrdat Films award-winning documentary director Dan Napoli.

A Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a digital media and commercial video production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network and learn more about our other services today on HurrdatMedia.com.

On this episode, New York City based stand-up comedian and documentary filmmaker Jeff Cerulli joins host Dan Napoli to talk about the craft of documentary filmmaking.
Jeff shares an unfettered look at creating two of his signature works Hungry , his film about the world of competitive eating and the famed Nathan’s hotdog eating contest,
and Tasteless, a movie of exploring the origin & impact of the controversial book series from the 1980s, Truly Tastless Jokes.
Dan and Jeff explore the difference between documentary directors cutting their own films vs working with editors, how being comedian influences Jeff’s point of view, and the upcoming transition from director to producer on his project involving Mark Wahlberg’s new production company.

A Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a digital media and commercial video production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network and learn more about our other services today on HurrdatMedia.com.

Because Miami…it’s not just a hashtag. It’s at the core of filmmaker Billy Corben’s work. Since his debut at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, Corben has made a career telling stories of Miami, with almost a dozen spectacular documentaries to his credit. - The Cocaine Cowboys triology exploring the drug trade of Miami in the 70s & 80s -Two films ESPN 30 for 30s dedicated to University of Miami Hurricanes - “The U part 1 & 2 And -Screwball - exploring the Tony Bosch-Alex Rodriguez steroid scandal. Now Corben and his Ranktour Productions is back, this time with multi-part true-crime docu-series for Netflix. Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami focuses on the rise and fall of two of Miami’s most infamous drug kingpins “Sal & Willy.” Get ready as Billy and Dan take a deep dive in Corben’s body of work, his process, and their mutual affection of the graphics power of the Video Toaster as middle schoolers.

A Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a digital media and commercial video production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network and learn more about our other services today on HurrdatMedia.com.

On this episode, Dan visits with Deedle Lacour and Justin Wilson –two of the four filmmakers who created the documentary Filmage: The Story of Descendents / All.

The trio discuss balancing the storytelling between two bands who are in essence one, DP Justin Wilson’s goal with the art direction and shots used as transitions, how the team navigated a labyrinth of managers and agents to get Dave Grohl to appear, music licensing the SST catalog through stalking and longevity of their film documenting The Descendents - one of the most icon pop-punk bands of all time.

Just in time for Record Store Day 2021 Drop # 2, Filmage: The Story of All Descendents is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Vudu, and soon to be returning to the iTunes store.

A Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a digital media and commercial video production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network and learn more about our other services today on HurrdatMedia.com.

Producer Ryan Johnston – an Omaha native, and acclaimed documentary director Clay Tweel (An Innocent Man, Heavens Gate: The Cult of Cults) visit with Dan their incredibly powerful film, Out Of Omaha. Ryan, Clay, and Dan first crossed paths each having films at the 2018 Film Festival.
Ryan & Clay discuss their film - an intimate portrait of twin brothers Darcell and Darrell Trotter, two young black men coming of age in Omaha, their hopes, dreams, and struggles, how much it takes to overcome disadvantages rooted in historic injustice
The duo shares what’s it’s like being in production on documentary for nearly a decade, and if as filmmakers they even had any business telling this incredible story.

A Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a digital media and commercial video production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network and learn more about our other services today on HurrdatMedia.com.

Imagine making a documentary featuring one of the most influential music scenes of the late 20th century. Now imagine doing it TWICE.

Dan is joined by Washington, DC –based filmmaker Scott Crawford. Scott landed on everyone’s radar back in 2014 with his seminal film Salad Days: The Story of DC Punk, documentary the Washington, DC punk music scene of the 1980s and 1990s that birthed bands like Minor Threat, Fugazi, and the Straight Edge movement

Scott’s back in at it again with his newest film – Cream: America’s Only Rock Magazine. The film was released digitally in the Fall of 2020. Scott visits with Dan on the heels being discussed amongst potential 2021 Oscar nominees.

A Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a digital media and commercial video production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network and learn more about our other services today on HurrdatMedia.com.

Dan is joined by  Oregon based filmmaker Taylor Morden.  Taylor’s released two films in the last two years. Pick It Up: Ska in the 90s, narrated by musician Tim Armstrong, and his latest film : The Last Blockbuster, this past December.

The Last Blockbuster is a fun look at the once omni-present Blockbuster video chain, and how the last Blockbuster Video store in America, located in Bend, Oregon, has become a loveable underdog it’s community and around the world. The film has been critically acclaimed and recently received coverage on CNN and the New York Times.

A Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a digital media and commercial video production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network and learn more about our other services today on HurrdatMedia.com