The Documentary Life

The Documentary Life is a podcast about building a life in nonfiction storytelling. Hosted by documentary filmmaker Chris G. Parkhurst, the show explores what it really means to make documentaries—not just as a craft, but as a way of moving through the world with greater curiosity, observation, and empathy. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with filmmakers, editors, cinematographers, producers, journalists, festival programmers, and other storytellers who have dedicated themselves to telling true stories. Together, we explore the creative process, the realities of production, the ethical questions that arise when working with real people, and the personal challenges of sustaining a meaningful creative life. But The Documentary Life isn't only about cameras, funding, or film festivals. It's about learning to listen more carefully. To sit with complexity instead of rushing toward certainty. To embrace uncertainty, contradiction, and the deeply human stories that exist all around us. Whether you're directing your first short documentary, editing your tenth feature, producing independent nonfiction work, or simply someone drawn to authentic storytelling, this is a place for honest conversations about the rewards and realities of documentary filmmaking. Expect interviews with accomplished filmmakers from around the world, practical discussions about craft and career, behind-the-scenes insights from real productions, and reflections on the philosophy of living a documentary life. Because in the end, documentary filmmaking isn't simply about making films. It's about paying attention. Welcome to The Documentary Life.

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Jaksot(147)

Desktop Documentaries with Filmmaker Faith Fuller

On this International Podcast Day (yes, there is such a thing!), it’s only appropriate to bring you another installment to our monthly conversations with documentary industry people. This time out, I ...

30 Syys 20161h 7min

Avoid These Common Mistakes Before ‘Jumping In’ on Your Documentary Film

I’m often asked about the most common mistakes one can avoid before diving headlong into one’s documentary project. In some ways, I can’t really decide if I’m the right or wrong one to ask this questi...

16 Syys 201626min

Ian McCluskey Lives a Documentary Life

It’s episode 9 and I really feel that we’re hitting some sort of proverbial stride with this one. In this latest installment to our monthly conversations with an industry person, I spoke with filmmake...

3 Syys 201656min

How to Finish Your Documentary Film

We had an email from a listener a few episodes ago that I addressed towards the top of the show. In it, the listener discussed their struggles with finding a way to truly finish their film that they’d...

19 Elo 201627min

Conversation with Filmmaker Scott Squire

Welcome to the third edition of our monthly conversation with a documentary industry person. This time out, I sat down with Seattle-based doc filmmaker Scott Squire, who along with his wife, Amy Benso...

6 Elo 201642min

How to Live an Abundant Documentary Life

Okay, so the show is now five episodes old (not including this one which will give us six total). We’ve had some great conversations with documentary industry people like John Pirozzi (Don’t Think I’v...

22 Heinä 201634min

The Power of a Grassroots Campaign with Filmmaker, Lydia B. Smith

Tune in to our second conversation with a documentary industry person, this time award-winning filmmaker, Lydia B. Smith. At the heart of the show is her use of a remarkable grassroots campaign that p...

8 Heinä 201651min

Score For Your Doc

In episode four, we introduce a new segment to the show: #DocLifer emails! As part of the segment, we address some of TDL’s first-ever emails, including an email that references Episode 3 guest, John ...

8 Heinä 201635min