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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Episoder(147)

YouTube For the Documentary Filmmaker with David Hoffman

It's hard to refute the power and potential of the second biggest search engine in the world, YouTube. Especially for the independent doc filmmaker. Here at TDL we have long talked about the importanc...

15 Mai 202054min

Making the Sports Documentary with Gotham Chopra

Sports documentaries have really come into their own as a documentary genre. The truth is that the built-in drama and sometimes off-the-field shenanigans make for some really compelling stories. Entit...

1 Mai 202043min

Documentary Film and the Music Composer with Nainita Desai

When it comes to documentary film - and really film, in general - one of the forgotten heroes is often the film's music composer. And yet, it's often the music that truly elevates a film from good to ...

17 Apr 202040min

Mental Health and the Documentary Filmmaker with Rebecca Day

We doc filmmakers are no strangers to mental health. Whether by the very nature of being doc filmmakers or from the subjects of our documentaries, we're often dealing with levels of anxiety, stress, a...

3 Apr 202044min

Finding Yingying with Jiayan Shi

When it comes to being affected by the coronavirus, we doc filmmakers, of course, are no exception. Whether we work in tv broadcasting, run video productions, or are freelancers, we are all feeling t...

20 Mar 202049min

Fire in Paradise with Drea Cooper

One of the most compelling, intense, and well done documentaries that I saw in all of 2019 wasn't even a feature length film. In fact, its run time was only 39 minutes.But it was 39 mins of riveting ...

6 Mar 202042min

Documentary Film Promotions & Marketing with Jon Reiss

The playing field for distribution, promotions, and marketing for independent documentary filmmakers seems to be changing daily. But one thing that remains, is Jon Reiss, the veritable guru on all thi...

21 Feb 202040min

First Time Doc Filmmaker Wins the Stanley Cup, with Joshua Riehl

Joshua Riehl was a first time doc filmmaker when he decided to make a film about his passion for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. So how exactly did he manage to pull this feat off...

7 Feb 202038min