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)

Email Marketing for the Documentary Filmmaker

What if there was a viable way for the independent documentary filmmaker to build and sustain an audience to support your doc films for the duration of your career? And what if there was a straight f...

3 Okt 201938min

Documentary Filmmaking Abroad with Edward Watts & Waad Al-Kateab

If you were subjected to daily bombardment from the air, you were entrenched in a make-shift hospital, and you’d just recently had a baby, would you still be able to pick up your camera and film event...

19 Sep 201946min

The Fundraising Houseparty For the Documentary Filmmaker

What if there was a pretty straightforward way for the independent documentary filmmaker to raise a quick infusion of funding for their documentary film… simply by holding a party? Well, there is. It’...

5 Sep 201951min

Lean Team Documentary Filmmaking with Rustin Thompson

Ever noticed just how many barriers there seem to be to this documentary filmmaking thing? Funding. Equipment. Live pitch presentations. Distribution platforms. You name it, everywhere you turn as a ...

22 Aug 201953min

The Doc Filmmaker’s Money Mindset & Blue Collar Filmmaking

So many of us doc filmmakers think that we’ll never make any money from our films. Or that we’re incapable of raising money for them. And that’s wrong. There is actually no reason that any of us shoul...

8 Aug 201951min

Melbourne Documentary and Chasing the Jet Stream

So many doc filmmakers are doing the one person crew documentary. For many, it’s a necessary evil due to financial constraints of the doc filmmaker. But for some, like doco Claudio von Planta, it’s th...

25 Jul 201954min

Make Great Documentaries From Where You Are with Billy Corben

How many times have you been approached by a friend or family member with another “great idea for a documentary”, when they find out that you’re a doc filmmaker? Well, if you’re anything like Miami do...

12 Jul 201950min

Maiden and Archival Storytelling with Alex Holmes

Ever wonder what it might be like to discover a treasure trove of archival footage that lay untouched for over thirty years for your documentary film? That’s exactly what happened for veteran BBC and ...

28 Jun 201946min