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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Avsnitt(147)

Meta Filmmaking and Framing John DeLorean

When filmmakers Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce met, it was a match in doc filmmaking heaven. Their first documentary film, The Art of the Steal, was a Netflix hit that would lead them to their next do...

14 Juni 201953min

Making a Documentary Series in China with Dominic Johnson-Hill

Entrepreneur, Dominic Johnson-Hill, has just spent the last year traveling China and presenting for the documentary series, Seasons of China. But the journey to becoming one of China’s most recognizab...

31 Maj 201941min

Doug Block and The D-Word

Doug Block has made a living out of the personal documentary style, including films like Home Page, 51 Birch Street, and The Kids Grow Up. He is also the pioneer behind one of the largest online docum...

24 Maj 201952min

Crowdfunding Your Documentary Film with John Trigonis

Few people know the crowdfunding game like John Trigonis. He is considered to be one of the leading experts in the game. And with good reason, since he has been leading some of the most impressive cro...

17 Maj 201952min

Doc Filmmaking, Festivals, and Podcasting with Thom Powers

Thom Powers has been more in touch with documentary filmmaking and filmmakers than most anyone I know. Which makes sense, since he made docs for about a decade, programs for two of the most prestigiou...

10 Maj 201957min

On the FRONTLINE with Doc Filmmakers, James Jones and Olivier Sarbil

Doc filmmaking duo, James Jones and Olivier Sarbil, have been making their doc living on the frontline of some of the world’s most dangerous areas. But they didn’t necessarily always intend it to be t...

3 Maj 20191h

The First Female Director with Pamela B. Green

We’re back! Season 2 of the TDL podcast has officially begun…Pamela B. Green has made her first documentary feature, Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy Blache. And it is about one of the true p...

26 Apr 201949min

100 – Happy Thanksgiving Finale From The Documentary Life

It is the week of giving thanks, as we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.S. Coincidentally, it is episode #100, our last episode of Season One of the podcast. And I am joined by my better half, the...

23 Nov 201856min