Westdoc moderator Chuck Braverman interviews co-directors Matt Ogens and Joel “Kachi” Benson about their new Disney+ feature documentary MADU, shot on two continents with post-production on three. They touch on film style, point of view, social impact, budget, and the sheer joy of following Anthony Madu’s story. This is a real life “Billy Elliot” story.

In HENDRIE, comics and producers including Judd Apatow, Bill Hader, and Henry Rollins, talk about Phil Hendrie, a comic genius whose satirical radio show rocked the airwaves in the 1990s. Patrick Reynolds produced, directed, shot, and edited Hendrie on a mini budget, but his path to filmmaking was somewhat curvy.

Renowned cinema vérité filmmakers Joan Churchill and Alan Barker spoke to us from the cozy living room of their Ojai, California home. We covered a wide range of subjects: improv; traditional camera gear vs iPhones; being “in the circle” when filming; the FBI, IRS, and HUAC; the historic value of cinema vérité; and their documentary workshops. 

Young filmmaker Ben Proudfoot went searching for the process behind student instrument repair in the vast Los Angeles City school system, but his Oscar nominated short, The Last Repair Shop, uncovered instead a warehouse filled with human tales of struggle, endurance, and success.

Just two miles from mainland China, but still part of Taiwan, sits the tiny island of Kinmen. "Island In Between" is American/Taiwanese filmmaker S. Leo Chiang’s powerful, Oscar nominated short doc about international tension and changing times. Chiang speaks with Westdoc about growing up both there and here, seeing both the danger and the beauty, and trying to make sense of it all.

Feature Documentary Nominees Trailers: 

Bobi Wine: The Peoples President, The Eternal Memory, Four Daughters, To Kill a Tiger, 
20 Days in Mariupol

Mstyslav Chernov, a Pulitzer Prize-winning video journalist at Associated Press and president of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, directed the DGA Documentary winner, "20 Days In Mariupol." It won over four nominees, all of which had bigger budgets and more promotion. "Mariupol" is a must-see, brutal account of the Russian assault on Ukraine.

Watch 15 different trailers for Oscar Documentary Short List Nominees. 

One of the most provocative is bio doc, "The Disappearance of Shere Hite,” with the liberation of the female orgasm center stage. The Hite Report was one of the best-selling books of all time. On the new edition of Westdoc, director Nicole Newnham talks about why Shere Hite left the country, renounced her US citizenship, and disappeared.

The first-time director Danny Wu is a Chinese immigrant to Canada in his mid 20's. His film school was YouTube. Watch our conversation and then view the doc now on the Oscar web portal for members, or on Amazon, YouTube, AppleTV, and Google Play. 

Step into the captivating world of "32 Sounds," a groundbreaking documentary directed by the visionary filmmaker Sam Green. Chuck Braverman, your host at Westdoc Online, introduces this immersive celebration of sound, where the movie becomes a symphony of auditory experiences. In this edition, Sam Green delves into the heart of his film, explaining its origins and the pivotal role sound plays in shaping our perception of the world.

The highest and driest ground in Miami is the new front for racial injustice and Climate Gentrification in RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE. Westdoc moderator Chuck Braverman interviews Katja Esson, the director of this new documentary film.

Filmmaker Justin Monroe discovered that his next door neighbor Tim Carey had been commissioned to create the world’s largest 40,000 sq. ft. stained glass window. HOLY FRIT combines the ancient art of glazing with the high tech art of documentary filmmaking. Justin and Tim talk with Westdoc about their nine years on the project, its challenges, the meaning of art, financing, distribution, and an artist they collaborate with named Narcissis.

A review of the Oscar Short List documentary "To Kill A Tiger" directed by Nish Pahuja. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

Oscar winner Errol Morris gives his most candid interview to Westdoc about his new documentary, The Pigeon Tunnel. His latest film involves an in depth conversation with best selling author John le Carré, aka David Corwell.

Our conversation with the directors covers the details of producing a complex story, raising money, clearing music, and a searingly honest look at the living legend, her heartbreaking romance with Bob Dylan, lifelong emotional struggles, being on the road, and performing in front of thousands.  In other words, sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. Directed by KAREN O'CONNOR - MIRI NAVASKY - MAEVE O'BOYLE

A review of the documentary "Immediate Family" directed by Denny Tedesco. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of Dylan Weiss' "Producing Factual Television" Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

Chuck Braverman of Westdoc interviews the two directors of the new documentary The Highest of Stakes; Patrick Moreau and Grant Peelle. THE HIGHEST OF STAKES follows the journey of Richard Heart, the top hat wearing, no-bullshit-talking, Louis Vuitton-collecting creator of HEX coin, which grew 10,000x in value during the financial market crash of 2022. 

Nicknamed “The Golden Boy,”  Oscar De La Hoya, with his good looks, electric charisma, and heartfelt story of winning Olympic gold for his dying mother, rocketed to national prominence as a superstar both in and outside the ring. Yet, all was not what it appeared to be behind that polished facade. Westdoc interviews the director of this two part HBO Max documentary, Fernando Villena .

THE LEAGUE celebrates the dynamic journey of Negro League baseball's triumphs and challenges through the first half of the twentieth century. The story is told through previously unearthed archival footage and never-before-seen interviews with legendary players like Satchel Paige and Buck O’Neil – whose early careers paved the way for the Jackie Robinson era – as well as celebrated Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron who started out in the Negro Leagues.

Producers Huw Cordey and Keith Scholey discuss the making of Our Planet II with with Westdoc moderator Chuck Braverman. The big question is, how did you film this mini series?

Director Leslie Iwerks is interviewed by Chuck Braverman on Westdoc about her new four part Max  series, "100 Years of Warner Bros." The number of remarkable films is beyond amazing and Leslie is the perfect director to put it all together.

The iconic 1969 Academy Award winner Midnight Cowboy set the tone for films to come, revealed the seedy side of New York, and closed the book on a decade of flower power. Feature doc DESPARATE SOULS, DARK CITY and the LEGEND of MIDNIGHT COWBOY digs deep into not only  “the making of,” but “the moment of “ as well. Director Nancy Buirski talks with Westdoc about her background as a photographer and painter, editorial collaboration, and why the original film was “inevitable.” 

Mary Tyler Moore was a revolutionary throughout her nearly sixty year career. She redefined the roles in show business, transforming how women were defined in media. Director James Adolphus reveals to Westdoc Online how newly released documentary "Being Mary Tyler Moore" managed to capture her essence. Are there limits on who can tell what stories? How did their team navigate vast archival footage during the editing process? Tune in to find out.

"The Visitors" covers Veronika Lišková's journey to the most northern city in the world, Svalbard. The young anthropologist and her family not only face the harsh living conditions of the North, but confront the quickly melting icebergs and permafrost with the community she initially planned to observe. 

"Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie" will take you straight back to the 80s as it tells the touching story of actor Michael J. Fox and his confrontation with Parkinson's disease. Hear from the director, Davis Guggenheim, who gives us insight into the making of this documentary, interview hacks, and an even deeper look into the life of Michael J. Fox. 

Founder of The D-Word, an online community for thousands of documentary professionals around the world, Doug Block spoke with host, Chuck Braverman, at length about vlogging, his side business of wedding videography, the documentary community, and the complexities of marriage.

Nira Burstein spent five years creating an intimate portrait of her unique family in Charm Circle, her debut cinema vérité feature documentary.  “My parents gave me so much magic, it was my job not to screw it up.” Discover how this film came to life, hear about Burstein's journey into film, mental health, and her upcoming projects. There’s no place like home. 

Co founder Cameron Woodward on WRAPBOOK software and how it can work for your production company.

In this interview with producer Paul Martin about the Netflix series "Full Swing," he explains that the show follows golfers throughout the PGA Tour season and their struggles to compete with the new Saudi-backed league called "Liv Golf." 

The film covers the 2020 assassination attempt on Alex Navalny, a Russian opposition leader. Given the tense political climate, Roher had to carry out his filmmaking in secrecy, relying on encryption. Learn more about how Roher navigated this risky film with host, Chuck Braverman, on this episode of Westdoc Online. 

"It's a film about grace, passion, forgiveness and hope," says Seftel. "Stranger at the Gate"  follows the story of a U.S. Marine and his planned attack on a small-town American mosque. The story takes an unexpected turn when the two groups meet face to face. How did Seftel come across this film?  What did the filmmaking process entail? And a how Seftel became a filmmaker?

"38 at the Garden" unpacks the monumental cultural impact Jeremy Lin evoked as a Taiwanese-American basketball player for the New York Knicks. Learn how Frank Chi was inspired to make this short doc on this episode of Westdoc Online, hosted by Chuck Braverman

Melissa Lesh and Trevor Beck Frost discuss their new documentary feature "WILDCAT' on the latest episode of WESTDOC ONLINE. The billboards call it a “riveting journey into the wild.” It is much more. ”Melissa Lesh and Trevor Frost abandoned all the conveniences of modern life to trudge into the depths of the Amazon jungle and make “WildCat,” a story of trauma, healing, rescue, love, and redemption. 

A review of the documentary "Dusty and Stones" with first time feature director Jesse Rudoy. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the documentary "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" with Laura Poitras. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the documentary "High Noon on the Waterfront" with Billy Shebar. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the documentary "Life & Life" with director NC Heikin. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the documentary "Was Film School Worth It?" with Matthew O'Brien. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the documentary "Sam Now" with Reed Harkness, Jason Reid and Sam Harkness. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

Producer Director ONDI TIMONER talks to Chuck Braverman on Westdoc Online about the making of her new feature documentary, LAST FLIGHT HOME. Ondi is a "disruptor" and a major winner at Sundance.

MOONAGE DAYDREAM Director discusses his films with Westdoc Online host Chuck Braverman. Intimate and compelling details about his speech impediment, NYU Film School, the making of "The Kid Stays in the Picture," and much more

A review of the documentary "Exposing Muybridge" with Writer, Producer, Director Marc Shaffer. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the documentary "90 DAY FIANCÉ" with Executive Producer Matt Sharp. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the documentary "Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song" with directors Daniel Geller & Dayna Goldfine. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

Westdoc Online conversation with director Emelie Mahdavian and producer Su Kim about the new documentary "Bitterbrush."

A review of the documentary "Reality Directors" with Ramy Romany and Adam Vetri. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the documentary "Accepted" with first time doc director Dan Chen. Moderated by Chuck Braverman.

A review of the true crime documentary mini series "Captive Audience" with director Jessica Dimmock.