What's Up with Docs Podcast

The Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers West (BADWest) is a professional organization providing people of African descent working in documentary film, video or other media the opportunity to network professionally, share resources, exchange ideas, and meet socially in order to enhance the development, production, promotion, and exhibition of documentaries. BADWest also advocates for the re...

In this episode, I speak with writer, photographer, educator, filmmaker, and proud mom, April Dobbins. During our conversation, we chat about her many, many, many artistic endeavors and the joys and challenges of making her first feature documentary, Alabamaland. Because we are so often defined by the situations to which we say, “Yes,” this week’s song, Fela Kuti’s “No Agreement” challenges us all...

In this episode, I speak with filmmaker and educator Victoria Thomas. In our conversation, we chat about her latest project, Born in New York, Raised in Paris, her teaching at the London Film School, the production company she founded, the Polkadot Factory, and the challenges of navigating a documentary and narrative film industry rooted in a white supremacist work culture that is resistant to cha...

In this episode, I speak with filmmaker Lindsey Dryden and filmmaker, novelist, and podcaster, Day Al-Mohamed. In our conversation, we chat about Day’s advocacy work in Washington, D.C., Lindsey’s work as a producer of the film Unrest, and the organization they co-founded with the Oscar-nominated director of Crip Camp, Jim Lebrecht and Alysa Nahmias, FWD-Doc. FWD-Doc is committed to empowering fil...

In the this episode, I speak with Firelight Media’s Manager of Artists Programs, Chloë Walters-Wallace. In our conversation, we chat about what got her started in the documentary field, her work at the Tribeca Film Institute and the New Orleans Film Society, and some of Firelight’s new initiatives for BIPOC filmmakers. Because she is originally from Jamaica, this episode’s song is Toots & the...

In this episode, I speak with artist and filmmaker Rüzgâr Buşki. In our conversation, we talk about immigrating from Instanbul, where to get great Turkish food in Berlin, discrimination in Germany, and their current project, I’ve Got the Power. Because I’ve Got the Power explores how imagination and fantasy can be used as tool to process and heal grief and be basis for creating a new reality, t...

In this episode, I speak with writer and director Elegance Bratton and producer and costume designer Chester Argenal Gordon. In our conversation, we chat about how they met each other, their latest documentary project Pier Kids, and the joys and strength needed to stay true to themselves and their protagonists' stories and voices. Because they are my favorite power couple, this episode's song is A...

In the final episode of 2020, I speak with the director and editor, Lillian Benson. In our conversation, we talk about when she met the Civil Rights icon, Congressman John Lewis at the Academy Awards, the film she edited about his life, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis, her documentary editing career, and her transition to the narrative world. Lillian’s commitment to integrity in her work...

In this episode, I speak with filmmaker and co-founder of the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Set Hernandez Rongkilyo. In our conversation, we discuss their filmography the ways undocumented filmmakers are demanding authorship and agency in the telling of their stories. Because Set is a very proud Pilipino/Bicolano, this week’s song is Love, Anthony, & Maya’s “A Thousand More” from the alb...

In this episode, I speak with educator, filmmaker and former co-chairperson of BADWest: Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers - West, Denise Hamilton, In our conversation we talk about BADWest, her latest doc/interactive project Race Relay, and what it’s like to be educating the next generation of international documentary filmmakers at the New York Film Academy. Because Denise and her famil...

In this episode, I speak with the writer, director, and producer of Socks on Fire, Bo McGuire, winner of the Best Documentary Feature Award at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Since Bo is a country boy at heart and Reba McEntire is one of his favorite artists, this episode’s song is the country classic, “Fancy.”

n this episode, I speak with the Head of Dok Industry Programme at Dok Leipzig and founder of the Documentary Association of Europe (DEA), Brigid O’Shea about what brought the Australian transplant to Germany and the upcoming festival, the oldest documentary festival in the world. Because she is an Aussie, this week’s song is Men at Work’s “Down Under.”

In this episode, I speak with director, creative producer, writer Jaime Starboisky about the Queer Media Film Festival and his virtual reality project, Therese & Peta: A Tale of Two-Spirits. In 1991, the two protagonists of the project, Therese & Peta, did a road trip back to Peta’s home on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Because in conversations with Jaime, Peta described that time as a momen...

In this episode, I speak with award-winning film curator, film festival director and television commissioning editor and broadcaster, Claire Aguilar about her career in documentary and her recent work with the American Film Showcase Pakistan. Because we first began working together, we always seem to run into each other to and fro from the restroom, this week’s song is Klymaxx’s R&B classic, “...

In this episode, I speak with Fallon Young, Executive Director of the New Orleans Film Society about the plans for the New Orleans Film Festival and other programs in the time of COVID-19, “regional” documentary filmmakers, the George Floyd Uprising, and the specific, anti-racism remedies that are being put into place. Since the motto of the Crescent City is, “Laissez les bon temps rouler,” and th...

In this week’s episode, I speak with the filmmaker, Dante Alencastre, director & producer of AIDS Diva: The Legend of Connie Norman. This episode’s song is one of Connie’s favorites, CeCe Peniston’s “Finally.”

In this week’s episode, I speak with Lily Zepeda, director, producer & writer of Mr. Toilet: The World’s #2 Man. Because she is a self-proclaimed of the child of the nineties, this week’s song is TLC’s “Waterfalls.”

In this week’s episode, I speak with Ani Mercedes, CEO, Founder, & Impact Producer at Looky Looky Pictures. Because she’s a fearless hustler, this episode’s song is Cardi B’s “Money.”

In this episode, I speak with Sonya Childress, Senior Fellow at the Perspective Fund, about her pioneering work in the field of documentary and impact. Because in all her work, she centers People of Color and Blackness, in particular, this week’s song is the New Rotary Connection’s classic, “I Am the Black Gold of the Sun.”

In this episode, I speak with Godisamang Godi Khunou, founder of Mogale Pictures, a production company dedicated to creating content from the Pan African and Pro African Feminism perspective. Because she is in late development on her first film Black Women & Sex, this week’s song is Hugh Masekela’s remake of the Fela Kuti classic “Lady.”

In this episode, I speak with director/writer, Emily Cohen Ibañez, and protagonist/writer Ashley Solis Pavon about their upcoming project Fruits of Labor and what it’s like to collaborate on the filmmaking process. Like Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock say, “It Takes Two.” I spoke with them at the 2020 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

In this episode, I speak with Choctaw/Seminole co-founder of Longhouse Media, Tracy Rector about her filmmaking, her new gig with Nia Tero and, her mentoring of the 4th World Indigenous Media Lab. With everything that she does, like Chaka Khan and Whitney Houston, Tracy’s informal mantra should be “I’m Every Woman.” I spoke with her at the 2020 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.