Talk Doc To Me

Documentary filmmaker Matthew Meredith has an authentic chat with David Bolen, the iconic, modern DP that's created a style all his own. David Bolen is an award-winning cinematographer based out of Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his international work on feature films, television and documentaries. David was cinematographer for the feature documentary "Some Kind of Heaven&q...

In this episode of Talk Doc To Me, Leah de Leon sits down with filmmaker and storyteller Julio Palacio for a deep conversation about the creative, ethical, and technical decisions behind his Oscar-shortlisted short documentary Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World. Julio shares how his Colombian background and visual sensibility shaped his filmmaking voice and how he approached telling a story as...

Would you choose cryonics if it meant a chance at life beyond death? In this episode of Talk Doc To Me, Leah sits down with filmmaker and storyteller Ömer Sami for a thoughtful conversation about psychology, cryonics, and the emotional responsibility of documentary filmmaking. Ömer shares how his background and lived experiences shaped his creative voice, and how exploring cryonics became central...

In this episode of Talk Doc To Me, Leah sits down with motion graphics visionary Kennon Fleisher to explore how thoughtful motion graphics help shape and enhance some of the most compelling documentaries and series streaming today. In this interview you will learn… How Kennon first fell in love with motion graphics What it’s like designing motion graphics for high-profile documentary and docu-seri...

In this episode of Talk Doc To Me, we explore how Ema Ryan Yamazaki tells universal stories through a personal lens including her Oscar-nominated short doc “Instruments of a Beating Heart.” Ema Ryan Yamazaki is a Japanese/British documentary filmmaker with a unique perspective as an insider and outsider in Japan. After growing up in Osaka, she moved to New York to attend NYU and became an assistan...

So... Film School or No Film School? That is the question Leah and her business partner, filmmaker Matthew Meredith , are diving into this week. From how they fell in love to building Sundoc Studios , a documentary studio in San Diego, Leah and Matthew share the real story behind their path. No filters or fluff. They talk about how they each found their way into filmmaking, what those early years...

Every great documentary starts with a vision—but it takes the right team to turn that vision into reality. Leah sits down with award-winning filmmaker  Cole Sax  to break down the essential steps to building a dream team for your documentary. With a career spanning collaborations with YouTube Originals, VICE, Google, Nike, and The Olympics, Cole shares insights from his experience directing World...

How do you navigate the documentary job landscape? Asking for a friend… Leah sits down with Devon Blackwell to chat about her time working at The New Yorker , how she handled layoffs, and her approach to using archival materials in documentaries. Devon Blackwell is a director and editor, a Sundance Ignite Fellow, and currently pursuing her Master’s in Documentary Filmmaking at Stanford University....

Sure, we all have our dream brands; but how do you actually land a partnership for your film?  Leah chats with Anna Wilder Burns and they discuss how she and her team were able to raise $20K through brand partnerships for their original film ‘Beyond Normal.’ Anna Wilder Burns is an award-winning Cinematographer and Director who tells impactful stories about athletes, adventurers, and activists. A...

What does it take to win an Oscar? Leah chats with Ben Proudfoot, the CEO and Founder of Breakwater Studios. Ben Proudfoot is a two-time Academy Award® winning documentary filmmaker and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Breakwater Studios, the home of the short documentary. Based in LA, he leads a team of 20 full-time filmmaking staff to create Oscar winning short documentaries. He was bo...

What does it take to curate documentaries for a global media company?  Leah chats with Keshia Hannam, Editor in Chief at Eastern Standard Times. Keshia & Leah discuss the roles and responsibilities of an Editor in Chief & what makes for a compelling documentary.  About Keshia: Growing up mixed race and then living as an immigrant across Hong Kong, India, Australia, the UK, and now the US,...

Let’s talk about mental health and documentary filmmaking.  Max Karpman is a filmmaker who was born in New Jersey, but spent most of his childhood in Moscow, Russia. He is a recent graduate from Chapman University and is the director of “ Did You Forget Mr. Fogel? ” a short documentary about American hostage Marc Fogel who was a teacher at Max’s school in Moscow. Max, Matt & Leah discuss how h...

Ebony Gilbert & Adisa Septuri are Co-Directors of Ifine, a short documentary set in the Kono district of Sierra Leone, that captures the beauty of blackness through the lens of the youth coming of age amid a skin-bleaching epidemic. Leah discusses with them their narrative backgrounds, how they prepared to capture everything in 6 days, and what goes into a successful Co-Directing relationship....

Leah chats with Monica Medellin, Executive Producer of Surf Girls Hawai'i, a four-part docuseries that follows the next generation of Native Hawaiian female surfers as they compete to earn a coveted spot on the professional surfing WSL Championship Tour.  The series was produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine in partnership with TOGETHXR and follows rising stars Moana Jones Wong, Ewe Wo...

Leah chats with Emily Stoker, London-based Director and Producer. They discuss how Emily got her start making travel videos on YouTube, how she landed her first TV credits, and some insightful tips for how to set your ethical boundaries as a filmmaker. Emily Stoker is a London-based director and communications consultant. After working abroad in digital communications, she built her production com...

Leah sits down with Lucas Cardoso, Director and DP of Estorias Co. They discuss how Lucas transitioned from a corporate job into starting his own production company, his exact lighting setup for interviews, and the importance of sharing your work. Follow Lucas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucasacardoso98/ Check out Estorias: https://www.estorias.co/ Talk Doc To Me is presented by Unreel...

Don’t miss out on this couple’s roundtable where we discuss what it takes to own a documentary production company.  Matt, Leah, Mark & Carrie go in detail about how to set up different streams of income as a filmmaker - from community screenings, to landing sponsorships, to partnering with nonprofits.  Follow Mark & Carrie’s work at Burning Torch Productions. Guest Bios: Mark Pedri is an a...

Intro Summary: Are you an aspiring DP? If so, this episode is for you 🎥🎬 Leah and Matt sit down with San Diego based Cinematographer Luis Lopez to discuss the role of a DP, how to find crew and projects that resonate with you, and how to capture emotion.  Guest Bio: Born and raised in San Diego, Luis Lopez is a Mexican-American Director of Photography for documentaries, narrative films, and comm...

Unlock the secrets of directing branded documentaries with filmmaker Jen Sommer! We peel back the curtain behind storytelling for brands. We discuss challenges, creative hacks, and lessons learned. If you're into filmmaking and crave insights on making creativity work for brands, this one’s for you ! 🎬✨  Jen Sommer Bio: A multifaceted filmmaker, Jen works as a Director, DP, and Editor. Her s...

Interested in making a documentary about an artist?! Leah chats with Sam Vladimirsky , a director, artist, and the founder of Whimsy - a creative studio committed to celebrating game-changers and culture-shifters in the world of art & design through original documentaries, brand storytelling, and creative marketing campaigns. They talk about the importance of being your subject's greatest...

Filming in another country, but don’t have the budget to travel there yourself? Leah chats with Sandro Kakabadze, a Georgian Documentary Filmmaker who she recently hired for a shoot in Brazil. They discuss best practices for how to collaborate globally, the difference between journalism and documentary, and his feature documentary “On the Edge of Gold” about illegal mining in the Amazon. Sandro Ka...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to film for the NFL? Brandon shares his journey from a college football player to a Director and Photographer based in Los Angeles. They discuss how he began filming for NY Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, how he shot the album cover for Sada Baby, and how he stands out as a creator. Guest Bio: Brandon Lawless is a Documentary Director and Photograp...

You’ve made a short documentary. But now you decided to make a feature on the same topic. What happens next? So Yun shares her journey directing LIQUOR STORE DREAMS. This episode was recorded in 2022. Guest Bio: So Yun Um is a Korean American Director and Producer born and based in Los Angeles. She explores intimate and challenging stories of marginalized people with piercing humanity and poignant...

Intro Summary: Special Couple’s Roundtable! In this episode, you get to listen in on a candid catch-up between two documentary couples. They discuss the beginning stages of starting a company together, what roles each person plays, and what verite filmmaking really means. There may even be a surprise performance in the middle of this episode…  Guest Bios: Riani Singgih is a Documentary filmmaker a...

Thinking about crowdfunding for your documentary? Leah and Jordyn share their exact strategy for how they raised over $10k for their short documentary We Are Like Waves on IndieGoGo. They discuss what types of films are good for crowdfunding, how to utilize social media, and the importance of offering perks to your audience. Jordyn is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, storyteller and creativ...