The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast

Black magic is not something I ever expected to explore deeply, but when filmmaker Liam Le Guillou approached the DocFix with his idea, I was delighted to help. His premise - could he persuade practitioners of Black Magic to curse him, to see what it could teach him about the true nature of magic? On today's episode, we discuss the process Liam went through to create his documentary, "A...

What if the most impactful stories aren't about the events themselves but the human experiences they evoke? Dan Reed’s documentaries have earned 22 major nominations and 18 wins—for good reason. In this episode, I talk to Dan, the director whose hugely important films include the Emmy-winning Leaving Neverland , which investigates the sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson, and his...

When we sat down to talk, John Mathieson and  just returned from shooting Gladiator 2 with Ridley Scott in Malta. He was part of the orignal team, having wenty-five years earlier shot the original iconic film.   Afer that first collaboration he was the cinematographer for  numerous films for Scott, including Kingdom of Heaven, Hannibal and Robin Hood. He also photographed the superhero film closes...

Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, the creative minds behind "Superman, the Documentary," shed light on their inventive storytelling techniques and the profound life of Christopher Reeve. Together, we explore their decision to weave Reeve's action-packed past with his advocacy-driven present, crafting a narrative that is as compelling as it is emotionally rich. Their film, inspired by...

What happens when your documentary feels flat and unengaging, despite all your hard work? This was the main question behind a Masterclass I gave at  the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers. We look at  why a lack of storytelling craft and mentorship in the industry often leads to issues with storytelling, and debunk the myth that extensive planning compromises authenticity. Also I  con...

The art of documentary storytelling is not a static skill, but a journey with distinct milestones.  This is about unearthing the universal skills that will elevate your craft regardless of your starting point. From the spark of excitement  when you stumble upon a great story, to the daunting task of sifting through a mountain of material, here I explain the lessons learned in shaping raw footage i...

This episode it a little different, as it's a converation between myself and James, a student of the DocFix Program. James' background is in drama, and later as part of the marketing department of Lionsgate Films, a very large US entertainment company and film producer and distributor.  James came to us with his passion project, and his first documentary, to learn how to turn his idea in...

Birger Clausen, the composer, is one of my closest collaborators, most recently on the two-time Emmy nominated (including for music and sound) and RTS winning 9/11: Life Under Attack. In this episode we talk about many things - the relationship with the composer, mood and storytelling, the use of specific effects and the avoidance of cliche, trends in the industry and even the impact of Artificial...

As an editor, Col’s fingerprints are on everything from the blockbuster success of Star Wars Rogue One, the indie gem Monsters and multiple documentaries. And this episode isn't just a chat; it's a masterclass in the subtle art of documentary filmmaking and editing, with a sprinkle of blockbuster magic. It shows how a filmmaker applies the same diligent skills across the board, from smal...

This conversation tells the tale behind the meerkat soap opera superstars, a venture that started as a documentary idea and blossomed into a series with a massive following (fans include Tom Cruise and Robert Redford). The series creator Caroline Hawkins takes us from conception to realization, involving a  trip to Cambridge University, convincing a meerkat expert, and the challenges of shooting i...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a simple idea into a captivating documentary? It shouldn't be a surprise that it all boils down to the art of storytelling. This mini episode outlines the four-step process that allows you to take an idea and develop it into a real story - a documentary that is meaningful, memorable and has an impact. This is how storytellers have to think. There a...

Many years ago, I was in the theatre watching a play about The Troubles (the horrific violence and conflict endemic in Northern Ireland). I had no connection to those events, and yet that play was one of the most engaging and thrilling dramatic experiences I have had - in a theatre or on film. The writer of that work is  Gary Mitchell, a writer who transformed his working-class upbringing into a s...

One of the most significant documentaries in recent times was made by Henry Singer. He took an image of the horror of the 9/11 terror attack on the Twin Towers in New York - The Falling Man - and turned it into a powerful story about... well, exactly how that story came to be is one thing we cover in our conversation.    Along the way, we share Henry's experiences, his father's expectati...

Ben Turner is one of the creative minds behind Fulwell 73. This production powerhouse is responsible for global hit entertainment shows like The Kardashians, James Corden's Late Late Show, Carpool Karaoke, music series with Ed Sheeran, stadium events with Elton John and sports series such as Sunderland 'Til I Die - the series on which he and I first met.      This conversation is a rare...

Hello, I’m Nigel Levy, creator of DocFix – a practical storytelling system built from decades at the highest levels of documentary and factual filmmaking. It's been created to explore the simplest yet most powerful way to create meaningful documentary stories.  Storytelling in documentaries is something that seems to exist between drama techniques and instinct. But it is its own discipline, w...