documentary

Ezra Edelman: "The job of an interviewer is to prompt people to go to a place they didn't even realize they were prepared to go to"

Ezra Edelman: “The job of an interviewer is to prompt people to go to a place they didn’t even realize they were prepared to go to”

Forty-six minutes into Episode 4 of Ezra Edelman’s epic documentary “O.J. Simpson: Made in America,” the director squares off with Barry Scheck, the defense attorney who discredited–or, at the very…
June 7, 2016
Elon Green
Turning a Narrative Story into a Documentary

Turning a Narrative Story into a Documentary

More than a few journalists have dreamed of turning their stories into films. Chicago Tribune features writer Kevin Pang actually did, producing a 90-minute documentary about a troubled chef’s attempt…
January 22, 2015
Kevin Pang
A champion of nonlinear narratives: An interview with documentary filmmaker Florian Thalhofer

A champion of nonlinear narratives: An interview with documentary filmmaker Florian Thalhofer

When Florian Thalhofer shows one of his interactive documentaries in theaters, he arms the audience with laser pointers. Whenever there is a choice of which clip to watch next, the…
February 4, 2014
Jeffrey R. Young
Viewfinder: Funny business

Viewfinder: Funny business

The news business is rarely funny. Much of what we do every day is report on devastating acts of nature, the plight of those without voices – the problems of the…
February 8, 2013
Sean Patrick Farrell
Viewfinder: We need to talk

Viewfinder: We need to talk

Let’s talk about why we’re not talking, shall we?I’ve noticed a recent video journalism trend against treating the audience to a bit of narration. Yes, I said narration: the stuff…
September 21, 2012
Sean Patrick Farrell
Viewfinder: Video journalism that works

Viewfinder: Video journalism that works

Whenever I go out on an assignment I get a few of the same questions from onlookers who see me with my tripod and my reasonably large video camera: “What…
August 10, 2012
Sean Patrick Farrell