Westdoc Online

JEFF ZIMBALIST – How to Come Alive With Norman Mailer

Producer Director JEFF ZIMBALIST has two terrific documentaries released at the same time. HOW TO COME ALIVE with NORMAN MAILER explores the rollercoaster life of America’s most controversial and bestselling author of the 20th Century. Propelled by his tremendous ego and contrarian spirit, Mailer’s ceaseless visibility in the public eye lasted 6 decades, during which he had 6 tumultuous marriages, 9 children, 11 bestsellers, 3 arrests, and 2 Pulitzer Prizes. SKYWALKERS; A LOVE STORY is about a pair of Moscow daredevils who’ve made a career out of scaling some of the world’s tallest buildings. Their climbs are often technically considered trespassing — and completed with minimal or nonexistent safety precautions in place. But they aren’t just climbing buddies — they’re also in love. Skywalkers is on Netflix now and while Mailer is in theaters now and video on demand soon. See more documentary episodes on www.westdoc.net

RALPH ARLYCK – I Like It Here

I LIKE IT HERE is about the simple pleasures of being alive. An American documentarian for more than 50 years, Ralph Arlyck has created an eloquent cinematic meditation on the reality and surprising beauties of moving through life. Arlyck conveys how it feels to experience the winding down of one's days as he visits friends from past and present, most of them rather lively, plus children and grandchildren. He punctuates those scenes with reflections on the challenges of feeling your joints and thoughts stiffen, as the camera confronts - both seriously and humorously -- the obstacles that loom up in front of anyone who is on the last lap. Interviewed here by Chuck Braverman on Westdoc. See more episodes at www.westdoc.net

AMY NICHOLSON – Happy Campers

Producer, Director, Cinematographer Amy Nicholson shot Happy Campers, a bittersweet anthem to a working class paradise, virtually by herself. Her low budget, minimalist approach, combined with her beautiful photography, produced a powerful film and a reminder of the importance of community. Westdoc host Chuck Braverman talked with her about cameras, sound, day jobs, and the joy of work. Join us and see all the episodes at www.westdoc.net.

LUCY WALKER – Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa

"Mountain Queen
The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa"
Lucy Walker’s heart stopping new film, Mountain Queen: the Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa, is not just about mountain climbing but about a woman who struggled with social norms, language, and personal demons to get to the top. Lhakpa Sherpa has climbed Everest a record ten times, helped others to do so, protected her daughters from abuse, all while supporting them in a country that barely values her gifts. This is an important conversation. 

DAN COVERT – Geoff McFetridge: Drawing A Life

“This is a story about design,” says the subject of "Geoff McFetridge: Drawing A Life." He and producer/director Dan Covert speak with Westdoc about the experience of filming his life. McFetridge, who designed faces on the Apple Watch, though he doesn’t wear one himself, shares his feelings about art, money, the “danger of sincerity,” and the importance of self-awareness. Director Covert wanted to push the film past the normal “artist doc” tropes to create a larger meditation on creativity, family, and identity. What emerged is a film that asks big questions: What defines a life? How do you decide what matters?
The film is available on multiple VOD platforms July 2nd.

THE ROSS BROTHERS – Gasoline Rainbow

Showbiz is famous for siblings — the Coen brothers, the Marx Brothers, the Jackson 5, Warner Bros — but Bill and Turner Ross, have been gaining momentum with feature films like "Nose Bleed and Empty Pockets," and have created a unique format with Gasoline Rainbow: semi-scripted narrative with a documentary style. Speaking to Westdoc on our latest episode published today, they discussed sharing the director’s chair, working with five, first-time actors, a long prep and a short shooting schedule, and capturing acceptable audio on the fly.

ANDREW JARECKI – The Jinx Part 2

ANDREW JARECKI, producer director of THE JINX - The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, is even more interesting than the subjects of his films. Which is saying something, considering that his subjects include a convicted three-time murderer and family with multiple accused pedophiles (Capturing the Friedmans). He speaks to Westdoc at length about his privileged background, an accidental entrance into filmmaking, creating and running Moviefone, and a curious incident involving Harvey Weinstein.
THE JINX II is in release now on HBO MAX. 

MATT OGENS & JOEL BENSON – Madu

A video of a young boy in Nigeria dancing barefoot in the dirt goes viral. Soon he has a seven year scholarship at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in England. 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. 

PATRICK REYNOLDS – Hendrie

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; he published a boating magazine, worked as a photographer, made sizzle reels and art films. He spoke frankly with Westdoc about representation, distribution, festivals (they’re not right for every film), and budgets. Hendrie is available now on most video on demand platforms. 

JOAN CHURCHILL & ALAN BARKER – Cinéma Vérité

Available now on Westdoc, our new episode # 148 with 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. The couple has four short films coming out about Oscar winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler. The conversation reveals a rich history of two people who have devoted their lives to filmmaking.