Factual America

Woodstock '99 was supposed to be a millennium defining celebration of peace, love and great music. Instead, the festival degenerated into an epic trainwreck of fires, riots and destruction. Utilizing rare insider footage, and eyewitness interviews with an impressive list of festival staffers, performers and attendees, Netflix docuseries Trainwreck: Woodstock '99, releasing on August 4th, goes behind the scenes to reveal the egos, greed and music that fueled three days of utter chaos. Acclaimed filmmakers, director Jamie Crawford, producer Cassie Thornton, and executive producer Tim Wardle, join us to talk about 1990s nostalgia, the rock festival that went wrong, and why they thought there should be another documentary about it.  Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com “Woodstock ’99 was like an experiment in anarchy: what happens when you put a large number of young people together with not many rules.” - Jamie Crawford *NOTE: At the time of recording this interview, the announced title of the film was Clusterf**k: Woodstock '99, and the participants refer to the film by that title.  What is Covered:  00:00 - Guest introductions and the trailer for Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99. 04:30 - What the docuseries is about and the original intent of the festival. 08:28 - The profit-driven agenda of Woodstock ’99 and how it led to chaos at the festival.  11:00 - How society has changed since 1969 and the impact of the 1999 festival's music line-up. 17:24 - How the festival degenerated into chaos, riots and assaults over three days. 21:45 - The difference in treatment between this documentary and HBO’s 2021 version.27:20 - How willing the subjects were to talk about their memories of the festival. 33:00 - The excitement and challenge of making an archive-led documentary film. 38:50 - The discussions around the title of the documentary. 41:00 - What the filmmakers want the legacy of this film to be. 44:48 - What’s next for Jamie Crawford, Cassie Thornton and Tim Wardle. Resources: Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 (2022) Raw TV Don't F**k with Cats (2019) Music Box: Woodstock '99: Peace, Love and Rage (2021) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Jamie Crawford:  Website IMDb Connect with Cassie Thornton:  LinkedIn IMDb Connect with Tim Wardle:  Twitter IMDb Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter  Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter More from Factual America:  Class Action Park: America's Most Dangerous Amusement Park In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50 Underground Inc.: The Legacy of Alternative Rock

Menudo was arguably the first international boy band and one of the most successful. Starting from humble roots in 1970s Puerto Rico, the group conquered the pop world in the 1980s and 1990s, taking their brand of Latin pop worldwide.  But as the boys grew older and their voices started changing, they discovered that they were easily replaceable with a steady stream of 12- to 15-year olds in the wings, ready to chase their dreams of stardom.  Such success came with an unnecessary price. As revealed by former members, the boys separated from their parents were often overworked, neglected, emotionally and physically abused, and became easy targets for sexual predators.  Menudo: Forever Young (2022), HBO Max’s four-part docuseries, brings to life the uplifting, as well as tragic story of Menudo. The documentary is co-directed by award-winning filmmakers Angel Manuel Soto and Kristofer Ríos, and also co-executive produced by Ríos, who joins us to discuss the allegations made in the film, and how the band still has a fond place in the hearts of millions. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com "What we were attempting to do is celebrate Menudo, but also have everyone understand the cost the band members paid to be in the band.” - Kristofer Ríos What is Covered: 00:00 - The trailer for Menudo: Forever Young.04:40 - Where you can watch the docuseries. 05:20 - How the fans of Menudo have reacted the documentary. 07:48 - The historical significance of Menudo.15:25 - The importance of the band singing in Spanish.18:24 - The conditions the band members had to work in.22:22 - The physical and mental abuse the boys were put through.25:25 - The issue of the band members being sexualised.30:05 - How Kristofer got involved in the making of Menudo: Forever Young.36:25 - The challenges of interviewing former members of the band.41:43 - What it was like meeting the ex-members of Menudo.43:45 - What we can take away from this documentary.  Resources: Menudo: Forever Young (2022) Fusion Media Group MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Kristofer Ríos:IMDb Website Twitter Instagram Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter  Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter More from Factual America:  Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road - Director's Take Under the Volcano: The Secret Birthplace of the 80s Greatest Hits Mary J Blige: The Unheard Story of the Album 'My Life' HBO's Revolution Rent: Broadway in Cuba

Facing Nolan captures the life of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, arguably one of the greatest pitchers of all time. His 51 records and 27 seasons across four decades are the stuff of lore. It wasn't always so. Even as the Ryan Express was chalking up strikeouts and no-hitters like no one before him, or since, Nolan Ryan was surprisingly undervalued. Oddly enough, he may still be. What better way to understand Ryan's fierce competitive spirit and otherworldly talent than actually asking the Hall of Famers who had to face his 100-mph fastball, or 12-6 curveball on a regular basis. In acclaimed filmmaker Bradley Jackson's documentary about this living Texas legend, Nolan Ryan is revealed by those who know him best – his family, teammates, and even former US presidents.  “I can’t think of an athlete that is more associated with a state than Nolan Ryan is for Texas.” - Nolan Ryan Watch the full interview at https://factualamerica.com Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Facing Nolan.04:49 - A synopsis of what the documentary is about.06:06 - Why so many teams undervalued Nolan Ryan.09:00 - Why some people don’t like his pitching.11:00 - How the baseball legends responded to being asked to be on the film.13:20 - What it was like being a batter against Nolan Ryan.15:46 - How Bradley Jackson got involved with the making of the film.18:27 - What Nolan thinks about pitching today.21:54 - The effect his wife had on his career.23:29 - What it’s like making a film with a baseball legend.27:43 - How Nolan responds to the incident with Robin Ventura.32:30 - What he means as a sports figure for the state of Texas.34:15 - How Bradley Jackson got an interview with George Bush.37:46 - The next project he is working on. Resources: Facing Nolan (2022) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Bradley Jackson:IMDb Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter  Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter More from Factual America:  Neymar: The Perfect Chaos - The Director's Perspective Dear Rider: Snowboarding Legend Jake Burton Mike Tyson: The Truth Behind the Knockouts

In Netflix's latest true crime documentary Girl in the Picture, a woman named Sharon Marshall is found dying by a road, leaves behind a son, a man claiming to be her husband—and a mystery that unfolds like a nightmare. The film tells an incredibly tragic tale and the incredible story of how the mystery was eventually solved twenty-five years later.  Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Skye Borgman, Girl in the Picture looks at who Sharon Marshall was, her many different lives and identities, the people whom she touched and the world that she left behind. Releasing on Netflix on July 6th, Girl in the Picture represents a tribute to this young woman and to victims everywhere.  Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com “I’m mostly interested in telling human stories and crime gives us the full spectrum of humanity, from the very best to the very worst of people.” - Skye Borgman What is Covered: 00:00 - The trailer for Girl in the Picture. 03:30 - A synopsis of what the film is about. 04:55 - What inspired Skye to make a film about Sharon Marshall. 07:00 - What caused law enforcement to investigate Sharon’s case. 09:07 - How Franklin Delano Floyd got away with crime for so long. 13:58 - How Skye became involved in the project. 15:24 - The increase of podcasts that complement documentary films. 17:30 - What makes a successful documentary. 23:55 - What surprised Skye the most when making Girl in the Picture. 25:44 - Why they chose to use feature documentary format to tell the story. 27:40 - The next project Skye is working on.  Resources: Girl in the Picture (2022)  Abducted in Plain Sight (2017) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Skye Borgman:  Website Twitter IMDb Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter  Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter More from Factual America:  Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey  Curse of the Chippendales: A True Crime Story Stripped Bare The Phantom: The Case of Carlos DeLuna 40 Years Later Murder Among the Mormons: The Mark Hofmann's Story

The Netflix docuseries Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey tells the chilling story of Warren Jeffs and his rise in the Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of the mainstream Mormon church. FLDS members practice polygamy and assign women husbands by divine revelation to the prophet, in this case, Warren Jeffs. The church turned into a cult under Jeffs' leadership, and its practices led to concerns from outsiders about underage marriage and statutory rape. But no one was prepared for the shocking crimes perpetrated by Warren Jeffs himself, who remains the prophet of FLDS to the present day, despite being in prison. The docuseries, directed and produced by Emmy-winning filmmaker Rachel Dretzin, looks at both the ways in which Warren and his father transformed the group, but also at the hunt for, and ultimately, conviction of Warren for crimes against children. Watch the episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/keep-sweet-pray-and-obey/ “The strongest thing about this story is that it tells you a lot about human nature and the ways that these things can happen.” - Rachel Dretzin Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Keep Sweet: Prey and Obey.04:55 - A synopsis of what the docuseries is about. 06:09 - The main practices of the Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 07:20 - Warren Jeffs and the disturbing practices he was involved with. 11:55 - What life was like for women in the FDLS. 14:28 - Who was responsible for unearthing the crimes that Warren Jeffs was involved in.17:05 - The ‘chosen members’ Warren Jeffs brought to Texas. 22:45 - How people can be brainwashed to such a large extent. 24:57 - How Rachel Dretzin got involved with the making of Keep Sweet: Prey and Obey. 28:39 - The difficulty of having victims relive their trauma for the documentary. 31:15 - The continuation of the FLDS and Warren Jeffs. 33:15 - The next projects Rachel Dretzin is working on.  Resources: Keep Sweet: Prey and Obey (2022) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Rachel Dretzin:IMDb Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secrets Secrets of Playboy: Hugh Hefner's Dark Empire Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice Curse of the Chippendales: A True Crime Story Stripped Bare

Three-part docuseries Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret reveals how a group of men behind the world's most successful modelling agencies were involved in a darker side of the industry. It exposes how modelling agents like John Casablancas, Jean-Luc Brunel, Claude Haddad and Gérald Marie, who denies the allegations, created a culture that enabled many of them to indulge in a spectrum of abusive behaviours, ranging from grooming and coercion to the rape of models as young as 15. The film hears from a generation of forgotten women who were promised stardom and glamour, but instead found themselves used, abused and in some cases, trafficked between networks of powerful men. Building on an ongoing investigation by Lucy Osborne for The Guardian, the series delivers the fashion industry its own 'me too' reckoning, and follows the survivors, including Carré Ottis, as they come together to take action against those responsible. Watch the episode at https://www.factualamerica.com/scouting-for-girls Clare Richards, series director, Lucy Osborne, senior producer, and Carré Ottis, model, author, wellness consultant, activist and contributor to the film, join us to discuss Scouting for Girls that airs on Sky Documentaries on June 24th. “Models are seen as beautiful people that get paid a ton of money, and that creates a discrimination against us that we shouldn’t have the same rights and protections as workers in other industries.” - Carré Ottis  What is Covered: 00:00 - Introduction and a clip from Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret. 03:02 - What the docuseries is about. 07:15 - What Carré Ottis’s experienced as a minor and when she started speaking out about it. 13:50 - The scale of abuse that has been happening in the fashion industry. 16:40 - The challenges of telling the story and survivors reliving their experiences. 19:28 - How prevalent the abuse in the fashion industry is today. 21:15 - Clip: Carré Ottis testifying to the French police. 25:40 - How Lucy Osborne turned the investigative journalism piece into a docuseries. 31:00 - Why now is the right time to show this story. 39:22 - How the statute of limitation on sexual assault in different states affects the victims. 42:05 - What Lucy, Clare and Carré would like to see change in the fashion industry. 45:10 - What they want the legacy of this documentary to be. 48:00 - How the victims can reach out to the Model Alliance and share their story. 54:00 - Further information on the allegations made in Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret. Resources: Scouting for Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret (2022) Lucy Osborne’s investigative articles in The Guardian Model Alliance American Girls in Paris, Diane Sawyer 60 Minutes report MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect Lucy Osborne: Twitter Instagram Connect with Clare Richards: Website Twitter IMDb Connect with Carré Ottis: Instagram Right to Replies A lawyer for Gérald Marie has stated that he “firmly objects” to the “false allegations made against him”. She added: “He remains calm and refuses to participate in the fallacious and dishonest media controversy that has been fomented more than thirty years later. He is withholding his statements for the justice system, in which he has complete faith.” Gérald Marie remains under police investigation in France and is presumed innocent. John Casablancas retired to Brazil in the early 2000s with the young wife he met at Look of the Year. He died in 2013. In 2004, Elite was forced into bankruptcy and the brand was sold. The current owners have no connection with the prior management and have strongly condemned the historic allegations of abuse. They are committed to a culture of respect, empowerment and protecting the safety of their models. Claude Haddad died in 2009. He previously denied allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Jean-Luc Brunel declined to comment on the allegations made against him in this film. He has previously strongly denied all of the allegations against him. Brunel’s former modelling agency, Karin’s is now under new management. Prior to his death in February 2022, Jean-Luc Brunel declined requests to participate in the series or respond to its allegations. Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Secrets of Playboy: Hugh Hefner's Dark Empire Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice Curse of the Chippendales: a True Crime Story Stripped Bare

Based on reporting by New York Times journalists Cade Metz and Neil Boudet, Elon Musk's Crash Course zeroes in on Elon Musk, the world's richest person and CEO of Tesla, and his claims about self-driving cars. The latest in a series of films from The New York Times Presents is directed and produced by Emmy-winning journalist and filmmaker Emma Schwartz, and it reveals the quixotic nature of Musk's pursuit of self-driving technology and its tragic results. Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com/elon-musk-crash-course Elon Musk made his name and fortune taking bold risks and betting on the impossible. But Musk's pursuit of self-driving cars has put them on a crash course with business realities and the limits of technology. The film, available on FX and Hulu, uncovers what many former Tesla employees have to say about Musk's claims, and the culture he has created at the self-described tech company. Is Silicon Valley's era of "move fast and break things" really over?  “With self-driving cars, Elon Musk was selling a promise that was a long way off.” - Emma Schwartz What is Covered:  00:00 - Trailer for Elon Musk’s Crash Course. 03:10 - What the film is about. 06:14 - The main findings of the investigation into self-driving cars. 09:00 - What means autopilot vs driver’s assistance. 15:05 - The concerns of Tesla’s former employees for self-driving car technology and safety. 18:40 - The US Government’s response to fatal crashes of Tesla cars. 20:50 - Clip 1: Conversation with Elon Musk after the tragic death of Josh Brown.   23:30 - How Elon Musk’s previous successes might affected his promises for self-drive technology. 30:00 - The role of media in boosting technology gurus and their bold announcements. 34:08 - How far we are from self-driving cars future. 37:03 - The vision behind The New York Time Presents series. 42:22 - Clip 2: Autopilot software engineer on the AI recognition problems in self-driving cars.  Resources: Elon Musk's Crash Course (2022) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Emma Schwartz:  Twitter IMDb Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: The Downfall of Boeing Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice The Great Hack: Big Tech and the Post-Truth World

Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen (2022) captures a bygone era of early television and blockbuster Hollywood musicals. It also shines a light on the incredible career of fellow filmmaker Norman Jewison.  Jewison had critical success over more than three decades, but his crowning achievement might be bringing the famous musical Fiddler on the Roof to the big screen. Legendary film critic Pauline Kael called Fiddler the most powerful movie musical ever made.  Award-winning and Oscar nominated filmmaker Daniel Raim, the director of Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen, joins us to share the unlikely story behind this iconic American film. Watch the interview at https://factualamerica.com/fiddler-on-the-roof “Like so many millions of people who learn about Jewish culture and history through “Fiddler on the Roof,” I was completely captivated by the music, the story and the production design.” - Daniel Raim Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen.03:45 - What it’s about and where you can watch the film.05:43 - The cultural phenomenon of the movie muscal Fiddler on the Roof.07:45 - What makes the story so relatable to people. 10:20 - Who Norman Jewison was and what made his films so powerful.13:19 - The collaboration of musicians behind Fiddler on the Roof. 16:38 - The importance of set design in the film.18:15 - The extent of Robert Boyle’s attention to detail.24:19 - Norman Jewison’s skill at picking actors and making them feel comfortable.28:43 - What inspired Daniel to create a documentary about the iconic film. 31:54 - The theatrical production of Fiddler on the Roof and the key differences it has to the original.36:09 - How Daniel gained access to the archival footage of Norman directing.41:00 - Different short documentaries Daniel has made and the feature documentary he is now working on. Resources: Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen (2022) Fiddler on the Roof (1971) In the Heat of the Night (1967) Moonstruck (1987) Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story (2015) Connect with Daniel Raim: WebsiteIMDb Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: HBO's Revolution Rent: Broadway in Cuba I Am Here: The Most Inspirational Holocaust Survivor Steve McQueen: The Lost Formula 1 Movie

Deep in the Heart (2022) is a visually stunning portrait of Texas, told through the eyes of the wildlife species themselves. Narrated by Texas icon Matthew McConaughey and featuring state of the art cinematography, this documentary brings to life one of the world's most diverse, but possibly lesser known set of ecosystems. Similar in style to Planet Earth, the film shows off some of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles and eco regions in the state of Texas, weaving in the story of our society's relationship with wildlife in Texas over the past 150 years. Award winning filmmakers Ben Masters and Katy Baldock join us to celebrate the diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife of the Lone Star State. Joining us as well to co-host this conversation is Patrick Scott Armstrong, host of The Lone Star Plate podcast, who interviews famous Texans and explores compelling Texas stories.  Deep in the Heart has its Texas-wide theatre release on June 3rd, and will be available on streaming platforms in July 2022.  “I learned a lot about my home state during the production of ‘Deep in the heart.’” - Ben Masters What is Covered: 00:00 - Guest introduction and Deep in the Heart Trailer. 07:00 - Where people can see the film in Texas and when it will stream online. 08:38 - What Deep in the Heart is about and how the idea for the film came about. 15:50 - How the film crew managed to capture ocelots on camera and what other animals they filmed. 26:30 - What message Ben and Katy want to get across to the audience with this film. 32:30 - How they got Matthew McConaughey to narrate the documentary. 37:05 - Cinematography in Deep in the Heart and the approach to filming the wildlife. 44:00 - What Katy and Ben want the legacy of this film to be. 50:30 - What actions are taken every day to preserve Texas waters and Texas wildlife. 01:01:20 - Further plans for the outreach and film distribution. 01:09:00 - The role of writing, narration and music in the documentary. Resources: Deep in the Heart (2022) Take action to preserve Texas wildlife Fin and Fur Films Planet Earth series on BBC MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Ben Masters:  Facebook Instagram IMDb Connect with Katy Baldock: Instagram Facebook Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: A Life on Our Planet: Sir David Attenborough's Witness Statement Our Great National Parks with Barack Obama on Netflix Building Trump's Border Wall in Texas Public Trust: The Urgency to Protect US Public Lands

Documentary film ‘Hold Your Fire’ provides us with a riveting account of a hostage situation in Brooklyn in January 1973, when four young African American men were caught stealing guns in a sporting goods store and took a dozen hostages.  The police assumed that they were members of the Black Liberation Army and came down with all the force of the NYPD. The situation snowballed into an event full of miscommunications, misunderstandings and mistaken identity, and it soon became tragically violent. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Stephen Forbes, cinematographer and director of ‘Hold Your Fire,’ shares how he brought this incredible story to the big screen.  'Hold Your Fire' has its theatrical release in the US on May 20th and will be available on iTunes. “We’re taught a domination model in interaction. The best schools in America teach that you enter a conversation to win.” - Stefan Forbes What is Covered: 00:00 - Trailer for ‘Hold Your Fire.’  02:40 - Introducing the guest Stefan Forbes and the film.  05:05 - What ‘Hold Your Fire’ is about.  06:49 - How Stefan came across the story for the film.  09:35 - Who Harvey Schlossberg was and what his role in this story was.  14:38 - Why conflict resolution methods are not deeply accepted in American society.  19:03 - How vivid the memories of people who witnessed the events covered in the film still are.  24:50 - Why American justice system needs to become more victim centred.  26:14 - Who the team behind the film is and how they are involved.  30:00 - The success with representing diverse voices in the film.  Resources: Hold Your Fire (2021)  Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story (2008) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Stefan Forbes: Twitter LinkedIn IMDb Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: MLK/FBI: America on a Collision Course The Invisible Pilot: Stranger than Fiction White Boy Rick: A Call for a Better American Justice System    

The Invisible Pilot is an HBO Max Docuseries that captures the incredible story of Gary Betzner, an Arkansas crop duster who died under mysterious circumstances. Or did he? The mystery around this man's death would be more than enough for a compelling doc. But that is only the beginning of a story that proves that truth is most definitely stranger than fiction. Given the unlikeliest of events set against the backdrop of 1970s and 80s America and Reagan's war on drugs, the docuseries is Forrest Gump meets American Made meets All the President's Men. Emmy-winning filmmakers Phil Lott and Ari Mark, co-directors and executive producers of The Invisible Pilot, share how they discovered this amazing story and how their investigative journalism led to the creation of a compelling 3-part documentary.  Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com/the-invisible-pilot "Just because it’s a documentary and not a feature, it doesn’t mean it’s solely educational or intellectual - it can also entertain." - Phil Lott  What is Covered: 00:00 - The trailer for The Invisible Pilot. 03:05 - The synopsis of the docuseries. 06:18 - How Phil and Ari came across this story. 08:40 - What makes documentaries sometimes more exciting than feature films. 12:10 - What the US government was up to in 1980s. 18:20 - What Gary Betzner’s relationship with the government was while serving his sentence. 21:30 - The investigative journalism Ari and Phil had to undertake to create this docuseries. 24:50 - What Gary and his family’s reactions were to the documentary. 27:40 - How Phil and Ari approached and shaped The Invisible Pilot. 34:30 - What it was like to work with Gary Betzner. 37:30 - Upcoming projects for Phil and Ari. Resources: The Invisible Pilot (2022) Ample Entertainment MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Phil Lott:  IMDb LinkedIn Twitter Connect with Ari Mark:  IMDb Instagram Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Detainee 001: The American Taliban John Walker Lindh The Phantom: The Case of Carlos Luna 40 Years Later White Boy Rick: A Call for a Better American Justice System

Influential rock band King Crimson has been inspiring generations of musicians for over 50 years. They started off with great success in 1969 in London, but the band effectively split up in the same year, which then started a process of fragmentation and reinvention that has continued for 52 years.  Documentary film In the Court of the Crimson King that premiered at this year's SXSW, captures life on the road with King Crimson. The band has grown a large cult following over decades, and the film has been in great demand by the fans, although it still awaits wider release.  The acclaimed director, broadcaster and co-producer Toby Amies joins us to discuss the film, the essence of being in a rock band, the philosophy of music and the meaning of life. Watch the episode at https://www.factualamerica.com/king-crimson "As a filmmaker, I’m interested in human condition, and King Crimson matter as a band because they speak to human condition." - Toby Amies Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for In the Court of the Crimson King.03:11 - When the film will be widely released.06:23 - Who King Crimson are, what they stand for and what makes them special.12:04 - How the idea of the film was formed when Toby knew so little about the band.16:15 - Toby’s passion for music and the challenges of making a documentary about top-class musicians.23:34 - The challenges of making a documentary with limited access to your subjects.29:05 - The benefits of filming without a crew and the power of post-production.36:28 - The failures of English punk and how punk rock King Crimson are.39:40 - How the band remained successful in their later years.43:40 - How Robert Fripp feels about the outcome of the film.48:40 - The pressure of making a film about a subject that has so many fans.1:01:45 - What’s next for Toby Amies and his hope for future projects Resources: In the Court of the Crimson King (2022) Sherman’s March (1985) The Man Whose Mind Exploded (2012) Alternative Nation (1992-) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Toby Amies: Website Instagram Twitter Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road - Director's Take Guy Clark: Texas Music Legend Miles Davis: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock and Roll

Our Great National Parks is a breathtaking Netflix original docuseries, executive produced and narrated by President Barack Obama, who protected more public lands and waters than any other US president in history. Watch the full episode at https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/podcast/our-great-national-parks President Obama takes us on a journey to experience nature in the world's most iconic national parks, spanning five continents. The series brims with wonder, humour and optimism as each episode tells the story of a national park through the lives of its wildest residents, both big and exceptionally small. The series explores our changing relationship with wilderness traveling from the waters of Monterey Bay, California to the bright red soil of Kenya Savo National Park, the lush rainforests of Indonesia's Gunung Leuser National Park, the majestic terrain of Chilean Patagonia and more. Our Great National Parks beckons us to get out and explore, create new ways for these wild places to thrive, and vigorously preserve them for future generations to come. Acclaimed filmmakers James Honeyborne and Sophie Todd are the executive producer and series producer behind this five-part documentary. They share their experiences making this series and what it was like working with President Barack Obama. Not all human ideas are bad. National parks were a human idea. We did that, so we can be a force for good as much as a force for bad. - Sophie Todd  What is Covered: 00:00 - Trailer for Our Great National Parks. 02:10 - Introduction to the series. 04:37 - What Our Great National Parks is about. 05:49 - How the project was conceived. 08:00 - How it was working with President Barrack Obama. 13:45 - Why Sophie and James decided to take a solution-oriented approach to the nature conservation topic. 17:00 - What they hope the legacy of this series will be. 20:33 - How sloths can cure cancer and a clip from the documentary showing sloths. 22:50 - The process of discovering the wildlife during filming. 26:20 - How Sophie and James got such amazing camera shots of the animals. 30:00 - The story of preserving rhinos and second clip from the series. 31:48 - The main lessons viewers can take away from Our Great National Parks.32:55 - How it was to film this documentary during the pandemic. 34:38 - The development of remote filmmaking.  Resources: Our Great National Parks (2022) Freeborne Media MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Sophie Todd: IMDb Connect with James Honeyborne: Twitter IMDb Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: A Life on Our Planet: Sir David Attenborough's Witness Statement Kiss the Ground: How We Can Reverse Climate Change Becoming Cousteau: Legendary Explorer and Environmentalist

Despite living through one of history's darkest chapters, one of the oldest living survivors of the Holocaust, Ella Blumenthal, celebrates her 98th birthday, where she reveals to close friends and family profound memories of her incredible survival in a way she has never done before.  Award-winning documentary I Am Here (2021) celebrates her remarkable life and her magnetic personality and spirit that has remained undimmed. South African filmmaker Jordi Sank, the director and co-producer of I Am Here, shares the story of meeting this inspirational woman, bringing her incredible life story to the screen and in the process, obtaining a first-hand account of the Holocaust. “People need to learn from history so that we can have a peaceful future that’s worth living.” - Jordy Sank   Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introducing the guest and the synopsis of I Am Here. 03:10 - How Jordy met Ella.  04:30 - The unique conversations that came out on Ella’s 98th birthday. 05:50 - Ella’s secret to life and happiness. 07:30 - The importance of faith in her life.  09:46 - How she responds to anti-semitism.  12:18 - The challenges of getting Ella involved in the film.  14:34 - How they chose the style of animation for the film.  17:16 - Ella’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  18:24 - The importance of getting a first-hand account of the Holocaust.  20:15 - The next project Jordy has been working on.    Resources: I Am Here (2021) The MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Jordy Sank:Website IMDb Instagram Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Apocalypse '45: The Harrowing Reality of the Pacific War Tim O'Brien: The Final Book on the Vietnam War Some Kind of Heaven: Inside the Villages, Disneyland for Retirees

Andy Warhol is arguably the most famous artist of his generation, and his work still resonates today, 35 years after his untimely death. But what do we know about the man behind the cultural icon? Acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Rossi is the writer and director of the Netflix docuseries, The Andy Warhol Diaries. In this 6-part series, Andrew brings Warhol’s diaries brilliantly to life. In the process he helps us learn how Andy Warhol – the talented, sensitive, gay and religious man – was far more complex and human than his public persona ever led on.  “There can be competing thoughts within someone’s worldviews and what they confess in their diaries.” - Andrew Rossi What is Covered: 00:00 - A clip from The Andy Warhol Diaries.02:36 - What the docuseries is about. 06:40 - What Andrew thought about Andy Warhol before starting the project.08:45 - How Warhol’s diaries are interpreted differently from when they were first released.10:54 - The impact editor Pat Hackett had on how Warhol's diaries were published. 12:58 - The public persona Warhol created.15:14 - Common misconceptions people have about Warhol’s life. 19:36 - The spiritual aspects of his later work.25:25 - The complex nature of Warhol’s life and the subjective nature of his diary.27:40 - How it felt to make a film about such an iconic figure.33:35 - What it was like going through the archive of material they had access to.35:14 - The challenges of interviewing Warhol's old friends and peers. 37:21 - The unique insight this docuseries gives into Warhol's life. 42:14 - The capitalistic side of art that came out in the 1980s.  Resources: The Andy Warhol Diaries (2022) The Andy Warhol Diaries (Book) The Green Fog (2017) Couch (1964) Blow Job (1963) The MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Andrew Rossi:Twitter Instagram Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Miles Davis: The Coolest Music Innovator of the 20th Century Horton Foote: The Greatest Playwright You've Never Heard Of Robin's Wish: Who Robin Williams Really Was

In this special episode three of the five nominees for this year's Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) join us to discuss their films.   When We Were Bullies, by the Award-winning director and writer Jay Rosenblatt, follows Jay as he tracks down his fifth-grade class and their teacher to examine their memories of and complicity in a bullying incident over 50 years ago. We are next joined by award-winning director and producer Matthew Ogens. His short documentary Audible, produced by Netflix, follows football player Amaree McKenstry-Hall and his Maryland School for the Deaf teammates, as they attempt to defend their winning streak while coming to terms with the tragic loss of a close friend. A two-time Oscar nominee, Ben Proudfoot discusses his short doc The Queen of Basketball, which tells the largely unknown story of Lusia Harris, the first and only woman to be officially drafted into the NBA. “I love using the short documentary format to circumvent the traditional gatekeepers of what kind of stories get told.” - Ben Proudfoot What is Covered: 00:00 - Introducing the guests and their films.03:00 - Introducing Jay Rosenblatt and what When We Were Bullies is about.03:45 - What inspired Jay to make a film about bullying.05:00 - Different memories people had around one incident of bullying.09:02 - What it’s like meeting your fifth-grade teacher as an adult.12:05 - Introducing Matthew Ogens, the director of Audible.12:35 - How it feels to be nominated for an Oscar.13:22 - What Audible is all about.14:00 - How Matt met Amaree and his classmates.15:24 - The different subjects Audible covers.18:48 - What Amaree is doing now.20:10 - What attracted Matt to make a short film and what it’s like working with Netflix.22:36 - The next documentary Matt is working on.24:07 - Introducing Ben Proudfoot, the director of The Queen of Basketball.25:15 - What The Queen of Basketball is all about.26:18 - Why Lusia Harris is not more well-known in the world.27:46 - How Ben found out about Lusia and what influenced him to make the film.29:53 - The way Lusia portrayed herself to the media.31:28 - What her life was like up until now.32:19 - Why Ben likes making short documentaries so much.33:45 - How he gets funding for documentaries.36:53 - The next projects Ben is working on. Resources: When We Were Bullies (2021) Audible (2021) The Queen of Basketball (2021) The Smell of Burning Ants (1994) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Jay Rosenblatt:Website IMDb Connect with Matthew Ogens:Website Instagram Twitter Connect with Ben Proudfoot:IMDb Instagram Twitter Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Writing with Fire: Oscar Nominee for Best Documentary

Once the pride of American technological know-how, Boeing took a wrong turn toward achieving the bottom line at all costs, even if it meant keeping pilots in the dark and putting passengers' lives at risk. In the end, two Boeing 737 MAX airliners crashed, killing 346 people. Boeing's PR campaign immediately went into action to disparage and cast aspersions on the flight crews and their countries. Luckily, the families and a few intrepid reporters and politicians would not take Boeing's word as final. The new Netflix documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, explores the aftermath of the two tragedies and who should be held responsible for them.    “If you went and killed one person you’d probably spend the rest of your life in prison, so why is a corporation protected, why are the people who run corporations protected?” - Rory Kennedy What is Covered: 00:00 - Lack of remorse: a clip from Downfall: The Case Against Boeing.  02:40 - What the documentary is about. 03:55 - What caused the Boeing plane to mechanically fail.  05:52 - The unique aspects of Boeing’s corporate greed.  08:26 - Why Rory decided to make a film about the crashes.  10:43 - The unique aspect of the story Rory portrays in her film. 14:04 - How Michael Stumo’s daughter died and how he’s coped with losing her. 16:11 - The challenges of making victims relive traumatic events. 17:35 - How the FAA and Boeing covered up the risk of their planes crashing. 19:47 - Why Boeing's management wasn’t held to account for what happened. 21:51 - The immense public outcry against what happened at Boeing. 23:13 - How much Boeing got fined for the deaths they caused. 26:00 - What Rory hopes the legacy of Downfall: The Case Against Boeing will be. 28:30 - Rory’s new film about the global refugee crisis. 34:47 - The dangers of climate change and the future of energy sources. 38:58 - Quality Manager: 2nd clip from the film Downfall: The Case Against Boeing.    Resources: Downfall: The Case Against Boeing (2021) Climate Emergency Fund MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures   Connect with Rory Kennedy: IMDb Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Chasing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's Alleged Accomplice Curse of the Chippendales: a True Crime Story Stripped Bare  The Crime of the Century: Pharma and the US Opioid Crisis

Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan are award-winning filmmakers. Their documentary films have premiered at Sundance and won multiple awards including the Directors Fortnight best short film prize at Cannes. Patrick and Ivete's body of work focuses on the seldom seen and forgotten parts of American society. Their most recent short Happiness is a Journey, produced by the Guardian, captures a night in the life of Eddie “Bear” Lopez, who spends his Christmas Eve and early Christmas Day delivering newspapers around Austin, Texas.  Ivete and Patrick join us to talk about their films, upcoming projects and how they find the inspiration and subjects for their films.  “It’s the process of creating beauty and music, and then thinking why that is missing from our collective consciousness of who we are as a country, or as people, that inspires to make films.” – Ivete Lucas What we Cover: 00:00 - The trailer for Happiness is a Journey, and introducing Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan.03:23 - What the film is about.06:53 - How Ivete and Patrick met Bear and chose him as the subject for their documentary.08:52 - The benefits of filming a documentary with an iPhone.11:08 - Why Ivete and Patrice presented the film with a split screen.13:25 - The relationship they formed with the Guardian and what it’s like working with them.18:46 - What Roadside Attraction is all about.24:43 - Why it’s fun to create shorts rather than feature documentaries.30:03 - How they discovered Pahokee and why they decided to tell the community's story.33:40 - Patrick and Ivete’s attraction to the unseen parts of America.36:37 - The immigrant perspective that Ivete brings to their films.37:54 - Patrick’s background as a visual artist and why he left that scene.42:39 - Their upcoming feature film Naked Gardens about a struggling nudist resort in Florida.47:55 - The new films they're shooting in Texas and Louisiana. Resources: Happiness is a Journey (2021) Pahokee (2019) Skip Day (2018) Roadside Attraction (2017) The Rabbit Hunt (2017) The Send-Off (2016) Naked Gardens The MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Ivete Lucas:Website IMDb Connect with Patrick Bresnan: Website IMDb Connect with Factual America: Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Guy Clark: Texas Music Legend The Last Hillbilly of Rural Appalachia  Boys State: Reflection of a Polarized Society

Brian Wilson was the co-founder of the seminal 60s rock group The Beach Boys, as the leader and creative genius behind the band’s many hits. Brian Wilson has influenced generations of pop stars, including Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Taylor Hawkins and other pop royalty.  Award-winning documentary filmmaker Brent Wilson joins us for the second time to discuss his new film, Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. The film follows Brian on a journey, both literally and figuratively, of Brian’s old stomping grounds and memories which include over a half-century of battling mental illness. Brent explains how he was able to bring a new angle to the rock legend that is Brian Wilson, all while exploring what it means to be human. “Brian Wilson doesn't think in a linear fashion, so he's not going to start with the beginning of his life…and we ended up with 70 hours of footage in the car.” - Brent Wilson Time Stamps: 00:00 - The trailer for Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. 05:50 - A synopsis of the film.  08:50 - The unique approach Brent took in the making of the film and the difficulties with interviewing Brian. 13:26 - How he came to the idea to film Brian driving around LA. 16:26 - The challenges of making a documentary from unstructured camera footage. 22:56 - How Brian’s mental illness has affected his life. 30:46 - How music acts as a release for him, and why he is so self-conscious about his music. 37:43 - The ways Brian’s creative genius has continued through his later life. 41:16 - The soundtrack that is coming out with the film. 45:02 - The next projects Brent is working on. 48:30 - Commenting on our episode with Anne Rapp, the director of Horton Foote: The Road to Home. 51:12 - The challenges of selling such an intimate film, and the way buyers took advantage of independent filmmakers during Covid. Resources: Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (2021) Streetlight Harmonies (2020) Horton Foote: The Road to Home (2020) MovieMaker Magazine Innersound Audio Alamo Pictures Connect with Brent Wilson: IMDb Instagram LinkedIn Connect with Factual America: YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Matthew Sherwood: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter More From Factual America: Streetlight Harmonies: The Lasting Legacy of Doo-Wop Horton Foote: The Greatest Playwright You've Never Heard of

Marilyn Monroe almost requires no introduction. The iconic star of the silver screen still resonates with the viewing public even 60 years after her untimely death. But do we need to rethink her legacy or how she's been portrayed? Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Karen McGann certainly thinks so. Her new docu-series Reframed: Marilyn Monroe rethinks the legacy of one of the greatest icons of the 20th century's popular culture. Although in the media she was portrayed in a certain light, in reality Marilyn may have been a feminist trailblazer well ahead of her time. In the CNN docu-series, Karen explored the strategic ways Marilyn pushed her career forward, the intelligence behind her persona, and the complex nature of her life. Watch the full episode at https://factualamerica.com “We think we know the story of Marilyn Monroe, we have a very fixed point of view of her, and this documentary is about looking at her story from a more feminist perspective.” - Karen McGann Time Stamps:
 00:00 - The trailer for Reframed: Marilyn Monroe.
 01:58 - When the film will be released globally.
 02:47 - What Reframed: Marilyn Monroe is all about and how it reframes Marilyn’s life.
 04:58 - The ignorance Karen had about Marilyn before making the film and what she learned along the way.
 08:36 - How Marilyn strategically pushed her career forward and how she acquired her name.
 12:39 - The intelligence Marilyn had behind her Marilyn Monroe persona.
 15:26 - How Marilyn responded to naked photos of her being released.
 17:35 - Marilyn’s skill with handling the press and the different sides to her story.
 21:03 - The complex nature of Marilyn’s life and how she was more than just a victim.
 23:58 - The narrative around JFK and Marilyn’s relationship.
 26:06 - How Marilyn Monroe died and why it was presented to the public in a certain way.
 27:56 - How the idea for the project came about and how Karen became involved in the production.
 30:35 - Why they used so many of Marilyn’s voice recordings in the docu-series.
 32:19 - The main challenges they faced in making the docu-series.
 34:31 - The difference between making a docu-series and a feature-length film.
 36:17 - The next project Karen is working on about brain health. Resources: Reframed: Marilyn Monroe (2021)
 https://cnncreativemarketing.com/project/marilyn/ The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Sarah Churchwell
 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312425654 The MovieMaker Magazine https://www.moviemaker.com  Raw TV
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 https://www.innersoundaudio.co.uk/ Alamo Pictures https://www.alamopictures.co.uk/ Connect with Karen McGann:
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