Talk Doc To Me

In this episode of the Talk Doc To Me podcast, documentary filmmaker Matthew Meredith sits down in Los Angeles with filmmaker and director Sheridan O'Donnell.How to Make Your Film More AccessibleResources:https://descriptivevideoworks.com/https://audioeyes.com/Sheridan O'Donnell was born in Texas and raised in New Mexico, he is a disabled (low vision), Korean American writer-director based in Los Angeles. He made waves with his directorial debut, LITTLE BROTHER, which stars JK Simmons, Daniel Diemer (PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS), and Philip Ettinger (FIRST REFORMED). The film took home the Audience Award at the 2023 Atlanta Film Festival and was released in the US through Gravitas Ventures, and Europe through Contre-Jour. As a creator, his work is known for exploring family, trauma, and the underseen through character-driven narratives that veer between catharsis, darkness and levity.Sheridan is a fellow of the 2025 Film Independent Episodic Intensive, The Ryan Murphy Half Initiative (shadowing under director Maggie Kiley on 9-1-1) and the Inevitable Foundation’s Accelerate Program. Through Inevitable, he is being mentored by Alex Garland, Destin Daniel Cretton, and Andrew Ahn. He most recently directed the feature-length documentary follow-up to the Emmy Award-winning film RISING PHOENIX which was produced in partnership by Harder Than You Think and P&G Studios.Featuring Lauren Ridloff (Marvel’s ETERNALS), Jim LeBrecht (CRIP CAMP), Paralympic Gold Medalists Ezra Frech, Anastasia Pagonis and other high profile disabled changemakers, RISING PHOENIX: A NEW REVOLUTION is a rousing, moving portrait of the modern disability movement. It was co-produced by Ventureland and its production team includes Academy Award Winning producer John Battsek and Academy Award nominated executive producer Jim LeBrecht. In addition to filmmaking, Sheridan teaches at USC, has been a speaker at the Cannes Lions, the Hollywood Radio & TV Society, and for clients like Samsung, among others. He’s been supported by Film Independent.

Documentary filmmakers Leah de Leon and Matthew Meredith (aka The Documentary Couple) discuss their immediate reactions after watching the newly released yet historical 3-hour long documentary YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING, directed by Lance Oppenheim and Nathan Fielder.The three main themes we explore are:1) What is Truth?2) Co-Directing Dynamics between Lance and Nathan3) Treating a Documentary like a "Regular Movie"'You Can See Everything' was released in theaters officially on October 16, 2026 with A24. Share your brain scrambled thoughts in the comments!Want to WATCH instead? See this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL-I7mOuDU8&t=

Ever wonder what actually makes two directors work well together instead of butting heads? Leah gets into it with Haley Watson and Justin Emeka, the co-directing duo behind "Songs of Black Folk," a Tribeca 2025 documentary following Seattle's leading Black musicians as they come together for a groundbreaking Juneteenth concert.Haley Watson is an Emmy-nominated director based in Los Angeles. You may know her from the short documentary "Motorcycle Mary," executive produced by F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and Breakwater Studios, which later became part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. She's also a cinematographer whose work spans documentary, narrative, and commercial projects.Justin Emeka is an award-winning filmmaker from the Pacific Northwest with over 25 years of experience as a theater director, best known for blending classical works with Black cultural expression.Spoiler: it's not about splitting everything evenly. Haley and Justin talk through how they figured out their roles, why "co-directing" doesn't have to mean being in the same room, and the moment they realized they could just trust each other and let go.In this interview you will learn…Why Haley and Justin don't consider themselves typical "co-directors"The concept of creative "lanes" and how it saved their partnershipDirecting a film while living in two different statesWhat each of them brings to the table that the other doesn'tHow their first project together, "Biological," built the trust for this oneTheir honest take on when collaboration works and when it just gets in the wayEpisode Resources & Links:Watch Songs of Black Folk on PBS POV Shorts / American Documentary and LA Times Short Docs — details on their Instagrams below.Follow Songs of Black Folk:  / songsofblackfolkdoc  Follow Haley on Instagram:  / haleylwatson  Follow Justin on Instagram:  / jemeka1  Talk Doc To Me is presented by Sundoc Studios:https://www.sundocstudios.comFollow on Instagram:  / thedocumentarycouple  

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" which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to widespread critical acclaim. It was produced by Darren Arronofsky and acquired by Hulu for streaming.David shot "A Concerto is a Conversation" which was nominated for Best Short Documentary at the 92nd Academy Awards. His narrative feature "Thelma" premiered in competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and had a wide theatrical release. He recently wrapped up production on "Primetime", an A24 feature starring Robert Pattison and directed by Lance Oppenheim.David also frequently shoots television series. His credits include "America's Team" (Netflix) "Delhi Crime" (Netflix), "Chef's Table" (Netflix), Untold" (Netflix) and "The Deep End" (Hulu).In this interview you will learn…- David's view on references and pre-production- How David films with Lance Oppenheim- Where David's inspiration comes from- David's favorite lens choice - How to get hired for DP work- How David met Ben Proudfoot- A conversation of imitation - A time David screwed up on set- How America's Team was filmed- What it's like to work with Chapman and McClain WayEpisode Resources & Links:https://www.davidbolen.com/Follow David on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/davidbolendpTalk Doc To Me is presented by Sundoc Studios:https://www.sundocstudios.comFollow on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thedocumentarycoupleConnect with Matthew on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/storiesbymatthew

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 intimate and complex as Makayla’s, a nonverbal teenager whose inner world was unlocked through letterboard communication. Together, Leah and Julio explore how Makayla’s Voice came together and how to authentically represent your characters/participants.They examine how documentary filmmakers can navigate:Crafting narrative from authentic subject experienceBalancing ethical storytelling with cinematic beautyWorking with subjects with non-verbal autismWhat it was like to work with Portia Cue for Makayla's voice overWhether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or a seasoned doc creator, this episode breaks down real choices Julio had to make that shaped one of the most talked-about short documentaries of the year.About Julio Palacio:Julio Palacio is an award-winning director known for crafting emotional, visually compelling short documentaries. His work has screened at festivals around the world, including Tribeca, Slamdance, Sundance, and others, and his film Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World was shortlisted for the 97th Academy Awards and distributed on Netflix.🎬 Learn more about Julio & Makayla’s Voice:https://makaylasvoice.com/Talk Doc To Me is presented by Sundoc Studios🎧 Listen on Spotify🔗 Connect with Leah and Matthew on LinkedIn📸 Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/thedocumentarycouple

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 to his latest film, Eternal Father. Together, Leah and Ömer examine how documentaries can navigate complex, controversial subjects like cryonics with nuance, empathy, and narrative clarity, inviting audiences into big questions about life, legacy, and what it means to preserve hope beyond death.In this episode, you will learn:• How Ömer approaches psychology and emotional truth in documentary storytelling• What it takes to explore cryonics responsibly and humanely on screen• The creative and ethical considerations behind Omer’s new film, Eternal Father• How filmmakers can tackle speculative or misunderstood subjects with depth and compassionAbout Ömer Sami:Ömer Sami is a filmmaker whose work explores the psychological and emotional dimensions of the human experience. Through an intimate and reflective lens, his films examine identity, belief, and the boundaries between science, hope, and legacy.🎬 Learn more about Ömer’s work:https://www.omersami.com/Talk Doc To Me is presented by Sundoc Studios🎧 Listen on Spotify🔗 Connect with Leah and Matthew on LinkedIn📸 Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/thedocumentarycouple

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 graphicsWhat it’s like designing motion graphics for high-profile documentary and docu-series projectsHow motion graphics deepen emotional impact and narrative clarity in non-fiction storytellingKennon Fleisher is a multidisciplinary Creative Director, Motion Designer, and Visual Storyteller whose work spans film and television post-production, main titles, graphics packages, and visual development.His motion design and creative direction have contributed to acclaimed projects including Man in the Arena: Tom Brady, In the Arena: Serena Williams, Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, and World War II: From the Frontlines, the latter of which earned recognition for outstanding graphic design.Kennon brings a director’s vision, producer’s strategy, and designer’s aesthetic to every project, blending narrative purpose with visual innovation to elevate documentary storytelling. He leads creative ventures through his studios Kinesis.tv and Duskline Pictures, where he develops original films and series while sharing insights on creative practice and media development with peers and aspiring creators. Episode Resources & Links:Learn more about Kennon’s work: https://www.kennonfleisher.com/Find Kennon on Substack: https://kennonfleisher.substack.com/Talk Doc To Me is presented by Sundoc Studios🎧 Listen on Spotify🔗 Connect with Leah & Matthew on LinkedInFollow on Instagram:www.instagram.com/thedocumentarycouple

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 assistant editor to Sam Pollard. As an Editor, she worked on numerous projects with Marc Levin, including CLASS DIVIDE (2015). Ema has Directed/Edited three feature documentaries — THE MAKING OF A JAPANESE (2023), KOSHIEN: JAPAN’S FIELD OF DREAMS (2019), and MONKEY BUSINESS: THE ADVENTURES OF CURIOUS GEORGE’S CREATORS (2017). She has also recently served as Editor and Co-Producer for Shiori Ito’s BLACK BOX DIARIES, which premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance 2024. In 2025, Ema made history by being the first Japanese director nominated in the short documentary category.In this interview you will learn…- Ema’s path growing up Japanese-British- How she got her start as a documentary editor- How Ema balanced motherhood while directing Oscar-nominated “Instruments of a Beating Heart”Episode Resources & Links:Learn more about Ema’s work: https://www.emaexplorations.com/en/Talk Doc To Me is presented by Sundoc StudiosWatch on YouTubeConnect with Leah & Matthew on LinkedInFollow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedocumentarycouple

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 actually looked like, and the mistakes they made in business first starting out.And for anyone standing at the crossroads, wondering whether to go to film school or just start shooting, this one is for you.In this episode, you will learn:How Leah and Matthew first got into filmmakingThe lessons and losses from their first years running a production companyTheir honest take on film school versus real world experiencePractical advice for young filmmakers ready to startIf you are building something from the ground up and trying to figure out your next move, this episode is for you.Episode Resources and Links:View Matthew’s WorkTalk Doc To Me is presented by Sundoc StudiosFollow on Instagram

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 Debut, an award-winning feature documentary produced in partnership with Boardwalk Pictures and executive produced by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.In this episode, you'll learn:  The right time to reach out to collaborators What you need in order to pitch production partners How to foster strong creative relationshipsCole has built and directed teams of all sizes and has brought stories to life on a global scale. If you're ready to build your dream team, this episode is a must-listen!Episode Resources & Links:View Cole’s Work:⁠https://www.colesax.com/⁠Talk Doc To Me is presented by ⁠Sundoc Studios⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠ ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠⁠Connect with Leah on LinkedIn⁠⁠Learn more about Documentary Producing