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Talk Doc To Me

Candid conversations about documentary storytelling hosted by Documentary Filmmakers Leah de Leon and Matthew Meredith.

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David Bolen Shares a Cinematography Masterclass

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…

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How to Direct Docs with Authenticity: Makayla’s Voice w/ Julio Palacio

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…

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Dealing with Death, Psychology & Documentary with Ömer Sami

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…

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How Motion Graphics ELEVATE High-End Documentary Storytelling w/ Kennon Fleisher

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 graphics What it’s like designing motion graphics for high-profile documentary and…

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Ema Ryan Yamazaki on Directing Japan’s First Oscar Nominated Short Documentary

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…

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Film School vs. No Film School with Matthew Meredith and Leah de Leon

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…

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Build Your Dream Team for your Documentary with Cole Sax

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…

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The Highs & Lows of Finding a Job in Documentary with Devon Blackwell

How do you navigate the documentary job landscape? Asking for a friend… Leah sits down with Devon Blackwell to chat about her time working at The New Yorker , how she handled layoffs, and her approach to using archival materials in documentaries. Devon Blackwell is a director and editor, a Sundance Ignite Fellow, and currently pursuing her Master’s in Documentary Filmmaking at Stanford University.…

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How to Partner with Brands for Your Documentary with Anna Wilder Burns

Sure, we all have our dream brands; but how do you actually land a partnership for your film? Leah chats with Anna Wilder Burns and they discuss how she and her team were able to raise $20K through brand partnerships for their original film ‘Beyond Normal.’ Anna Wilder Burns is an award-winning Cinematographer and Director who tells impactful stories about athletes, adventurers, and activists. A…

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How To Win an Oscar & The Business of Short Documentaries with Ben Proudfoot

What does it take to win an Oscar? Leah chats with Ben Proudfoot, the CEO and Founder of Breakwater Studios. Ben Proudfoot is a two-time Academy Award® winning documentary filmmaker and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Breakwater Studios, the home of the short documentary. Based in LA, he leads a team of 20 full-time filmmaking staff to create Oscar winning short documentaries. He was…

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