The Dangerous Art of the Documentary

Double Elvis Productions, Tiller Russell

Filmmaker Tiller Russell (Waco: American Apocalypse, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, Operation Odessa, The Last Narc, The Seven Five) exchanges the camera for a microphone, sitting down with other documentary filmmakers for riveting, in-depth conversations about their most successful, iconic or recent films.

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97 episodes
Updated July 14
Explicit

Episodes97

Newest first

July 14 · 40 min
Joshua Seftel (All The Empty Rooms)
Director Joshua Seftel’s Oscar-winning short documentary “All The Empty Rooms” follows veteran CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they embark on a seven-year-long project to document the empty bedrooms of children killed in school shootings. Joshua shares with Tiller the origin of the film (2:00), respecting the spaces while still filming (14:00), how little objects express who we are (23:00), the process of removal (28:30), and the gratification of winning an Oscar (35:30). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
June 29 · 42 min
Isabel Castro (Selena y Los Dinos)
Director Isabel Castro’s latest Netflix documentary “Selena y Los Dinos”, featuring never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews, celebrates the life and legacy of iconic Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla and her family band. Selena talks to Tiller about falling in love with the genre of music documentaries (2:00), how she relates to Selena’s story (8:00), Selena’s legacy (19:00), how she approaches journalistic integrity as a documentarian (28:00), and what she’s learned about fact vs an artist’s truth (33:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
June 12 · 45 min
Felipe Bustos Sierra (Everybody to Kenmure Street)
Director’s Felipe Bustos Sierra’s latest film, “Everybody to Kenmure Street”, which chronicles the resistance to an immigration raid in Glasgow in 2021, is a brilliant and personal evocation of his own identity as the son of an exiled journalist by the Chilean dictatorship. In his discussion with Tiller, Felipe shares how injustice is a common language (4:00), when he knew that he had to make this film (10:30), how the camera is a weapon of resistance (22:00), incorporating Emma Thompson into the film (33:00), and his full circle advice for a young filmmaker (40:30). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
May 19 · 35 min
Lindsay Utz & Michelle Walshe (Prime Minister)
Co-directors Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe’s documentary “Prime Minister”, which premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim, chronicles Jacinda Ardern’s unexpected journey as New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister, offering an unfiltered window into her personal journey of family, motherhood, democracy and hardship. They share with Tiller where this film began (5:30), their most incredible archival discoveries (14:00), the future of the “follow doc” (20:30), and striking the dramatic tonal shifts of Jacinda’s life (29:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
April 16 · 48 min
Filip Hammar (The Last Journey)
In the charming, heartfelt documentary “The Last Journey”, Swedish TV personality Filip Hammar embarks on a cross-country road trip with his ailing father with the goal of rekindling his zest for life. In his discussion with Tiller, Filip shares how the film has made his 80-year-old father the most beloved man in Sweden (2:30), the similarity between himself and Johnny Knoxville (17:00), how humor accents sadness (26:30), taking inspiration from Errol Morris and Werner Herzog (34:00), and his father’s one-line review of the film (42:30). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
March 27 · 46 min
David Terry Fine (Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam | Netflix)
David Terry Fine’s Netflix documentary “Dirty Pop” tells the story of Lou Pearlman, the architect of the modern boy band era and the extraordinary web of lies, deceit, exploitation and greed that propped up his music empire. In his discussion with Tiller, David reflects on his journey from the edit chair to the director’s chair (2:00), the importance of pushing against creative gatekeepers (11:30), posthumously bringing the lead character to life (24:00), the ethics of utilizing A.I. tools in documentaries (32:00) and his experience rewatching the final film (42:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
March 13 · 58 min
Gianfranco Rosi (Pompei: Below the Clouds)
Italian master Gianfranco Rosi makes some of the most ravishing big-screen nonfiction films you will find. His latest, “Pompei: Below the Clouds”, a black-and-white masterpiece shot with a fixed camera, explores the complex lives of the people living in a region that seems to always be teetering on the edge of a haunting archival status. In his conversation with Tiller, they discuss the love they hold for their shared mentor Chuck Bowden (3:30), how Naples is a reflection of a suspended time (16:00), the importance of selecting the frame (26:00), why it’s impossible to describe his process (34:00), his preferred shooting specs (42:00), and how he knew when the film was “finished” (51:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
March 2 · 36 min
Julia Loktev (My Undesirable Friends: Part I - Last Air in Moscow)
Soviet-born filmmaker Julia Loktev came to Moscow in 2021 to make a film about independent journalists being declared “foreign agents” by Putin’s regime. Her film “My Undesirable Friends” ended up becoming a rare glimpse into the lives of brave female journalists speaking truth to power in the face of Putin’s war against Ukraine. In her discussion with Tiller, Julia shares how loneliness inspires her to tell real stories (3:30), her secrets to filming verité (8:00), the advantages that filming on iPhones provided (18:00), the organization behind the chaos of shooting for hours (27:00), and what’s to come in Part Two of this film (36:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
February 13 · 39 min
David Borenstein (Mr. Nobody Against Putin)
Director David Borenstein’s latest documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” is nominated for Best Documentary Feature in the 2026 Academy Awards. It follows a Russian teacher as he secretly documents his school becoming a war recruitment center during the Ukraine invasion. In his conversation with Tiller, David discussed the myth of the auteur director (3:00), adjusting his initial vision for the film (9:00), constructing the film with the teacher’s voice-over (17:00), the drama of the opening scene (24:00), and the broader context this film touches on (32:30). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
February 2 · 41 min
Isaac Gale (Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted)
Director Isaac Gale’s film “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” follows cult musician Swamp Dogg, alongside housemates Moogstar and Guitar Shorty, as they turn their home into an artistic playground. Isaac talks to Tiller about the singularity of Swamp Dogg as a film subject (2:25), finding the visual vibe of the film (16:30), subverting expectations for the audience (28:00), and the journey of getting into theaters (35:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
January 16 · 45 min
Tony Zierra (Filmworker)
Director Tony Zierra’s 2017 film “Filmworker” tells the story of Leon Vitali, who surrendered his promising acting career to become Stanley Kubrick’s devoted acolyte. In his discussion with Tiller, Tony talks about his surprising first impression of Leon (3:00), why Leon could not adapt to the culture of Hollywood (12:00), developing trust with his film subject (19:30), the tragedy of Leon’s life after Kubrick died (31:00), and how the film redeemed him in front of the world (37:00). The remastered film is now available to watch on Doc Addicts at https://www.docaddicts.com/filmworkerdirectorscut. Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Dec 12, 2025 · 48 min
Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman (The Alabama Solution | HBO Max)
Directors Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman take viewers deep inside one of the nation’s deadliest prison systems in their latest film “The Alabama Solution”, where incarcerated men defy the odds stacked against them to expose an explosive and shocking cover-up. They share with Tiller how this story inspired them (2:30), their co-directing method (6:45), the intention behind the cinematography (16:00), gaining access to an underground civil rights movement within the Alabama prison system (24:00), the construction of character in the edit (31:00), and the only way they know how to make documentaries (39:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Dec 3, 2025 · 47 min
Geeta Gandbhir (The Perfect Neighbor | Netflix)
Director Geeta Gandbhir’s new film "The Perfect Neighbor" is largely made up of police bodycam footage, tracking the events of a seemingly minor neighborhood dispute in Florida escalating into deadly violence. Geeta shares with Tiller how she got her first film job on Spike Lee’s “Malcom X” (2:00), discovering the trove of archival evidence (7:00), how the system failed the entire neighborhood and how the entire tragedy was preventable (19:00), and the thought and craft behind the original photography (33:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Nov 21, 2025 · 44 min
Chai Vasarhelyi & Lynsey Addario (Love+War | National Geographic)
Pulitzer Prize-winning Lynsey Addario has risked her life to capture the stark realities of war — from the Middle East and Afghanistan to Ukraine. From National Geographic Documentary Films and Academy Award-winning filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, “Love+War” chronicles Addario’s ascent in the male-dominated world of conflict photography. In their conversation, Tiller learns why this is Chai’s most personal film (3:00), how Lynsey decided to become the subject of a film (9:00), the lifelong cognitive dissonance of Lynsey’s life (20:00), Chai’s standard of stories that actually matter (31:30), and how Lynsey has managed to sustain her challenging lifestyle (40:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Nov 6, 2025 · 40 min
Gabe Polsky (The Man Who Saves the World? | In Theaters)
Director Gabe Polsky’s new documentary “The Man Who Saves the World?” tells the story of Patrick McCollum, a spiritual leader living in Moraga, California. The twist is this: certain Indigenous leaders in the Amazon believed Patrick is the answer to an ancient prophecy––the one who will unite and save the world. Gabe talks to Tiller about how he decided to dive all the way into this topic (3:45), his reliance on instinct while shooting (13:00), the complicated relationship he formed with the lead subject (20:00), the patchwork editorial process (27:30), and the hardest parts about making a film (31:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Oct 19, 2025 · 43 min
Rebecca Miller (Mr. Scorsese | Apple TV+)
Director Rebecca Miller’s latest five-hour docuseries profiles America’s greatest living director, Martin Scorsese. She talks to Tiller about how she framed her pitch to Scorsese (6:00), the selection of soundtrack (15:00), the importance of his key collaborators (24:00), how she took a cubist approach to Scorsese’s portrait (30:00), and what she learned about the art of directing (38:30). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Oct 4, 2025 · 50 min
Abel Ferrara (Turn in the Wound)
Legendary director Abel Ferrara’s latest film, “Turn in the Wound”, explores human conflict and the search for peace and balance through the music and words of Patti Smith in reflective conversation with the experiences of people at war in Ukraine. This is one interview Tiller has been looking forward to all his professional life. Abel shares with Tiller the secret to retaining his unflinching creative vision (1:30), making the decision to travel to war-torn Ukraine (8:00), how the film captures the cross-section of humanity in Ukraine (19:00), interweaving the arc of Patti’s story (29:30), the resilient nature of the Ukrainian people (40:00), and what Abel’s working on next (48:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Sep 15, 2025 · 36 min
Bill Banowsky & Paul O'Bryan (A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant)
Director Bill Banowsky and producer Paul O’Bryan’s latest film “A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant” chronicles the incredible life and career of political cartoonist Patrick Oliphant, which also provides a concise history of political cartoons, political polarization and corporate media control. In their discussion, Bill and Paul reflect on becoming friends with Pat Oliphant (2:00), finding conflict and humanity in a film subject they respect (12:00), the genius of Pat’s ability to satirize intense subjects (20:30), and how Pat influenced the modern art of memes (30:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Sep 1, 2025 · 37 min
Amy Berg (It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley)
Director Amy Berg returns to the podcast to discuss her latest film, “It’s Never over, Jeff Buckley”, a portrait of the gifted musician who died tragically in 1997, having only released one album. Amy shares with Tiller how Jeff Buckley appealed to both masculine and feminine audiences (2:00), the impulsive nature of artists adding to their mythology (12:00), finding the right financiers and producing partners (18:00), designing the animation style (26:00), and ultimately what she hopes people feel while watching this movie (36:00). The film is available to purchase now on Digital/VOD. Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions
Aug 16, 2025 · 44 min
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Folktales)
Oscar-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's life-affirming documentary “Folktales” tells the timely and heartwarming story of teenagers who choose to spend an unconventional "gap year" learning to dog sled and survive the Arctic wilderness, in hopes of finding connection and meaning in the modern world. In their discussion with Tiller, they share how this film came to fruition (4:00), putting together a Norwegian crew (14:50), the number one rule they learned about living in the wild (23:00), the subtleties of their filming choices (30:00), the secret to their co-directing cohesion (37:30) and what they love about directing (41:00). Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions