# EP046 - Get The Cowboys On The Horses w/ Jess Harrop Of Sandbox Films

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/doc-walks-7327673/ep046-get-the-cowboys-on-the-horses-w-jess-harrop-of-sandbox-films
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/doc-walks-7327673/ep046-get-the-cowboys-on-the-horses-w-jess-harrop-of-sandbox-films.md
Podcast: [Doc Walks](https://stenobird.com/podcast/doc-walks-7327673)
Published: 2026-03-26T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://docwalkspod.com/ep046-get-the-cowboys-on-the-horses-w-jess-harrop-of-sandbox-films
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/769d52a5-d399-4750-a0ce-f637076f16a6/DW_EP046_JESSHARROP_FINAL_V2.mp3?dest-id=4997995
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/doc-walks-7327673/episodes/ep046-get-the-cowboys-on-the-horses-w-jess-harrop-of-sandbox-films
Duration seconds: 3952

## Resource

This one is scientific! We're thrilled to take a walk on Austin's wildside with one of the hardest working Executive Producers in the doc game today. Meet Jess Harrop, executive director of Sandbox Films—the science-meets-cinema studio behind FATHOM, FIRE OF LOVE, ANDRÉ IS AN IDIOT, and a jaw-dropping slate of genre-bending docs. Jess takes a break from her SXSW responsibilities to share her journey from a biology degree and a theater background (and zero film school) to a gig associate producing NOVA and eventually launching and running one of the most exciting studios in documentary. We dig into Sandbox's origin story as a subsidiary of the Simons Foundation, the philosophy of making science films that feel like romances and thrillers and comedies, and even what it's like to give notes to Werner Herzog. When our walk strays from the relative safety of the hike & bike trail, into a decidedly more "stabby" unexplored corner of downtown, Ben gets a little jumpy but Jess goes with the flow, an unflappable NY'er in action. We have lots of questions about her experience working with so many great directors, including the aforementioned Herzog… and she shares the Bavarian rogue's all-time great filmmaking note—"You've got to get the cowboys on the horses"—in other words: just get the story going. Jess details how Sara Dosa's FIRE OF LOVE was born from an archival gold mine and a COVID pivot. And we dig into this year's ANDRÉ IS AN IDIOT (in theaters now) and the Sundance 2026 award-winner, THE LAKE. Plus insight into: the world of mushrooms via DAUGHTERS OF THE FOREST; Jess's newest hobby (bejeweling costumes); her dream of talking to animals (not unlike the plot of Sandbox's FATHOM); and a brief mention of time spent working with Bill Nye the Science Guy. Discussion Links:…

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