{"podcast":{"title":"Documentary First","slug":"documentary-first-1033526","podcast_index_feed_id":1033526,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/documentary-first/","website_url":"https://tinyurl.com/DocFirstPod","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/f3d2ce0b-222e-47a7-9438-74dd3423112f/DF-logo-circle-whitebg.jpg","author":"Documentary First | Christian Taylor","episode_count":290,"summary":"The craft and business of documentary filmmaking — from people who actually do it. Documentary First is a weekly podcast for working and aspiring documentary filmmakers who want honest, in-depth conversations about how documentaries get funded, made, and seen. Hosted by Christian Taylor — award-winning director of The Girl Who Wore Freedom (25+ international awards, distributed through Virgil Films, Swank, and Canal+) — the show draws on 270+ interviews with documentary filmmakers, editors, producers, distributors, and composers across HBO, Netflix, PBS, and the independent doc world. Past guests include Ken Burns, PBS American Masters creator Susan Lacy, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning editor Charles Olivier (HBO's The Jinx, The Redeem Team), and Emmy-nominated director Nick Bruckman (Netflix's Minted). Every week, Documentary First delivers two formats in one feed. The main show features long-form interviews exploring how filmmakers approach their craft, navigate distribution, and build sustainable careers. On alternating weeks, Documentary First: The Deep Dive takes a single insight from a recent guest conversation and goes further — drawing on psychology, philosophy, and real-w…","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/documentary-first-1033526"},"episode":{"title":"Episode 262 | Why Josh Roush Made “Long Lonesome Highway: The Michael Parks Story”","slug":"episode-262-why-josh-roush-made-long-lonesome-highway-the-michael-parks-story","published_at":"2025-10-09T01:37:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/documentary-first-1033526/episode-262-why-josh-roush-made-long-lonesome-highway-the-michael-parks-story","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/documentary-first-1033526","url":"https://tinyurl.com/DocFirstPod","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/98be797f-11cf-4a77-9b53-de8e12497c08.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Documentary First, filmmaker Josh Roush opens up about his deeply personal journey creating the documentary Long Lonesome Highway, a heartfelt tribute to legendary actor Michael Parks. Josh reflects on his friendship with Parks, the creative decisions behind the film, and the challenges of navigating distribution, budgeting, and fair use of archival footage. The conversation dives into Parks’ multifaceted talent, his artistic integrity, and the lessons learned from a career defined by both triumph and adversity. Together, we explore how passion fuels storytelling, the power of documentaries to preserve legacies, and the importance of resilience in the face of obstacles. This episode is not just about one film—it’s about what it takes to make art that matters. Links: Josh Roush Narrative Film - IMDB Link: Wrong Reasons (2022) - Reference view - IMDb DocuView Déjà Vu Recommendation: Burden of Dreams by Werner Herzog, 1982, 95 mins, Watch on Amazon Prime, IMDB Link: Burden of Dreams (1982) - Reference view - IMDb Timecodes: 00:00 Final Thoughts and Future Endeavors 09:25 Navigating Challenges in Filmmaking 10:20 The Influence of Michael Parks 11:31 Building a Unique Relationship 13:47 The Value of Listening to Elders 14:26 Uncovering Stories from the Past 16:40 The Genesis of a Documentary Idea 18:02 Family Dynamics in Storytelling 18:54 The Kevin Smith Connection 20:58 The Role of Fair Use in Documentary Filmmaking 25:46 The Use of Music and Soundtrack 28:02 Budgeting and Financial Realities of Filmmaking 29:29 Personal Reflections on Filmmaking 34:45 Lessons from Michael Parks' Life 41:02 Legacy and Impact of Michael 42:12 Documentary Recommendations and Insights 43:33 Teaser Video 44:18 Documentary First promo Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilf…","meta_description":"In this episode of Documentary First, filmmaker Josh Roush opens up about his deeply personal journey creating the documentary Long Lonesome Highway, a he…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2720,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/documentary-first-1033526/episodes/episode-262-why-josh-roush-made-long-lonesome-highway-the-michael-parks-story/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/documentary-first-1033526/episode-262-why-josh-roush-made-long-lonesome-highway-the-michael-parks-story.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}