Trust Through Transparency: Rethinking Pay and Power in Documentary
In this episode of Rough Cut, Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert from Multitude Films—an independent production company dedicated to transformative culture change through nonfiction storytelling—dive deep into how Multitude is building a values-driven model that prioritizes sustainability, fairness, and humanity both on set and behind the scenes.Key takeaways include: sharing production budgets when hiring crew to establish fair standards across the industry and recognizing care as a crucial component of ethical filmmaking — not just an afterthought.Listeners will gain practical insights on reshaping budgets, negotiating with transparency, and redefining compensation beyond just money. If you’re committed to changing the culture of filmmaking for the better, this is an episode you can’t miss.This episode is a collaboration between Video Consortium and Brown Girls Doc Mafia to bring attention to The Pay Transparency Project, a resource built in collaboration with VC and BGDM to promote and highlight the importance of pay transparency in documentary and nonfiction film production. Show LinksSweta Vohra: www.multitudefilms.com/sweta-vohraEmma Alpert: www.multitudefilms.com/emma-alpertMultitude Films: www.multitudefilms.comBrown Girls Doc Mafia: www.browngirlsdocmafia.orgPay Transparency Project: www.paytransparencyproject.orgCreditsGuests: Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert of Multitude FilmsExecutive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat VecchioProduced by Audrey HorwitzMusic by Zack WrightClick here to join or support the Video Consortium
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From Grassroots to Netflix: Inside the Join or Die Impact Campaign
In this episode of Rough Cut, guest host Caitlin Boyle sits down with filmmaker Rebecca Davis to discuss the journey behind Join or Die, the powerful documentary that reimagines Robert Putnam’s landmark book Bowling Alone for the screen. Rebecca shares how the team behind the film not only brought Putnam’s ideas on the decline of community life to a broader audience, but also charted an ambitious and intentional path for its distribution. From grassroots community screenings to a Netflix release, and even a theatrical run for Oscar qualification, the filmmakers prioritized meaningful engagement and peer collaboration over mass exposure. This episode offers an honest look at the time, strategy, and heart that went into building impact around Join or Die—a film about community that practiced what it preached.Rough Cut Podcast is brought to you by the global nonfiction video community the Video Consortium.Be sure to subscribe and leave a rating or a comment to help this podcast reach more filmmakers around the globe!◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠Episode Credits:Host: Caitlin BoyleGuest: Rebecca DavisExecutive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat VecchioProducer: Audrey HorwitzMusic: Zack Wright◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠Episode Resources:▶ Join or Die: https://www.joinordiefilm.com▶ Rebecca Davis: https://rebeccadavis.co and https://videoconsortium.org/members/rebecca-davis▶ Caitlin Boyle: https://caitlinboyle.co◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠Get involved and follow the action:Join VC: https://videoconsortium.org/joinSupport the community: https://videoconsortium.org/donate Listen to Rough Cut: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rough-cut/id1441930718 https://www.instagram.com/videoconsortium/https://www.linkedin.com/videoconsortium/
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Digging Through Time and Truth: Archival Ethics in the Age of AI
On this episode of Rough Cut, host Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros sits down with archival producer Stephanie Jenkins, whose work with filmmaker Ken Burns has uncovered rare historical gems like early footage of a young Muhammad Ali. Stephanie also shares insights into the art of bringing history to life on screen, and discusses co-founding the Archival Producers Alliance, which recently released groundbreaking guidelines on the use of generative AI in documentary filmmaking. From preserving the integrity of primary sources to navigating legal and ethical concerns, this episode explores how the rise of AI is reshaping the way we tell true stories—and why filmmakers must tread carefully.Show LinksDaniel Chávez-Ontiveros: https://videoconsortium.org/members/dchavezontiverosStephanie Jenkins: https://videoconsortium.org/members/stephanie-jenkinsArchival Producer AllianceAPA: https://www.archivalproducersalliance.com/APA GenAI Best Practices: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WS4iZ2Wi_wft5x54RG-hYb45sf10W8nV/viewAPA GenAI Best Practices Tool Kit: https://www.archivalproducersalliance.com/tool-kit-for-documentariesCreditsHost Daniel Chávez-OntiverosGuests Stephanie JenkinsExecutive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat VecchioProduced by Audrey HorwitzMusic by Zack WrightClick here to join or support the Video Consortium
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Filming Family: The Ethics of Documenting Loved Ones with Ondi Timoner
Michael Werner returns to Rough Cut and sits down with filmmaker Ondi Timoner to discuss the unique challenges involved in making documentaries involving one's own family. Ondi talks with Michael about her recent films "Last Flight Home" and "All God's Children," which explore deeply personal subjects like her father's final days and her sister’s religious and social justice work. She candidly shares the emotional and ethical dilemmas she navigated and the delicate nature of making films focused on deeply personal experiences and relationships. Show LinksInterloper Films: https://www.interloperfilms.com/Michael Werner: https://videoconsortium.org/members/michael-werner CreditsHost Michael WernerGuests Ondi TimonerExecutive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat VecchioProduced by Audrey HorwitzMusic by Zack WrightClick here to join or support the Video Consortium
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Framing the Artist: Inside Nathan-ism with Dennis Scholl and Elan Golod
On this episode of Rough Cut, artist and filmmaker Dennis Scholl speaks with Elan Golod about his new documentary Nathan-ism, and the complicated work of making art about artists. Dennis and Elan discuss their film’s impact on artist's legacies, how to make canvases and sculptures compelling on film, and the complexities of working with a subject who is used to having creative control. This nuanced conversation will resonate with filmmakers who have navigated relationships with complex film participants and faced challenging artistic choices when working with archival materials and other nontraditional media. Show LinksDennis Scholl: https://schollcreative.com/about/Elan Golod: https://videoconsortium.org/members/elan-golodNathan-ism: https://www.nathan-ism.com/CreditsHost Dennis SchollGuests Elan GolodExecutive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat VecchioProduced by Audrey HorwitzMusic by Zack WrightClick here to join or support the Video Consortium
Conversations with documentary filmmakers and video journalists about their creative process—successes, failures, and what they’ve learned along the way. Created by the global filmmaking collective The Video Consortium, Rough Cut is a guide to navigating today’s ever-changing media landscape.
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