Rough Cut

Latest Episodes:

Activism, Art, and the Business of Documentary Film with Jarod Neece and Nicholas Bruckman Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

Documentary filmmaker Nicholas Bruckman, along with guest host Jarod Neece, senior programmer at the Tribeca Festival, take a deep dive into the surprising intersections between activism, art, and industry. From disability rights in Not Going Quietly to NFT art in Minted, and the surprising government power plays behind The Price of Milk, Nick shares how he navigates storytelling, ethics, and business in the modern doc world. Along the way, the two pull back the curtain on film festivals, funding, and the fine line between passion and pragmatism.

This is a candid, funny, and eye-opening look at what it takes to fund nonfiction films that matter, and get them seen.

Show Links

Jarod Neece: https://jarodneece.com

Nicholas Bruckman: https://videoconsortium.org/members/nicholas-bruckman and https://nickny.com

Peoples TV: https://peoples.tv

Credits

Host Jarod Neece

Guests Nicholas Bruckman

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

Trust, TikTok, and the Future of News with Ryan Kellett and Dave Jorgenson Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Rough Cut dives deep with journalist and video creator Dave Jorgenson, co-founder of Local News International and the mastermind behind the Washington Post’s unexpected TikTok success. Host Ryan Kellett unpacks Dave’s journey from producing YouTube sketches in college to pioneering a new wave of media literacy—armed with humor, a journalist’s commitment to accuracy, and a phone. Since launching his independent outlet, LNI, Dave has stepped into a bigger creative space, exploring a broader editorial range with transparency and nuance. From bold language choices to a collaborative, evolving style guide, he's prioritizing clarity, accuracy, and accessibility. Dave proves that trusted journalism isn’t about institutions—it’s about people. Now, with full ownership of his platform and vision, he’s building something bigger: an honest, informative, and entertaining space for the next generation of news consumers.

This episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how meaningful storytelling—and a good editor—can reshape the way we consume the news. Tune in now for insights, laughs, and a masterclass in creative adaptation.

Show Links

Ryan Kellett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankellett

Dave Jorgenson and Local News International: https://lni.media

Credits

Host Ryan Kellett

Guest Dave Jorgenson

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

Trust Through Transparency: Rethinking Pay and Power in Documentary Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

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 Links

Sweta Vohra: www.multitudefilms.com/sweta-vohra

Emma Alpert: www.multitudefilms.com/emma-alpert

Multitude Films: www.multitudefilms.com

Brown Girls Doc Mafia: www.browngirlsdocmafia.org

Pay Transparency Project: www.paytransparencyproject.org

Credits

Guests: Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert of Multitude Films

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

From Grassroots to Netflix: Inside the Join or Die Impact Campaign Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

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!

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Episode Credits:

Host: Caitlin Boyle

Guest: Rebecca Davis

Executive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio

Producer: Audrey Horwitz

Music: Zack Wright

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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

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Get involved and follow the action:

Join VC: https://videoconsortium.org/join

Support the community: https://videoconsortium.org/donate

Listen to Rough Cut: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rough-cut/id1441930718

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https://www.linkedin.com/videoconsortium/

Digging Through Time and Truth: Archival Ethics in the Age of AI Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

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 Links

Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros: https://videoconsortium.org/members/dchavezontiveros

Stephanie Jenkins: https://videoconsortium.org/members/stephanie-jenkins

Archival Producer Alliance

APA: https://www.archivalproducersalliance.com/

APA GenAI Best Practices: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WS4iZ2Wi_wft5x54RG-hYb45sf10W8nV/view

APA GenAI Best Practices Tool Kit: https://www.archivalproducersalliance.com/tool-kit-for-documentaries

Credits

Host Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros

Guests Stephanie Jenkins

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

Filming Family: The Ethics of Documenting Loved Ones with Ondi Timoner Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

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 Links

Interloper Films: https://www.interloperfilms.com/

Michael Werner: https://videoconsortium.org/members/michael-werner

Credits

Host Michael Werner

Guests Ondi Timoner

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

Framing the Artist: Inside Nathan-ism with Dennis Scholl and Elan Golod May 06, 2025

Show notes

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 Links

Dennis Scholl: https://schollcreative.com/about/

Elan Golod: https://videoconsortium.org/members/elan-golod

Nathan-ism: https://www.nathan-ism.com/

Credits

Host Dennis Scholl

Guests Elan Golod

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

Filming a documentary on an iPhone: Ann Collins with Sandra Luckow Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Rough Cut, filmmaker and editor Ann Collins talks to director Sandra Luckow about her new feature doc, Vanishing: A Love Story, shot entirely on an iPhone. Ann and Sandra discuss how smartphones have made filmmaking more accessible than ever before — but it’s not as simple as pulling a phone out of your pocket and recording. Tune in to hear from Sandra about the additional gear and apps she used to film the deeply personal story of author Cai Emmons’ end-of-life journey.

Show Links

Vanishing: A Love Story - www.vanishingalovestory.com

Credits

Host Ann Collins

Guest Sandra Luckow

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

Journalism in the Age of Vertical Video with Brandon Graves and Kamaria Roberts Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Rough Cut, Brandon Graves and Kamaria Roberts—Video Consortium’s Newsroom Collective team—unpack video as a crucial tool for newsrooms. They also share their personal journeys through the industry, discuss the challenges and opportunities facing local journalism today, and explore why VC’s Newsroom Collective is a game-changer for newsrooms integrating video storytelling into reporting. If you’re curious about where journalism is headed (hint: video is the future), this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Show Links

Brandon Graves: https://videoconsortium.org/members/bgraves

Kamaria Roberts: https://videoconsortium.org/members/kamarialeyla

The Newsroom Collective: https://videoconsortium.org/newsrooms

Credits

Host Brandon Graves

Guest Kamaria Leyla Roberts

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

The Vital Power of Local Stories: Kevin Merida and Dawn Porter Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Rough Cut, esteemed journalist and VC Board member Kevin Merida, former Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times, sits down with award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter for a wide ranging conversation, including her latest documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, the art of weaving archival footage into compelling narratives, and the vital role of local journalism. Kevin and Dawn offer deep insights into the power and possibilities of nonfiction video storytelling. Tune in for an enriching exploration of the evolving landscape of nonfiction video.

Show Links

Kevin Merida: https://videoconsortium.org/members/kevinmerida

Dawn Porter: https://www.trilogy-films.com/

Luther: Never Too Much: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10850320/

Credits

Host Kevin Merida

Guest Dawn Porter

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium