Bill Streeter is joined by Bowls MacLean on this episode to discuss the six part HBO documentary series Q: Into the Storm by Cullin Hoback. Bowls has his own podcast, the Bowls MacLean hour which you can listen to here.

Q: Into the Storm

The Vow is a new nine part documentary series on HBO about the NXIVM mlm sex cult.  we discuss if it's worth watching and look forward to some other documentaries that will be dropping soon.

The Vow (2020)

We launched this podcast in October of 2019 so we are one year old this month! We took this opportunity to take a look back at some of the films we talked about in our first year of the Podcast.

Our One Year Anniversary Review

Bobby Herrera

We were joined this week by Bobby Herrera to discuss a documentary he picked called "In the Realm of Perfection" by Julien Faraut.Bobby (Robert T. Herrera) is an old friend and colleague of both Bill and Jacob. He has made several films and you can learn more about his work here.

We were joined this week by Bobby Herrera to discuss a documentary he picked called "In the Realm of Perfection" by Julien Faraut.<br>Bobby (Robert T. Herrera) is an old friend and colleague of both Bill and Jacob. He has made several films and you can learn more about his work here.

In the Realm of Perfection with guest Bobby Herrera

This week we watched the 2015 documentary The Wolfpack about a family who lived isolated in the middle of New York for years and the six brothers who eventually escaped.

The Wolfpack

This week we are joined by Oscar Harding who is finishing his own film "A Life on the Farm" which is a found footage documentary for which he is raising money to finish on Kickstarter here. We discuss this project and if you find the project as compelling as we did you can contribute to the kickstarter which ends very soon. He also chose the television documentary "Finding Frances" which was the season finale of "Nathan for You" a Comedy Central reality show. The film blurs the lines between reality TV and legitimate documentary.

Finding Frances with guest filmmaker Oscar Harding

On this episode we discuss the disturbing yet compelling 2003 documentary Capturing the Friedmans that offers a rare inside look at a family facing a profound crisis when the father and one son is accused of child molestation.

Capturing the Friedmans

Roy Cohn

This is an episode recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic. Where's My Roy Cohn? is a fascinating portrait of one of the most influential figures of the 20th century that you've probably never heard of.

Where's My Roy Cohn?

We were joined this week by guest filmmaker Justin L. Fisher who picked Side by Side (available to stream on multiple platforms) for our discussion this week. Justin has a new film out himself entitled "Recording in Progress" about the current state of the recorded music business. It's a good discussion, we hope you enjoy!

Side by Side with guest Justin L. Fisher

Where we take a look at the 1992 experimental documentary Baraka. Mentioned in the podcast is this interview with the filmmakers.

Baraka

The podcast for people who love documentaries. Strangers to Fiction is a podcast all about documentary storytelling from two documentary filmmakers. Hosted by documentary filmmakers Jacob McEndollar and Bill Streeter, Strangers to Fiction features discussions of documentary films, talks with documentary filmmakers and insights into the artform.

I searched for podcasts discussing American Factory, and came upon your podcast. Although I mostly enjoyed the discussion, there is one member in the group who loudly talks over everyone else and even breathes loudly when he is not talking/interrupting. Maybe the mic is too close. Would have liked to have heard more from the guy who lived in South Korea. Good, interesting content, but I hope speaking styles can be tweaked to make it easier to listen to.

Interesting, but...

Strangers to Fiction

On this episode of Strangers to Fiction we discuss the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers. The film tells the story of Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran, identical triplets who were separated as six-month old infants and placed into  homes with differing parenting styles only to be reunited when they entered college. Directed by Tim Wardle, Three Identical Strangers tells how the brothers were reunited, rose to national prominence and the strange psychological experiment that separated the brothers.  The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival where it took home the prize for U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Storytelling.  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7664504/

On this episode of Strangers to Fiction we discuss the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers. The film tells the story of Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran, identical triplets who were separated as six-month old infants and placed into  homes with differing parenting styles only to be reunited when they entered college. Directed by Tim Wardle, Three Identical Strangers tells how the brothers were reunited, rose to national prominence and the strange psychological experiment that separated the brothers.  The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival where it took home the prize for U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Storytelling.  <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7664504/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7664504/</a>

Three Identical Strangers (2018)

On this episode of Strangers to Fiction we discuss the classic 1975 Maysles' Brother documentary Grey Gardens. Known for their Direct Cinema style, the Maysles' brothers laid the groundwork for many documentary filmmakers to come. Grey Gardens depicts the everyday lives of Big Edie and Little Edie, a mother and daughter who reside in a dilapidated mansion in the Hamptons.

Grey Gardens (1975)

On this episode of Strangers to Fiction we are joined once again by special guest Bowls McClean to rundown our top 5 true crime documentaries.

Crumb (1995)

[et_pb_section admin_label="section"] [et_pb_row admin_label="row"] [et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text"] Discussion of Hail Satan? (2019) On this episode we discuss the 2019 Documentary Hail Satan?  [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column] [/et_pb_row] [/et_pb_section]

Hail Satan?

On this episode of Strangers to Fiction we are joined by special guest Bowls McClean to discuss the 1992 documentary Brother's Keeper. From directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky (of Paradise Lost fame), Brother's Keeper follows the Ward brothers, rural farmers from upstate New York, after one brother dies and a second is accused of his murder.

Ep. 4 - Brother's Keeper (1992)

On this episode of Strangers to Fiction, we look at the 2002 documentary The Kid Stays in the Picture. The film, directed by Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen, chronicles the rise of Robert Evans from New York businessman to B-list actor and ultimately to production chief at Paramount Pictures. Narrated by Evans himself, The Kid Stays in the Pictures details his marriage to Ali McGraw, his successes with films such as Chinatown and the Godfather and finally to his downfall following a cocaine bust.

Ep. 3 - The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)

[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text] In this episode of Strangers to Fiction we discuss the 2019 documentary American Factory. Premiering at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, American Factory is the first release from Higher Ground Productions headed by Barack and Michelle Obama and distributed through Netflix.  American Factory tells the story of a shuttered GM factory that is re-opened by a Chinese glass manufacturer. It follows both the American and Chinese employees as they attempt to navigate difficult cultural and business differences.  NOTE: We experienced a bunch of audio problems with this episode, so please forgive us and be patient as we work out the kinks in producing the show.    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

American Factory (2019)

After a brief hiatus and while sheltered in place, Strangers to Fiction is back to talk about Netflix's much-memed documentary series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. The series goes inside the world of private zoo owners, in particular Joe Exotic and the characters that surround him. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Tiger King (2020)

This week we are joined by documentary filmmaker David Wraith to discuss the 2016 film Check It. The film follows a group of gay and transgendered youths in Washington D.C. who started a gang to protect themselves. Directed by Dana Flor and Toby Oppenheimer, the film was originally released by comedian Louis C.K. on his website, but is now available for rent on Amazon Prime.

Check It (2016)

On this episode of Strangers to Fiction we watch the 2004 Academy Award nominated documentary Super Size Me from director Morgan Spurlock. The film follows Spurlock as he eats McDonald's three times a day for 30 days. It also takes a hard look at the fast food industry and the rising levels of obesity in America.

Super Size Me (2004)

This week we watched the 1994 documentary Hoop Dreams which follows two boys from impoverished Chicago neighborhoods as they chase their dreams of becoming professional basketball players. Shot over five years as the boys were in high school, Hoop Dreams was universally acclaimed with Roger Ebert calling it "one of the best films about American life that I have ever seen".

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Ken Burns

This week we watched the first film from acclaimed historical documentary filmmaker Ken Burns - Brooklyn Bridge. We discuss the career of Ken Burns, his impact on  documentary filmmaking and the elements that constitute a Ken Burns film.

Brooklyn Bridge [Ken Burns] (1981)

This week we are watching the 1999 cult-favorite documentary American Movie. The film follows filmmaker Mark Borchardt as he attempt to make a short independent film.

American Movie (1999)

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is a 2007 documentary that looks inside the world of competitive arcade gaming. The film follows upstart Steve Wiebe as he challenges "the world's best gamer" Billy Mitchell for the high score in Donkey Kong.

The King of Kong (2007)

The best podcast episodes about true crime. For any thrill seeking podcast listeners who just can't get enough of the captivating stories of murderers and criminals. This topic has all the best episodes from many different true crime podcasts.  Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best True Crime Podcasts

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!