Podcast appearances and mentions of thom powers

'No Other Land' is directed by a collective of two Palestinians and two Israelis to document a village in the occupied West Bank. Documentary of the Week host Thom Powers spoke to two of the directors, Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham. 

The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 5 – 15, 2024, promises, once again, to be one of the world's premier showcases for documentaries. TIFF's renowned Documentary Programmer and DOC NYC co-founder Thom Powers (Pure Nonfiction, WNYC's Documentary of the Week) joins Ken to break down the TIFF DOCS lineup and discuss what are sure to be some of the Fall awards season's most talked about and acclaimed documentaries.   Featuring 21 feature documentaries from 24 countries, the TIFF DOCS section is more international in scope than ever, covering a wide range of topics, from highly topical political docs (“The Last Republican”, “From Ground Zero”) to deeply intimate personal stories (“Mistress Dispeller”, “A Sister's Tale”) and awe-inspiring cinematic experiences (“Space Cowboy”, “The Last of the Sea Women”). The Fall doc season is here, and Toronto is ground zero.   Follow: @thompowers1 on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X/twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Thom Powers, chief documentary programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival, joins the show to talk about the nonfiction lineup of this year's festival. How do you cut more than 900 submissions down to a final list of 21? Powers explains, and he shares his thoughts on the most buzzworthy titles soon to bow in Toronto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the topics discussed include: How Thom Powers' background and expertise led him to the recruiting and transition space within financial services. Determining whether an advisor wants to be independent or have independence (there's a big difference). A breakdown of some of the hybrid affiliation channels that are proving to be great options for advisors who don't want true independence, but still want to leave the W-2 space. Why advisors need to consider the scalability of their practice before moving to a new firm. Frank and Thom are so passionate about this topic that if each episode of Advisor Talk didn't have a time constraint, they would have talked for hours. Today's show is full of information that advisors need to hear if they are deciding whether their next step is gaining independence or going completely independent. If you are interested in learning more about the independent space or any transition opportunities that are available to you, reach out today. Send an email to Frank@eliteconsultingpartners.com or call at (856) 316-4651.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Toronto International Film Festival (September 7 – 17, 2023) is one of the world's top showcases for documentary film. No doubt, numerous films from this year's lineup will be among the most acclaimed and talked about of the Fall awards season and beyond. DOC NYC co-founder Thom Powers, who has been TIFF's Documentary Programmer since 2006, joins Top Docs to discuss this year's selections, trends and standouts. The 2023 lineup includes new films from such renowned filmmakers as Frederick Wiseman, Raoul Peck and Lucy Walker, as well as works by some remarkably talented new voices on the documentary scene. Our Sundance roundup is one of our most popular pods, so we're thrilled to be able to take you on an insider's tour of the TIFF doc lineup with the perfect guide leading the way.   Follow: @thompwers1 on Instagram and @thompwers on twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In today's episode, we met up with the amazingly talented and knowledgeable, Thom Powers. Thom is an incredibly gifted songwriter, producer, and musician, and is best known for playing in his band, The Naked and Famous. We were out in LA writing and recording our second album and met up with Thom at our hotel bar after a session.  Stay tuned to hear stories of beef with Machine Gun Kelly, a spoiler alert for bake-off 2021, and Freddie's impression of Huss' mum.  This is THOM from THE NAKED AND FAMOUS coming up on 'Meet At The Hotel Bar'!

La Madrina: The [Savage] Life of Lorine Padilla profiles the South Bronx “godmother” who transitioned from life in the Savage Skulls street gang to become a beloved community activist. Filmmaker Raquel Cepeda tells a nuanced portrait of Lorine, drawing upon previously unseen footage captured in the 1970s and ‘80s for documentaries such as "80 Blocks from Tiffany's" and "Flyin' Cut Sleeves” that focused on Bronx gangs. Raquel wrote about her own New York upbringing in her memoir Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Lorine and Raquel along with the film's executive producer Henry Calfant, a pioneering chronicler of the Bronx hip hop scene who produced “Style Wars” and directed “Flyin' Cut Sleeves."After a two year hiatus, Pure Nonfiction has resumed its live screening series at New York's IFC Center. The spring season takes place on Tuesday nights through the end of May. This conversation was recorded before a live audience for the season's opening night on April 5, 2022. If you're in New York City, join us in person!

La Madrina: The [Savage] Life of Lorine Padilla profiles the South Bronx “godmother” who transitioned from life in the Savage Skulls street gang to become a beloved community activist. Filmmaker Raquel Cepeda tells a nuanced portrait of Lorine, drawing upon previously unseen footage captured in the 1970s and ‘80s for documentaries such as "80 Blocks from Tiffany's" and "Flyin' Cut Sleeves” that focused on Bronx gangs. Raquel wrote about her own New York upbringing in her memoir Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Lorine and Raquel along with the film's executive producer Henry Calfant, a pioneering chronicler of the Bronx hip hop scene who produced “Style Wars” and directed “Flyin' Cut Sleeves."After a two year hiatus, Pure Nonfiction has resumed its live screening series at New York's IFC Center. The spring season takes place on Tuesday nights through the end of May. This conversation was recorded before a live audience for the season's opening night on April 5, 2022. If you're in New York City, join us in person!

W. Kamau Bell has a wide-ranging career in stand-up comedy, TV hosting, podcasting, and more. Now he directs the four-part Showtime series "We Need to Talk About Cosby". It explores the once beloved entertainer who's been accused by over 60 women of rape, sexual assault, and harrassment. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to Kamau about how he navigated the intense emotions around Cosby's legacy.Hear Kamau discussing different aspects of the series on Larry Willmore: Black on the Air and Fresh Air. For more on his work, visit wkamaubell.com.

W. Kamau Bell has a wide-ranging career in stand-up comedy, TV hosting, podcasting, and more. Now he directs the four-part Showtime series "We Need to Talk About Cosby". It explores the once beloved entertainer who's been accused by over 60 women of rape, sexual assault, and harrassment. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to Kamau about how he navigated the intense emotions around Cosby's legacy.Hear Kamau discussing different aspects of the series on Larry Willmore: Black on the Air and Fresh Air. For more on his work, visit wkamaubell.com.

Abigail Disney made headlines three years ago when she launched a critique on the labor practices of Walt Disney Company that was co-founded by her grandfather Roy O. Disney. Now she pushes that argument further in the documentary The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales that she directed with Kathleen Hughes. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Disney and Hughes as the film was making its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The film won strong reviews in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter and is still seeking distribution.This conversation references Disney's previous credits as a producer on Pray the Devil Back to Hell; and as a director with Hughes on The Armor of Light. It also touches upon the experiences of Abigail's father Roy E. Disney covered in the book DisneyWar. Hear more of Abigail's critique against the Walt Disney Company in her interview on KCRW's The Business; and her own podcast All Ears with Abigail Disney.

Abigail Disney made headlines three years ago when she launched a critique on the labor practices of Walt Disney Company that was co-founded by her grandfather Roy O. Disney. Now she pushes that argument further in the documentary The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales that she directed with Kathleen Hughes. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Disney and Hughes as the film was making its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The film won strong reviews in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter and is still seeking distribution.This conversation references Disney's previous credits as a producer on Pray the Devil Back to Hell; and as a director with Hughes on The Armor of Light. It also touches upon the experiences of Abigail's father Roy E. Disney covered in the book DisneyWar. Hear more of Abigail's critique against the Walt Disney Company in her interview on KCRW's The Business; and her own podcast All Ears with Abigail Disney.

Stanley Nelson's latest film "Attica" was picked for the Oscar Documentary Short List. It's playing on Showtime and available free for a limited time on YouTube. In February, the Criterion Channel will present a retrospective titled "Black History Rising: Documentaries by Stanley Nelson." The collection covers five films: "The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords" about African-American-owned newspapers; "Freedom Summer" on the 1964 Mississippi voter registration drive; and a deeply personal film about his family, "A Place of Our Own." Stanley looks back on his career in a wide-ranging interview with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers.

Stanley Nelson's latest film "Attica" was picked for the Oscar Documentary Short List. It's playing on Showtime and available free for a limited time on YouTube. In February, the Criterion Channel will present a retrospective titled "Black History Rising: Documentaries by Stanley Nelson." The collection covers five films: "The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords" about African-American-owned newspapers; "Freedom Summer" on the 1964 Mississippi voter registration drive; and a deeply personal film about his family, "A Place of Our Own." Stanley looks back on his career in a wide-ranging interview with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers.

The burning of the Amazon rainforest is a global tragedy. Filmmaker Alex Pritz collaborates with members of the Uru-eu-wau-wau indigenous community to document what's happening on the ground in The Territory. Premiering at Sundance, the film has been hailed as "riveting" (Variety), "gorgeously and sometimes ingeniously conceived" (Indiewire). Alex describes the making of the film with host Thom Powers.

The burning of the Amazon rainforest is a global tragedy. Filmmaker Alex Pritz collaborates with members of the Uru-eu-wau-wau indigenous community to document what's happening on the ground in The Territory. Premiering at Sundance, the film has been hailed as "riveting" (Variety), "gorgeously and sometimes ingeniously conceived" (Indiewire). Alex describes the making of the film with host Thom Powers.

Filmmaker Ramin Bahrani is best known for his fiction films such as "99 Homes" and "The White Tiger" that was Oscar-nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Now he directs his first feature documentary "2nd Chance," a complex profile of Richard Davis who invented a lightweight bullet proof vest. Davis called his company 2nd Chance and his products helped save hundreds of lives. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Bahrani about the moral complexities of Davis' legacy that are explored in the film.Pure Nonfiction's coverage during the Sundance Film Festival is sponsored by National Geographic Documentary Films.

Filmmaker Ramin Bahrani is best known for his fiction films such as "99 Homes" and "The White Tiger" that was Oscar-nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Now he directs his first feature documentary "2nd Chance," a complex profile of Richard Davis who invented a lightweight bullet proof vest. Davis called his company 2nd Chance and his products helped save hundreds of lives. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Bahrani about the moral complexities of Davis' legacy that are explored in the film.Pure Nonfiction's coverage during the Sundance Film Festival is sponsored by National Geographic Documentary Films.

"Fire of Love" tells the story of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft who spent over two decades filming and studying volcanoes before they died getting too close to one. The documentary makes its world premiere on the opening night of the Sundance Film Festival: January 20, 2022. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews filmmaker Sara Dosa on how she crafted the story of the Kraffts into an essayistic documentary with themes of love and risk, narrated by Miranda July.Pure Nonfiction's coverage during the Sundance Film Festival is sponsored by National Geographic Documentary Films.

"Fire of Love" tells the story of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft who spent over two decades filming and studying volcanoes before they died getting too close to one. The documentary makes its world premiere on the opening night of the Sundance Film Festival: January 20, 2022. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews filmmaker Sara Dosa on how she crafted the story of the Kraffts into an essayistic documentary with themes of love and risk, narrated by Miranda July.Pure Nonfiction's coverage during the Sundance Film Festival is sponsored by National Geographic Documentary Films.

The PBS Frontline documentary “American Insurrection” investigates the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the director Rick Rowley who collaborated on the project with correspondent A.C. Thompson of ProPublica and the Berkley Center for Investigative Journalism. Rowley discusses what he's learned from studying vigilante groups such as the Proud Boys and the Boogaloo Boys and reflects on the historic link between America's foreign wars and the rise of homegrown militias. On Twitter: @frontlinepbs @ProPublica @ucbsoj @thompowers @PureNonfiction

The PBS Frontline documentary “American Insurrection” investigates the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the director Rick Rowley who collaborated on the project with correspondent A.C. Thompson of ProPublica and the Berkley Center for Investigative Journalism. Rowley discusses what he's learned from studying vigilante groups such as the Proud Boys and the Boogaloo Boys and reflects on the historic link between America's foreign wars and the rise of homegrown militias. On Twitter: @frontlinepbs @ProPublica @ucbsoj @thompowers @PureNonfiction

In the three-part series Nuclear Family, filmmaker Ry Russo-Young explores her own family history. She was born in 1981 and grew up with two lesbian moms Russo and Robin and an older sister in Manhattan at at time when gay parenting was still rare. Her sperm donor Tom Steel was a gay lawyer in San Francisco who wound up suing Ry's moms for paternity rights. From a young age, Ry was active in trying to tell her family's story and defend her mothers against discrimination in the courts and in the media. Ry appeared in Meema Spadola's PBS documentary Our House (2000) about kids of gay and lesbian parents; and was profiled in the New York Times magazine in 2004. But there were always murky areas to the lawsuit that Ry couldn't fully confront until now.Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers helped to produce "Our House” and finally gets a chance to re-open questions with Ry that remained perplexing for over 20 years.

In the three-part series Nuclear Family, filmmaker Ry Russo-Young explores her own family history. She was born in 1981 and grew up with two lesbian moms Russo and Robin and an older sister in Manhattan at at time when gay parenting was still rare. Her sperm donor Tom Steel was a gay lawyer in San Francisco who wound up suing Ry's moms for paternity rights. From a young age, Ry was active in trying to tell her family's story and defend her mothers against discrimination in the courts and in the media. Ry appeared in Meema Spadola's PBS documentary Our House (2000) about kids of gay and lesbian parents; and was profiled in the New York Times magazine in 2004. But there were always murky areas to the lawsuit that Ry couldn't fully confront until now.Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers helped to produce "Our House” and finally gets a chance to re-open questions with Ry that remained perplexing for over 20 years.

DOC NYC is the largest documentary film festival in the country. Artistic director Thom Powers and senior programmer Karen McMullen help us preview the festival and what films to look out for. DOC NYC 2021 opens on November 10 and runs until November 18.

Sonya Childress and Jesse Wente are among the most eloquent voices calling for change in the North American documentary industry. In June 2020, Childress published A Reckoning: The Documentary Film Industry Must Chart a New Path Forward that brought a critique over questions of authorship, accountability and ownership. She draws upon her experience working with Active Voice, Firelight Media and the Perspective Fund.Wente is an Anishinaabe writer and executive director of the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO). That organization published the On-Screen Protocols and Pathways guide to working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities. He's the author of the new book Unreconciled: Family, Truth and Indigenous Resistance.Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Childress and Wente in September 2020 by teleconference for a panel titled Creating a Better Documentary Industry at the TIFF Industry Conference. This podcast excerpts the heart of the conversation as they confront questions of capitalism, journalistic objectivity and how to create meaningful change.This year's TIFF Industry Conference will take place Sept 9-14 including discussions on Documentary History, Telling Family Stories and more. You can register for a Digital Talks pass to watch anywhere in the world.

Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Childress and Wente in September 2020 by teleconference for a panel titled Creating a Better Documentary Industry at the TIFF Industry Conference. This podcast excerpts the heart of the conversation as they confront questions of capitalism, journalistic objectivity and how to create meaningful change.

In the Same Breath is a strikingly original analysis of the early days of the pandemic as it unfolded in China and the United States. Filmmaker Nanfu Wang draws upon multiple sources of footage to study how governments shaped the messaging about coronavirus and how they missed opportunities to limit the virus. Her collaborators include her husband Michael Shade as an editor and Jialing Zhang as one of the producers. Nanfu and Jialing previously appeared on episode #115 to discuss their film One Child Nation about China's extreme efforts to control population growth. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Nanfu about the logistical and emotional challenges of navigating China's censorship. She discusses the lessons she learned making her first film Hooligan Sparrow, about a Chinese dissident, that was her first experience with government pressure.

To watch the latest episode of Caveh Zahedi's “The Show About the Show” and support the making of its third season, visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2284816/the-show-about-the-show?ref=project_link. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

“Enemies of the State” looks at the strange case of Matt DeHart, a member of the hacktivist group Anonymous who was prosecuted for child pornography. He claimed the charges were a cover up to seize his computers containing government secrets. Director Sonia Kennebeck and producer Ines Hoffman Kanna spent years trying to untangle the knotty mysteries of his case. Their previous film National Bird (2016) won the Ridenhour Documentary Film Prize for its profile of three people who worked on the U.S. military's drone program and became whistle blowers. One of the film's subjects Daniel Hale was recently convicted under the Espionage Act. Sonia discusses his case recently covered in The Washington Post. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Sonia about both films.Enemies of the State is now available on VOD from IFC Films.Warning: this episode reveals details from “Enemies of the State” that might be considered spoilers if you haven't seen the film.On Twitter: @soniakennebeck @c_odebreaker @thompowers @PureNonfiction

Fran Lebowitz is one of New York's great conversationalists. Martin Scorsese's new Netflix series “Pretend It's a City” lets her talk at length about her five decades of living in New York City. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Lebowitz about working with Scorsese and her long friendship with Toni Morrison to whom the series is dedicated. Lebowitz also shares her opinions on the New York mayoral election and discusses her mother Ruth.This interview was recorded on May 7, 2020 for DOC NYC Spring Showcase.

Fran Lebowitz is one of New York's great conversationalists. Martin Scorsese's new Netflix series “Pretend It's a City” lets her talk at length about her five decades of living in New York City. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Lebowitz about working with Scorsese and her long friendship with Toni Morrison to whom the series is dedicated. Lebowitz also shares her opinions on the New York mayoral election and discusses her mother Ruth.

Documentary editor Lewis Erskine died last week at age 64. He was cherished by colleagues as a storyteller and a teacher. His Twitter handle was @editorsavant and his credits include Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, Freedom Riders and Jackie Robinson. In the days after his death, Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers spoke to three of Lewis' colleagues. Filmmaker Stanley Nelson describes first meeting Lewis when they worked for WNET public television and how they collaborated for over two decades starting with The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords. Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, who was Lewis' assistant editor on The Black Press, celebrates his legacy as a mentor. Shola Lynch describes how she met Lewis working together on Ken Burns' Jazz series, then later turned to him for help on her films Chisholm 72: Unbought and Unbossed and Free Angela and All Political Prisoners.Further links referenced in the conversation:Black Documentary CollectiveThe Creative Power of BIPOC Editors panelBIPOC Editors DatabaseMaster Class with Lewis Erskine and City College (2019)Lewis Erskine at Sundance 2017 “Examine Your Privilege"

Documentary editor Lewis Erskine died last week at age 64. He was cherished by colleagues as a storyteller and a teacher. His Twitter handle was @editorsavant and his credits include Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, Freedom Riders and Jackie Robinson. In the days after his death, Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers spoke to three of Lewis' colleagues. Filmmaker Stanley Nelson describes first meeting Lewis when they worked for WNET public television and how they collaborated for over two decades starting with The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords. Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, who was Lewis' assistant editor on The Black Press, celebrates his legacy as a mentor. Shola Lynch describes how she met Lewis working together on Ken Burns' Jazz series, then later turned to him for help on her films Chisholm 72: Unbought and Unbossed and Free Angela and All Political Prisoners.

“Movements are messy,” says Astra Taylor. She knows this not only from studying activist history, but also from personal experience as a co-founder of the Debt Collective. Their work succeeded in canceling over $2 billion of student debt. Astra's new short documentary You Are Not a Loan (free on The Intercept) brings together students and professors to discuss changing the cost of education. She's also published a new book of essays Remake the World. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to Astra about both new works. She reflects on the legacy of Occupy Wall Street and on her friend David Graeber, author of Debt: The First 5000 Years and Bullshit Jobs: A Theory, who died last year.Links to further references in this discussion:Episode 93: Astra Taylor on “What is Democracy?”Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's GoneBerkeley in the SixtiesEncounter at Kwacha HouseThe Murder of Fred Hampton

“Movements are messy,” says Astra Taylor. She knows this not only from studying activist history, but also from personal experience as a co-founder of the Debt Collective. Their work succeeded in canceling over $2 billion of student debt. Astra’s new short documentary You Are Not a Loan (free on The Intercept) brings together students and professors to discuss changing the cost of education. She’s also published a new book of essays Remake the World. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to Astra about both new works. She reflects on the legacy of Occupy Wall Street and on her friend David Graeber, author of Debt: The First 5000 Years and Bullshit Jobs: A Theory, who died last year

“When We Were Kings” director Leon King died on March 8 at age 84. He took over twenty years to make his Oscar-winning documentary about the boxers Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman, filmed in Zaire in 1974 and completed in 1996.Further links:Watch “When We Were Kings"Watch “Soul Power”Watch “Smash His Camera"New York Times obituary on Leon GastLeon Gast on the making of his first film “Our Latin Thing”Pure Nonfiction episode 15: Muhammad Ali on FilmThe New Yorker on William Greaves' "The Fight"This episode's closing narration refers to the reckoning over documenting BIPOC stories. For more, read Sonya Childress & Natalie Bullock Brown in Documentary and Stanley Nelson in the Los Angeles Times.Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers explores the story of Leon's perseverance in interviews with his wife Geri Spolan-Gast, producer David Sonenberg, editor Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte and filmmaker Barbara Kopple.

The new Hollywood film “Judas and the Black Messiah” is based on the lives of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton and the person who betrayed him, FBI informant William O'Neal. The film's director Shaka King has credited documentaries for playing a key role in his research. One of his main influences was “Eyes on the Prize II” (1990) that scored the journalistic feat of interviewing O'Neal after he had gone into a federal witness protection program. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews four members of the “Eyes” team - directors Louis Massiah and Terry Kay Rockefeller along with researchers Noland Walker and co-director Bennett Singer. They describe how they got O'Neal to talk, why questions still linger about his reported suicide, and the legacy of the Black Panthers.Further resources:- Learn more about our guests: Louis Massiah (executive director, Scribe Video Center), Terry Kay Rockefeller, Bennett Singer (co-director, Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin and Cured), Noland Walker (co-programmer, ITVS's Independent Lens)- Watch all 14 episodes of Eyes on the Prize on Kanopy This podcast conversation touches upon episode 9 “Power!” about the Black Panthers and especially focuses on episode 12 “A Nation of Law?” both co-directed by Louis Massiah and Terry Kay Rockefeller. Read the book Voices of Freedom, an oral history based on interviews from "Eyes on the Prize,” edited in part by Bennett Singer.- Watch the raw footage of William O'Neal's interview on Vimeo or read the transcript from the "Eyes on the Prize" archives at Washington University. Browse the full collection.- Watch The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971), directed by Howard Alk and Michael Gray, on Vimeo from the Chicago Film Archives.- Read the TruthOut article by Fred Hampton's attorney Flint Taylor on recent revelations about J. Edgar Hoover's connection to William O'Neal.- Read articles from 1990 about the death of William O'Neal in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Reader.- Listen to the Pure Nonfiction interview with Jon Else discussing his book True South about the making of "Eyes on the Prize.”- For more on COINTELPRO, watch Sam Pollard's MLK/FBI about surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr; Johanna Hamilton's 1971 about the break-in to a FBI office that revealed the counter intelligence program.- Watch Stanley Nelson's Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution.- In the podcast, Noland Walker mentions the COINTELPRO plan to disrupt the 1972 National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana. Watch William Greaves' recently restored film Nationtime covering that event.- For further viewing related to this era, watch Shola Lynch's Free Angela and All Political Prisoners and Sam Green and Bill Siegel's Weather Underground.- For more recent documentaries on FBI surveillance and informants, see Lyric Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe's (T)ERROR, Assia Boundaoui's The Feeling of Being Watched, Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane de la Vega's Better This World and Jamie Meltzer's Informant.

The new Hollywood film “Judas and the Black Messiah” is based on the lives of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton and the person who betrayed him, FBI informant William O’Neal. The film’s director Shaka King has credited documentaries for playing a key role in his research. One of his main influences was “Eyes on the Prize II” (1990) that scored the journalistic feat of interviewing O’Neal after he had gone into a federal witness protection program. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews four members of the “Eyes” team - directors Louis Massiah and Terry Kay Rockefeller along with researchers Noland Walker and Bennett Singer. They describe how they got O’Neal to talk, why questions still linger about his reported suicide, and the legacy of the Black Panthers.

True crime documentaries are booming. But what do they tell us about criminal justice and what do they leave out? Alex Vitale, the author of the book “The End of Policing,” talks to Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers about the state of the genre. Alex gives favorable takes on the Netflix series “Time: The Kalief Browder Story” and Errol Morris' classic “The Thin Blue Line.” But he raises questions about other trends. For more on this topic, listen to the podcast “Running from COPS.”

True crime documentaries are booming. But what do they tell us about criminal justice and what do they leave out? Alex Vitale, the author of the book “The End of Policing,” talks to Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers about the state of the genre.

Jean Tsien has worked as a documentary editor for over 30 years with directors such as Orlando Bagwell, Barbara Kopple, and Roger Ross Williams. She's been a mentor to emerging filmmakers, not only in the U.S. but also in China and Taiwan where she lived until moving to New York at age 11. Now Jean has moved into producing. Her latest project is "76 Days," set in Wuhan, China during the city's lockdown for Covid-19. DOC NYC recently honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Jean has stories to tell, but normally prefers to stay behind the scenes. Talking on a podcast? That's way outside her comfort zone. She explains why to Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers.

Jean Tsien has worked as a documentary editor for over 30 years with directors such as Orlando Bagwell, Barbara Kopple, and Roger Ross Williams. She’s been a mentor to emerging filmmakers, not only in the U.S. but also in China and Taiwan where she lived until moving to New York at age 11. Now Jean has moved into producing. Her latest project is "76 Days," set in Wuhan, China during the city’s lockdown for Covid-19. DOC NYC recently honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Jean has stories to tell, but normally prefers to stay behind the scenes. Talking on a podcast? That’s way outside her comfort zone. She explains why to Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers.

“Don't film if you can live without filming.” Those are the words of Victor Kossakovsky from his 10 Rules of documentary making. Those rules are the starting point for a wide-ranging conversation with Victor along with Kirsten Johnson and Garrett Bradley, moderated by Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers. All three directors were part of DOC NYC's 2020 Short List for feature documentaries. Kirsten was previously on episode 24 discussing her previous film Cameraperson; her latest film is Dick Johnson is Dead on Netflix. Garrett was previously on episode 125 discussing her new film Time on Amazon Prime. Victor's new film is Gunda, distributed in the U.S. by Neon. In this conversation he also refers to his earlier films Losev and The Belovs.

Filmmaker Bao Nguyen profiles Bruce Lee, searching for the man behind the icon, in the ESPN documentary “Be Water.” Bao’s other films include his history of Saturday Night Live “Live from New York” and a short film about his Vietnamese-American family “Where Are You Really From?” In this interview with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers, Bao describes his intent to place Lee’s story in the context of being Asian-American. Bao invokes the poet Ocean Vuong in reflecting on the expectations placed on Asian-American storytellers.

Filmmaker Bao Nguyen profiles Bruce Lee, searching for the man behind the icon, in the ESPN documentary “Be Water.” Bao's other films include his history of Saturday Night Live “Live from New York” and a short film about his Vietnamese-American family “Where Are You Really From?” In this interview with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers, Bao describes his intent to place Lee's story in the context of being Asian-American. Bao invokes the poet Ocean Vuong in reflecting on the expectations placed on Asian-American storytellers.

Filmmaker Bao Nguyen profiles Bruce Lee, searching for the man behind the icon, in the ESPN documentary “Be Water.” Bao’s other films include his history of Saturday Night Live “Live from New York” and a short film about his Vietnamese-American family “Where Are You Really From?” In this interview with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers, Bao describes his intent to place Lee’s story in the context of being Asian-American. Bao invokes the poet Ocean Vuong in reflecting on the expectations placed on Asian-American storytellers.

Journalist Robert Fisk died in October at age 74. He spent decades reporting in the Middle East as a newspaper columnist and the author of books including “Pity the Nation” and “The Great War for Civilization.” Filmmaker Yung Chang profiles Fisk in the film “This is Not a Movie.”Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Fisk and Chang at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival where the documentary has its world premiere.On Twitter: @yungfilms @thompowers @PureNonfiction

“Through the Night” profiles a 24-hour child care run by Deloris “Nunu” Hogan and her husband Patrick from their home in New Rochelle, NY. The film won a Special Jury Prize at the DOC NYC festival and was a NY Times Critic's Pick. It had an Oscar-qualifying run in virtual cinemas and will air on POV in the spring. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to the director Loira Limbal about her hopes and fears in making the film. She's known in the documentary community for her behind the scenes role at Firelight Media's Documentary Lab where she's been a mentor to other filmmakers of color. She talks about the gap after her 2009 directing debut “Estilo Hip Hop” (co-directed by Vee Bravo) and what it took to embark on “Through the Night” while also holding a full-time job and being a single mother.On Twitter: @DJLaylo @ThrutheNightDoc @thompowers @PureNonfiction