Create Impact with Your Documentary through Characters, Culture, and Collaboration
"It's not just what you say—it's how you say it. And who you're saying it to."
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What makes a story unforgettable? At this year’s Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina, Rain Bennett spoke with three sets of storytellers, each using a different medium, subject, and method—but all working toward the same goal: to move their audience. In this special episode, Rain shares his conversations with Jennifer Tiexiera and Guy Mossman, the co-directors of SPEAK, the film’s star Esther Oyetunji, and Ned Phillips, co-director of The Last Partera.
From the deeply collaborative filmmaking process behind SPEAK, to the competitive, emotionally resonant stage presence of Esther, to Ned’s eight-year journey of capturing the fading legacy of Costa Rican midwifery—this episode is a masterclass in the versatility of documentary storytelling.
You’ll learn how each of these artists found their story, built relationships with their subjects, overcame technical hurdles, and ultimately created something deeply meaningful. Whether you're a filmmaker, writer, speaker, or content creator, this episode will inspire you to embrace your own unique storytelling path.
In the episode, you will:
Discover the diversity of effective storytelling structures by seeing how different films—with wildly different pacing and tones—can still move audiences equally.
Learn how collaboration strengthens creative vision, especially in co-directing, editing, and producing documentary projects.
Explore the emotional precision of live storytelling through Esther’s championship-winning approach to connecting with and transforming her audience.
Understand how curiosity can lead to powerful stories by following Ned’s journey from a single conversation in Costa Rica to an 8-year labor of love.
Gain insight into staying the course creatively—how to finish the thing, even when funding dries up, motivation dips, or the world moves on.
"It's not just what you say—it's how you say it. And who you're saying it to."
- Esther Oyetunji
If you want to understand how to tell nonfiction stories that resonate with your audience and inspire action... this is the episode for you!
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Some of the highlights of the episode:
00:00 - There’s No One Way to Tell a Story
02:18 - Meet the Directors of SPEAK: Jen Tiexiera and Guy Mossman
04:39 - Co-Directing: Collaboration, Deadlines, and Creative Vision
10:23 - Ethical Filmmaking and the Duty of Care
12:29 - What We Can Learn from the Next Generation
14:20 - Following Characters, Questions, and Culture
16:08 - Logistics of Following Five Characters Across the Country
20:12 - Building Boundaries and Bonds with Subjects
23:59 - Advice for Aspiring Documentary Filmmakers
26:13 - Live Storytelling: A Conversation with Esther Oyetunji
29:09 - Is It What You Say or How You Say It?
31:10 - Listening as a Storytelling Strategy
33:01 - Where Esther’s Drive and Work Ethic Come From
36:40 - Cultural Influence: Nigerian Storytelling Traditions
40:17 - Rhetorical Devices That Strengthen Connection
41:49 - Memorization vs. Improvisation in Competitive Speaking
43:49 - Managing Mental Space and Staying Centered
47:10 - Esther’s Vision for How to Use Her Voice Moving Forward
48:44 - Words as Tools for Change
49:57 - A Filmmaker’s Journey: Conversation with Ned Phillips
52:46 - Why We Do This: The Long Road of Documentary Filmmaking
55:12 - Full Frame’s Role in Shaping a Filmmaker’s Life
57:35 - A Moment That Changed Everything: Watching Manda Bala
59:59 - The Power of Documentary to Build Empathy
01:02:21 - The Bing Liu Breakdown: How Minding the Gap Hit Hard
01:06:59 - Teaching the Craft: What You Learn by Helping Others
01:09:22 - How Ned Found The Last Partera
01:13:36 - The Power of a Cold Call: Bringing in a Co-Director
01:16:01 - What Keeps You Going When It Gets Hard
01:19:45 - Final Advice for Aspiring Documentary Filmmakers
As always, I hope you enjoy the episode!
Rain
For more storytelling tips and tricks,
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