"It's not just what you say—it's how you say it. And who you're saying it to." — Esther Oyetunji
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 this 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.
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