Today, Explained cover image

Today, Explained

When docs cry

Nov 15, 2024
Matthew Belloni, a founding partner at Puck, discusses the phenomenon of participation documentaries, critiquing how celebrity involvement often turns authentic narratives into polished promotional content. Joining him is Sasha Weiss, deputy editor at New York Times Magazine, who offers rare insights into the unreleased Prince documentary. They explore the artistic challenges of capturing Prince's legacy amidst estate disputes and the tension between personal storytelling and commercial interests, shedding light on the evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking.
27:53

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Martha Stewart's dissatisfaction with her Netflix documentary underscores the pressure on celebrities to control their public narratives and emotions.
  • The ongoing dispute over the unreleased Prince documentary highlights the tension between artistic integrity and the control exerted by celebrity estates.

Deep dives

Martha Stewart's Mixed Feelings on Her Documentary

Martha Stewart expresses dissatisfaction with her Netflix documentary, indicating that while it is acceptable, important aspects were omitted. She plans to engage with the filmmakers about the potential for a second version that addresses these gaps. During her promotion, she humorously noted her lack of enthusiasm for discussing her feelings, which highlights the pressure celebrities feel in curating their public personas. This reflects a broader trend in celebrity documentaries, where individuals often seek control over their narratives.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode