Filmmaker Matthew Heineman joins Team Deakins to discuss capturing footage in dangerous situations, such as drug cartel border skirmishes and the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City. They also talk about the often overlooked aspect of casting in documentaries and Heineman's transition from directing documentaries to narrative films.
Building trust with subjects and creating a safe environment are essential in capturing personal stories in hazardous environments.
Transitioning from directing documentaries to narrative films involves challenges of authenticity, rawness, and working with actors.
Documentaries have the power to create empathy and connection, but measuring their impact and navigating media polarization are ongoing challenges.
Deep dives
Matt Heinemann's journey into documentary filmmaking
In this podcast episode, filmmaker Matt Heinemann discusses how he stumbled upon the world of filmmaking. After getting rejected from a teaching program, he embarked on a cross-country journey to interview kids from different backgrounds. This experience became his first film, which he made with limited resources and taught himself filmmaking along the way. Heinemann fell in love with the process and decided to pursue a career in documentary filmmaking.
The challenges and rewards of filming in dangerous situations
Heinemann shares his experiences filming in conflict zones and hazardous environments. He emphasizes the importance of building trust with his subjects and creating a safe environment for them to share their stories. Heinemann also discusses the responsibility of capturing the personal stories affected by larger socio-political issues. He reflects on the impact of his films and the role of empathy in connecting with audiences.
Transitioning from documentaries to narrative filmmaking
Heinemann talks about his venture into directing a narrative film, 'A Private War,' based on the life of war correspondent Marie Colvin. He highlights the challenges of transitioning between the two mediums, including the intersection of art and commerce and working with actors. Heinemann explains his approach to maintaining authenticity and rawness in narrative films while telling a compelling story.
Exploring the power and limitations of documentaries
Heinemann delves into the impact and limitations of documentary filmmaking. He discusses how personalizing issues through individual stories can create empathy and connection among viewers. However, he acknowledges the challenge of measuring the impact of documentaries and the polarization of media in the current climate. Heinemann also emphasizes the importance of creating conversations and questioning perspectives through his films.
The experience of shooting on location and personal growth
Heinemann shares his love for shooting on location and the personal growth he experiences through his filmmaking journeys. He discusses how each film pushes him to challenge himself artistically and how working with a diverse range of people contributes to his understanding of the world. Heinemann also touches on the importance of creating a safe space for his subjects and the emotional intensity of capturing real-life moments on camera.
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 10 - MATTHEW HEINEMAN - DIRECTOR
For this week’s Team Deakins podcast, we sit down with filmmaker Matthew Heineman (CARTEL LAND, THE FIRST WAVE, A PRIVATE WAR) for a fascinating and enthralling conversation. Matthew tells us how he captured footage, and survived, in two situations where his life was literally on the line. First, among the drug cartel border skirmishes in Cartel Land, and then imbedded in a New York City emergency room for months during the outbreak and initial spread of COVID-19 for The First Wave. We also talk about one of the major aspects of making documentaries that most people never think about: casting. Matthew also discusses everything involved in making the leap from directing documentaries over to directing narrative films. Don’t miss it!
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