Presented by the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) and hosted by Film Picnic, The Checklist offers practical insights and creative strategies for documentary filmmakers.
Each episode explores a key part of the filmmaking process, from investigative storytelling and Indigenous Narrative Sovereignty to marketing, cashflow management, and international production.
Hosted by Georgia Guthrie and Hana Huggins of Film Picnic, the series features conversations with acclaimed filmmakers who share real world lessons, ethical approaches, and creative solutions to today’s documentary challenges.
The Checklist is the essential guide for filmmakers committed to powerful, authentic storytelling.
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Acast!
Episodes
Emmy award-winning investigative journalist Habiba Nosheen and filmmaker Amar Lohana discuss their documentary « Bodies for Rent, » which exposes the exploitative world of paid clinical drug trials. They share their essential checklist for creating investigative documentaries, covering everything from finding compelling subjects and navigating ethical representation to managing legal challenges like errors and omissions insurance when taking on powerful industries like Big Pharma. Learn how collaboration between journalism and documentary organizations makes long-form investigative storytelling possible in an era of scarce funding.
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Haida (Skidegate Eagle Clan) and Cowichan Tribes film producer Rosie Johnnie-Mills of House of Copper Films discusses what Indigenous Narrative Sovereignty means in documentary filmmaking and how to put it into practice. She shares insights on balancing authentic cultural representation with broader accessibility, navigating protocols for incorporating traditional knowledge, and the specific barriers and opportunities within industry funding structures. Learn what changes are needed to truly support Indigenous self-determination in media creation, from collaboration practices to cinematic techniques that center Indigenous agency and storytelling control.
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Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Liz Marshall discusses how to develop effective marketing strategies for purpose-driven documentaries, drawing from her experience with award-winning films like « The Ghosts in Our Machine » and « Meat the Future. » She shares insights on adapting marketing approaches across different distribution channels—from theatrical releases to Netflix—while balancing educational content with compelling entertainment. Learn cost-effective strategies for independent filmmakers, how to leverage public speaking and impact campaigns, and ways to build authentic audience connections that amplify important social justice and environmental messages.
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Line producer Nicole McKechnie and documentary producer Lisa Valencia-Svensson tackle one of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of filmmaking: managing your production cashflow. They share practical strategies for navigating funding gaps, delayed payments, and unexpected expenses across different formats—from feature documentaries to series productions—while working with both domestic and international partners. Learn how to bridge irregular funding installments, prioritize payments when cashflow gets tight, and maintain your creative vision despite financial constraints, plus what changes in documentary funding models producers should prepare for.
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Documentary filmmakers Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper discuss the challenges and protocols of filming in dangerous environments, drawing from their experience creating « Incandescence, » an immersive NFB documentary about increasingly intense wildfires. They share essential insights on establishing safety boundaries with crews, navigating restricted zones and building relationships with authorities like BC Wildfire, and protecting both people and equipment in extreme heat and smoke conditions. Learn what training, gear, and contingency planning proved critical when filming in active wildfire zones, plus how to build trust with Indigenous knowledge keepers while balancing impactful storytelling with crew safety and wellbeing.
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Filmmakers João Vitor Corrêa and Nadine Valcin share their expertise on navigating the complex world of archival research for documentary projects, from knowing where to begin your search to managing rights clearances across institutional and community-based collections. They discuss how to balance your creative vision with available materials, budget effectively for archival footage, and avoid common pitfalls in the clearance process, drawing from their work on projects like « Black Life: Untold Stories, » « Johanne tout simplement » (« Simply Johanne »), and various NFB documentaries. Learn how digitization has transformed archival workflows, the key differences between working with national versus personal archives, and strategies for tracking down historical materials that can elevate your storytelling.
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Award-winning filmmaker and DOC National interim Executive Director Maya Bastian draws on 15 years of experience in conflict journalism and teaching filmmaking in war zones to discuss how to center well-being on documentary productions. She shares practical strategies for protecting both filmmakers and subjects when handling traumatic material, from supporting families fleeing violence in « Arrival Archives » to managing emotionally heavy moments on set and ensuring continued care after filming wraps. Learn how to align well-being standards across international co-productions with different cultural contexts, prioritize mental health support even on limited budgets, and what resources and industry-wide changes are needed to make trauma-informed filmmaking the standard practice.
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Guggenheim Fellow Danae Elon draws from nearly three decades of documentary filmmaking to discuss navigating pushback when creating work about polarizing subjects like identity, family, and contested spaces. She explores how filmmakers can maintain creative integrity while facing hostile reactions, the difference between provocative storytelling and mere controversy, and practical strategies for conducting research on sensitive topics without losing your instincts. Learn how to assess whether a story is worth the conflict it will generate, handle the reality that your film may be weaponized by opposing sides, and move past the fear that paralyzes filmmakers sitting on powerful but potentially consequential stories.
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Bob Moore, Co-President and Creative Producer at EyeSteelFilm, shares insights from producing over 40 award-winning international co-productions including « Yintah » and « Twice Colonized, » discussing how to evaluate project suitability, navigate different funding systems and tax incentives, and establish the essential legal frameworks before cameras roll. He walks through the critical intellectual property issues filmmakers often overlook across jurisdictions, strategies for balancing creative vision with multiple international partners across cultural and language barriers, and how EyeSteelFilm’s participatory filmmaking approach adapts to cross-border collaborations. Learn the practical logistics of coordinating teams across time zones, maintaining cultural authenticity in storytelling decisions, and handling the complex legal checklist that protects co-production partnerships from development through distribution.
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Toronto and Yellowknife-based filmmaker Lesley Johnson shares insights from producing « And Still I Sing, » a documentary following young Afghan singers under pop star Aryana Sayeed’s mentorship as the Taliban returned to power. She discusses the unique challenges of coordinating international productions in politically volatile situations, from establishing safety protocols and crisis management strategies to working with local fixers and protecting subjects who face severe restrictions. Learn how to assess project viability for international shoots, navigate cultural sensitivity as an outsider documentarian, and balance the ethical considerations of filming stories that could put subjects at risk while maintaining documentary integrity.
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Thank you to Georgia Guthrie and Hana Huggins of Film Picnic for their collaboration in creating and hosting The Checklist podcast!
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.