The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast
Are you struggling to turn your idea into a great documentary story? This podcast takes you through the steps that world-class documentary makers use to create compelling documentaries from real-life ideas.
Whether it's for Netflix, The BBC, or Amazon, or you are just starting out, great storytelling is what your audience craves - it's the foundation of every successful documentary.
Those skills aren't down to talent or desire - it's simply a matter of knowledge.
Award-winning documentary maker Nigel Levy goes behind the scenes to discuss the key story skills behind some of the most successful documentaries and factual series screened, including those in which he's had a key role.
These include the Netflix hit F1: Drive to Survive, Natural History - writing for Sir David Attenborough - numerous feature documentaries and his TV docs The Language Master and Fatal Attractions.
You'll hear from writers, directors, and creatives working at the highest level in the industry. Ideas are easy; stories are like magic. Listen and understand why. There's really no need for any of this to be a mystery anymore.
- Update frequency
- every 23 days
- Average duration
- 39 minutes
- Episodes
- 15
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
The Supersize of Me of Black Magic...the Making of 'A Cursed Man' with director Liam Le Guillou
Black magic is not something I ever expected to explore deeply, but when filmmaker Liam Le Guillou approached the DocFix with his idea, I was delighted to help. His premise - could he persuade practi…
The director of the Michael Jackson doc “Leaving Neverland", Dan Reed, on the art of exposing truth in documentary filmmaking
What if the most impactful stories aren't about the events themselves but the human experiences they evoke?
Dan Reed’s documentaries have earned 22 major nominations and 18 wins—for good reason. In th…
How 'The Gladiator' cinematographer John Mathieson thinks about film, a unique perspective from one of the greats.
When we sat down to talk, John Mathieson and just returned from shooting Gladiator 2 with Ridley Scott in Malta. He was part of the orignal team, having wenty-five years earlier shot the original ic…
Capturing the Legacy of Superman: Crafting the BAFTA winning “Super/Man : The Christopher Reeve Story"
Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, the creative minds behind "Superman, the Documentary," shed light on their inventive storytelling techniques and the profound life of Christopher Reeve. Together, we e…
The Storytelling behind Netflix's hits F1:Drive to Survive and Meerkats with Sir David Attenborough - a Masterclass
What happens when your documentary feels flat and unengaging, despite all your hard work? This was the main question behind a Masterclass I gave at the World Congress of Science and Factual Producer…
Becoming a documentary storyteller - the Four Essential Steps
The art of documentary storytelling is not a static skill, but a journey with distinct milestones.
I'm Nigel Levy, your guide through the labyrinth of crafting compelling narratives, and this episode…
In conversation with DocFix student James - from scattered facts to a great story
This episode it a little different, as it's a converation between myself and James, a student of the DocFix Program.
James' background is in drama, and later as part of the marketing department of Lio…
Sculpting Documentary Stories Through The Score with composer Birger Clausen
Birger Clausen, the composer, is one of my closest collaborators, most recently on the two-time Emmy nominated (including for music and sound) and RTS winning 9/11: Life Under Attack.
In this episode …
From editing Star Wars to hit Indie docs: Storytelling Insights from Col Goudie
When Col Goudie joined me as the editor on a documentary I was directing about the one-legged World War 2 flying ace Douglas Bader, they turned up in a flying jacket and walking on crutches with a li…
The secret behind the Meerkat Superstars - with writer director Caroline Hawkins
This conversation tells the tale behind the meerkat soap opera superstars, a venture that started as a documentary idea and blossomed into a series with a massive following (fans include Tom Cruise a…
How to go from an idea to a film - why the idea alone is never enough
Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a simple idea into a captivating documentary? It shouldn't be a surprise that it all boils down to the art of storytelling.
This mini episode outlines the …
The Transformational Power of Words: Gary Mitchell's Story
Many years ago, I was in the theatre watching a play about The Troubles (the horrific violence and conflict endemic in Northern Ireland). I had no connection to those events, and yet that play was on…
Creating Unforgettable Documentaries with Henry Singer, director of "9/11 The Falling Man"
One of the most significant documentaries in recent times was made by Henry Singer. He took an image of the horror of the 9/11 terror attack on the Twin Towers in New York - The Falling Man - and tur…
Behind the Scenes of the most popular shows in the modern TV landscape - with Ben Turner of Fulwell 73
Ben Turner is one of the creative minds behind Fulwell 73. This production powerhouse is responsible for global hit entertainment shows like The Kardashians, James Corden's Late Late Show, Carpool Ka…
How the BBC teaches documentary storytelling - and what it gets wrong
Hello, Nigel Levy here, and welcome to this podcast series.
It's been created to explore the simplest yet most powerful way to create meaningful documentary stories.
Storytelling in documentaries is …