This is a re-release of my discussion with Ross McDonnell. His film, SWIFT JUSTICE, is up for a News & Doc Emmy in Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary. The awards will be revealed live on September 26, 2024.

Ross died on November 5, 2023. His co-director, Victor Blue, writes movingly about his work. Later on this year, I'll post an episode remembering Ross and the legacy of independent filmmakers.

In this episode, I talk with Ross McDonnell, co-director of the new documentary short, SWIFT JUSTICE, about Sharia justice in Afghanistan.

Ross and I discuss:

• how he got started in filmmaking;
• whether some people are just built for the visual arts;
• the gear behind making a film like SWIFT JUSTICE and how they went about filming "without understanding what was happening in realtime"
• the importance of Christmas movies in Ireland and W.B. Yeats;
• never-ending praise for editors and the New Yorker's prowess in the documentary realm;
• what's next for the documentary field.

Ross' Indie Film Highlight: Jonathan Glazer; Wong Kar-wai; Spize Jonze; Chris Cunningham; Floria Sigismondi; Chris Doyle; Lance Acord

Links:

SWIFT Justice Film

Watch The News & Doc Emmys Live On September 26, 2024

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