Creative Nonfiction #4: Sam Green on 32 Sounds and live documentary

Seventh Row Podcast

In the fourth episode of our Creative Nonfiction Film podcast season,

Alex Heeney talks to Sam Green about 32 Sounds and his work exploring the possibilities of his work that he describes as "live documentaries". These are part locked footage, part live performance, usually including a live band on stage performing the film's music.

On this episode, we give some background on Sam Green's work in live documentary, talk about how A Thousand Thoughts (2018), co-directed with Joe Bini, felt like a turning point for his work in the form, and discuss what makes 32 Sounds such a wonderful and innovative film. Finally, Alex talks to Sam Green about making 32 Sounds, and more broadly about how he thinks about live documentary and why this is a space he likes working in.

The episode features a conversation between Alex Heeney and Orla Smith about 32 Sounds and live documentary, recorded in January 2022 right after the world premiere of 32 Sounds. The interview with Sam Green was conducted via Zoom in January 2022 the day after 32 Sounds had its world (virtual) premiere at Sundance. This is an edited version of the complete conversation; the complete conversation is available on our website here.

Click here to read the episode show notes.

You will also find an AI-generated transcript in the show notes.

Useful links

• Read Alex Heeney's full interview with Sam Green on 32 Sounds
• Find screenings of Sam Green's live documentaries
• Find screenings of 32 Sounds
• Read Sam Green's introduction to live documentary and Utopia in Four Movements

More on creative nonfiction

Download a FREE excerpt from Subjective Realities here.

Get your copy of the ebook Subjective Realities: The art of creative nonfiction film here.

Get your copy of the ebook In their own words: Documentary Masters vol. 1

Listen to the podcast on the ebook Subjective realities: The art of creative nonfiction film

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Related Episodes

Members Only Episodes

• Ep. 67: Frederick Wiseman’s Ex Libris and City Hall
• Ep. 95: No Ordinary Man and John Ware Reclaimed: Reclaiming history in documentary (Members only)

Free Episodes

• Ep. 99: Creative Nonfiction with Penny Lane and Carol Nguyen
• Ep. 123: Sundance 2022: Creative Nonfiction

Credits

Host Alex Heeney is the Editor-in-Chief of Seventh Row. Find her on Twitter @bwestcineaste.

Email us at contact seventh row com.

This episode was edited, produced, and recorded by Alex Heeney.