Podcast Factual America explores its culture through the lens of documentary filmmaking
Factual America is a podcast recently released by UK-based production company Alamo Pictures which looks at powerful cultural moments with unique American stories told through the lens of documentary filmmaking.
During the hour-long episodes released each week, host and co-producer Matthew Sherwood talks to guests including leading documentary filmmakers, as well as experts on the American experience. The aim of the conversations is to help the audience understand what makes America tick, in a quest for truth and meaning.
With 25 episodes released to date, its most recent one explores the history of jazz dance back to its roots in Africa and its evolution up to the present in an interview with Khadifa Wong and Zak Nemorin, the filmmakers of Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance.
The team behind the project is made up of Americans and European industry experts who have a deep affinity with the US, and Texas in particular.
Matthew Sherwood, a research professional, journalist and economist currently living in Yorkshire, says: “America, the world’s lone superpower unarguably affects us all. Understanding its global impact on our daily lives poses challenges in the wake of ‘fake news’, but with the help of documentary filmmaking, currently enjoying a resurgence, the search for truth and authentic stories can continue.
“Each of our episodes shines a light on universal trends, as our international audience loves to connect to factual stories told through an outsider’s lens.”
Sebastian Sauerborn, the founder of Alamo Pictures, who spent many years immersed in Texan culture added: “Our passion lies in unearthing and supporting American stories, because the US has led the way in filmmaking since the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1920s.
“Tapping into powerful themes that are universal, like the Hero’s Journey, especially since the end of the Second World War, has helped keep stories relatable and fresh for modern global audiences.
“This is particularly true for European audiences who say they follow news about America closely.”
The podcast examines topics as varied as race, factory farming, opioid addiction, capital punishment, religion, free speech and more, offering insights into how Baywatch became the most-watched TV show in the world or what the life of a modern-day American cowboy looks like.
Factual America is available on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.