There's so many nuggets in this podcast, from the fallacy of perfectionism in activism, how to work with those you disagree with (on some matters), the importance of your integrity and the blaming immigrants rather than the 1% for our societies issues. music.youtube.com/watch?v=PxXz...

Great POV on the importance of building an audience for your documentary films - to let broadcasters know there's demand for your story. realscreen.com/2025/04/08/v... #documentaryfilmmaking #documentary #filmsky #documentaryfilm

The Premier is celebrating a “big win” while thousands of people are losing their jobs and energy prices are plummeting. We need a plan to protect workers and strengthen our industries, but she is more interested in securing her next appearance on Fox News than in addressing Albertans' needs.

For many producers, making Sotol isn't just a trade — it’s their legacy they put into every bottle, their way of keeping the tradition alive. Los Sotoleros, an upcoming documentary about Mexico's lesser known spirit, Sotol, and the legendary producers that have kept the tradition alive.

"Consider that despite huge backing with 80% to 90% support across party lines in opinion polling, implementing a wealth tax on the super-rich is nowhere to be found on the federal policy agenda. " Great article on wealth inequality in Canada

This is an interesting finding. I'd love to know the data for the Beltline neighbourhood in Calgary

In Calgary and Chihuahua, i live in a similarily situated community, just inside the outer ring road of town. In Chihuhaua, I counted 51 restaurants within a 15 minute walk from me. Not including food trucks, of which there's at least another 10. In Calgary, there are 0.

This is absolutely terrible news

And here I thought Participant Media's shuttering last year was due to the troubling financial uncertainty in the doc world. Nope, apparently it's because it's founder went MAGA. variety.com/2025/film/ne...

Let’s set the record straight on CBC executive pay. Some critics want you to believe CBC execs are raking it in—but here’s the truth: 🔍 CBC salaries are public and modest. Sources in the comments.

Paco prepares locally caught fish while waiting for the distillation process to finish at their vinata in Chorreras, Mexico. The current drought throughout the State of Chihuahua has hit rural communities especially hard, and the local fishers have been especially impacted by low water levels.

A great look at the impact of Congestion Pricing from the first month's in New York. Basically, congestion down, transit use up (big-time!), safety increased and business is booming. bettercities.substack.com/p/congestion...

My semi-regular reminder of a really important reality about cities, density, services and taxes. Any questions? Graphic recently cleaned up by @kathrynmathias.bsky.social. #CityMakingMath

City I like: Montreal City I love: Vancouver City I think is overrated: Toronto City I think is underrated: Mexico City City I feel most myself in: Vancouver City I still need to visit: New York City I dream of living in: Munich Most inspiring city today: Paris Favorite city of all time: Vancouver

“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.” “Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath Some costs aren’t costs.

Last year, US lawmakers argued that a social media platform owned by someone close to an autocratic leader can be used as propaganda. They were talking about TikTok. For Canada, these concerns apply equally to the app formerly known as Twitter. “That’s why it’s time to ban Twitter/X in Canada.”

What makes a good Sotol? Sotolero Paco in Chorreras, Chihuahua gives his thoughts. Scenes from my upcoming film, Los Sotoleros #documentaryfilm #documental #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #Mezcal

As a Canadian who's been in Mexico for the last few years, I'd love for Canada and Mexico to develop closer relationships. We once again share a mutual "frenemy". I enjoyed this podcast on Mexico's views of the realignment of US trade policy. youtu.be/cOaX5iREV0A?...

IMPORTANT: The Dutch invested €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart govts do math on investing in better mobility. Let’s be clear — it wastes public money to NOT do it. #CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.com

"The apparent lesson here—heaping economic pressure on U.S. adversaries often fails but bullying allies can yield results—seems to animate Trump’s current push to rein in partners who are still tied to the U.S. market." www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Congrats to the team behind No Other Land on the Documentary Feature Oscar win. Stunning film well deserving of the Oscar. #documentaryfilm #documentaryfilmmaking #filmsky www.theguardian.com/film/2025/ma...

Inside Casa Sotol Fernandez, in the heart of Cuidad Madera, Chihuahua. I'm hoping to make it out to Madera in the next few weeks for some more filming! #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #mezcal #documentaryfilm #documentary #documental

"Releasing an early festival trailer—despite industry warnings—taught me that getting our film in front of audiences sooner helped build momentum, engage viewers, and ultimately helped shape a stronger, more impactful release strategy." tedhope.substack.com/p/stand-behi...

So far the hardest part about documentary filmmaking is just convincing people that they have something to say. I think we go through life thinking nobody cares about our stories. I think it’s because they don’t know the story is there to care about. People love to connect and relate, just be you

Thom Powers, Programmer at TIFF and co-founder of DOC NYC, on programming docs for festivals: "Thom thinks about programming in these buckets. Audience: Will local audiences buy tickets to this film? Context: Will a film fit into the overall vibe and goals of a festival?

"Misinformation thrives in an age of short attention spans. When people lack the time or patience to engage deeply, they become more susceptible to manipulation." realscreen.com/2025/02/25/v...

A little bit of background on the Dasylirion plant - the plant from which Sotol is derived. Follow for more updates on my upcoming documentary, Los Sotoleros. 📽️ #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #Chihuahua #Mexico #documentaryfilm #documentary #documental

"'Professional' is perhaps my least favorite style or narrative approach. Okay, I’m wrong about that… "Safe" is my least favorite approach to cinema. In my book, both safe and professional are insults."

Recent thoughts on making the jump from short documentaries to features, as I work on my first feature documentary bit.ly/41tea2N #documentaryfilmmaking #filmmaking #documentary #filmsky #lossotolerosfilm

What is Sotol? It's not tequila, nor Mezcal. It's the spirit of Northern Mexico, derived from the Dasylirion plant that grows wild in the local deserts and mountains. Los Sotoleros, an upcoming documentary film #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #mezcal #chihuahua #mexico #documentaryfilm #documental

this is what it's all aboot, eh buds ?! Let's goo Canada 🇨🇦 (citation: snipped from SPORTSNET's highlight reel on YouTube)

If it's possible to have a favourite economist (what a nerdy thing to have a favourite of!) Paul Krugman might be mine. When MAGA Meets Minsky open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

Chorreras, Mexico - a small village in the heart of the Chihuahuan desert, and home to numerous Sotoleros. #sotol #mezcal #lossotolerosfilm #documentaryfilm #documental #filmmaking

Aerial view of the desert of Coyame del Sotol, a prominent region of Sotol production in Chihuahua, Mexico. Clip from my work in progress film, Los Sotoleros. #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #mezcal #tequila #documentaryfilm #documental #documentary

Do you watch films while doing something else (on your phone)? If so, why? Is the lack of ability to focus on one thing at a time (yes, even a film) resulting in worse films being made? theconversation.com/too-distract... #documentaryfilmmaking #filmsky #filmmaking #netflix

Sotolero Paco stoking the fire as their batch of Sotol distills above. Frames from my upcoming documentary, Los Sotoleros. Learn more here: marklocki.com/portfolio/lo... #documentaryfilm #lossotoleros #documentaryfilmmaking #documental #sotol

"The reality is folks coming out of film schools or similar filmmaker incubators need to appreciate that the power to creative success and sustainability is through non-dependence (of traditional distributors)" #documentaryfilmmaking atelierformat.substack.com/p/bringing-d...

Simple but powerful film on police brutality and violence. The silence in the film is almost haunting. #documentaryfilm #filmsky 📽️ letterboxd.com/film/inciden...

"Many who watch No Other Land around the world are not as distant as they may think from this reality. In fact, they bear some responsibility for it. Without the support of their governments, Israel would not have been able to flout international law for decades". www.indiewire.com/features/com...

Why the future belongs to Storytellers www.cut-daily.com/436-why-the-... #documentaryfilm #filmmaking

Great podcast episode from Sprawlcast on the history of the Glenmore Landing site and the recent decision by city council to not allow high-density development there... yet again. www.sprawlcalgary.com/glenmore-lan... #urbanism #nimby #calgary #alberta

"a feature film is not like a TV documentary. In journalism, we are trained to present both sides, but in filmmaking, it is okay to tell a story from one perspective.I know that truth can be seen from different angles, and this film portrays my own truth" open.substack.com/pub/tedhope/...

“Boo hoo. The streamers broke the independent film financing and distribution systems by entering the market aggressively, shutting everyone else out – before retreating – leaving almost nothing behind...They’ve done so much damage, I think we need to move on.” - AMPAS Documentary Branch member.

Yup!

Catch our multi-award winning short documentary #MoCrazyStrong tomorrow at Banff-Sunshine Village Ski Resort! Former Professional Skier Jamie Mocrazy and professional skier Jeanee Crane-Mauzy will be there for a Q&A www.skibanff.com/play/events-... #documentaryfilm #albertafilm

Justice for Native Americans - Sugarcane a Documentary about the injustice done to Native Americans in Canada and the US. An interview with the Producers: https://www.westdoconline.com/post/documentary-172-sugarcane  Subscribe: www.westdoc.net

Rick Rubin's "The Creative Act" is one of my favourite books on being a creative. In my latest article, I break down how I implement the practice of submerging myself in the great works, with a focus on documentary films. marklocki.com/submerge-tho... #documentaryfilmmaking #filmsky #documentary

This was an excellent event when I attended in 2023. I highly suggest attending if you're an #alberta based #filmproducer ampia.org/producer-pow... #filmmaking #documentaryfilm #albertafilm

Loved this episode of CBC's Front Burner on the switch to Buy Canadian, including a bit about what it means for our cultural media sector. And another good point brought up - instead of listening to The Daily (NYT), listen to Front Burner! www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...

How did I not know my favourite narrative director, Alfonso Cuaron and one of my favourite authors, Naomi Klein, teamed up in 2007 for a short on her book, The Shock Doctrine?! If you haven't read it, it's an absolute must read. www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7fW...