S4E16 - The Importance of Documentary Filmmaking Featuring Elly Schmidt-Hopper episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 24, 2025 · 1H 9M

S4E16 - The Importance of Documentary Filmmaking Featuring Elly Schmidt-Hopper

from Last to Leave · host Zoey Danielson & Heather Elaine Abbott

Join your hosts, Heather and Zoey, as they dive into the world of documentaries with filmmaker and creator Elly Schmidt-Hopper. We first connected with Elly on TikTok after seeing her video about the current state of documentary filmmaking—and just how difficult it is to secure distribution, let alone funding.From there, we dig into some of our favorite docs, ranging from No Other Land (2024) and The Gleaners and I (2000) to Roadrunner (2021), Beauty Is Embarrassing (2012), and more. Talking with Elly was a reminder of how special it is to connect with creatives who care this deeply... the whole conversation felt electric.You can keep up with Elly on Instagram @schmidthopper and her website Spellbound Films! A big thank you to Lee Walls (@Unapologetical.lee on Instagram and @Lee_FinalVer on Twitter) for our amazing Logo, M.L. Abbott for our theme song and Cody Schlabaugh for our cover photo (website). A special thanks to Breanna Benedict for being our incredible Social Media Coordinator (website)!  We launched a companion newsletter to the podcast called First to Arrive! Subscribe here: lasttoleave.substack.comYou can keep up with all things Last to Leave here: @LastToLeavePodcast on Instagram & our website: lasttoleavepodcast.comBecome parasocial friends with us:@Zoey_Nicole on Instagram @TheHAbbott on Instagram & Heather's Letterboxd.

Join your hosts, Heather and Zoey, as they dive into the world of documentaries with filmmaker and creator Elly Schmidt-Hopper. We first connected with Elly on TikTok after seeing her video about the current state of documentary filmmaking—and just how difficult it is to secure distribution, let alone funding. From there, we dig into some of our favorite docs, ranging from No Other Land (2024) and The Gleaners and I (2000) to Roadrunner (2021), Beauty Is Embarrassing (2012), and more. Talking...

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S4E16 - The Importance of Documentary Filmmaking Featuring Elly Schmidt-Hopper

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This episode is 1 hour and 9 minutes long.

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This episode was published on November 24, 2025.

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Join your hosts, Heather and Zoey, as they dive into the world of documentaries with filmmaker and creator Elly Schmidt-Hopper. We first connected with Elly on TikTok after seeing her video about the current state of documentary filmmaking—and just...

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