Show notes
We are excited to catch Sam Green—despite freezing our asses off on Main Street—hours after the world premiere of THE OLDEST PERSON IN THE WORLD. What starts as a conversation about chasing Guinness World Records quickly becomes something bigger: how curiosity transforms into meaning. Sam walks us through ten years of filming, cancer scares, fatherhood, and the realization that 116-year-olds don't give a fuck about pearls of wisdom—like Keith, they just want snacks and naps. Sam is an inspiration, driven by endless curiosity and the urge to overcome his own inner shy-kid, he shares the impetus to innovate docmaking with 'live cinema' and we witness his obsession with manhole covers (yes, really). Sam pulls back the curtains on his years-long cutting process with OLDEST PERSON editor Aaron Wickenden—they cut for 1-month a year for ten years! This walk is full of positivity, creativity, and a lot of laughs. Plus: a stop & chat with Oscar-winning producer, Dan Cogan, why SALESMAN changed everything, and insight into Sam's new alter ego as a Venice futbol fanatic: Samuel Verde. It's the end of an era at Sundance, but Sam reminds us why we fell in love with this art form in the first place. Discussion links: THE OLDEST PERSON IN THE WORLD (2026) | THE RAINBOW MAN/JOHN 3:16 (1997) | THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND (2002) | 32 SOUNDS (2022) | SALESMAN (1969) | SANS SOLEIL (1983) Timestamps: 00:00 Main Street at Sundance—14 Degrees 01:05 Meeting Sam During Covid Austin 02:42 The Oldest Person in the World—The Film That Changed 04:13 When Centenarians Just Want Snacks 07:41 The Manhole Cover Obsession 11:17 From Rainbow Man to Sundance 1997 15:28 The Weather Underground & Paul Thomas Anderson 19:56 Editing Over Ten Years with Aaron 25:32 The Live Documentary Revolution 29:13 Performing Arts Saved My Career 34:24 Advice: Keep It Small, Keep It Fun 41:39 Barbara Kopple on Watching Your Own Films 45:01 Gateway Drug: Salesman & Sans Soleil 48:25 Samuel the Venice Soccer Fan 49:26 The End of an Era at Sundance