Small production team/amateur documentaries?
This weekend I lucked into three documentaries on YouTube and I’m looking for more. Each of them has small production teams, from 2 to maybe a dozen people, and they were excellent. I’m wondering if anyone else can recommend similar style documentaries. The one caveat is that I want to avoid a bunch of repeat topics— it seems like I could easily find a dozen or more videos on people doing ultramarathons. I’m interested in a greater variety of hobbies or sports.
Listers — birding — 2 hours, 2 guys, very good (probably better than you think)
The Finisher — Barkley Marathon — first female finisher.
King of Moab — 240mi ultramarathon in Moab desert
Day In The Life of The #1 BBQ In Texas —I don’t really care about BBQ (not saying it isn’t tasty), but this was delectable to watch.
There’s a documentary that just released on Netflix called The Perfect Neighbor, you should watch it.
Some that I really like that I think have smaller crews (I’m not entirely sure I’m not big on docs):
My Octopus Teacher (2021/Netflix)
A diver documents the life of an Octopus and philosophizes life through the actions of the Octopus. Won the Oscar for Documentary Feature.
The Wolfpack (2015)
These Native American kids grew up with an abusive father who wouldn’t let them out of their apartment. They didn’t go to school and were maybe allowed out into the real world once a year. The kids turned to movies to experience the world through them.
Catfish (2010)
You’ve probably heard of the TV show that this film inspired. That show is sensationalized and highly produced. This is raw. It is so effective emotionally. And it coined the term catfishing.
Jesus Camp (2006)
This might have a bigger crew but it’s about an evangelical Christian church during the Bush administration.
this was so beautiful
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail 1:28 - covers the family-owned bank which was "the only financial institution to face criminal charges after the subprime mortgage crisis"
Free Solo 1:40 - covers Alex Honnold's attempts to make the first free solo climb of El Capitan
The Nvidia AI GPU Black Market 3:30 - Gamer's Nexus investigates GPU smuggling
North Koreans Try American BBQ 20 minutes
Edit: sorry, I didn't realize you were mostly looking for sports/hobbies
I was a big fan of the in-the-field documentaries VICE used to make, it feels like there were very few places they wouldn't try to go to in order to tell a story. Their crews have been into the Siberian wilderness to visit what remains of the reclusive Lykov family (CW: sexual assault), North Korea, and many other countries in the midst of war, strife, or cultural divide. This playlist has most of the ones I remember watching, and is a good jumping off point if what I've described sounds like it fits the bill.
Dear Zachary (2008)
Topic: true crime, biographical
Note: prepare to cry
51 Birch Street (2005)
Topic: family issues, mystery
Dear Kelly (2024)
Topic: politics, family issues
(or anything from Channel 5 really; particularly I'd recommend Vegas Tunnels which is 95 minutes)
Technically I think Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) could fall into this category as well
Topic: art, commerce
Listers look (oh my goodness, is the word “looks or look?) good! Thank you for posting these.