I Am Not Your Guru Documentary

I’m delighted to be returning to my documentary newsletter, after spending five months wrapping up my own film.

In 2012, just before I began directing American Visionary, a film about Barbara Marx Hubbard, I sought out self-improvement guru Tony Robbins. I asked him if I could make a documentary about his work.

I’m still a bit discomfited today to admit that this giant man, whom most people think of as a hyped-up motivational speaker, has been such an influential teacher to me personally. But several years ago, his seminars dramatically improved my life.

Then I received an email from his legal counsel saying that I must immediately stop making this film (I hadn’t even started) because a documentary about him was already underway. So I pivoted to the next beloved guru on my list, Barbara Marx Hubbard.

Fast forward four years. I found out this summer, much to my delight, that one of our community’s finest documentary filmmakers, Joe Berlinger, had finished a documentary that got picked up by Netflix. It’s called Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru.

I was so excited for the release date on July 15th that I scheduled it in my calendar. I was not disappointed. This dramatic, verite-style documentary reveals Robbins’s extraordinary ability to catalyze personal growth.

But even before I saw Berlinger’s film, what delighted me most was that a director who had built his reputation on investigative films like Crude had shifted focus. Why had this self-described “skeptical” filmmaker decided to direct an affirming, uplifting portrait of a transformational master?

I found the answer in an interview with Berlinger on the Tony Robbins podcast. Berlinger said that he had dogged Robbins for years to make the film, after his own life had been transformed at Robbins “Date With Destiny” seminar. Then Berlinger said something that warmed my heart, and you’ve heard me say this for years in this newsletter.

He said, “In many people’s minds, the documentary has become equated with the investigative take-down piece… I wanted to do something very different: to share a positive experience.”

I recommend watching Berlinger’s film. More importantly, think about how your own social issue documentary can reveal problems–shine a light on injustices–and at the same time still inspire viewers to take them on. I’ll share some suggestions for how in next week’s newsletter.

Whether today’s newsletter presses your buttons or resonates with your heart, I’d love to know your thoughts to deepen the conversation in Part 2 of this topic.

Here at New Doc Editing, two of our top-notch editors are wrapping long-term projects and will be available soon. Please email me if you are looking for a talented editor who excels in rousing storytelling.