Define what success looks like—is it awards, box office, or social change?

One night, a DAT cassette arrives with no return address. On it: raw dailies from a famous 1999 teen drama. In the footage, the lead actress (now deceased, ruled accidental overdose) runs off-set in tears. The director laughs. A producer says, “Let her cry. It’ll make the next take better.”

Entertainment documentaries often involve specific legal and technical hurdles.

Flashing lights, screaming fans, slow-mo applause.