Documentary Work
“The most profound lessons about journalism I’ve learned have been taught to me by the people I’ve covered.”
-Jodi Kantor, Investigative Journalist
Something to think about…
Knowing when to let a story breathe is crucial.
In a time where short-form content is king, understanding how to captivate an audience for a long duration is a highly sought-after skill. From a journalistic perspective, the aim is always to be concise, but at the same time, some stories are captivating to a point where excluding their nuances do it a disservice.
Working in a documentary and film space has changed how I think through telling stories in general, helping me break out of the “always inverted pyramid” mindset and into one that treats it as multidimensional as it is.
“Pull of the Water: The Sadie Goldin Story”
I enrolled in a long-form storytelling course for the 2026 spring semester, not knowing I would have to produce, direct, write, edit and shoot a documentary all by myself. After a conversation with a North Texas SID, I quickly discovered that the story I planned to tell would mean a lot more to me than a passing grade.
Sadie Goldin doesn't know life without swimming. On a journey to becoming a successful Division I swimmer, she is diagnosed with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome, along with several mental health issues, which prompt challenges internally and with those around her. Getting a fresh start at the University of North Texas, Goldin shares her life story through the lens of her healing and self-discovery, while also grappling with the end of her swim career. From Sadie, we learn to lead with compassion, and also that true growth is often messy and anything but linear.
This is a project that challenged me intellectually, creatively and journalistically. Turning around a 25-minute documentary by yourself, while also balancing school and work, in five months is quite the undertaking. I wouldn’t trade the 5 AM wake-up calls for swim practices or late nights hunched over my laptop for anything, however, as it taught me what it really means to treat someone’s story with the utmost care. As I apply for film festivals and awards, the documentary will remain private online, as I have to screen the film properly first before posting it digitally. I look forward to sharing this film and Sadie’s story with a mass audience in the near future, which I will link here when available.
Posing with the Goldin family after showcasing the film for the first time.
Capturing Sadie Goldin before her sit-down interview.
“Credentialed: the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday ”
As the Creative Intern for the PGA TOUR, I worked with the PGA TOUR Originals team on their CBS network special, “Credentialed: the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday”. The network special brings viewers behind the scenes of the tournament, featuring player interviews, tournament history and course insight from the first three rounds, serving as a recap and anticipation-builder heading into the final round of play on Sunday.
On this project, I helped sort through field footage coming in and pick out shots that were used in the special. Additionally, I picked out sound bites from interviews conducted earlier in the week to be used in player feature segments, sifting through 300 pages of transcripts. I also helped with other production needs as assigned, such as assisting in the fact-checking process of the script.
Below is a player feature segment from the special.
The More You Know
What I’ve learned from documentary work
How shot selection can shape a narrative
Pacing a story’s arc
The importance of managing time on each segment to meet television network standards