In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with filmmaker Peter Kelly to explore his remarkable journey from his Mississippi roots to documenting the rich cultural and maritime history of Salt Cay in the Turks and Caicos. Peter reflects on how growing up in a small Mississippi community shaped his storytelling sensibilities, his love of history, and the creative instincts that now guide his work.
The conversation dives into the realities of filming in a remote island location—limited resources, environmental challenges, and the unexpected surprises that come with working far off the grid. Peter shares the thought process behind crafting his documentary: how he chose his subjects, the equipment he relied on, and why capturing a holistic portrait of the island mattered deeply to him.
Ultimately, this episode celebrates the art of discovery—of place, of story, and of self. It’s a thoughtful look at the creative process behind documentary filmmaking and the passion that drives filmmakers to preserve cultural heritage and amplify unheard stories.
Links:
The ShipwreckSurvey: Home - The Shipwreck Survey
Prom Night In Mississippi: Prom Night in Mississippi (2009) ⭐ 7.2 | Documentary
Cotopaxi: Cotopaxi - Gear For Good | Free shipping on orders $99+
Ikelite: Ikelite
PK Production Services: Peter Kelly | Storyteller // Adventurer // Speaker
Socials: instagram.com/PCKELLY1369
https://www.instagram.com/salt_n_silence/
DocuView Déjà Vu
Virunga, 2014, 100 mins, Watch on Netflix, IMDB Link: Virunga (2014) ⭐ 8.1 | Documentary, War
Time Codes
00:00 — Introduction: The Art of Documentary Filmmaking
01:30 — Growing Up in Mississippi: The Roots of Peter’s Storytelling
11:04 — Discovering Salt Cay: The Heartbeat of the Documentary
15:34 — Creative Decision-Making: From Writing to Filming
20:13 — Filming on a Remote Island: Gear, Environment & Resourcefulness
27:19 — Maritime Archaeology: Uncovering Hidden History
28:45 — Surprises, Setbacks & Learning Opportunities on Location
33:02 — DocuView Déjà Vu: Documentary Recommendations
Sponsor: Virgil Films http://www.virgilfilms.com/
Support us by buying merch or watching our films: https://documentaryfirst.com/
