“I have a great idea for a documentary. Now what?”

The Documentarian is the ultimate go-to source for making and selling documentaries, answering every question and containing crucial strategies every filmmaker needs to know to succeed as a documentarian. Included are insights from experts and award-winning documentary filmmakers such as Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), Liz Garbus (Ghosts of Abu Ghraib), Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp), Freida Lee Mock (Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision), Errol Morris (The Fog of War), Sam Pollard (4 Little Girls), Michael Tollin (The Last Dance), Frederick Wiseman (Titicut Follies), Marina Zenovich (Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind).

The book includes a case study profiling the making and selling of the documentary Trekkies; what it took to push it to a record-setting sale to a major studio, with a huge payout to the filmmakers. This book is inspirational and leaves people—after reading a chapter or finishing the book—feeling more inspired to go forth with their own struggle.

“Nygard abundantly supplies suggestions for those in the business; casual readers will savor stories about the genre’s history.” Library Journal

“Where the f*#! was this book when I started making documentaries? Do not film one frame until you’ve read this book!” Jordan Brady, Documentarian, I Am Comic

“You have all you need in this treasure trove of advice, tips, and warnings. It will save you time, money, and psychoanalysts’ bills.” Alan Miller, First Frame Magazine

“Whew! I jammed through this book because I NEEDED to know what I would uncover next. It’s the best guide book I’ve seen on how to make a brilliant film.” Kat Alioshin, Documentarian, Animation Outlaws

Publisher: Applause Books
Paperback and Kindle
Publication date: September 17, 2024

CineMontage article about editing documentaries (p.40): “Shoot, Then Write”

Film International: “Ten Rules for Doing Documentary Interviews the Right Way”

CinemaEditor (p. 28): “How Editors Solve the Biggest Documentary Mistakes”

Cut to the Monkey reveals how the experts find the funny in any project. This is an editor’s cookbook, as well as a practical guide on how to prosper as an editor in the film business. The book also features contributions about writing, creating, and editing comedy from some of the biggest names in the comedy business, including Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), Alec Berg (Barry), Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), David Mandel (The White House Plumbers), Jeff Schaffer (The League), Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy), and others.

“This book isn’t just great. It’s essential!”
Jonny Elwyn, Cut/daily

“Roger Nygard’s book Cut to the Monkey is like a secret weapon for filmmakers.”
Chris Gore, Filmthreat

“Enormously entertaining…. An essential read for anyone who wants to broaden their editorial horizons and comes highly recommended.”
Cornelius Galen, First Frame Magazine

Publisher: Applause Books
Paperback and Kindle
Publication date: November 15, 2021

We are all doing relationships wrong. It turns out there are simple changes anyone can easily make that lead to far greater relationship happiness. That is what Roger Nygard discovered after meeting dozens of psychologists and relationship specialists such as Pat Allen, Robin Baker, Stephanie Coontz, William Doherty, John & Julie Gottman, Matt Ridley, Christopher Ryan, Bonnie Eaker Weil, and many others.

We aren’t taught in school how to have good relationships. We are sent into the world to figure out this complex formula on our own, through trial and error, a bumpy process causing emotional damage. The Truth About Marriage is a funny yet serious examination of these problems, and a guide with specific steps that anybody can utilize to enjoy healthier, happier, more successful relationships and marriages.

“What I really loved is how it’s the viewpoint of a single person trying to understand marriage…talking about what successful relationships and marriages have in common, and what sabotages them.”
Dr. Adi Jaffe, IGNTD Podcast

Publisher: Micro Publishing Media
Paperback and Kindle
Publication date: March 9, 2020