By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of Church and State.

What if the stories you hear about history, war and culture come from a perspective that mainstream Hollywood rarely shares? That question set the tone for a revealing conversation between host Caleb Collier and veteran filmmaker Michael Pack, who believes America’s documentary landscape is overdue for a genuine balance of viewpoints.

Why a New Documentary Ecosystem Is Needed

Pack traced his journey back to his twenties at NYU Film School, where he felt surrounded by peers producing “anti‑American, anti‑business” documentaries that often echoed Soviet‑era narratives. He says his motivation was simple: “I wanted to tell the other side of the story.” Over the past decade, documentaries have exploded on platforms like Netflix and Amazon, now representing roughly a quarter of all streamed content and becoming the second‑most popular genre after drama. Yet, according to Pack, the majority of that output carries a left‑leaning slant.

“They’re often left‑leaning and it’s easy to understand why, but we in America need to hear both sides of the story at least,” he asserts. The imbalance, he argues, stems from a well‑funded ecosystem that nurtures progressive filmmakers—four thousand universities with film schools, foundations, distributors, and festivals that champion “social‑justice documentaries.” Pack believes conservatives need a comparable infrastructure to ensure their stories are not lost.

Manifold Productions, Palladium Pictures and the Incubator

Founded in 1977, Manifold Productions has produced long‑form documentaries on subjects ranging from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. In recent years, Pack expanded his output through Palladium Pictures, which focuses on shorter, more accessible documentaries. A notable partnership includes a series with the Wall Street Journal Opinion section, highlighting the venture’s reach beyond niche audiences.

Central to Pack’s strategy is an incubator program run by his son, Thomas Pack. The four‑year‑old initiative accepts up to four filmmakers annually—seasoned enough to have completed corporate or nonprofit videos but new to documentary storytelling. Applicants can apply via the Palladium Pictures website, where the program promises mentorship, production resources, and a platform to reach a general audience, not just a right‑wing one.

Documentaries That Challenge the Narrative

One of Pack’s most recent projects revisits the United States’ longest war. The film, released on the fifth anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan’s Bagram Airfield, offers a fact‑based chronicle of the withdrawal, from President Biden’s decision to set a “zero‑date” in April to the chaotic evacuation in August. Pack describes the footage as stark: “The mix between the feces, the blood, the decaying bodies… people would beg you to kill them.” He stresses that the film’s purpose is not propaganda but to present the raw reality so viewers can draw their own conclusions.

Pack notes that the documentary has already garnered awards and is available through the Wall Street Journal’s opinion docs hub. He hopes the film will spark a broader conversation about America’s foreign‑policy decisions, noting, “Americans need to wake up to this fact that we cannot go over to a country under the guise of spreading democracy.”

The Cultural Impact of Conservative Storytelling

Beyond the specific films, Pack believes the real power lies in diversifying the cultural conversation. He points to recent successes such as a documentary on former First Lady Melania Trump and the Ellisons’ acquisition of major studios, suggesting a growing appetite for right‑of‑center content. Yet he cautions that “there have to be people who can create product.” By training filmmakers who can produce compelling, fact‑driven narratives, Pack aims to fill a void he sees in the current media landscape.

Pack’s libertarian philosophy also informs his approach. He emphasizes that the goal is not to silence opposing views but to “give options on the table.” He hopes that when audiences are exposed to multiple perspectives, they will arrive at a more informed, perhaps even shared, understanding of the issues at hand.

Local Roots, National Reach

While the conversation began with a local political note—Caleb Collier’s proposal to declare Spokane Valley a Second Amendment sanctuary city—the discussion quickly broadened to national cultural concerns. The juxtaposition underscores how local initiatives and national media efforts can intersect, each reinforcing the other’s push for a more balanced public discourse.

Pack’s work illustrates a growing movement among conservative creators to claim space in the cultural arena. By fostering new talent, producing award‑winning documentaries, and challenging the dominant narrative, they aim to ensure that America’s story is told from multiple angles, preserving the democratic principle of a free and diverse press.

In a media environment where “garbage” from Hollywood often dominates, Pack’s mission offers a clear alternative: documentaries that are educational, historically grounded, and unapologetically American. As the incubator graduates its fourth class, the hope is that these films will not only entertain but also empower viewers to think critically about the world around them.

Ultimately, the conversation between Collier and Pack highlights a broader cultural shift—one where the battle for America’s narrative is being fought not just in courts or legislatures, but in the editing rooms and film festivals where stories are born.

The full episode of Church and State is available on OBBM Network TV.