Jack Hildebrand

documentary filmmaker

August 3, 2026·By: Mbaire

Courtesy of [Cal Poly Short Cuts](https://www.instagram.com/p/C54N6uQSXYU/?img_index=2)

"I'm drawn to people determined to achieve something, because I want to find out if they get there."

Jack Hildebrand is a documentary filmmaker and editor fresh out of UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, with work spanning local Oakland sports stories, a Netflix internship on America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, and his thesis film Boxer Mom, about Polynesian Olympic boxer 'Aki 'Epenisa.We talked with him about discovering documentary filmmaking, working on a Netflix production, and overcoming self-doubt.

You've explored journalism, documentary filmmaking, editing and producing early in your career. When did you first realize storytelling was something you wanted to pursue professionally?

It started during COVID. A few friends and I launched the Young Entrepreneurs Podcast. We wanted to learn from founders and CEOs who'd excelled in various industries, and find young professionals who'd recently started their careers to give career advice to our listeners. I loved hearing how people got to where they were, but I also found myself fascinated with editing. That's when I realized I didn't just enjoy interviewing people, I loved shaping their stories.

Looking back at Berkeley, what experience had the biggest impact on how you tell stories?

Learning to trust the process. Documentary filmmaking takes time, and you have to build relationships before people let you into their lives. I found myself drawn to Oakland sports stories. After the city lost three major professional teams, I made a documentary following fans working to keep that community alive. Later, my thesis film followed Olympic boxer 'Aki 'Epenisa as she returned to the ring two months after giving birth. That project showed me the emotional power of documentary filmmaking.

Storytelling is constantly evolving. What keeps you excited about working in this industry?

The possibilities. There are so many ways to tell stories today, through photography, short films, long-form documentaries. I'm drawn to people chasing something meaningful. Sports create those moments naturally and bring communities together.

What keeps drawing you back to producing and documentary filmmaking?

The editing, honestly. It's like putting a puzzle together. How you open a documentary sets the tone for the whole story, and that craft is what I want to keep building long term.

When you're deciding which stories deserve to be told, what are you looking for?

Stories with layers. That's what I look for. I'm drawn to people working toward something difficult, athletes, musicians, people building something meaningful in their communities. Their journeys develop over time, and that unfolding is what makes a documentary worth watching. With Boxer Mom, I started following 'Aki. Filmed over the course of about two months, knowing she'd be reuniting with her family and trying to qualify for a match. That's the kind of layered, evolving story I'm chasing.

You worked behind the scenes on Netflix's America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys. What was that experience like?

I interned withStardust Frames and Productions, the team behind that series, doing archival logging and licensing checks on every shot. What stuck with me was watching the production reach the finish line, seeing how editors and the visual effects team shared cuts throughout. It motivated me to want to be part of a team like that someday, as a film editor.

How did you manage to land a Netflix internship?

I got it through Berkeley Journalism, my professor, Jason Spingarn-Koffwas a Netflix executive producer and connected our program with directors Chapman and Maclain Way. What made me stand out, I think, was a documentary I made about community funding models to build new sports teams in Oakland. I was fascinated by people coming together to build something they believed in, and I wanted to follow that journey to see whether they could achieve what they had set out to do.

What are the three qualities of a good story?

Timeliness, emotion and determination. 'Aki working toward the 2028 Olympics gives a story of real anticipation. Emotion is how people connect, and I'm drawn to people determined to achieve something, because I want to find out if they get there.

Building a creative career isn't always straightforward. Have you struggled with self-doubt, and how has that shaped you as a storyteller?

I'm optimistic, I believe I can achieve a lot, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Growing up, I got extra help in school and felt self-conscious about it. I was told I'd be a C student, but I wanted to figure things out on my own, and pushing through that built a lot of my confidence. That same persistence showed up with Berkeley. Going there was my childhood dream, my parents met there, but I didn't get in as an undergrad. I got waitlisted, drove four hours to attend the showcase, still waitlisted, and stayed persistent until I got in. Confidence comes from trying things out, failing, learning, and then getting through anyway despite the obstacles.

Are there any filmmakers or producers whose work has had a lasting influence on you?

The Last Dance is one of my favorites, for how it used archival footage to tell the story of the Bulls' final season. I'm also a fan of the Aaron Rodgers documentary Enigma, and I've talked with its director, Liam Hughes. Pete Nicks' Underrated, his documentary on Stephen Curry, has stuck with me too. He's an alum of my program.

Looking back on your projects, is there one that changed how you think about people or storytelling?

Boxer Mom. Screening it at the Berkeley Film Archive and watching people react to 'Aki's story showed me the real impact documentary film can have. It's a privilege to capture critical moments in someone's life, and leading with intention builds the trust to tell it well.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what documentary would you want to make, and why?

My cousin Taylor Damron and I have talked about traveling and making cinematic films together. I'd love for us to travel the world and make films about different countries and cultures, that let people connect with different communities.

As you look ahead, what are you most excited to create or accomplish over the next few years?

Right now I'm submitting Boxer Mom to festivals and continuing to edit for Cal Football. I would like to make a lot of travel documentaries in the future, but I really want to keep making films out of Oakland to keep their storied sports history alive.

Jack Hildebrand

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