Why Judd Apatow Puts Himself in (Most of) His Documentaries

Judd Apatow says appearing on screen in his documentaries helps make them feel personal and lets viewers understand who is speaking with the subject. His approach is one of several valid ways to build intimacy and trust, rather than a bid for attention.

Netflix is releasing four documentaries about Martin Mull, Norm Macdonald, Maria Bamford and SCTV in October; Apatow directed films about Macdonald and Bamford, with Neil Berkeley co-directing the latter. The Macdonald film uses found footage because he was an unreliable narrator and died in 2021, while Berkeley says the film’s form reflects how audiences experienced Macdonald.