Justin Nickels
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justinnickels.bsky.social
Justin Nickels
@justinnickels.bsky.social
Love my wife, my dog, and movies. Herzog’s Rogue Film School '16 alum. On 3 starship plaques, danced around a Borg Queen, and served fish and chips to Picard. Former politico, PR specialist, & film fest programmer. www.JustinNickels.net
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Find out more about projects I’ve worked on over the years here:

www.justinnickels.net
Reposted by Justin Nickels
Everyone is rightfully talking about the importance of journalism right now. This short film is a perfect example of journalism done right and the cost of making sure everyone sees the truth in this world. www.hbomax.com/movies/armed...
Watch Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud | HBO Max
Watch Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud on HBO Max. Plans start at $10.99/month. An intimate portrait of documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud, the first American journalist ki...
www.hbomax.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Everyone is rightfully talking about the importance of journalism right now. This short film is a perfect example of journalism done right and the cost of making sure everyone sees the truth in this world. www.hbomax.com/movies/armed...
Watch Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud | HBO Max
Watch Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud on HBO Max. Plans start at $10.99/month. An intimate portrait of documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud, the first American journalist ki...
www.hbomax.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Avatar Fire and Ash was pretty great and overwhelming. I saw it at the Citywalk IMAX in 3D so that might have something to do with it, but it’s my favorite of the trilogy.
December 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
“Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud,” released by HBO in October, is one of 15 films up for consideration in the Documentary Short Film category of the Academy Awards.
Brent Renaud documentary shortlisted for an Oscar - Arkansas Times
“Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud,” released by HBO in October, is one of 15 films up for consideration in the Documentary Short Film category of the Academy Awards.
arktimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
@indiewire.com listed Brent and Craig Renaud’s short documentary Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud as one of the 20 best docs of the year. If you haven’t seen it yet you can catch it on HBOMax. www.indiewire.com/lists/best-d...
The Best Documentaries of 2025
Across movies and TV series, the best documentaries of 2025 are a disparate bunch bound by shared value and gleaming purpose.
www.indiewire.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:43 AM
@indiewire.com listed Brent and Craig Renaud’s short documentary Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud as one of the 20 best docs of the year. If you haven’t seen it yet you can catch it on HBOMax. www.indiewire.com/lists/best-d...
The Best Documentaries of 2025
Across movies and TV series, the best documentaries of 2025 are a disparate bunch bound by shared value and gleaming purpose.
www.indiewire.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I’m watching the Keneth Branagh Hamlet. It’s my first time. Two DVDs. It’s taken me several days. I wish they still made wildly audacious movies like this.
December 20, 2025 at 11:42 PM
It’s always bugged me that the prepping of the torpedo bays in Wrath of Khan doesn’t go smoother. That last guy goes a little too early.
December 20, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
December 19, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
Listen on Spotify, ApplePods all other platforms at www.IndependentAmericans.us

In this moving and important episode, I sit down with my old friend, acclaimed and courageous director Craig Renaud to discuss his HBO documentary, Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud…
December 18, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Proud of all the folks who made this. It’s an incredible tribute and if you have HBOMax you should watch it right now.
December 19, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
Award-winning filmmaker Craig Renaud joined Independent Americans to talk about his brother Brent—killed in Ukraine—his Oscar-shortlisted HBO film, and why this is the most dangerous time ever for journalists. It's raw, patriotic, and honest.
December 17, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
⚡️ @indyamericans.bsky.social EP397. Craig Renaud. Heroic War Journalist & Director of Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud. Making a Film About Your Brother’s Murder: First American Killed in Ukraine. Venezuela Blockade. Mick Foley Dumps WWE.

Watch: youtu.be/cKo_JyzI0VM?...
December 18, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
Opportunity (18) - From Jacint Roger (landru79.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2iKWrya
December 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
Brent and Craig Renaud are on the Oscar Shortlist for Documentary Short for their film Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud. You can watch it now on HBOMax. They are both great people and wonderfully empathetic filmmakers. Watch it if you can! deadline.com/2025/12/osca...
Oscar Shortlists In 12 Categories Revealed: ‘Sinners’, ‘Wicked: For Good’, ‘Frankenstein’, ‘One Battle After Another’, ‘Avatar: Fire And Ash’ & More
The Movie Academy has revealed its 2026 Oscars shortlists in 10 categories. See Academy Award nominations for Best Song, VFX, International pic, docs and more.
deadline.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:14 PM
This sounds like me in Stardew Valley
incredible stuff over at r/ididnthaveeggs

It’s a eggnog recipe
December 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Brent and Craig Renaud are on the Oscar Shortlist for Documentary Short for their film Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud. You can watch it now on HBOMax. They are both great people and wonderfully empathetic filmmakers. Watch it if you can! deadline.com/2025/12/osca...
Oscar Shortlists In 12 Categories Revealed: ‘Sinners’, ‘Wicked: For Good’, ‘Frankenstein’, ‘One Battle After Another’, ‘Avatar: Fire And Ash’ & More
The Movie Academy has revealed its 2026 Oscars shortlists in 10 categories. See Academy Award nominations for Best Song, VFX, International pic, docs and more.
deadline.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Going to start a secret movie watching club with recurring screenings of surprise films, but at each screening the film is Michael Mann’s 1995 masterpiece Heat.
December 16, 2025 at 4:01 AM
I just learned that Steven Spielberg’s father saw a UFO in the Marshal Islands in 1944. #GodzillavsKingGhidorah
December 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
“I miss blockbuster video” the library has every dvd totally untouched and I never see you there
December 12, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
These ridiculous mega-projects like "datacenters in space" (doomed by thermodynamics) make a LOT more sense when you realize they're massive Ponzi schemes designed to transfer wealth from pension funds to VC's through "fee stacking."

It's the old Assets Under Management con. It should be illegal.
“.. Skeptics believe the technical risks are being underestimated and say space-based data centers won’t be competitive on cost, especially if power and other constraints ease on the ground.”

@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/tech/bezos-a...
December 11, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
Great interview from @indiewire.com’s Jim Hemphill with Craig Renaud on the documentary Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud www.indiewire.com/features/pod...
‘It Was the Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Had to Do’: Craig Renaud on Documenting the Life and Death of His Brother
Craig Renaud discusses his new documentary, 'Armed Only With a Camera,' about his late brother and collaborator, on IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit.
www.indiewire.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Great interview from @indiewire.com’s Jim Hemphill with Craig Renaud on the documentary Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud www.indiewire.com/features/pod...
‘It Was the Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Had to Do’: Craig Renaud on Documenting the Life and Death of His Brother
Craig Renaud discusses his new documentary, 'Armed Only With a Camera,' about his late brother and collaborator, on IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit.
www.indiewire.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
Terry Gross Conducts ‘Fresh Air’ Interview On Bluetooth During Uber Shift
https://theonion.com/terry-gross-conducts-fresh-air-interview-on-bluetooth-during-uber-shift/
December 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Justin Nickels
Brent and his brother Craig cofounded the Little Rock Film Festival where my wife and I met volunteering and working over the late aughts and early teens. Brent was killed in 2022 in Ukraine reporting on refugees from the war. This film is about his life and work www.hbomax.com/movies/armed...
Watch Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud | HBO Max
Watch Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud on HBO Max. Plans start at $10.99/month. An intimate portrait of documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud, the first American journalist ki...
www.hbomax.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:40 AM