They Posed Atop A 118-Story Skyscraper And Survived: Doc Talk Podcast Scales Heights With Director Of ‘Skywalkers: A Love Story’

Filmmaker Jeff Zimbalist went to great lengths, and even greater heights, to make his latest documentary, Skywalkers: A Love Story.

The Oscar-contending Netflix film tells the story of Angela Nikolau and Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus, a young Russian couple who bonded over their mutual desire to scale the world’s tallest buildings. They are not content to merely climb them, but once on top they take stunning photographs and video of themselves executing balletic and gymnastic moves. Without a net, of course. Any slip would be fatal.

Zimbalist joins the latest episode of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast to share behind-the-scenes stories on Skywalkers, revealing that he came to the project as a former “roof topper” himself — although he’s quick to add that he never attempted anything like ascending the 118-story Merdeka mega-skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. That looming tower – the second tallest building in the world — is where Angela and Vanya attempted to pull off their most daring feat ever.

Doc Talk co-host John Ridley says he considers Skywalkers the scariest film he’s ever seen. That’s got to do with its knife-edge thrills. But Zimbalist tells us why he sees his narrative as driven not so much by the aesthetic beauty and terror of the visuals – although it’s an adrenaline rush to watch – but by the internal drama of Angela and Vanya’s relationship. Can Angela learn to place full trust in Vanya – not just that he will hold her aloft without letting go, but that he will be her rock when they’re at ground level? That’s what propels Skywalkers.

Zimbalist and his brother Michael directed a highly regarded ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, The Two Escobars. He discusses collaborating with his bro on that 2010 film, and he shares what drew him to another recent documentary he made, one that examines the life and thought of world-renowned author Norman Mailer.

That’s on the new episode of Doc Talk, co-hosted by Oscar winner Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Shirley) and Matt Carey, Deadline’s documentary editor.  The pod, a 2024 Webby Awards honoree, is a production of Deadline and Ridley’s Nō Studios.

Listen to the episode above or on major podcast platforms including Spotify, iHeart and Apple.