Boys State: Filmmakers Jesse Moss & Amanda McBaine

“Boys State” is an annual, week-long program in which a thousand Texas high school seniors gather for an elaborate mock exercise: building their own state government. A documentary, with the same name, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and now the acclaimed documentary “Boys State” is in theatres ahead of its global debut on Apple TV+ on Friday, August 14.

Risen sat down with filmmakers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine to talk about selecting which teens to follow, logistics to make sure they shot as much as they could during the week, and the benefit of breakout rooms where the boys could share their thoughts.