Three years ago this month, Griffin Dunne and Annabelle Dunne launched a Kickstarter campaign to make a documentary about their aunt (and great-aunt), Joan Didion. Their goal of $80,000 was tripled within weeks. The people have spoken, and what they want is an inside peek into the life and work of one of the most influential, inimitable, prolific, iconic, adjective-eschewing writers of our time.

The resulting documentary, Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, launches October 27 on Netflix. Both Dunnes spoke with V.F. contributing editor Sloane Crosley about the making of the film.

Vanity Fair: Let’s start at the very beginning. Whose bright idea was this?

Griffin Dunne: Joan had asked me to direct her in a video Random House did to promote Blue Nights. It turned out to be a really fun shoot. She loved the camaraderie that goes with being on set; the crew lunches, racing to the next location, being fussed over by hair and makeup. (Maybe not that so much.) When I found out that there had never been a documentary about her, I decided to push my luck and ask if she would let me make one.

When she agreed, my elation was soon tempered by the colossal responsibility to deliver the goods about such an iconic woman. About a year later, I sent her an e-mail asking her why she let me make this movie. She wrote back a pure Joan response: “I am letting you make the picture because I saw no compelling reason not to.”

That is, indeed, pure Joan. And why is this documentary important now? What do you want people to take away from it?

Griffin Dunne: Well, it’s important in general because we think she’s a national treasure. There should be a story of her life out there. As to why now, it’s a wonderful way to expose her work to new people. So much of her reporting is evergreen; I hate that word, but it’s true. Her skepticism and clear-eyed approach to the events unfolding around her then still resonate with events unfolding around us today. Maybe even more so.

On a less national level, what were the most enjoyable parts for you to film, personally?

Annabelle Dunne: I always loved filming in Joan’s apartment, because it’s a time capsule in a lot of ways. She lives surrounded by things she loves. She has an incredibly warm, vibrant home, and it’s wonderful to observe the rhythms of her household. I know we tried very hard to capture that in the film, the energy in her apartment as she cooks, writes, goes about her day. The ephemera that surrounds her is very considered and ordered. Home is clearly something that she values.

She’s a wonderful cook. From now on, I think it would be in both of your best interests to only make documentaries about people who feed you well. But I also wonder if your relationship with Joan has changed as a result of the past few years.