The short film I Got This took home three well-deserved awards from the 2018 Sherman Oaks Film Festival. Filmmaker Erik Bork put together a wonderful film that typifies how a filmmaker can tell a complete, three-actContinue reading
Episode 109: 4Qs with Brett Nicoletti
What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think peopleContinue reading
Episode 108: Brett Nicoletti “The Running Man of Pasadena”
The first night of the 2018 Sherman Oaks Film Festival started with a screening block that ended with the wonderful documentary The Running Man of Pasadena. We were excited to have the filmmakers and the movie’sContinue reading
Episode 107: 4Qs with Philip A. Ramos
What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think peopleContinue reading
Episode 106: Philip A. Ramos “The Kidnapping of a Fish”
The first time I saw The Kidnapping of a Fish was at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2016 when it took home a Grand Jury Prize for Short Film. This super enjoying film mixesContinue reading
Episode 105: 4Qs with D.A. Keenan
What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think peopleContinue reading
Episode 104: D.A. Keenan “Rotsy”
The horror comedy Rotsy was a hit when it premiered at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2018. The brainchild of writer/director/producer D.A. Keenan, Rotsy is the touching tale of a killer clown spending quality timeContinue reading
Episode 103: 4Qs with Russell Brown
What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think peopleContinue reading
Episode 102: Russell Brown “Search Engines”
Search Engines, from writer/director Russell Brown, won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film at the 2016 Sherman Oaks Film Festival. Russell is a filmmaker who appreciates and makes the most of the filmContinue reading
Episode 101: 4Qs with Charlotte Barrett & Sean Fallon
What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think peopleContinue reading
Episode 99: Charlotte Barrett & Sean Fallon “A Bad Feeling”
Charlotte Barrett & Sean Fallon are the filmmaking team behind A Bad Feeling which took home a Grand Jury Prize at tFilm Invasion Los Angeles 2018 for Best Short. Interviewing Charlotte & Sean it becameContinue reading
Episode 98: 4Qs with TJ Power
What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think peopleContinue reading
Episode 97: TJ Power “Your Call Is Important To Us”
TJ Power’s short film Your Call Is Important To Us won four awards at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2018. Brilliantly smart and bitingly hilarious, this is one of those films that people who workedContinue reading
Episode 96: Oscars Predictions Wrap-Up
Every year we do a Discover Indie Film “Oscar Predictions Podcast” and it would be ridiculous to not get the gang back together and go over their predictions. This long conversation took place on two days…Continue reading
Episode 95: 4Qs with Benjamin Caro
Filmmaker Benjamin Caro’s short film Cathedrals took the Sherman Oaks Film Festival by storm in 2018. The Filmmakers Jury gave it three awards, including Outstanding Short Film, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Acting – Individual. BenContinue reading
S1 E10: One More, Becoming Lucy & Holly’s Girl
Coming of Age… Coming to Grips… these three films bring you life-moments told with honesty and courage. ONE MORE (7:32) Moving into college is a big step for both a single mother and her onlyContinue reading
S1 E9: Fiebre en la Disco & The Kidnapping of a Fish
From a wild ride in a spaceship’s discotheque to a wild ride in a torture chamber, the two films that make up this episode are smart, fun and original. FIEBRE IN LA DISCO (5:46) DuringContinue reading
S1 E8: L’oiseau qui danse, The Past Inside the Present & A Meditation
These three films bring a variety of stunning visuals, original narratives, and even brilliant allegories to the filmmaking table. This is what indie filmmaking is about — bringing audience the kind of work that HollywoodContinue reading
S1 E7: Tirachinas & The Blogger
These two remarkably original short films come from cinematic auteurs who bring you unique, compelling stories. TIRACHINAS (15:00) It’s 4th of July in rural Western America. A rock fired by Valery’s slingshot unfolds an avalancheContinue reading
S1 E6: See Yourself Out & Above Jewels
Two very different life & death situations play out in these two short films, but both contain the sharpest of writing and the greatest of performances. SEE YOURSELF OUT (22:51) When unforeseen circumstances throw Wallace andContinue reading
S1 E5: obSETHed: Memorial Day, Puppet Life, First Dates & The Faceless Man
Time for some fun! Season 1 Episode 5 of Discover Indie Film features four comedies that breathe new life to the awkward situation. OBSETHED: MEMORIAL DAY (3:42) A young woman’s life has ended tragically. PUPPETContinue reading
S1 E4: Army of God, This Is How, & Dress In Black
Poignant and controversial, these three films come from indie filmmakers who bring a clarity of vision and a personal touch to their work that is all too rare at the cinema today. ARMY OF GODContinue reading
S1 E3: STUCK, The King In The Ring & The Pooka
These three remarkable short films all approach taking inner conflicts and bringing them out where they can be seen, each in their own unique way. STUCK (5:00) A black student struggles with being labeled byContinue reading
S1 E2: Disfluency & Transmission
Brilliantly written, directed and produced, these two short films both came from creative duos who prove that two talents can combine to create something remarkable. DISFLUENCY (11:27) Disfluency follows Jane through her daily life, fromContinue reading
S1 E1: Trunk Space & An Entanglement
These two incredible short films launch the first episode of the Discover Indie Film TV Series. For a behind the scenes look at each film, you can listen to interviews with the filmmakers. TRUNK SPACEContinue reading
Episode 94: Benjamin Caro “Cathedrals”
Filmmaker Benjamin Caro’s short film Cathedrals took the Sherman Oaks Film Festival by storm in 2018. The Filmmakers Jury gave it three awards, including Outstanding Short Film, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Acting – Individual. TheContinue reading
Episode 93: 4Q’s with Patrick Cohen
Patrick Cohen started out as a huge movie fan. The kind of person who watched movies all the time, over and over. Before he knew it he was a working actor in New York and soonContinue reading
Episode 92: Patrick Cohen “First Dates”
Patrick Cohen brought his great short film First Dates to Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2018 and it was a smash hit. It’s a funny thing to say, but nowadays not too many filmmakers aimContinue reading
Episode 91: Four Questions with Ryan Larkin
Fresh out of Loyola Marymount University’s graduate film program, award-winning filmmaker Ryan Larkin manages to be extremely productive while managing to make each film better than the one before. If you want to see hisContinue reading
Episode 90: Ryan Larkin
The short film STUCK didn’t just win a Programmer’s Prize at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival, it also won the prestigious IBM Watson Award at the AT&T Createathon 2018 competition. And the filmmaker behind STUCK is writer,Continue reading
Episode 89: Oscar Predictions Podcast (Second Annual)
Welcome to the second annual Discover Indie Film “Oscar Predictions Podcast”! Sure, we mainly do this to entertain ourselves. But if you’re the kind of person who wants to listen to four film lovers discuss and predictContinue reading
Episode 88: Four Questions with Lorenzo Sterzi
Lorenzo Sterzi of Montreal, Quebec, wrote, produced and directed the fantastic short film The Blogger. In fact, he even acts in it as an angry Italian businessman. You should watch his film RIGHT HERE asContinue reading
Episode 87: Lorenzo Sterzi
Lorenzo Sterzi’s film The Blogger played at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2018. One of my personal favorites for its originality and vision, I must confess that I was disappointed when at the last minute workContinue reading
Episode 86: Matt K. Turner
Matt K. Turner wrote, produced and directed RFLKTR. This sci-fi masterpiece starring Breeda Wool took home a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2018. RFLKTR is a visually stunning film with an airtight, world-building screenplayContinue reading
Episode 85: Four Questions with Laura Holliday & Anna Baumgarten
Director Laura Holliday and writer/producer Anna Baumgarten collaborated to make Disfluency, a brilliant film (watch it now!) that cleaned up the awards a Film Invasion Los Angeles 2018. After the interview about their backgrounds and their film, they tookContinue reading
Episode 84: Anna Baumgarten & Laura Holliday
Disfluency. There is so much to say about this short film. From writer/producer Anna Baumgarten and director Laura Holliday, Disfluency tackles sexual assault and the aftermath with the perfect mix of realism, understanding, and maturity. ButContinue reading
Episode 83: Four Questions with Natasha Babenko
Filmmaker Natasha Babenko answers the Four Questions in this episode. Born in Ukraine, educated in France, and now getting an MFA at NYU in filmmaking, this global citizen has some movie recommendations you don’t wantContinue reading
Episode 82: Natasha Babenko
One of the most unforgetable films at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2018 was Girl Eating Banana: Audition. One part art film, one part comedy, one part drama, and completely original, filmmaker Natasha Babenko wowedContinue reading
Episode 81: Four Questions with Sarah Prikryl
This DIF4Q is with Sarah Prikryl. Sarah’s documentary short film Family: A Love Story took home a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2018. It is without a doubt one of the mostContinue reading
Episode 80: Sarah Prikryl
The documentary Family: A Love Story took home a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2018. It is without a doubt one of the most wonderfully documentaries you could have caught onContinue reading
Episode 79: DIF4Q with Heather Hillstrom
Heather Hillstrom took home the Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion Los Angeles 2018 for her short film The King In The Ring. Anytime I see a film that great at the festival I immediatelyContinue reading
Episode 78: Heather Hillstrom
At Film Invasion Los Angeles in June, 2018, Heather Hillstrom’s short film The King In The Ring took home a Grand Jury Prize. This is one of those films that people will never forget. I’mContinue reading
Episode 77: DIF4Q with Joe Petricca
When I interviewed Joe Petricca on this podcast about his career and his short film A Meditation, I found out exactly why his film won awards. Joe has spent 25 years in academia at theContinue reading
Episode 76: Joe Petricca
Joe Petricca’s short film A Meditation took home the Audience Award at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2017. Winning this award was no surprise, as A Meditation is one of those short films that completely engagesContinue reading
Episode 75: DIF4Q Kevin Nielsen
Kevin Nielsen wrote and directed the award winning film See Yourself Out, which is a film you watch on this here website! Kevin’s film has so much to it. The filmmaking is spot-on, the actingContinue reading
Episode 74: Kevin Nielsen
Kevin Nielsen wrote and directed the award winning film See Yourself Out. As you can see from the laurels on the video embed below, this film cleaned up on the festival circuit. And part ofContinue reading
Episode 73: DIF4Q with Varun Raman & Tom Hancock
Varun Raman & Tom Hancock made the brilliant short film Transmission. It was a standout at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2017. Even though they live in the UK, we hopped on Skype for aContinue reading
Episode 72: Varun Raman & Tom Hancock
Transmission. Transmission is a film that you MUST SEE. This film is a brilliant work of art from Varun Raman & Tom Hancock; a young team out of Manchester, England (though they’ve moved since) who studiedContinue reading
Episode 71: DIF4Q with Jonah Mazer
Jonah Mazer is a director and cinematographer whose filmography keeps growing and growing… and he’s in High School. His excellent short film Life After screened at Film Invasion Los Angeles in June 2018 and he approachedContinue reading
Episode 70: DIF4Q with Nate Hapke
What is DIF4Q? It’s the Discover Indie Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name aContinue reading
Episode 69: Nate Hapke
At the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2017, we played one of my favorite blocks of all time and that block started off with the incredibly well-directed and touching One More. At the Q&A I wasn’tContinue reading
Episode 67: Aletha Shepherd
One of my favorite films at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2016 was Safe Bet, a beautifully made film about a memorable evening in a young woman’s life. Safe Bet was the brainchild of Aletha Shepherd,Continue reading
Episode 65: Jeremy Foley & Sara O’Reilly
You want to talk about indie filmmakers? Between them, Sara O’Reilly & Jeremy Foley wrote, produced, directed, and edited the award winning short film The Faceless Man. On top of that, they’re totally nice people andContinue reading
Episode 64: DIF4Q with Zach Kanner
What is DIF4Q? It’s the Discover Indie Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name aContinue reading
Episode 63: DIF4Q with Devin Brooke
What is DIF4Q? It’s the Discover Indie Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name aContinue reading
Episode 62: DIF4Q with Christopher Cramer
What is DIF4Q? It’s the Discover Indie Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name aContinue reading
Episode 61: “Stay” with Chris, Devin & Zach
Besides winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2017, the feature film Stay is the indie movie that everyone thinks about making and either doesn’t or fails trying. A bunchContinue reading
Episode 60: DIF4Q with Seth Coltan
What is DIF4Q? It’s the Discover Indie Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name aContinue reading
Episode 59: Seth Coltan
Seth Coltan is a humble, reserved man who doesn’t realize what a powerhouse talent he is. His short obSETHed: Memorial Day is one of the rock-solid funniest short films you’re going to see. And asContinue reading
Episode 58: DIF4Q with Lindsay Nyman
What is DIF4Q? It’s the Discover Indie Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name aContinue reading
Episode 57: Lindsay Nyman
The Blind Center won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2017, and it also brought down the house. It’s not available online yet, but it will be soon. I got toContinue reading
Episode 56: DIF4Q with Tim Cruz
What is DIF4Q? It’s the Discover Indie Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name aContinue reading
Episode 55: Tim Cruz
The Blind Center won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2017, and it also brought down the house. It’s not available online yet, but it will be soon. I got toContinue reading
Episode 54: DF4Q with Mylissa Fitzsimmons
What is DF4Q? It’s the Discover Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-knownContinue reading
Episode 53: Mylissa Fitzsimmons
In 2017, Filmmaker Mylissa Fitzsimmons won the Audience Award at Film Invasion Los Angeles for her short film That Party That One Night. Whether it’s the directing, the cinematography, the lighting, the writing or the performances, there’sContinue reading
Episode 52: DF4Q with Mikhael Bassilli
What is DF4Q? It’s the Discover Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-knownContinue reading
Episode 51: Mikhael Bassilli
If I was to use one word for filmmaker Mikhael Bassilli it would be industrious. Just wait until you hear his story. Mikhael just cannot stop creating, whether it is a business, a screenplay, a film, orContinue reading
Episode 50: DF4Q with Miri Stone
What is DF4Q? It’s the Discover Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-knownContinue reading
Episode 49: Miri Stone
The first time I ever programmed a film festival was Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2016. The first film that screened was The Hunter. Which means that my first Q&A with (as the Q, notContinue reading
Episode 48: DF4Q with Hayden Croft & Jay Eftimoski
What is DF4Q? It’s the Discover Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-knownContinue reading
Episode 47: Hayden Croft & Jay Eftimoski
One of the hits at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2016 was New Age, Olde English. The team behind this film, writer/director Hayden Croft and producer/actor Jay Eftimoski, came in for an interview. New Age, Olde English isContinue reading
Episode 46: The Oscars Results Podcast Party
We all made a bunch of predictions in The Oscars Prediction Podcast, so of course we had to meet again to discuss the Oscars results. Three filmmakers who weren’t able to make it to theContinue reading
Episode 45: The Oscars Prediction Podcast
At the last minute I thought it would be fun to bring in some filmmakers who’d previously done the podcast, and after sending out some invites I managed to get three people on the micContinue reading
Episode 44: DF4Q with Ché Baker
What is DF4Q? It’s the Discover Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-knownContinue reading
Episode 43: Ché Baker
In 2017, the Grand Jury Prize for feature film at Film invasion Los Angeles went to Blue World Order, a science-fiction epic that blows audiences away with everything it manages to accomplish for a trulyContinue reading
Episode 42: DF4Q with Alex Merkin
What is DF4Q? It’s the Discover Film Four Questions. Name your favorite film of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-knownContinue reading
Episode 41: Alex Merkin
This Modern Man Is Beat won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2016, and I never stopped thinking about how beautifully cinematic it is. I knew from working with the filmmakersContinue reading
Episode 40: DF4Q with Jeff Simpson
Jeff Simpson is a director, writer, and actor… and he has worked at both Film Invasion Los Angeles and the Sherman Oaks Film Festival. Besides being a great help at the festivals, Jeff is aContinue reading
Episode 39: DF4Q with Jean-Marie Marbach
Jean-Marie Marbach is a Paris-based filmmaker who won the Grand Jury Prize for Music Video at Film Invasion L.A in 2017. I was blown away by his vision and could not wait to hear his DF4Q.Continue reading
Episode 38: Jean-Marie Marbach
At Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2017, Fiebre en la Disco won the Grand Jury Prize for Music Video. It might be a music video, but from the first time I saw it I knew that IContinue reading
Episode 37: DF4Q with Douglas Mueller
Douglas Mueller is the writer/director of the feature film Repatriation, which won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion L.A. in 2017. It was released on Amazon Prime and to mark that Doug, who lives in Northern California,Continue reading
Episode 36: DF4Q with Ryan Barton-Grimley
Ryan Barton-Grimley is the producer and lead actor of the feature film Repatriation, which won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion L.A. in 2017. It was released on Amazon Prime and to mark that event Ryan cameContinue reading
Episode 35: Ryan Barton-Grimley & Douglas Mueller
The film Repatriation won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion L.A. in 2017. It was released on Amazon Prime and to mark that event I wanted to interview Ryan Barton-Grimley (producer/lead actor) and Douglas Mueller (writer/director) forContinue reading
Episode 34: Douglas Mueller
The film Repatriation won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion L.A. in 2017. It was released on Amazon Prime and to mark that event I wanted to interview Ryan Barton-Grimley (producer/lead actor) and Douglas Mueller (writer/director) forContinue reading
Episode 33: Ryan Barton-Grimley
The film Repatriation won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion L.A. in 2017. It was released on Amazon Prime and to mark that event I wanted to interview Ryan Barton-Grimley (producer/lead actor) and Douglas Mueller (writer/director) forContinue reading
Episode 32: DF4Q with Angela Liu
Angela Liu has been the official photographer for both Film Invasion L.A. and the Sherman Oaks Film Festival. And she’s a filmmaker herself! You can see her work by clicking right here. Angela has great tasteContinue reading
Episode 31: DF4Q with Max Silver
Max Silver wrote and directed the great short Trunk Space, and you can watch that film and hear his Discover Film interview about it by clicking right here. After the interview, I kept the tradition alive ofContinue reading
Episode 30: Max Silver
Trunk Space is one of those shorts you watch and think, “I really really really hope these filmmakers get to make a feature film. Soon.” Honestly, the best part about working at a film festivalContinue reading
Episode 29: DF4Q with Caroline O’Brien & James Medeiros
It’s the Discover Film Four Questions. You’ve watched Puppet Life and listened to the great interview with the team that brought that great film to the screen. Now find out the great films that inspired them!Continue reading
Episode 28: James Medeiros & Caroline O’Brien
Every once in a while you see a comedy that is so smart, subversive and entertaining that it makes you forget the creators are dealing with the most sensitive political subjects in the world. PuppetContinue reading
Episode 27: DF4Q with Chris Fiore
It’s the Discover Film Four Questions… or DF4Q. I thought Chris was going to be the first documentarian to answer the DF4Q, but in his podcast interview I found out that he’s an award winningContinue reading
Episode 26: Chris Fiore
Chris Fiore directed and produced the documentary short Goodwoman, which won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion L.A. in 2016. I wanted to know how he had the tools to make such a greatContinue reading
Episode 25: DF4Q with Todd Wiseman Jr.
It’s the Discover Film Four Questions… or DF4Q. Based on his film Army of God, I had a feeling Todd was going to have excellent taste in films. He didn’t let me down. In fact, hisContinue reading
Episode 24: Todd Wiseman Jr.
Todd Wiseman Jr. is a very busy guy. I first saw his film Army of God when the jury selected it to screen at Film Invasion L.A. in 2016. He couldn’t come out from NYCContinue reading
Episode 23: DF4Q with Preston Peterson & Jason Boesch
Preston Peterson & JasoIt’s the Discover Film Four Questions… or DF4Q. n Boesch co-wrote and co-directed West Virginia Stories, a feature film that I consider much better than what is playing at the local multiplex. I couldn’tContinue reading
Episode 22: Preston Peterson & Jason Boesch
I met filmmaking team Preston Peterson & Jason Boesch when their film West Virginia Stories won a Grand Jury Prize at Film Invasion L.A. in 2016. Along with the other feature films that have been includedContinue reading
Episode 21: DF4Q with Paulina Lagudi
Paulina Lagudi has been on both sides of a movie camera for a few years now, and in this DF4Q podcast she shows that great filmmakers also have great taste in movies. What is DF4Q?Continue reading
Episode 20: Paulina Lagudi
Paulina Lagudi wrote and produced This Is How, an absolute audience favorite at Film Invasion Los Angeles 2016. Most of the filmmakers who have come in for a Discover Film interview have surprised me, but perhaps noneContinue reading
Episode 19: DF4Q with Steve Doxey
Steve Doxey’s feature film Artifice won a Grand Jury prize at Film Invasion L.A. 2016. It is currently available for free on Amazon Prime and can be rented on Amazon Video and iTunes. Steve took aContinue reading