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Luisa came prepared with notes for her 4Q’s What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films 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 people should seek out Luisa Novo is a Film Invasion Los Angeles master filmmaker whose films have been Official Selections in 2017 and 2020.  And her next project, a TV series, just got funded on Seed+Spark!  A native of Brazil and resident of Los Angeles, I was very curious to hear her favorite films. Don’t forget that you can watch her film Becoming Lucy right now on Amazon Prime Video in Season 1 Episode 10.  Click here to be taken to the Amazon page. or you can go to Prime Video on your TV and search for “Discover Indie Film.” Here are Luisa’s DIF4Q answers: Favorites: Drive, Sunset Boulevard, Adventureland Underrated: Leviathan (2014, Russia) Overrated: Shutter Island Seek Out: The Hunt (2012, Denmark) Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Indie Film podcasts or TV episodes, visit the Facebook Page. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Luisa Novo stops by to discuss “Becoming Lucy” Luisa Novo’s film Becoming Lucy was an Official Selection at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2017.  That was why I first asked her to come onto the podcast. You can watch Becoming Lucy right now on Amazon Prime Video in Season 1 Episode 10.  Click here to be taken to the Amazon page. or you can go to Prime Video on your TV and search for “Discover Indie Film.” Luisa Novo is quite prolific and after we recorded this interview her follow-up film The World Inside, which she wrote and directed while she was in Brazil screened as an Official Selection at Film Invasion Los Angeles 2020. Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Film episodes, visit the Facebook Group. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Jeremy Radin & Caroline Gottlieb ready to discuss some of their favorite movies What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films 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 people should seek out Caroline Gottlieb & Jeremy Radin made the film Shark Week, which pulled in three awards at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2018.  Both are talented actors who bring an array of skills to the table far beyond acting.  Do they have great taste in film?  You bet they do. You can watch Shark Week right now on Amazon Prime Video.  It starts off Season 2, Episode three and is paired with the equally wonderful They Fall Fast.  Click here to be taken to the Amazon page. or you can go to Prime Video on your TV and search for “Discover Indie Film.” Here are Caroline’s answers: Favorites: Fiddler On The Roof, Hereditary, Tommy Underrated: Sound of My Voice/Another Earth/The East (Brit Marling’s catalog) Overrated: Inception Seek Out: Like Crazy Here are Jeremy’s answers: Favorites: Jaws, Young Frankenstein, All About Eve, Jurassic Park Underrated: The Court Jester (Danny Kaye) Overrated: Goonies, Inglorious Basterds Seek Out: Moonlight Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Indie Film podcasts or TV episodes, visit the Facebook Page. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Jeremy Radin & Caroline Gottlieb stop by DIF HQ to talk about their film “Shark Week” The film Shark Week pulled in three awards at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2018 and it was easy to see why.  The jury was blown away by the quality of this film.  Shark Week would not exist without Jeremy Radin, who wrote it as a play and directed it on the screen, and Caroline Gottlieb who performed the piece in a play and was the driving force as producer to get capture this amazing work on film. Without irony, Shark Week was my white whale.  From the moment I saw it I began looking forward to listening to the team that made it at length.  I had to get them on the podcast.  Then when the DIF TV series was born I knew immediately that having Shark Week be a part of it would make me incredibly proud. You can watch Shark Week right now on Amazon Prime Video.  It starts off Season 2, Episode three and is paired with the equally wonderful They Fall Fast.  Click here to be taken to the Amazon page. or you can go to Prime Video on your TV and search for “Discover Indie Film.” Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Film episodes, visit the Facebook Group. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

JJ Anderson & Tito Molina answer the 4Qs 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 people should seek out JJ Anderson & Tito Molina named their partnership “Hrdwrker” and  among their many collaborations is the documentary short Jonah which won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2018. Jonah is a beautifully made documentary and you can watch it right now as part of the Discover Indie Film TV series on Amazon Prime Video. If you want to see Jonah and a bunch of other great films, please click that link and enjoy! Here are JJ’s answers: Favorites: Stand By Me, Florida Project, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest Underrated: Jackie Brown Overrated: Spring Breakers Seek Out: Night Comes On Here are Tito’s answers: Favorites: Cinderella Man, Roma, Mid90s Underrated: Booksmart Overrated: Black Panther Seek Out: Blind Spotting Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Indie Film podcasts or TV episodes, visit the Facebook Page. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Seejon with his team on the FILA red carpet 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 people should seek out Writer/Director Seejon Thomas answered these Four Questions and shares his insights on filmmaking when he was visiting to record an interview about his film The Man and Mel.   If you want to watch The Man and Mel right now, just go to DIF TV Season 3 Episode 7 and enjoy!  There really are not any spoilers in the podcast, so if you wait to watch the film until after you’ve listened then I forgive you.  But you should really, really, really watch The Man and Mel. Here are Seejon’s answers: Favorites: Tree of Life, Bergman’s Silence Trilogy (Through a Glass Darkly, Winter Light, and The Silence), The Piano Teacher Underrated: Good Morning (by Yasujiro Ozu) Overrated: (no selection) Seek Out: The Kid with a Bike Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Indie Film podcasts or TV episodes, visit the Facebook Page. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Seejon with his “The Man and Mel” team at FILA 2019 Seejon Thomas’s short film The Man and Mel won three awards at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2019.  I have to say that I am incredibly happy to not just include Seejon on the podcast but to also announce that his incredible film is also part of the Discover Indie Film TV series on Prime Video. If you want to watch The Man and Mel right now, just go to DIF TV Season 3 Episode 7 and enjoy!  There really are not any spoilers in the podcast, so if you wait to watch the film until after you’ve listened then I forgive you.  But you should really, really, really watch The Man and Mel. Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Film episodes, visit the Facebook Group. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Darren did his DIF interview via FaceTime, because we were trapped at hime during a global pandemic.  (Jeff is in the upper corner.) Darren Coyle’s feature film Chasing Sunshine won THREE awards at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2018.  Darren and his collaborators put together a delightful film into this world of dreariness, and the great news is that YOU CAN WATCH IT NOW! We waited to record Darren’s podcast interview until the film was released, and now it has been.  Go to chasingsunshinemovie.com.  They pushed up the release date because at this very moment nearly everyone in the world is stuck at home. Yes, we are “flattening the curve” of COVID-19 infections, which means we need to be entertained at home. Look no further and watch Chasing Sunshine. It’s time to stop bingeing shows about serial killers and tiger abusers.  It’s time to support a truly enjoyable and truly independent film! You can listen to the interview before or after watching the film.  I don’t think there are any spoilers.  Also, the audio quality is awful.  I’m sorry!  I don’t know what went wrong, especially with my mic.  But still, you’ll hear Darren’s story and the tale of how Chasing Sunshine went from an idea to finished film. Go to chasingsunshinemovie.com or watch the trailer below. Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Film episodes, visit the Facebook Group. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Linda with Jeff on the DIF Mics 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 people should seek out Film producer Linda Christina Riedmann came in to talk about her multiple award winning short film The Wind Phone, so of course I also had her answer the DIF Four Questions. Here are Linda’s answers: Favorites: Girl Interrupted, The Hours, The Silence of The Lambs, Brokeback Mountain Underrated: Mama Mia! Overrated: American Psycho, Black Panther Seek Out: Appropriate Behavior, Never Look Away Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Indie Film podcasts or TV episodes, visit the Facebook Page. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Linda Christina Riedmann was all smiles for her DIF interview This podcast represents the second DIF interview for The Wind Phone, a beautiful short film that pulled in 6 awards at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2019.  Linda Christina Riedmann produced this amazing film and I have to say that she and writer/director Kristen Gerweck represent one of the healthiest, most productive filmmaking partnerships I’ve seen on the festival circuit. You cannot watch The Wind Phone online yet.  It came this close to making the shortlist for the Oscar for Best Live Action Short.  Yes, this film is that good.  I cannot tell you how disappointed I was when I didn’t make the list.  I know the Oscar process is more about publicity than quality, but there’s a little spot in my heart and my head that hopes for the day quality triumphs. Instead of complaining all day, I will just let you know that whenever Linda & Kristen decide to release The Wind Phone online, I will be sure to include a link here for you to see it.  Then you can be as angry as I am about the Oscar snub. There’s no major spoilers in this interview.  Just the fascinating story how a talented, hard-working young woman from Austria ended up in Los Angeles producing Oscar worthy short films. Yep. Enjoy hearing from Linda! Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Film episodes, visit the Facebook Group. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Kristen Gerweck comes over to DIF central to record some podcasts. 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 people should seek out Kristen Gerweck’s short film The Wind Phone won six awards at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2019 and there’s a chance, I’m hoping a good one, that it will be on the shortlist for the best Live Action Short Oscar.  Whenever someone makes a work of art like The Wind Phone I’m always very interested to hear their favorites and explore the films that I’m missing from my vocabulary. Here are Kristen’s answers: Favorites: Never Look Away (Germany),  2001: A Space Odyssey, Some Like It Hot, Tree of Life Underrated: Love & Mercy Overrated: Bohemian Rhapsody Seek Out: Like Father, Like Son (Dir. Hirokazu Koreeda) Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Indie Film podcasts or TV episodes, visit the Facebook Page. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

The first time that I saw The Wind Phone, I was simply blown away.  It is a masterful work of art in every way.  Set in Japan and subtitled in English, I assumed that this incredible film had been submitted to Film Invasion Los Angeles from a brilliant filmmaking team based in Tokyo that would not be able attend the festival and whom I would never meet. The film was submitted by an agency based in Berlin, so you can imagine my surprise when I found out that the film was made by a Los Angeles based team!  Not only that, but when we screened the film in June 2019 the entire Japanese American cast joined writer/director Kristen Gerweck onstage for a wonderful Q&A.  The Wind Phone, by the way, went on to receive SIX AWARDS from FILA 2019.  Not too shabby. I had Kristen over for a podcast interview in August and we put it in the vault.  Kristen had high hopes for the film’s chances to compete for an Oscar and my hopes were nearly equal to hers.  Every year I go watch the Live Action Short category of Oscar Nominees and every year I think of films that screened at Film Invasion L.A. and the Sherman Oaks Film Festival that deserved that honor.  The Wind Phone is on that list in my head.  And you know what?  It might happen!  Cross your fingers and your toes, because Kristen and her producer Linda Christina Riedmann (whose interview will get posted in week or so) let me know that The Wind Phone cleared the first hurdle and is eligible to make the Oscar’s short list of ten live action short films that compete for the Best Live Action Short Oscar! So look… SPREAD THE WORD!  Got friends in the Academy?  Got friends who have friends in the Academy?  Tell them to watch The Wind Phone.  They will know how.  It is really about the right people actually seeing the film, because if they see it then I have no doubt they will support it.  But they have to take the time to see it.  They have to now that this one is special. Ok.  That was a lot of rambling. Maybe you should just listen to my interview with Kristen which is about how she became a filmmaker via law school, the film that she made before The Wind Phone, and more.

Ed & Jeff about to discuss Ed’s favorite films What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films 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 people should seek out Ed McCarthy wrote and directed the award winning short film They Fall Fast.  When I see a film as wonderfully written and thoughtfully directed as They Fall Fast, I get a little greedy and start thinking about interviewing them on this podcast and at that point I start wondering what their answers to the Four Questions will be.  Now we get to know! You can watch They Fall Fast right now on Amazon Prime Video.  It starts off Season 2, Episode three and is paired with the equally wonderful Shark Week.  Click here to be taken to the Amazon page. or you can go to Prime Video on your TV and search for “Discover Indie Film.” Here are Ed’s answers: Favorites: The Dark Knight, A Nightmare On Elm Street, Steel Magnolias Underrated: Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion Overrated: La La Land Seek Out: Spellbound Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Indie Film podcasts or TV episodes, visit the Facebook Page. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast

Ed McCarthy visits DIF HQ for a podcast interview Ed McCarthy’s short film They Fall Fast took home the Programmer’s Prize at the 2018 Sherman Oaks Film Festival and it is easy to see why.  A long-time writer, the best decision Ed made was to direct it himself.  Under his thoughtful eye the film is one that people remember for years. You can watch They Fall Fast right now on Amazon Prime Video.  It starts off Season 2, Episode three and is paired with the equally wonderful Shark Week.  Click here to be taken to the Amazon page. or you can go to Prime Video on your TV and search for “Discover Indie Film.” In the meantime, you can actually listen to this podcast before you see the film.  In this case, I’m pretty certain that there are no spoilers.  Just a great talk with a great filmmaker about how he reached the point that he can make a wonderful film like They Fall Fast. Enjoy! Comments are blocked on this website. To discuss Discover Film episodes, visit the Facebook Group. You can listen to the podcast using the media player below or on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Podcast