Bond on Cinema

My guests today are writer/director Alexander Saul and producer Rebecca Pruzan and their short film SNIPPED. Alexander Saul is a screenwriter and director and has worked on a number of narrative sketches and short films.  In 2020, his first short film DARLING premiered in competition at the Odense International Film Festival. In 2022, he followed up with the short film VALERIE. That same year, he won the first prize in the pitch competition Pitch Me Baby at the OFF Awards for his project LOVESICK, which in 2024 has been showcased at several international festivals, earning multiple nominations and awards. Rebecca Pruzan has worked in the media industry her entire professional life. She graduated with a Masters of Science in IT, Rebecca was employed at DR and she worked there in numerous positions until 2017. Her last position at DR was Commissioning Editor at DR Ramasjang and DR Ultra. Since then, Rebecca has worked as a Consultant and Producer and has produced several live action short films, including IVALU for which she was nominated for an Oscar in 2023. And I had the honor to interview filmmaker Anders Walter about that incredible film. Ladies and gentlemen, SNIPPED is a film that is not just about circumcision, it much larger than that.  Peeling back the skin of society and seeing who we truly are as people. SNIPPED uses the power of humor and teaches us that we still have cultural and religious divides.  Can we as a society can we reach the point of coexisting without judging or hating each other?  In SNIPPED, the power lies in the listening to the dialogue. And just in real life, it’s the power of listening that opens doors to reconciliation and we find we all want the same thing. Acceptance of both identity and the world in which we come from.  I loved SNIPPED so much I watched it multiple times. The story is on point.  #shortfilm #filmmaker #interview #bondoncinema #film #movie #filmdirector #filmmaking #filmfestival #faith #jewish #muslim #circumcision

My guest today is filmmaker Natalia León. She left Mexico at the age of 17 to study at the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris, where she specialized in animation. Passionate about writing and storytelling, she decided to complete her training at The School of Visual Arts in New York, where she studied screenwriting and directing. In 2021, during her final year at ENSAD, she wrote and developed the project Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado, translated to AS IF THE EARTH HAD SWALLOWED THEM UP, her first short film, produced by Xbo films. Ladies and gentlemen, Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado, which translates to AS IF THE EARTH HAD SWALLOWED THEM UP is about Olivia, a young woman living abroad, returns to her hometown in Mexico in the hope of reconnecting with her past. But the violence she witnessed as a child has not abated, and the journey rekindles memories that are impossible to reconcile with. Currently, more than 10 women a day are killed in Mexico. Many more disappear and are never found. So many that they become invisible, paradoxically: just numbers and statistics. In a way, this invisibility is the final violence they suffer, leaving their families what has happened to them. #filmmaker #shortfilm #interview #bondoncinema #film #movie #filmdirector #filmmaking #filmfestival #mexico #diappearance #animation

My guest today is Rippin Sindher, an award-winning filmmaker and producer with industry experience spanning the Directors Guild of America and major network television.  She is a two-time recipient of the Bank of America Big Tell Film Award, which backed her anti-hate documentary SEVA, earning special Congressional recognition.  On the narrative front, Rippin wrote, directed and produced Broken Drawer and The Hideout — both won multiple festival awards and landed her a feature film writing assignment to adapt The Village Bride of Beverly Hills.  This led to Rippin being selected as a directing fellow and production consultant on S.W.A.T. and previously, joining a directing intensive for Criminal Minds and being the first directing fellow on Ryan Murphy’s Ratched for Netflix. Rippin Sindher is Vice President of RISE, Dan Lin’s accelerator for Proof of Concept creators. She won the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge with CAPE and Janet Yang Productions for her Oscar-qualifying short FLIGHT 182, executive produced by Emmy winner Archie Panjabi. Which is our discussion today.  Ladies and gentlemen, Rippin Sindher’s Oscar-qualified short film FLIGHT 182 is based on the true story of Air India Flight 182, the deadliest aviation attack in the world until 9/11.  329 people lost their lives when a suitcase bomb exploded in luggage compartment of a 747 off the coast of Ireland in 1985.  Rippin Sindher brings just one story out of hundreds who died that day. FLIGHT 182 is compelling, tense and no way for the audience to stop the unpreventable.  The cinematography of FLIGHT 182 is spot on, the home’s 1980s decor. Add the perfect color palette and the audience is taken back in time. We feel the concerns of Mandeep, played by actress Sundeep Morrison who gives an outstanding performance in the film.  FLIGHT 182 is powerful, compelling, tense and gives us a sense of worry, something not found in very many films today.  It’s Oscar season, so keep your eye out for FLIGHT 182. #flight182 #airindia #canada #filmmaker #shortfilm #interview #film #bondoncinema #movie #filmmaking #filmfestival #cinematography #avaition

My guests today are writer/director Raphael Jouzeau and producer Francesca Betteni-Barnes and their award winning short film SCARS WE LOVE. Raphaël Jouzeau is a cartoonist, illustrator, and filmmaker. He works as a storyboarder on various live-action and animation projects, notably on the series Boys Boys Boys directed by Valentine Vendroux. He is also an animator for Hermès, the luxury brand bringing their illustrators' designs to life. Producer Francesca Betteni-Barnes studied modern literature and philosophy in Italy, she moved to Paris at the age of 23 with a one-year scholarship to the École normale supérieure.  She began a PhD in Film History, but meeting a film producer changed her path: she left university to pursue independent production.  She is one of the founders of Balade Sauvage production, where she has produced short films and two feature films, including a documentary and a fiction feature film. Their newest short film SCARS WE LOVE has been Oscar-qualified and was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024. Ladies and gentlemen, SCARS WE LOVE is an award winning animated short from France. The story is about Gaspard, who is still very much in love with Leïla. They meet in a crowded bar a month after she left him. The conversation turns awry and Gaspard seeks refuge under the tablecloth, away from prying eyes and closer to his memories. For an animated short film, it is moves with great emotion. Each scene takes the audience into the relationship between Gaspard and Leila. You feel Gaspard’s love for Leila as well as her desire to see the real Gaspard, but he keeps his emotions close to his heart. The SCARS WE LOVE is a true love story that ends like so many others around the world and there is a sadness there. Sometimes the waves of emotion are so strong that we fight against the current instead of moving along with them. We would probably be better off if we did. The animation is wonderful and the music score by Pierre Oberkampf is beautiful and adds so much emotion to the film. SCARS WE LOVE is now an Oscar-qualified animated short film and deserves it. #animation #frenchfilm #filmmaker #shortfilm #cinema #interview #film #lovestory #tragiclovestory #filmmaking #filmdirector #animatedshort

My guest today is Michael Llewelyn Barker, a film composer known for his evocative and immersive scores. His music blends a rich palette of analogue synths, sampling techniques, and tape textures with acoustic and amplified instrumentation, ranging from intimate solo performances and chamber groups to full orchestral forces. A lifelong cinephile, Michael has an innate sense for the pace, rhythm, and emotional depth of a scene. He has led the music department on over thirty projects, including short films, feature films, and documentaries such as The Mourning Bird, What We Wished We Could Be, and Alasdair Mackay’s debut feature Anonymous. He has a long-running collaboration with the Academy Award-winning production company Slick Films, working closely with director Chris Overton on multiple projects. Michael regularly collaborates with world-class session musicians and leading orchestras across the UK and Europe. In 2020, Michael’s compelling score for Those Last Moments won ‘Best Original Score’ at the Paris Film Festival and the Imagine Rain Independent Film Awards, along with nominations at the International Sound and Film Music Festival and Paris Arts and Music Awards 2021. In 2024, Michael won ‘Best Original Song’ (Aidan’s Song, performed by West End star Jamie Muscato) and was nominated for ‘Best Original Score’ at the International Sound and Film Music Festival for his work on What We Wished We Could Be directed by Luke Shelley. One of my favorite short films of all time as the music played a huge role in the film. Ladies and gentlemen, if you are a filmmaker and looking for one of the best composers in film, check out Michael’s website at MLBARKER.com for his music and if you are looking for someone to score your film, I’m sure he’ll be happy to discuss your project with you. Ladies and gentlemen, you can catch all of the Bond on Cinema interviews at BondonCinema.com. Check out our Prime Show, our YouTube Channel and you can listen to us on your way to work on Spotify and more. You’ll either see me at the movies or on the red carpet. #filmmaker #shortfilm #cinema #film #movie #filmmaking #bondoncinema #musiccomposer #filmscoring #filmscore #musicscore

My guest today is filmmaker Eric Hernandez. He is a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe, is an esteemed Native American hoop dancer with over 20 years of experience. Mentored by Terry Goedel, Eric's skills took center stage as the lead in Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM, touring over 17 countries.  A recent TEDx speaker, his mission is to challenge stereotypes and spread ancestral wisdom about Native Americans through the art of hoop dance.  Now, Eric brings his story to the screen as the writer and director of COURAGE, a powerful short film inspired by his real-life journey of learning hoop dance from his Uncle Terry.  Courage is a tribute to the strength of cultural storytelling and the importance of reclaiming identity through tradition. Ladies and gentlemen, COURAGE is about a young Native American boy who struggles with self-confidence and societal expectations, his uncle re-introduces him to the transformative art of Hoop Dance. Through this tradition, he discovers strength, resilience, and the courage to embrace his heritage.  This short film is inspired by true events, Courage is a heartfelt story about identity and empowerment.  You don’t have to be Native American to enjoy this powerful short film. We all need to be encourage and to see the light that truly shines in all of us. The film COURAGE does all that and more.  #courage #hoopdance #hoopdancing #hoopdancer #indiantribe #tribaldance #lumbeetribe #reservation #cirquedesoleil #thetonightshow #nativeamerican #nativetribe #nativeindian #tradition #heritage #identity

My guest today is writer/producer/actress Lisa Brenner, who is best known for her role as "Anne Howard" in the classic American Revolutionary War film, The Patriot. She starred in many indie films such as Cesar Chavez, Finding Home, What Boys Want, Bad Samaritan and The Remains.  Lisa also guest starred in numerous television shows such as all three CSI's, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, Leverage, Perception, Almost Paradise, My Life in Pieces and SyFy’s The Ark. Aside from acting, Lisa has produced multiple films, such as the romantic comedy Say My Name, as well as Roku Original, The Deal.  She wrote, produced and stars in the upcoming theatrical comedy “One Big Happy Family” starring the late Linda Lavin, which is our discussion for today.  Ladies and gentlemen, ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY is Lisa Brenner’s very personal true story about her tumultuous journey in taking a DNA test, only to find out that her biological father is not who she thought. The film is a female-dominated film presenting a true woman’s voice that resonates between three generations – a grandmother, a mom, and a soon-to-be bat-mitzvah daughter.  Lisa Brenner plays Rachel, the anxiety-filled scared to death of public speaking actress that finds out the father who raised her wasn’t her father.  Linda Lavin gives a stunning performance as Lenore. Portraying a perfect Jewish mother and grandmother who truly loves family regardless how they were conceived.  ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY is a humorous, endearing heart-warming story with enough of twists and turns to keep you entertained throughout the film.  If you loved MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING then you need to be in the theater to see ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY.  ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY is coming to an AMC theater near you on October 3rd. Don’t miss it!  #featurefilm #DNAtest #ancestry #siblings #film #newfilm #movie #newmovie #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #screenwriter #screenplay #lindalavin #family #relationships #cinema #bondoncinema #cinematography

My guest today is filmmaker Meron Alon. Her newest short film TOO GOOD brings both irreverent humor and philosophical weight. The film invites viewers to question their own assumptions about choices, consequences and worthiness. The film’s powerhouse cast elevates its sharp, playful script. Six-time Emmy-winning actor Jean Smart reigns supreme as a jaded, no-nonsense God, bringing both bite and surprising warmth to her portrayal of the Almighty. Opposite her, comedian and actor Lil Rel Howery grounds the film with his signature wit and emotional honesty. Ladies and gentlemen, Meron Alon’s TOO GOOD, a darkly comedic yet heartfelt short film, follows a recently deceased man Michael played by Lil Rel Howery who finds himself at the Gates of Heaven. Instead of the solemn judgment he expects, he’s confronted by an unconventional God played by six time Emmy winning actress, Jean Smart who puts his life, flaws, and choices under an unexpected and humorous lens. What begins as a celestial interview quickly becomes a provocative exploration of human imperfection, redemption, and what it truly means to be “good enough.” TOO GOOD is hilarious and gives a chance to laugh at ourselves about some of the trivial things we have done in our life. Everything little decision is a choice and doesn’t mean we are actually flawed, it could be we are just lazy. Like kicking the ice cube under the refrigerator instead of picking it up or not returning the shopping cart to its right place in the parking lot. TOO GOOD proves that humor is the medium that will make us think, laugh at ourselves and who knows make us better people. Or in the film’s case, maybe save us from eternal damnation. #god #questions #goodenough #shortfilm #filmmaker #film #movie #bondoncinema #filmfestival #entertainment #cinephile #cinematography #jeansmart #lilrelhowery #actor

Mike Flynt, the real-life inspiration behind the new movie, The Senior.  He attended Sul Ross State University on a full football scholarship and earned a degree in Physical Education and Business.  He served as the first Strength and Conditioning Coach in the PAC-10 at the University of Oregon, supporting 16 men’s ad women’s varsity teams. He later held the same role at Texas A&M University, overseeing training for 18 sports programs.  In 2007, at age of 59, Flynt returned to Sul Ross State University and made history as the oldest starting linebacker in NCAA football.  In THE SENIOR, nearly four decades later and after being kicked off his team, Mike returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he fights for one last shot at the ending he still believes is possible. Ladies and gentlemen, in 2007 at the age of 59, Mike Flynt may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished business.  After nearly four decades, he returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he pushes for one more game, not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible.  THE SENIOR is the inspirational film we need right now. Some of you have unfinished business in your own life, so maybe it’s time you suit up and forgive people along the way.  #football #collegefootball #featurefilm #truestory #film #cinema #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmreview #filminterview #bondoncinema #michaelchiklis 

Award winning director Ash Blodgett who is passionate about telling stories that spotlight modern social issues through the lens of comedy. Her short films have screened at major festivals around the world. In 2022, Ash was selected for the Women In Film Mentoring Program and was later hired to direct a live-action recreation of a scene from LAIKA Studios’ Oscar-nominated film ParaNorman to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Her 2023 short Good Grief won Best Cinematography at the Worldwide Women’s Film Festival, earning a $60K Panavision film grant, and she was named Best Female Director at the 2024 Central Coast International Film Festival.  On her new short film, May I Put You On Hold, 80% of the cast and crew were women, and key roles were held by BIPOC and API creatives. Ladies and gentlemen, Ash Blodgett’s short May I Put You On Hold? took five years to complete and was paused twice, once due to COVID and again during the dual WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes. Along the way, they also faced wildfires and the unpredictable nature of indie filmmaking. The film follows Liz who is suddenly transferred to the Afterlife while battling the absurdity of telephone customer service. There, she discovers it’s just as bureaucratic, frustrating, and illogical as Earth. Now stuck between eternity and hold music, Liz must navigate cosmic red tape and confront what really matters before she can return to the land of the living. But in doing so, she realizes she’s been putting the most important things in life on hold. How many of us are actually putting the important things in our life on hold? How many people are actually waiting on us? We spent most of our time sleeping or waiting, but this film MAY I PUT YOU HOLD shows us that we have the power to stop waiting on the things that are actually important. I love films with a message and one that gets us moving. #shortfilm #filmmaker #film #movie #bondoncinema #filmfestival #entertainment #cinephile #cinematography #filmdirector #filmmaking

My guest today is Lee Knight, an actor, writer, and director with a passion for storytelling across stage & screen.  As an actor, Lee recently appeared as Rosencrantz alongside Sir Ian McKellen in 'Hamlet' on Amazon Prime, 'Vigil 2' on BBC1, 'The Stolen Girl' on Disney+ and the upcoming series ‘Talamasca’ on ABC+. His other screen credits include 'Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire', 'Sherlock', 'The Last Letter from Your Lover', 'The Trial of Christine Keeler’, and BBC’s 'The North Water’. As a writer, his sitcom pilot 'The Gym' reached the semi-finals of the BBC Comedy Writer’s Room, and his first short stage piece, No More Doughnuts, was selected for the Make It Beautiful New Writing Festival in 2021, which he also directed. We are here today to talk about one of the most spectacular short films I’ve seen this year, ’A Friend of Dorothy’ marks his debut as a short film writer/director. Ladies and gentlemen, you can feel the love coming off the screen when you see the wonderful Miriam Margolyes. A veteran of theater and the silver screen, her portrayal of Dorothy is so natural you want to adopt her right on the spot. She brings the element of love, acceptance, and a mentoring spirit. Attributes we need to receive and start giving to others. We all need to be Dorothys. Alistair Nwachukwu plays JJ, a somewhat footballer, but who’s hidden desire to act comes forward when Dorothy starts to feed the little seed inside him. She fertilizes it and she’s the potential and I am not going to spoil the ending, so you’ have to see for yourself how one person can make a difference. A FRIEND OF DOROTHY is the type of short film that the BAFTAs and the Academy love. It’s heartwarming, endearing and most of all, leaves a lasting impression on the audience to be better people. Lee, thank you and I want to give a quick shoutout to Max Marlow for sending me the screener so we could talk about this incredible film. One of my favorites of the year. #friendship #mentorship #film #filmmaker #cinema #shortfilm #filmmaker #movie #bondoncinema #filmfestival #entertainment #cinephile #cinematography #theater

My guests today are director Jordan Murphy Doidge and actor Archie Yates and their short film CLOUT. Jordan has a wealth of experience working with luxury brands. A natural storyteller, inspired and driven by opportunities to collaborate across multimedia strategies to enhance brand objectives. He utilizes his years of experience and global network to conceive, drive and deliver distinctive and effective content for a broad range of industries. Previous clients include Land Rover, Breitling, Rolls Royce, Paul Smith, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Heineken, to name a few. He has also worked with artists including A$AP Rocky, Lenny Kravitz & Dominic Cooper. Actor Archie Yates, who received a Critics Choice nomination for Best Young Actor for his role as Yorki in Jojo Rabbit, stars alongside Anna Wilson-Jones, Nadine Marshall, Samuel Leakey in the short film CLOUT. Ladies and gentlemen, CLOUT tells the story of Oskar played by Archie Yates, a lonely teenager at a prestigious private school who desperately seeks online fame. The film delves into the dangerous pursuit of digital validation, showing the extreme lengths young people will go to achieve it. This is highlighted when an outrageous claim escalates into a perilous livestream stunt. CLOUT is full of a few comical moments that highlights that in real life, we sometimes miss the seriousness of our actions. Social media has become the animal that society can’t tame and a vortex that many find they get sucked up in and don’t come out alive. #socialmedia #movie #filmmaker #shortfilm #film #bondoncinema #filmfestival #cinephile #cinema #cinematography #filmdirector #fame

My guest today is award winning filmmaker Hoku Uchiyama who is a lover of fantasy films, horror and animation. His directing work has garnered tens of millions of online views and has been screened in festivals around the world. The work has also been featured at the LA County Museum of Art and in a series produced by the Modern Art museum Centre Pompidou of Paris. Hoku broke ground with his award winning music video for Jason Webley and Amanda Palmer's "Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn?" He and his sometimes directing partner, Adam Bolt, have made a name crafting high energy, fun, technical commercials under the moniker "Hoku & Adam." Their 2020 music video for Katy Perry's "Harleys in Hawaii" won the Webby People's Voice Award for Best Music Video. His newest short film, WHITCH is about an intruder who acts strangely familiar and is hell-bent on performing a bloody ritual before midnight. Ladies and gentlemen, Hoku Uchiayama’s comedy horror short film WHITCH is a delightful watch and it is perfectly balanced between scary horror and downright comedy. In comedy, it’s not what is said, it’s the pause and the look that delivers and actress Rosemary Hochschild delivers a stellar performance as the wayward witch. For a five minute short film, it truly delivers the shock, the horror, the scare and also the comedy. The best horror comedy short film I have seen this year. #horror #horrorcomedy #shortfilm #cinema #bondoncinema #filmfestival #katyperry #ritual #comedy #cinematography #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmprduction #cinephile

My guest today is writer/director Dylan Trupiano. His work has screened at festivals including Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival and New/Next Film Festival. He was one of 50 directors from around the world selected for Playlab Films' Creators Lab in 2022. RECESSES, the latest film from Dylan Trupiano, is currently making its way through the festival circuit after winning the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant. Partly inspired by the director’s own experience from childhood and shot at his former elementary school, the short just screened at the Oscar-qualifying, HollyShorts Film Festival. Ladies and gentlemen, RECESSES, the latest film from Dylan Trupiano, is a film presents a profound and introspective narrative centered on a Midwestern elementary school secretary, who waits with a student after being disciplined for an “inappropriate” drawing. As their time together unfolds, the story delves into the emotional undercurrents of childhood trauma and repression, offering a nuanced reflection on the inner lives of children and the lingering impact of unaddressed pain. RECESSES is a very powerful and moving film and one that I hope will inspire conversations and lead both men and women with repressed trauma from their childhoods to come forward and start their healing journey. Thank you Dylan for an incredible film and sharing it with me today. #film #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #filmproduction #cinema #bondoncinema #cinematography #cinephile #shortfilm #hollyshorts #childhoodtrauma #school #repression 

My guest today is Jon Clark is an Emmy Award winning writer and director who makes elevated sci-fi films with timely social commentary.  His short film BLIND SPOT was an official selection at Nightmares Film Festival, North Hollywood Cinefest, Screamfest New Orleans, Hell's Half Mile Music & Film Festival, and more.  His newest short film LOVE MACHINE had its world premiere at Fantasia Film Festival and just premiered at the Academy-Qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival. And LOVE MACHINE is our discussion for today.  In the not-so-distant future, two women ask each other intimate questions on a date-things get weird. #AI #film #filmmaking #filmmaker #cinema #bondoncinema #relationship #reality #filmdirector #filmproduction #cinematography #cinephile #shortfilm #shorftilms #filmfestival #hollyshorts   

My guest today is Mahnoor Euceph, an award-winning writer and director. Her internationally acclaimed short Eid Mubarak, which screened at over 40 festivals and won 16 awards, was long-listed in consideration for the 96th Academy Awards.  She is a recipient of the Pillars Artist Fellowship, a program founded by Riz Ahmed and the Pillars Fund to champion bold new Muslim filmmakers. Her newest short film, 11:11 was selected for Cate Blanchett, Coco Francini, and Dr. Stacy L. Smith’s Proof of Concept Accelerator — chosen by a committee that included Greta Gerwig and Lilly Wachowski — in partnership with Netflix, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, and Dirty Films. 11:11 premiered at the Oscar-qualifying, HollyShorts Film Festival. Ladies and gentlemen, Mahnoor Euceph’s 11:11 stars Tara Raani from Grown-ish and Mahaela Parkfrom Dìdi, a comedic and profound exploration of the painful yet liberating realization that true belonging can't be found by becoming someone else.  When 16-year-old Pakistani-American Noori’s wish at 11:11 to be her crush’s type goes awry, magically transforming herself into a white, blonde, blue-eyed girl, she must undo the wish before losing herself entirely. Mahnoor’s film 11:11 drives the message home that we are still living in a world with blinders on. America was once called the melting pot, but we are again still living in a time where many don’t want it melting into one color.  I’ve always said we must embrace our differences and learn from one another. I loved that the main character Noori was proud of her Pakistani heritage and wanted to share it with others.  I know teenagers can be closed minded at times and the households in which they are raised are the environments in which that mindset is born.  When 11:11 comes to a film festival near you, please be in the theater watch this delightful coming of age story. You’ll learn more those around us a little bit more.  #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #film #cateblanchett #gretagerwig #skincolor #cinema #cinematography #comingofage #teenager #indeedfilms #pakistan #highschool #identity #bondoncinema 

Filmmaker Dan Rubottom has 36 years of experience in film and television, and he is sought after extensively for his creative and technical skills in cinematography, editing, motion graphics, visual effects and color grading.  He has directed, shot and edited award-winning episodic television, documentaries, commercials, short films and more on multiple continents.  He has worked with notables including Joel Osteen, Luis Palau, Rascal Flatts, Toby Mac, the late Carman, and Oral Roberts to name a few.   After completing 18 years at Joel Osteen Ministries as senior producer, Dan now runs DMR Films, writing and producing feature film projects, doing creative consulting with internationally branded organizations and content-driven projects.  Currently, Dan is also an Adjunct Professor and the “Artist In Residence” at Oral Roberts University’s Cinema and Television program running the brand new state of the art LED Volume XR STAGE. #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmproduction #VFX #virtualvideo #videoproduction #cinema #cinematography #cinematographer #movies #film #bondoncinema 

My guest today is Director Adnan Al Rajeev, a prominent voice in South Asian visual storytelling and founder of Runout Films. His newest short film ALI, will have its North American premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, screening as part of the festival’s Short Cuts program. A Bangladesh-Philippines co-production, ALI is a 15-minute allegorical drama that blends poetic realism with a searing social commentary on identity, censorship, and generational silence. Ladies and gentlemen, director Adnan Al Rajeev’s beautiful yet striking short film ALI. In his words, ALI is a reflection of “those forced to whisper their truths, bleed quietly, and censor themselves to survive.” Set in the fictional village, where women are forbidden to sing, ALI follows a 15-year-old boy harboring a mysterious secret. Raised by his mother in the shadow of both natural and cultural mountains, Ali is urged to audition for a singing competition—a rare opportunity to cross to the other side of the mountain and leave repression behind. But the act of singing becomes both a risk and a rebellion. The film crescendos to a deeply emotional climax: a boat, a broken stitch, and a song that cannot be silenced. We continue to live in a world where millions are voices are silenced. That silence is robbing us of those who are talented, creative, craftsmen or women, maybe the next president or prime minister. ALI is an haunting reminder that we still have a long way in our world for everyone’s voices to be heard and respected. #shortfilm #movie #film #filmmaker #filmfestival #bondoncinema #cinephile #cinema #filmdirector #cinematography #bangladesh #cannes #voices #opportunity #talent #gifts #abilities #creativity

Actress Charlotte Jackson Coleman, known to UK audiences for her work on Sky Sports News, ITV’s 71 Degrees North, and The Big Quiz: Sports Special, has quickly transitioned into an acclaimed actress since 2021. Her critically praised role in A Positive Contribution earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Romford Film Festival. In her newest film role, SECRETS, she plays Sammy—a resilient single mother who returns to her hometown after her own mother is murdered. As she tries to protect her daughter while confronting a long-buried past, Charlotte’s layered performance anchors the film with a quiet intensity and emotional power. Ladies and gentlemen, SECRETS, the haunting new psychological thriller, features standout performances from British actress Charlotte Jackson Coleman and emerging actor-producer Mike Dickman, as they lead a taut and emotionally complex story of trauma, truth, and survival. After her mother's passing, Sammy, a resilient single mother, grapples with the looming threat of a breakdown while keeping her mysterious past hidden. Ava, Sammy's daughter, exploration uncovers more than she originally intended to reveal. This film is tense, dark and takes the audience to a place they weren’t prepared for. There are multiple storylines interweaving with one another that all come together at the end. You may need therapy after seeing this film, but for all of you who love psychological suspense thrillers, then you found the perfect film. #newmovie #newfilm #suspensethriller #psychologicalthriller #cinema #bondoncinema #film #actor #actress #secrets #hiddensecrets #filmmaking #independentfilm #filmmaker #filmdirector

My guest today is Julia Weisberg Cortes, a writer, director and producer. Julia is heavily involved in both the Latina and female filmmaking communities which has afforded her the tools to pursue personal stories rooted in identity and womanhood. Her new short film, BOYFIGHTER, a haunting and deeply human short film starring Michael Mando (Better Call Saul, Orphan Black), will have its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival. The film is one of ten shorts selected for the 2025 Indeed Rising Voices program, an initiative committed to championing underrepresented BIPOC filmmakers through mentorship, funding, and high-profile exposure. Ladies and gentlemen, Julia Weisberg Cortez’s short film BOYFIGHTER is set in a world shaped by economic hardship and generational violence, Boyfighter follows a retired bare-knuckle fighter who is forced to confront the brutal legacy he's passed down to his son. As he prepares for the fight of his life, he must reckon with the emotional damage left in his wake and the possibility of redemption. Through this deeply personal lens, the film explores the enduring impact of toxic masculinity, the consequences of limited opportunity, and the fragile beauty that exists even amidst pain. With a gripping, introspective performance from Michael Mando, Boyfighter delivers a raw, poetic meditation on fatherhood, healing, and the transformative power of connection. Director Julia Weisberg Cortés brings a lyrical visual style to the screen, crafting a story that is both timely and timeless, rooted in themes of legacy, violence, and love. At its core, Boyfighter is a story about reckoning and hope: a man grappling with what it means to be a father, a fighter, and ultimately human. It’s a film that refuses to shy away from the darkness but insists on the possibility of light. Julia has dedicated this film to her late brother, to honor his life and his legacy of love. #indeedjobs #shortfilm #movie #film #filmmaker #filmfestival #cinephile #bondoncinema #cinema #filmdirector #generationalimpact #fatherhood #womeninfilm #culturalidentity