Episodes

  • 558. 4Qs with Tal Anderson
    Jul 11 2025
    What are the 4Qs? (1) Three favorite films. (2) An underrated film. (3) An overrated film. (4) A lesser-known film people should seek out. Tal Anderson is a talented actor, writer, director and producer, whose short film “Breaking Normal” took home a Programmer’s Prize for Exceptional Filmmaking at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024. I was so glad for the chance to interview Tal and extremely curious to hear what she had in store for her 4 Questions. Tal’s Personal Links: Website: www.theTALanderson.com IMDb: www.IMDB.me/TalAnderson IG: www.Instagram.com/TheTalAnderson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTalAnderson Tal’s Work Links: JOY film : https://youtu.be/2-zDgrIsw1E?si=N1ps31t5NwinDwkW Hairy Yarns Podcast : https://hairyyarns.buzzsprout.com/ Breaking Normal : https://youtu.be/dbmW0vDamsg (This is unpublished but can be accessed if you click on the link. I'm using this one because it's the most recent version of the film) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
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    16 mins
  • 557. Tal Anderson “Breaking Normal”
    Jul 9 2025
    Welcome back, Listeners! Tal Anderson is a talented actor, writer, director and producer, whose short film “Breaking Normal” took home a Programmer’s Prize for Exceptional Filmmaking at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024. Tal acted in and produced the film, but a quick look at Tal’s IMDb page will show you what a genuine multi- hyphenate she is. Actually... I did this math before the interview and might as well share it. Tal has 30 actor credits, 19 editor credits, 9 producer credits, 8 writer credits, 6 director credits, and some other departments as well! It was a pleasure to get to interview Tal and get to know her better! And now... links! Tal got the following links to us... please enjoy her work! Tal’s Personal Links: Website: www.theTALanderson.com IMDb: www.IMDB.me/TalAnderson IG: www.Instagram.com/TheTalAnderson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTalAnderson Tal’s Work Links: JOY film : https://youtu.be/2-zDgrIsw1E?si=N1ps31t5NwinDwkW Hairy Yarns Podcast : https://hairyyarns.buzzsprout.com/ Breaking Normal : https://youtu.be/dbmW0vDamsg (This is unpublished but can be accessed if you click on the link. I'm using this one because it's the most recent version of the film) Links just for interest and follow up since Tal mentioned them: LINK to the Smithsonian Exhibit and Schedule: https://www.sites.si.edu/s/topic/0TO4z000000nTALGA2/japanese-war-brides-across-a-wide-divide LINK to article I wrote where I interviewed 3 producer/filmmakers responsible ultimately for the Smithsonian exhibit: https://joysauce.com/how-these-three-women-are-preserving-the-legacies-of-japanese-war-brides/ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Podcast Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links DIF Foundation - Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Film Invasion Los Angeles
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    30 mins
  • 556. 4Qs with Ethan Shaftel
    Jul 7 2025
    What are the 4Qs? (1) Three favorite films. (2) An underrated film. (3) An overrated film. (4) A lesser-known film people should seek out. Ethan Shaftel brought his Immersive film “Ajax All Powerful” to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024 and took one the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Immersive Short. If you listened to Friday's full interview with Ethan its no secret that “Ajax All Powerful” simply blew my mind and I was very eager to hear about the type of films Ethan was drawn to with his 4 Questions! Learn more about Ethan at his website EthanShaftel.com or @ethanaction on Instagram. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
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    18 mins
  • 555. Ethan Shaftel “Ajax All Powerful”
    Jul 4 2025
    Happy Independence Day, Everyone. And what better way to celebrate independence thank listened to a podcast about Independent film! Ethan Shaftel brought his Immersive film “Ajax All Powerful” to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024 and took one the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Immersive Short. Do I need to explain what an immersive short is? You watch it on the Meta Quest virtual reality headset and become immersed in the amazing world that Ethan created. “Ajax All Powerful” simply blew my mind and I think every person looking at these words right now should find a way to get their hands on one and watch Ethan’s film. What else needs to be said in this intro? Learn more about Ethan at his website EthanShaftel.com or @ethanaction on Instagram. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Podcast Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links DIF Foundation - Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Film Invasion Los Angeles
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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • 554. 4Qs with Rob Neilson
    Jul 2 2025
    What are the 4Qs? (1) Three favorite films. (2) An underrated film. (3) An overrated film. (4) A lesser-known film people should seek out. Rob Neilson’s film “The Word” was an official selection at both Film Invasion Los Angeles as well as Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024, which you might know is a rare feat. I should also mention that at FI- LA “The Word” took home the Grand Jury Awards for Best Short Film, Comedy and Best Cast Performance, while at SOFF it took home the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Short Film - Comedy. Clearly I'm a fan of Rob's work and I couldn't wait to see what type of films inspired him. Here’s the link to watch The Word yourself: https://youtu.be/ZPQA-gmSS6g?si=D-W4Jxs9LQrN1g-N If you want to learn more about Rob and his work, check out www.savagehenryfilms.com or www.robmneilson.com. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
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    15 mins
  • 553. Rob Neilson “The Word”
    Jun 30 2025
    Welcome back and thank you for starting your week with a new installment of Discover Indie Film! Rob Neilson’s film “The Word” was an official selection at both Film Invasion Los Angeles as well as Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024, which you might know is a rare feat. I should also mention that at FI- LA “The Word” took home the Grand Jury Awards for Best Short Film, Comedy and Best Cast Performance, while at SOFF it took home the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Short Film - Comedy. You should watch this wickedly funny and cuttingly smart film right now! Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/ZPQA-gmSS6g?si=D-W4Jxs9LQrN1g-N If you want to learn more about Rob and his work, check out www.savagehenryfilms.com or www.robmneilson.com. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Podcast Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links DIF Foundation - Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Film Invasion Los Angeles
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    56 mins
  • 552. 4Qs with Nicholas Burns
    Jun 27 2025
    What are the 4Qs? (1) Three favorite films. (2) An underrated film. (3) An overrated film. (4) A lesser-known film people should seek out. Nicholas Burns wrote and directed the short film “Intertitle” that took home both the Grand Jury Award for Best Sound Design and the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Originality - Drama at Film Invasion Los Angeles 2024. He ALSO brought it to Sherman Oaks Film Festival later that year and took home- Filmmakers Award – Outstanding Writing – Arthouse/Experimental – Nicholas Burns Nicholas is not on social media so you'll just have to go to his website nicholasburns.net or listen to our chat released on Wednesday or his 4 Questions here to find more about him! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
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    33 mins
  • 551. Nicholas Burns “Intertitle”
    Jun 25 2025
    Welcome back listeners and a special thank you to anyone who came out to Film Invasion Los Angeles this past weekend! There are many things I love and adore about the two festivals I run, but one of them is having an exciting new crop of filmmakers to invite onto the podcast. Nicholas Burns wrote and directed the short film “Intertitle” that took home both the Grand Jury Award for Best Sound Design and the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Originality - Drama at Film Invasion Los Angeles 2024. He ALSO brought it to Sherman Oaks Film Festival later that year and took home- Filmmakers Award – Outstanding Writing – Arthouse/Experimental – Nicholas Burns This uniquely original film brings a lot more to the table than simply its use of silent film era intertitles. In fact, it tells one of the most compelling, personal and authentic stories that I have seen in my decade of festival programming. Nick hopped onto Zoom for this interview and I hope that you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed chatting with him. Nick is NOT on social media, but you can visit his website nicholasburns.net _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Podcast Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links DIF Foundation - Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Film Invasion Los Angeles
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    1 hr and 22 mins