Writer/director Alek Lev brought his feature film “What?” to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021 and took home the Grand Jury Ward for Best Director – Feature Film!  “What?” also won Best Actor in a Lead Role for John Maucere and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film.  Needless to say, it’s a GREAT film and you watch it today.  Today!

In fact, this podcast and the film’s VOD release are on the same day, so go to TheWhatMovie.com and find your favorite place to see it.  To learn more about this talented filmmaker go to AlekLev.com.

Discover Indie Film Links
DIF Website  – DIF Instagram  – DIF Facebook  – DIF Twitter 

Source: Discover Film

Rating:

What? is a remarkable film.  It is supremely entertaining, funny, and thoughtful.  Mostly it is brilliant cinema.  I make a point of calling this movie “cinema” because director Alek Lev has made a love letter to Hollywood’s silent era while keeping it contemporary, fresh and entertaining.  There is not one filmmaking element that the makers of “What?” did not use the fullest degree; cinematography, soundtrack, production design, and of course the brilliant acting.

And there’s one more thing.  What? conveys a sober yet heartening message of inclusion for the deaf community, but it is so entertaining that it isn’t a message movie.  It’s cinema at its best!

To see where you can watch this film, hit the What? IMDB page or visit TheWhatMovie.com.

If you want to hear the DIF Podcast interview with writer/director Alek Lev, click right here.

 

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DIF Reviews have three rules:

1. No spoilers
2. Independently financed
3. Available to watch online

Finally, the goal is to keep them short.  No more than five sentences!

Source: Discover Film

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

The filmmaking team of Brian Barnes and Matthew Merenda made the award winning short film “yellow” starring a rubber duck.  At the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021, they went home the award for Outstanding Performance, Inanimate Object – Rubber Duck The Actor (David Agustín – Voice).  This smart, subversive, hilarious film must be seen!  So be smart and watch “yellow” right now at this Vimeo link!  And if you’re really smart you’ll follow @rubberducktheactor on Instagram.

In this podcast we get to hear both filmmakers answer the 4Qs above.  And I’m not afraid to say that Matthew had a slight breakthrough realizing, for the first time, the similarities between “yellow” and his all-time favorite film.

After you watch “yellow” be sure to check out the Discover Indie Film TV Series on Amazon Prime Video.

Discover Indie Film Links
DIF TV Series – DIF Website  – DIF Instagram  – DIF Facebook  – DIF Twitter 

Source: Discover Film

Brian Barnes and Matthew Merenda teamed up to make the award winning short film “yellow,” one of my favorites at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2022.  This original, hilarious, and super-smart comedy took home the award for Outstanding Performance, Inanimate Object – Rubber Duck The Actor (David Agustín – Voice).

So be smart and watch “yellow” right now at this Vimeo link!  And if you’re really smart you’ll follow @rubberducktheactor on Instagram.

After you watch “yellow” be sure to check out the Discover Indie Film TV Series on Amazon Prime Video.

Discover Indie Film Links
DIF Website  – DIF Instagram  – DIF Facebook  – DIF Twitter 

Source: Discover Film

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

Guitarist, songwriter, singer and director Goldwyn Thandrayen brought his music video “I Don’t Need A Sledgehammer To Start A Fire” to FILA 2021 and won the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Music Video.  Almost as exciting is that this video is part of Season 5 of the Discover Indie Film TV Series on Amazon Prime Video.

As long as I had Goldwyn on Zoom for his interview, you know I had to have him answer the 4Qs.

You can learn more about Goldwyn and his band Psychocide at his official website.  And don’t forget to hit his Instagram @psychocide.ofc

Discover Indie Film Links
DIF TV Series – DIF Website  – DIF Instagram  – DIF Facebook  – DIF Twitter 

Source: Discover Film