Let’s get right to business, Listeners.
Do this now! Click https://www.omlrmovie.com/screenings and see when and where you can catch “Once More, Like Rain Man”!
I first met Bella Zoe Martinez and Melissa Jean Martinez- Areffi at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2022, when their short film “Glory & Injustice” was an Official Selection.
Personally, I LOVED that wonderful short where a thirteen year old has to yell at her supervillain father to get his off his butt and go commit some crimes!
Imagine my delight when this same team, and when I say “team” I should really say “family,” sent a new film three years later and it is an Oscar-quality short that is amazing in every dimension?
No surprise that “Once More, Like Rain Man” came to the 2025 edition of Film Invasion Los Angeles and took home four awards!
By the way, I referred to this team as a family and now I should clarify. Melissa and Bella are mother and daughter, and father Andy Areffi is equally involved in every film.
Bella and Melissa came over to record the podcast, while Andy deserves this personal shout out for holding down the fort while the others came over to have fun. Fingers crossed that someday we get Andy on the podcast!
For the record, “Once More, Like Rain Man” won the Grand Jury Awards for Best Short Film, Comedy and Best Performance by a Cast, Short Film. On top of that, it took home the Filmmakers Awards for Outstanding Direction, Comedy for director Sue Ann Pien as well as the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Cast Performance, Comedy.
This conversation was so much fun and we clearly could have talked all night! Enjoy!
Websites!
www.omlrmovie.com
www.navautism.com
Instagram/FB Handles!
@omlrmovie
@bellazoemartinez
@bella_daze!
@navautism
Bella’s songs on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XKVdsr14mppTFfASbMfOp?si=j-0w3-QIQs2KWhOGi0b7qA
For trailers, interviews, etc. check out the YouTube Channel at
https://www.youtube.com/@OnceMoreLikeRainMan
All trailers by Tal Anderson, who is not only a professional editor and successful actor, but was also our guest on episode 557 of this podcast!
And, finally… a funny bonus shoutout. If you look at the pic of Melissa & Bella on the DIF website or social media, you might notice someone in the kitchen behind them. That would be our soon-to-be-college-student who, without my asking, baked cookies that evening. That’s right. DIF Podcast guests sometimes get made-from-scratch-fresh- baked-chocolate-chip-cookies! If that became common knowledge…
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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
Source: Discover Film