612. Maxwell Hamilton “The Mannequin”

Happy Monday, Film Folks!

Maxwell Hamilton produced and starred in “The Mannequin,” a feature length horror film that came to Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2025 and took home a little award that we like to call the Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Film, Horror.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 But you can add a few more to the list, including Best Screenplay – Feature Film for John Berardo, Best Cinematography – Feature Film for Jonathan Pope, and Best Production Design – Feature Film for Emily Peters.

I was excited to get to have an extended chat with Maxwell and that was BEFORE he helped me put it together that his onscreen role is one of my favorites in the film.                                                                     In fact, I feel safe saying that Maxwell delivers an absolutely crucial performance during the film’s climax.

I hope you enjoy our conversation and I urge you to watch, review and support The Mannequin! How?

Letterboxd – https://letterboxd.com/film/the-mannequin-2025/

JustWatch – https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-mannequin-2025

Watch it. Review it. Support it!

Social Media Handles
Instagram @maxwellhamilton
Facebook @MaxwellHamilton
X @maxxhamm

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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

611. 4Qs with Chloe Schildhause

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.

Filmmaker Chloe Schieldhause’s “Pool House,” a surreal, original, imaginatively dark comedy kicked off Film Invasion Los Angeles 2025 and took home the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Originality, Comedy.

I was pretty eager to learn more about Chloe, and she did not disappoint. Great conversations always get me excited about the 4 Questions follow up!

Follow Chloe on Instagram at @chloish
Or at the website https://www.schildhause.com

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Discover Indie Film Links
DIF Podcast WebsiteDIF Instagram – DIF BlueSky
Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website
Sherman Oaks Film Festival
Film Invasion Los Angeles

Source: Discover Film

610. Chloe Schildhause “Pool House”

A Wonderful Wednesday to You All!

Chloe Schieldhause won me over pretty quickly.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The first time I saw the short film “Pool House” as a member of the Film Invasion Los Angeles jury, I thought, “This HAS to be the film that launches the festival.” And it worked out!
The first film in the first block of 2025 was Chloe Schieldhause’s “Pool House,” a surreal, original, imaginatively dark comedy that took home the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Originality, Comedy.

As you might imagine, I was pretty eager to learn more about Chloe.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It’s not every day that you meet someone who writes, produces and stars in a completely unique comedy that blows your mind.                                                                                                                                Here’s the blogline, “A horror novelist, with the help of a ghost hunter, brings back the spirit of a ghost who is hell bent on staying on Earth for socialization.”                                                                                         That description doesn’t even scratch the surface, to be honest.

It was a ton of fun to record this podcast. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Follow Chloe on Instagram at @chloish
Or at the website https://www.schildhause.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

Source: Discover Film

Blunt by Hadeel Ramadan

2025 Official Selection: Screenplay – Series/Pilot

After shooting a teenage robber in her father’s liquor store, a sheltered Palestinian woman’s reality fractures; awakening a supernatural entity from her bloodline that forces her to face her greatest fear: surviving on her own in the most expensive city in the world.

The SOFF 2025 screenplay awards ceremony will be held on December 6 at 6PM at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas.

Go to 2025 Official Selections – Screenplays Page

Screenplay Awards Ceremony & Theatrical Screenings are held at:
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
128 Artsakh Avenue
Glendale, California 91206

SOFF 2025 Theatrical Screenings held from December 5 to December 7.

Source: SOFF

Blur by Oneika Mays

2025 Official Selection: Screenplay – Series/Pilot

In 1985 New Jersey, an offbeat Black girl tries to decode the unwritten rules of her new suburban school — where cliques, crushes, and cultural expectations collide, and fitting in might mean losing yourself.

The SOFF 2025 screenplay awards ceremony will be held on December 6 at 6PM at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas.

Go to 2025 Official Selections – Screenplays Page

Screenplay Awards Ceremony & Theatrical Screenings are held at:
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
128 Artsakh Avenue
Glendale, California 91206

SOFF 2025 Theatrical Screenings held from December 5 to December 7.

Source: SOFF