{"id":3346,"date":"2025-09-22T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T09:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/?p=3346"},"modified":"2025-09-22T09:00:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T09:00:48","slug":"588-bella-zoe-martinez-melissa-areffi-once-more-like-rain-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/?p=3346","title":{"rendered":"588. Bella Zoe Martinez & Melissa Areffi \u201cOnce More, Like Rain Man\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let’s get right to business, Listeners.<\/p>\n

Do this now! \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Click https:\/\/www.omlrmovie.com\/screenings<\/a> and see when and where you can catch \u201cOnce More, Like Rain Man\u201d!<\/p>\n

I first met Bella Zoe Martinez and Melissa Jean Martinez- Areffi at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2022, when their short film \u201cGlory & Injustice\u201d was an Official Selection.
\nPersonally, 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!<\/p>\n

Imagine my delight when this same team, and when I say \u201cteam\u201d I should really say \u201cfamily,\u201d sent a new film three years later and it is an Oscar-quality short that is amazing in every dimension?
\nNo surprise that \u201cOnce More, Like Rain Man\u201d came to the 2025 edition of Film Invasion Los Angeles and took home four awards!<\/p>\n

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.
\nBella 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. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Fingers crossed that someday we get Andy on the podcast!<\/p>\n

For the record, \u201cOnce More, Like Rain Man\u201d won the Grand Jury Awards for Best Short Film, Comedy and Best Performance by a Cast, Short Film. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0On 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.
\nThis conversation was so much fun and we clearly could have talked all night! Enjoy!<\/p>\n

Websites!
\nwww.omlrmovie.com<\/a>
\nwww.navautism.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram\/FB Handles!
\n@omlrmovie<\/a>
\n@bellazoemartinez<\/a>
\n@bella_daze!<\/a>
\n@navautism<\/a><\/p>\n

Bella\u2019s songs on Spotify
\nhttps:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/5XKVdsr14mppTFfASbMfOp?si=j-0w3-QIQs2KWhOGi0b7qA<\/a><\/p>\n

For trailers, interviews, etc. check out the YouTube Channel at
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@OnceMoreLikeRainMan<\/a><\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 That would be our soon-to-be-college-student who, without my asking, baked cookies that evening. That\u2019s right. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0DIF Podcast guests sometimes get made-from-scratch-fresh- baked-chocolate-chip-cookies! If that became common knowledge…<\/p>\n

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<\/p>\n

Discover Indie Film Podcast Links
\nDIF Podcast Website<\/a> – DIF Instagram<\/a> – DIF BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n

Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links
\nDIF Foundation<\/a> – Sherman Oaks Film Festival<\/a> – Film Invasion Los Angeles<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: Discover Film<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let’s get right to business, Listeners. Do this now! \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 … <\/p>\n

Read More “588. Bella Zoe Martinez & Melissa Areffi \u201cOnce More, Like Rain Man\u201d”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-podcasts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3346"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3346\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeffhoward.me\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}