Bond on Cinema

Interview / Film Breakdown: What Happens When Izidor Experiences FAMILY for the First Time?

The short film, IZIDOR gives viewers a glimpse into the life and psyche of an institutionalized child. The stakes are high because Izidor isn't just a fictional character, but a real boy trying to determine what it means to be human. He represents not just Romania's abandoned children, but all vulnerable children, everywhere.
The short film IZIDOR utilizes both animation and live action to give attention to the disparity between how institutionalized children experience life compared to children in families.
When Izidor spends a day with a family and experiences the love and connection they have, he discovers that belonging is what makes you feel alive. Izidor's need to belong will resonate with audiences worldwide, moving viewers to address the human rights issues still confronting orphans today.
#shortfilm #shortfilms #animation #liveaction #romania #orphanages #orphans #institutionalizedchildren #family #cinema #cinematography #storytelling #truestory 

Interview/Film Breakdown: Experience The INTENSE Battle For Creative Control In 1940s Broadway in THE PROBLEM OF THE HERO

Ladies and gentlemen, in March of 1941, at the St. James Theatre in New York, two 20th century literary giants, ground breaking author Richard Wright and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green collaborate to adapt Wright’s best-selling book, Native Son, into a Broadway play. Days from opening night, they differ over a single page of the script. The difference of opinion evolves into a spirited contention over issues of race, social justice, politics, and personal & creative agency. The argument threatens to dissolve their friendship.
THE PROBLEM OF THE HERO is a period film based in the 1940s, but the issues of race and social justice in this film shows that not much as changed even in 2025. The film brings forth a very powerful message.
The tug-o-war between beliefs, assumptions, and even character as they work to convince the other who is right about how the play should end. I love films that are dialogue-driven because words matter. The setting of the theater, an enclosed space in which they argue is where the finished product will be seen by the audience. The changing of stage lights further enhances the mood and the storyline. THE PROBLEM OF THE HERO is THE must see film of the year.
Both David and J. Mardrice give Oscar performances. Their brilliant performances are captivating, authentic and you feel each one’s ideas and plight. They show us that we can agree to disagree without ending a friendship.
#broadway #richardwright #paulgreen #playwright #novelists #film #featurefilm #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #actor #acting #cinema #bondoncinema #cinephile #newfilm #oscars

You Won't Believe The Impact Of PRAYERS FOR CASSIE On Cancer Patients: Music Composer Josh Cavazos

Music Composer Josh Cavazos is inspired by large scale ideas and global relief efforts that are most dear to him. His goal is to provide a musical outlet of peace and joy to the world around him, through custom scoring, music production, and independent compositions. 
His film documentary PRAYERS FOR CASSIE is inspiring. According to the American Cancer Society, almost 1,700 people die of cancer every day.
This film shows us the battle these courageous people go through, the hidden fear, pain and putting on a mask so those around them will not feel uneasy. There are days when they are strong and there are days when they are weak.
If you have a friends or family member who has cancer, the best thing you can do for them is to be there. Even in times when you may not know what to do or say. Your presence means more to them than you’ll ever know.
#cancersuvivor #cancerpatients #musictherapy #musiccomposer #film #documentary #filmmaker #filmmaking #prayers #faith #inspiration 
 

Short Film BEFORE YOU with Lauren Melinda: What Happens When LOVE Meets Devastating Medical Prognosis

Lauren Melinda’s short film BEFORE YOU, explores abortion for medical reasons, based on true events. A euphoric pregnancy takes a devastating turn when a medical prognosis forces a woman and her husband to accept the harsh necessity of a heartbreaking abortion for medical reasons - a procedure currently banned in 14 states.
BEFORE YOU is powerful, compelling, heart wrenching when the choice you are given, isn’t really a choice at all. A dream being snatched away that was supposed to be the happiest and most joyful experience a couple could share.
I’m not going get into the political ramifications of the story or the subject of abortion, but we need to allow medicine to be medicine.
Lauren Melinda’s powerful storytelling brings techniques that are creatively unique, the transitions from scene to scene can only be described as art. With the guidance of cinematographer Ludovica Isidori, BEFORE YOU captures the audience and doesn’t allow them to escape the reality of such a heartbreaking and a heart wrenching decision.
Tala Ashe’s acting is authentic and pure. One moment you feel the joy, then the sense of creation, but to have it brought into uncertainty by one reaction of a nurse. Then the finalization of the doctor’s words that no one can escape from. You feel alone with her, even in the midst of having a support system, it’s just not enough. To feel lifeless and drained.
But in the end, hope and love come into view and I will leave it there.
#reproductiverights #medicalabortion #abortion #womenshealth #health #medicine #pregnancy #film #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #femalefilmdirector #bondoncinema #cinema

Inside the Making of Night Fight - A Groundbreaking SXSW Film! - A Discussion with Filmmaker Khary Jones

Khary Jones drove alone down the quiet roads of a Canadian resort town, the predawn darkness folding in around him. The stillness shatters—headlights appear in his rearview mirror, growing closer, tracking him with quiet menace.
For twenty minutes, he is pursued by a vigilante, the night stretching longer than time itself. Seven years later, he returns, not to seek revenge or even understanding, but to confront what remains of himself in the wake of that encounter.
NIGHT FIGHT is a film that should be seen by everyone and we need absorb the story and history that Khary is trying to convey here. Racism is prevalent in every nation on Earth. Is there a solution? We have to work much harder and truly become a people who respect each other and stop judging by outward appearances alone.
Award-winning director and film editor Khary Saeed Jones, his newest film, the SXSW-selected NIGHT FIGHT is a work of aching introspection, memory, and the relentless weight of history.
This haunting cinematic journey—part memoir, part meditation, part reckoning—examines the violent interruptions that fracture Black life and the silent battles waged long after the danger has passed.
#documentary #film #cinema #canada #racism #vigilante #memoir #meditation #reckoning #blackhistory #blackfilm #blacklife #sxsw #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #screenwriter #introspection #bondoncinema 

Director Emily Sheskin's Feel Good Short LIVESTREAMS WITH GRAMDAPUZZLES: A Puzzling Grandma and Her Wisdom on Twitch

Adele Tiffith’s lifelong love for puzzling becomes her unexpected salvation when her hobby suddenly becomes a lifeline to preserve her mental health and connect with others through her growing Twitch community.
Emily Sheskin’s heartwarming and uplifting documentary LIVESTREAMS WITH GRANDMA PUZZLES will bring a smile to face and will most likely inspire you to go out buy a puzzle and spend time putting it together, either alone or with family and friends.
Puzzling is far more fun and even therapeutic than sitting on your smartphone in the evenings wasting time swiping from one post to the next.
Emily Sheskin is an award winning film and commercial director who tells stories full of optimism and resilience, without glossing over life’s challenges.
Her short films have featured in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Atlantic, and even pirated on TikTok (though she’d prefer credit).
Her first feature film, JESSZILLA, premiered in 2023 at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival where it was in competition. It went on to play at notable festivals around the world (IDFA, DOC NYC, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival) and won awards with Slamdance, Rhode Island Film Festival, and others.
Emily’s newest short is a heartwarming and uplifting documentary LIVESTREAMS WITH GRANDMA PUZZLES premiered at Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival where it won an audience award for “Favorite Short Film”, and just recently screened at the Oscar-qualifying, Cleveland International Film Festival.
#grandmapuzzles #puzzles #puzzling #shortfilm #shortfilms #film #cinema #bondoncinema #filmmaking #filmmaker #mentalhealth #filmfestival #documentary #grandma #wisdom

Actress Nakia Burrise Raises the bar for Family-Friendly Entertainment with BACK TO BRIDGEWOOD

BACK TO BRIDGEWOOD is a heartwarming comedic tale reminiscent of "Bruce Almighty" meets "Abbott Elementary" on the silver screen.
Liz Johnson played by Nakia Burrise, a privileged sitcom star, faces a drastic turn in her life after an accident lands her in a coma for three months.
Upon awakening, she confronts the harsh reality of losing everything: her job, Hollywood status, and financial security.
I’m not going to spoil this movie for you, you have to see for yourself. It’s a wonderful film for the whole family and may even cause you to look inside your own self so a better version of you can come out.
You can catch BACK TO BRIDGEWOOD on AppleTV+, Amazon Prime, Fandango and more. Check out and you’ll be glad you did!
While attending high school, Nakia auditioned for UCLA's prestigious theater department, and out of 50 applicants was the only African American female freshman accepted that year. She booked her first role as a series regular on the hit kids' TV show Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo, as the Yellow Power Ranger Tanya Sloan for 75 episodes and a feature film.
Nakia has done numerous commercials, print ads and television shows over the course of her 30+ year career. In 2012 Nakia launched Sovereignty Entertainment Inc., a production company dedicated to producing family-friendly television and films.
In 2015 she created, co-wrote, and produced 2 seasons of the single camera comedy, the award winning Life After Saving the World, which was loosely based on her life.
In 2020 Nakia and Catherine Sutherland launched their YouTube channel, Power Rangers Playback, exploring past Power Rangers episodes with commentary, nostalgia, and more.
Nakia is here to talk about her new feature film, BACK TO BRIDGEWOOD.
#yellowpowerranger #nakiaburrise #actress #film #featurefilm #filmmaker #filmmaking #cinephile #familyfriendlyentertainment #entetainment #celebrity #faith 

Inside The Making Of BOYS LIKE YOU With Award-Winning Stars!

BOYS LIKE YOU is a powerful, mysteriously tense compelling film that creates more questions from the audience than answers and that is a good thing. Films today need to create conversations from the audience and BOYS LIKE US does just that.
The cinematography is excellent, the framing of each shot adds to the tenseness and depth of the story. This isn’t just about the outward elements, but the extreme closeups are used to take us inside the minds and hearts of the characters.
The acting of Lindsay and Liam is superb as it comes across as natural, not forced. Again, you feel every emotion they portray onscreen, a power that draws the audience into their story and doesn’t let you go.
BOYS LIKE US is an excellent short film and has all the elements of being a top award winning film.
Writer/actress Lindsay Bennett-Thompson and actor Liam Francis Collins and their film BOYS LIKE YOU.
Lindsay Bennett-Thompson is an actor, artist, and writer. She took a hiatus to tour with a rock band and returned to the industry in 2010. She has worked in many major theaters, had roles in a variety of daytime and prime-time TV and has appeared in several award winning short films and feature films and global brand commercials.
Liam Francis Collins received the award for "Best Supporting Actor" at this years "British Short Film Awards"
After finishing filming on “Salvable” alongside Toby Kebbell & Shia LaBeouf, Liam also stared in and produced “Boys Like You” that has been quoted by director "Shane Meadows" as being a short but potent punch in the cinematic guts that leaves you wanting more.
The film has been BAFTA & BIFFA selected and was the official selected short at the SCAD Film Festival. It was also awarded the prestigious "Golden Bee" at this year's Manchester Film Festival.
#shortfilm #shortfilms #motherson #relationship #adoption #cinema #filmmaker #filmmaking #actors #actor #actress #UK #shialabeouf #cinematography #cinematographer #cinephile 

Director Seong-ho Jang Discusses His Animated Feature Film THE KING OF KINGS

Ladies and gentlemen, The King of Kings is Jay Jang’s most deeply personal project to date, a rich, vibrant and world-changing story that has allowed him to reach his peak of passionate filmmaking.
In THE KING OF KINGS, a father tells his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice. The King of Kings invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child.
This is one of the best animated feature films I have seen in the last couple of years and to see the greatest story ever told brought to life in a new way will be a great blessing to all believers, but will show others Jesus in a whole new wonderful light.
THE KING OF KINGS debuts in theaters on April 11th, Easter weekend so take your family and friends as this movie is for all ages and I promise you, you will LOVE IT!
Filmmaker Seong-ho Jang, who is one of the most respected filmmakers in Korea and an unparalleled pioneer in the visual effects realm. Entering the industry as a storyboard artist for feature films before transitioning to VFX, Jang has been responsible for much of the VFX in Korean films, setting new benchmarks and pushing boundaries in quality media content since 1995.
His 100+ credits across the past three decades include Grand Bell Awards Best Film honoree Joint Security Area, Starz’s popular Spartacus television series, Cannes Film Festival entry The Taste of Money, the Clive Owen/Morgan Freeman starred Last Knights, and the fantasy adventure comedy sequel Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back, which shattered several Chinese opening weekend box office records.
His newest feature film, THE KING OF KINGS is Jang’s most deeply personal project to date, a rich, vibrant and world-changing story that has allowed him to reach his peak of passionate filmmaking.
Featuring an all-star cast—including Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Pierce Brosnan, Roman Griffin Davis, Forest Whitaker, Ben Kingsley, and Oscar Isaac.
#animatedfilm #animation #thekingofkings #jesuschrist #jesus #faith #charlesdickens #film #filmmaking #filmmaker #bondoncinema #cinema #cinematography

The Pearl Comb: A Film Discussion with Ali Cook about an Unearthly Power of Mystery

THE PEARL COMB, tells a thought provoking and captivating story blending historical drama with elements of myth and mystery.
Its narrative highlights the resilience of women in a time when their voices were often silenced, drawing inspiration from the true story of the ‘Edinburgh Seven.’ 
It was nominated for five awards at The British Short Film Awards, winning two, and will screen at the upcoming, Oscar-qualifying, Cleveland International Film Festival.
THE PEAR COMB is about a fisherman’s wife, who captures the attention of the medical profession as the first person to ever cure someone of tuberculosis. A doctor is sent to investigate her miraculous claim. Determined to prove that a woman’s place is in the home and not practicing medicine, he soon discovers the source of her unearthly power.
THE PEARL COMB is an 1800s period piece and every element is spectacular. This short film has the look and feel of a feature film and it looks like a million bucks.
This film is draws you in from the moment you watch the first scene. The audience is moved along with intrigue, mystery and a few twists to keep you captured and firmly planted in your seat. This is one of those films in which you don’t want to miss a thing.
This film has synergy from the cinematography, the colorization, special effects and the special effects make up to the wonderful cast of characters and the acting is top notch.
I love everything about this film and I expect to see this film go a long way. Finally, a short film with the feel of a feature film, but so original, it stands out and will stand out among all the short films that will be at all of the film festivals this year. I can’t say enough about this film. With writers and directors like Ali Cook who know how to tell a story, the future of cinema is in great hands.
#thepearlcomb #mermaids #mystery #thriller #horror #shortfilm #shortfilms #cornwall #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #filmproducer #cinema #bondoncinema #cinephile #filmcritic #filmreview #filmbreakdown