Bond on Cinema

Hoku Uchiyama's Short WHITCH, a Horror Comedy that will Shock You and Make You Laugh: Film Discussion

My guest today is award winning filmmaker Hoku Uchiyama who is a lover of fantasy films, horror and animation. His directing work has garnered tens of millions of online views and has been screened in festivals around the world.
The work has also been featured at the LA County Museum of Art and in a series produced by the Modern Art museum Centre Pompidou of Paris. Hoku broke ground with his award winning music video for Jason Webley and Amanda Palmer's "Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn?"
He and his sometimes directing partner, Adam Bolt, have made a name crafting high energy, fun, technical commercials under the moniker "Hoku & Adam."
Their 2020 music video for Katy Perry's "Harleys in Hawaii" won the Webby People's Voice Award for Best Music Video.
His newest short film, WHITCH is about an intruder who acts strangely familiar and is hell-bent on performing a bloody ritual before midnight.
Ladies and gentlemen, Hoku Uchiayama’s comedy horror short film WHITCH is a delightful watch and it is perfectly balanced between scary horror and downright comedy.
In comedy, it’s not what is said, it’s the pause and the look that delivers and actress Rosemary Hochschild delivers a stellar performance as the wayward witch. For a five minute short film, it truly delivers the shock, the horror, the scare and also the comedy. The best horror comedy short film I have seen this year.
#horror #horrorcomedy #shortfilm #cinema #bondoncinema #filmfestival #katyperry #ritual #comedy #cinematography #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmprduction #cinephile

RECESSES Short Film: What REALLY Happens When Kids' Emotions Are IGNORED? A Discussion with Dylan Trupiano

My guest today is writer/director Dylan Trupiano. His work has screened at festivals including Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival and New/Next Film Festival. He was one of 50 directors from around the world selected for Playlab Films' Creators Lab in 2022.
RECESSES, the latest film from Dylan Trupiano, is currently making its way through the festival circuit after winning the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant.
Partly inspired by the director’s own experience from childhood and shot at his former elementary school, the short just screened at the Oscar-qualifying, HollyShorts Film Festival.
Ladies and gentlemen, RECESSES, the latest film from Dylan Trupiano, is a film presents a profound and introspective narrative centered on a Midwestern elementary school secretary, who waits with a student after being disciplined for an “inappropriate” drawing.
As their time together unfolds, the story delves into the emotional undercurrents of childhood trauma and repression, offering a nuanced reflection on the inner lives of children and the lingering impact of unaddressed pain. RECESSES is a very powerful and moving film and one that I hope will inspire conversations and lead both men and women with repressed trauma from their childhoods to come forward and start their healing journey. Thank you Dylan for an incredible film and sharing it with me today.
#film #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #filmproduction #cinema #bondoncinema #cinematography #cinephile #shortfilm #hollyshorts #childhoodtrauma #school #repression 

Jon Clark Reveals Secrets of AI vs Human Connection in LOVE MACHINE

My guest today is Jon Clark is an Emmy Award winning writer and director who makes elevated sci-fi films with timely social commentary. 
His short film BLIND SPOT was an official selection at Nightmares Film Festival, North Hollywood Cinefest, Screamfest New Orleans, Hell's Half Mile Music & Film Festival, and more. 
His newest short film LOVE MACHINE had its world premiere at Fantasia Film Festival and just premiered at the Academy-Qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival. And LOVE MACHINE is our discussion for today. 
In the not-so-distant future, two women ask each other intimate questions on a date-things get weird.
#AI #film #filmmaking #filmmaker #cinema #bondoncinema #relationship #reality #filmdirector #filmproduction #cinematography #cinephile #shortfilm #shorftilms #filmfestival #hollyshorts 
 

Filmmaker Mahnoor Euceph's Coming of Age SHORT Film 11:11 Gets Cate Blanchett's Stamp of Approval

My guest today is Mahnoor Euceph, an award-winning writer and director. Her internationally acclaimed short Eid Mubarak, which screened at over 40 festivals and won 16 awards, was long-listed in consideration for the 96th Academy Awards. 
She is a recipient of the Pillars Artist Fellowship, a program founded by Riz Ahmed and the Pillars Fund to champion bold new Muslim filmmakers.
Her newest short film, 11:11 was selected for Cate Blanchett, Coco Francini, and Dr. Stacy L. Smith’s Proof of Concept Accelerator — chosen by a committee that included Greta Gerwig and Lilly Wachowski — in partnership with Netflix, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, and Dirty Films. 11:11 premiered at the Oscar-qualifying, HollyShorts Film Festival.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mahnoor Euceph’s 11:11 stars Tara Raani from Grown-ish and Mahaela Parkfrom Dìdi, a comedic and profound exploration of the painful yet liberating realization that true belonging can't be found by becoming someone else. 
When 16-year-old Pakistani-American Noori’s wish at 11:11 to be her crush’s type goes awry, magically transforming herself into a white, blonde, blue-eyed girl, she must undo the wish before losing herself entirely.
Mahnoor’s film 11:11 drives the message home that we are still living in a world with blinders on. America was once called the melting pot, but we are again still living in a time where many don’t want it melting into one color. 
I’ve always said we must embrace our differences and learn from one another. I loved that the main character Noori was proud of her Pakistani heritage and wanted to share it with others. 
I know teenagers can be closed minded at times and the households in which they are raised are the environments in which that mindset is born. 
When 11:11 comes to a film festival near you, please be in the theater watch this delightful coming of age story. You’ll learn more those around us a little bit more. 
#filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #film #cateblanchett #gretagerwig #skincolor #cinema #cinematography #comingofage #teenager #indeedfilms #pakistan #highschool #identity #bondoncinema 

Filmmaker Dan Rubottom talks Cinematography, Virtual Video Production & being an Adjunct Professor at ORU

Filmmaker Dan Rubottom has 36 years of experience in film and television, and he is sought after extensively for his creative and technical skills in cinematography, editing, motion graphics, visual effects and color grading. 
He has directed, shot and edited award-winning episodic television, documentaries, commercials, short films and more on multiple continents. 
He has worked with notables including Joel Osteen, Luis Palau, Rascal Flatts, Toby Mac, the late Carman, and Oral Roberts to name a few.  
After completing 18 years at Joel Osteen Ministries as senior producer, Dan now runs DMR Films, writing and producing feature film projects, doing creative consulting with internationally branded organizations and content-driven projects. 
Currently, Dan is also an Adjunct Professor and the “Artist In Residence” at Oral Roberts University’s Cinema and Television program running the brand new state of the art LED Volume XR STAGE.
#filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmproduction #VFX #virtualvideo #videoproduction #cinema #cinematography #cinematographer #movies #film #bondoncinema 

Director Adnan Al Rajeev's short ALI is Metaphorically Cinematic: The Interview and Film Discussion

My guest today is Director Adnan Al Rajeev, a prominent voice in South Asian visual storytelling and founder of Runout Films.
His newest short film ALI, will have its North American premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, screening as part of the festival’s Short Cuts program. A Bangladesh-Philippines co-production, ALI is a 15-minute allegorical drama that blends poetic realism with a searing social commentary on identity, censorship, and generational silence.
Ladies and gentlemen, director Adnan Al Rajeev’s beautiful yet striking short film ALI. In his words, ALI is a reflection of “those forced to whisper their truths, bleed quietly, and censor themselves to survive.” Set in the fictional village, where women are forbidden to sing, ALI follows a 15-year-old boy harboring a mysterious secret. Raised by his mother in the shadow of both natural and cultural mountains, Ali is urged to audition for a singing competition—a rare opportunity to cross to the other side of the mountain and leave repression behind. But the act of singing becomes both a risk and a rebellion.
The film crescendos to a deeply emotional climax: a boat, a broken stitch, and a song that cannot be silenced. We continue to live in a world where millions are voices are silenced.
That silence is robbing us of those who are talented, creative, craftsmen or women, maybe the next president or prime minister.
ALI is an haunting reminder that we still have a long way in our world for everyone’s voices to be heard and respected. #shortfilm #movie #film #filmmaker #filmfestival #bondoncinema #cinephile #cinema #filmdirector #cinematography #bangladesh #cannes #voices #opportunity #talent #gifts #abilities #creativity

The New Psychological Thriller SECRETS a TWIST You Won't See Coming: Special Guest Actress Charlotte Jackson Coleman

Actress Charlotte Jackson Coleman, known to UK audiences for her work on Sky Sports News, ITV’s 71 Degrees North, and The Big Quiz: Sports Special, has quickly transitioned into an acclaimed actress since 2021.
Her critically praised role in A Positive Contribution earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Romford Film Festival.
In her newest film role, SECRETS, she plays Sammy—a resilient single mother who returns to her hometown after her own mother is murdered. As she tries to protect her daughter while confronting a long-buried past, Charlotte’s layered performance anchors the film with a quiet intensity and emotional power.
Ladies and gentlemen, SECRETS, the haunting new psychological thriller, features standout performances from British actress Charlotte Jackson Coleman and emerging actor-producer Mike Dickman, as they lead a taut and emotionally complex story of trauma, truth, and survival.
After her mother's passing, Sammy, a resilient single mother, grapples with the looming threat of a breakdown while keeping her mysterious past hidden. Ava, Sammy's daughter, exploration uncovers more than she originally intended to reveal.
This film is tense, dark and takes the audience to a place they weren’t prepared for. There are multiple storylines interweaving with one another that all come together at the end. You may need therapy after seeing this film, but for all of you who love psychological suspense thrillers, then you found the perfect film.
#newmovie #newfilm #suspensethriller #psychologicalthriller #cinema #bondoncinema #film #actor #actress #secrets #hiddensecrets #filmmaking #independentfilm #filmmaker #filmdirector

Acclaimed Filmmaker Julia Weisberg Cortes and her Short 'BOYFIGHTER': Interview / Breakdown

My guest today is Julia Weisberg Cortes, a writer, director and producer. Julia is heavily involved in both the Latina and female filmmaking communities which has afforded her the tools to pursue personal stories rooted in identity and womanhood.
Her new short film, BOYFIGHTER, a haunting and deeply human short film starring Michael Mando (Better Call Saul, Orphan Black), will have its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival.
The film is one of ten shorts selected for the 2025 Indeed Rising Voices program, an initiative committed to championing underrepresented BIPOC filmmakers through mentorship, funding, and high-profile exposure.
Ladies and gentlemen, Julia Weisberg Cortez’s short film BOYFIGHTER is set in a world shaped by economic hardship and generational violence, Boyfighter follows a retired bare-knuckle fighter who is forced to confront the brutal legacy he's passed down to his son. As he prepares for the fight of his life, he must reckon with the emotional damage left in his wake and the possibility of redemption.
Through this deeply personal lens, the film explores the enduring impact of toxic masculinity, the consequences of limited opportunity, and the fragile beauty that exists even amidst pain. With a gripping, introspective performance from Michael Mando, Boyfighter delivers a raw, poetic meditation on fatherhood, healing, and the transformative power of connection.
Director Julia Weisberg Cortés brings a lyrical visual style to the screen, crafting a story that is both timely and timeless, rooted in themes of legacy, violence, and love. At its core, Boyfighter is a story about reckoning and hope: a man grappling with what it means to be a father, a fighter, and ultimately human. It’s a film that refuses to shy away from the darkness but insists on the possibility of light.
Julia has dedicated this film to her late brother, to honor his life and his legacy of love. #indeedjobs #shortfilm #movie #film #filmmaker #filmfestival #cinephile #bondoncinema #cinema #filmdirector #generationalimpact #fatherhood #womeninfilm #culturalidentity

Sarah Solemani's Beautiful Short MASHHAD: Film Discussion on the Endearing Personal Friendship of Two Young Girls in Iran

My guest today is writer/director/actor Sarah Solemani. Her debut short film MASHHAD premieres at the 2025 Hollyshorts Film Festival.
Her film credits include the Bridget Jones franchise, Barry on HBO, Ridley Road on BBC and Chivalry on the Network.
Her new five part show The Party shoots later this year for ITV and she is directing her feature debut with Renee Zellweger and Tiffany Haddish attached to star.
Sarah Solemani is here to discuss her beautiful short film, MASHHAD. Set in the holy Islamic city of Mashhad in Iran, the film follows a spirited young ghetto girl, naive to the great lengths her family must go to keep their identity a secret. Unbeknownst to her, an innocent day of play with a neighborhood friend puts her and her family's life in jeopardy. What unfolds is an extraordinary story of religion as oppression, and faith as survival, and a retelling of Iran's long lost ethnic group. 
I have the honor to interview filmmakers from all over the world. Many from Middle Eastern countries and others from Israel, Europe and of course the UK and the USA.
One thing I know is we are all masterpieces in the Creator’s eyes. Films like MASHHAD is a stern reminder that we need to embrace our differences, form friendships, listen to each other and expand our hearts and our minds. #shortfilm #movie #filmmaker #film #filmdirector #filmmaking #cinephile #cinema #bondoncinema #filmfestival #hollyshorts #friendship #friends

ADO Film Wins Big! Jenifer Lewis Stars in Oscar-Qualified Short by Sam Henderson: In-Depth Film Discussion

My guest today is Samy Henderson, Assistant Professor of Theatre and Film at Baylor University and has been recognized for his outstanding teaching and research over the last decade. 
He is an award-winning film director and writer, named one of the 25 Screenwriters to Watch by the Austin Film Festival and MovieMaker Magazine. 
Sam’s most recent short film, ADO, starring the beloved Hollywood veteran, Jenifer Lewis, won the HBO Short Film Showcase at the American Black Film Festival, making it Oscar-qualified for the 2026 Academy Award Best Live Action Short. 
ADO made its World Premiere at the Oscar-qualifying Flickerfest in Syndey, Australia and went on to screen at several other Oscar-qualifying fests, including the Cleveland International, where it won the FilmSlam Student Choice Award, Florida Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard, Hollyshorts, and the Dallas International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Texas Short. And it became Oscar-qualified again at Indy Shorts. 
Ladies and gentlemen, Sammy Ray Henderson’s ADO is a timely film. Ms. Hopkins, an aging African American woman, is a middle school drama teacher on the verge of retirement. 
However, while finishing up her final notes to a group of students who are about to perform Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, she’s confronted by a new challenge that threatens her life and the lives of her students. Her only hope lies within the memory of the language of love.
The greatest thing in the world is love. Many people don’t experience simple things in their lifetime like praise, gratitude, encouragement or a simple thank you. 
Many others never have someone to talk too, even more so they don’t have someone who will listen to them. 
ADO is about humanity, it’s about human decency. This film is a lesson to put the smartphone down and start looking at the people around you. Your words can save a life, steer a career or make someone feel appreciated. 
If you are teacher or a parent, your students or kids are fertile soil to plant the best into them. Sometimes one kind word will make the world of difference. Even tossing a baseball with your kid will go a long way. 
In 1999, since the Columbine High School shooting, we have lost 203 children to school shooters and the issue isn’t going away.
Today, I want you all do something for me and I’ll do it too. When you are out and about, tell someone that you appreciate them. Maybe the checkout lady or the waiter or the barista making your coffee. Or tell your teacher, your preacher or professor that you appreciate their hard work and if they have made a difference in your life, tell them. 
I can go on and on, but Sam Henderson’s short ADO is about to make a beeline to the Oscars. Keep your eyes on this one. 
#oscars #academyawards #hollyshorts #cinema #film #shortfilm #bondoncinema #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #actor #actress #cinephile #filmcritic #filmreview #cinematography #storytelling