Film Festival Friends

I'm a Struggling Filmmaker. But Also Lit. Both Things Can Be True. | Nyala Moon | Film Festival Friends

In this episode of Film Festival Friends, Brandon Nick sits down with writer-director-actress and all-around creative force Nyala Moon for a wide-ranging conversation about her journey as an artist. Unlike most episodes, this one isn't about a single project — it's about the full picture: how Nyala developed her signature style at the intersection of comedy and education, why she refuses to separate her identity from her craft, and what it actually feels like to be a festival darling while still calling yourself a struggling filmmaker. Both things can be true. They get into the making of her breakout shorts How Not to Date While Trans and Dilating for Maximum Results, the pressure of following up a beloved project, and the very real emotional experience of hiding in the back of your own screening. Nyala also opens up about taking the leap into her first feature film — a comedy mockumentary made on a $12K budget — and why she decided it was time to poop or get off the pot. Then, Nyala pitches an animated spy caper starring Vivica A. Fox and Scarlett Johansson are fighting over a Telfar bag full of money in her 60-Second Pitch — because Vivica needs her lick back and nobody is doing anything about it. Film Festival Friends is a podcast about queer cinema, craft, and culture. Hosted by Brandon Nick. Full show notes and transcript available on our website: www.brandonnick.com/filmfestivalfriends FOLLOW + CONNECT Podcast IG: @filmfestivalfriends Host IG (Brandon R. Nicholas): @brand0nnick WATCH / LISTEN Watch the full episodes (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-N87lnMjPV2yRkXz5uO9eIdJSZfzRh83 Listen on Spotify (video): https://open.spotify.com/show/4QXQgQGdDoE627BJmW82l0?si=a1f3bb9c437645dc Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/film-festival-friends/id1875343325 SUPPORT THE SHOW  If you want to help keep the cameras rolling and the conversations flowing: Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/brand0nnick or make a one-time donation via CashApp/Venmo @brand0nnick Share Film Festival Friends with your friends! Take the conversation to social media using #FilmFestivalFriends CHAPTERS 00:00:00 — Cold open: "Am I lit? Wait, I'm a struggling filmmaker. Both things can be true." 00:00:20 — Introducing Nyala Moon & what makes this episode different 00:01:17 — How Brandon and Nyala met through GLAAD's EMEI filmmakers cohort 00:02:59 — And Then There Was Her: how a kiki became a film after a surprise pitch competition 00:09:40 — How Nyala developed her voice at the intersection of comedy and education 00:13:18 — Easter eggs for the Dolls: the multilayer cultural language inside her work 00:14:34 — "Of course I'm a Black trans filmmaker. That doesn't dilute the work." 00:26:59 — Film school, building a crew, and doing it all yourself 00:32:24 — Hating your own screenings & never sitting in the reserved seat 00:37:55 — The pressure of following up a beloved project & navigating doubt 00:41:57 — Keep making work. It's a marathon, not a sprint. 00:42:27 — Being a festival darling: what the recognition actually means and how she got there 00:46:54 — The leap into features: a $12K comedy mockumentary and why it was time 00:53:14 — 60-second pitch: Vivica A. Fox vs. Scarlett Johansson in an animated spy caper over a Telfar bag 00:55:31 — Closing words: "We need more Black, queer, trans art on this raggedy floating rock."

How a Cunt Necklace Got Cersei Lannister in a $90K Thriller | Long Pork | Film Festival Friends

In this episode of Film Festival Friends, Brandon Nick sits down with writer-director Iris Dukatt to talk about her short film Long Pork — a $90K reproductive rights revenge thriller starring Lena Headey, aka Cersei Lannister. Iris breaks down every channel they used to raise that budget, the popular story about the necklace that led to Lena saying yes, creating an intentionally disruptive film where the audience roots for a murderous woman and the very real political urgency that shaped the story from the jump. Then, Iris steps up to the 60-second pitch — spinning Teyana Taylor (again) as the last human on Earth fighting against Hugh Jackman as an AI overlord who falls in love with her. It is exactly as unhinged as it sounds. Film Festival Friends is a podcast about queer cinema, craft, and culture. Hosted by Brandon Nick. Full show notes and transcript available on our website: www.brandonnick.com/filmfestivalfriends FOLLOW + CONNECT * Podcast IG: @filmfestivalfriends * Host IG (Brandon R. Nicholas): @brand0nnick WATCH / LISTEN * Watch the full episodes (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-N87lnMjPV2yRkXz5uO9eIdJSZfzRh83 * Listen on Spotify (video): https://open.spotify.com/show/4QXQgQGdDoE627BJmW82l0?si=a1f3bb9c437645dc * Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/film-festival-friends/id1875343325 SUPPORT THE SHOW  If you want to help keep the cameras rolling and the conversations flowing: * Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/brand0nnick [http://www.patreon.com/cw/brand0nnick] or make a one-time donation via CashApp/Venmo @brand0nnick * Share Film Festival Friends with your friends! * Take the conversation to social media using #FilmFestivalFriends CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro and about Long Pork 2:45 - 90K Budget Transparency 9:42 - How Do You Get Cersei Lannister in Your Film?  13:05 - Writing Long Pork: Roe v. Wade, Revenge & The Janes  17:23 - Who Is Bubby? The Grandmother Who Sparked a Filmmaker  20:08 - First Big Swing: Leading a $90K Production  22:33 - One Take Only: The Climactic Shot  27:23 - Who Did You Have to Become to Make This Film?  30:27 - The Last Supper: Her Favorite Scene to Shoot  33:00 - Eating the Patriarchy & The Boar Taint Research Rabbit Hole  37:01 - NewFest: From Audience Member to Programmed Filmmaker  41:27 - Festival Circuit Strategy, Rejections & Going Where You're Wanted  51:21 - 60-Second Pitch: Teyana Taylor vs. Evil AI Hugh Jackman  54:46 - Final Words & Just Go Make the Film

How Community (and a Little Weed) Made This Dream Short Film Come True | City of Dreamz

Description In this episode of Film Festival Friends, Brandon Nick sits down with filmmaker Imani Celeste to talk about her short film City of Dreamz and how community, resourcefulness, and a little weed helped bring her debut short to life. Imani shares how she made the film for $8,750 — casting friends, family, and a stranger off the sidewalk — and shot it in her parents' apartment while figuring out filmmaking on the fly. The conversation also digs into the collaborative magic behind the film's trippy visual and sound design, the ebbs and flows of the festival circuit from quiet stretches to Palm Springs and NewFest, and what it means to tell unapologetically Black queer stories on screen. Then, Imani brings her full creative energy to the 60-second pitch — sucking Mekhi Phifer and Wanda Sykes into a TikTok-induced animated world where they have to fight their way back to reality. ABOUT FFF: Film Festival Friends is a podcast about queer cinema, craft, and culture. Hosted by Brandon Nick. FULL SHOWNOTES AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: www.brandonnick.com/filmfestivalfriends FOLLOW + CONNECT Podcast IG: @filmfestivalfriends Host IG (Brandon R. Nicholas): www.instagram.com/brand0nnick Guest IG: https://www.instagram.com/imani_celeste/ WATCH / LISTEN Watch the full episodes (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-N87lnMjPV2yRkXz5uO9eIdJSZfzRh83 Listen on Spotify (video): https://open.spotify.com/show/4QXQgQGdDoE627BJmW82l0?si=a1f3bb9c437645dc Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/film-festival-friends/id1875343325 SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to help keep the cameras rolling and the conversations flowing: Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/brand0nnick or make a one-time donation via CashApp/Venmo @brand0nnick Share Film Festival Friends with your friends! Take the conversation to social media using #FilmFestivalFriends CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Cold Open & Intro 00:00:58 Meet Imani Celeste & City of Dreamz 00:02:43 Funding the Film: $8,750 & the NYU Grant 00:03:17 Cast & Crew: Directing the People You Love 00:13:01 Building a Crew from Scratch 00:16:29 Post-Production: Making the Audience Feel High 00:28:00 Music Licensing Problems & Making Your Own Song 00:31:14 Life on the Festival Circuit 00:46:00 The Shot That Almost Went Wrong 00:47:31 "Black Queer Film Is Freedom" 00:48:59 60-Second Pitch: The Adventures of Kiki & Max

From DIY Web Series to Studio-Supported Cinema | Them That's Not

Description In this episode of Film Festival Friends, Brandon Nick sits down with filmmaker Mekhai Lee to talk about his short film Them That’s Not and the leap from DIY web series to studio-supported filmmaking. Mekhai shares how grief and spiritual guidance shaped the film’s origin about a grieving queer woman, which he made for $20k film after winning NewFest x Concord Sound and Scene grant. The conversation also explores the differences between making "popular" work vs "reputable" work and what it means to grow as a Black queer filmmaker in the festival circuit. And of course, Mekhai's take on 60-second pitch where Teyana Taylor uses a magic timepiece to save Tom Holland's life. ABOUT THEM THAT'S NOT:  A prison furlough brings an estranged father and his distant daughter together at their mother's repass. ABOUT FFF: Film Festival Friends is a podcast about queer cinema, craft, and culture. Hosted by Brandon Nick. Full show notes and transcript available on our website: www.brandonnick.com/filmfestivalfriends FOLLOW + CONNECT Podcast IG: www.instagram.com/filmfestivalfriends Host IG (Brandon R. Nicholas): www.instagram.com/brand0nnick Guest (Mekhai Lee): www.instagram.com/lifeofkhaiii__/ WATCH / LISTEN Watch the full episodes (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-N87lnMjPV2yRkXz5uO9eIdJSZfzRh83 Listen on Spotify (video): https://open.spotify.com/show/4QXQgQGdDoE627BJmW82l0 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/film-festival-friends/id1875343325 SUPPORT THE SHOW  If you want to help keep the cameras rolling and the conversations flowing: Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/brand0nnick or make a one-time donation via CashApp/Venmo @brand0nnick Share Film Festival Friends with your friends! Take the conversation to social media using #FilmFestivalFriends CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome 01:56 Turning Grief Into Story 05:26 Winning the NewFest x Concord Grant 09:01 Casting a Deaf-Led Queer Short 14:02 From DIY Series to Studio-Supported Cinema 24:39 What the Festival Circuit Has Taught Him 35:42 Editing, Collaboration, and Cutting Scenes 52:50 “Black Queer Film Is Explorative” 55:55 Teyana Taylor, Tom Holland, and a Magical Wristwatch

The Emergence of Ballroom’s New Generation of Filmmakers | Make Some Room

Brandon Nick sits down with first-time filmmaker Trey Sherman to chat about how his film Make Some Room, about the kiki house of Marciano, made some room for him both as a member of Ballroom and as a filmmaker. Trey relives the trauma of losing his hard drive (in the most chaotic way, mind you) as they discuss that moment’s beautiful aftermath, including winning an award! Trey opens up about the responsibilities of documenting a culture you love while still earning your place in it, and the responsibility of keeping Ballroom’s magic and sacredness intact even as the film finds a wider audience. And of course, a 60-second Horror pitch so bizarre, you can’t even name it. Film Festival Friends is a podcast about queer cinema, craft, and culture. Hosted by Brandon Nick. Full show notes and transcript available on our website: www.brandonnick.com/filmfestivalfriends FOLLOW + CONNECT * Podcast IG: @filmfestivalfriends * Host IG (Brandon R. Nicholas): @brand0nnick WATCH / LISTEN * Watch the full episodes (video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-N87lnMjPV2yRkXz5uO9eIdJSZfzRh83 * Listen on Spotify (video): https://open.spotify.com/show/4QXQgQGdDoE627BJmW82l0?si=a1f3bb9c437645dc * Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/film-festival-friends/id1875343325 SUPPORT THE SHOW  If you want to help keep the cameras rolling and the conversations flowing: * Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/brand0nnick [http://www.patreon.com/cw/brand0nnick] or make a one-time donation via CashApp/Venmo @brand0nnick * Share Film Festival Friends with your friends! * Take the conversation to social media using #FilmFestivalFriends CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold Open + The 25-Word Logline Challenge 01:49 What Is Make Some Room? The House, the Drama, the Return 05:50 Filming as a Newcomer: Cameras, Comfort, and “Sacredness” 08:08 No Budget, Big Vision: Making the Doc With What You’ve Got 14:33 The Hard Drive Disaster + Rebuilding the Edit From Scratch 21:20 Ballroom Onscreen: Technical Rhythm + Emotional Beats 29:01 Community Support, Survival, and the Ask 35:33 Responsibility at the Intersection of Ballroom + Filmmaking 41:37 First Festival, First Year, First Win: Best Documentary Short 43:44 “Black Queer Film Is…” & 60-Second Pitch: Grandma’s Bra Horror 48:43 Final Blessings + Sign-Off