THE SHORT OF IT

Send us Fan Mail They lived in an America that often refused to see them. Some were born into slavery. One crossed an ocean to be ordained. Each answered God’s call with courage, and each has a cause for sainthood advancing in the Church today. Through historians, clergy, religious sisters, and people whose lives they still touch, this six-part series traces their struggles, their faith, and the l...

Send us Fan Mail Jesse is a versatile filmmaker and camera professional whose career spans over a decade across independent cinema, major television networks, and scientific institutions like the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. Beginning his career in 2012 in New York City, he started as a camera assistant and operator for independent films, documentaries, and commercials. Over the years, his...

Send us Fan Mail Red Shaydez is a visionary hip-hop artist, educator, and cultural architect redefining what it means to move with purpose in music and media.  Red sits down with us to discuss her music journey, filmmaking, mentorship, and what it felt like going back to her alma mater to inspire the next generation of content creators! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail From Connecticut roots to lighting up the Boston and NYC creative scenes, multi-hyphenate actor, writer, and stylist Bri Bagley is a true standout. Known for her unique blend of charm and spunk, she brings an undeniable spark to both the stage and the screen. Tune in as Bri breaks down her funny, semi-autobiographical film, Last Call , and drops invaluable advice for filmmakers tr...

Send us Fan Mail Salustiano Berrios is a Puerto Rican writer, screenwriter, and actor from the Bronx, now living in Connecticut. He writes novels, short stories, poetry, and screenplays. The stories can be funny, unsettling, tender, or downright strange—sometimes all at once. His collection Sex Food Music Drugs contains 199 complete stories, each exactly 500 words. His other books include Growing...

Send us Fan Mail Born and raised in Massachusetts, performing in a stage play at Jubilee Christian Church formerly known as New Covenant Christian church, was Julian's first acting debut. From there, over the years, Julian not only immersed himself in the craft but also graduated with a degree in Film and Media Arts from Temple University in Philadelphia. He remained in Philly for a time, per...

Send us Fan Mail Actor, author, and now filmmaker Jestina Weems-Rosenduft drops by to discuss her very personal film, "Justice Denied" -  a documentary about pursuing justice in the remembrance, resistance, and creative reclamation of what happened to her dad—while preserving a family's truth, voice, creativity, community, and the refusal to let their loved one be forgotten. CREDITS...

Send us Fan Mail Actors, writers, producers Kimberlee Connor and Mary Pursell discuss the powerful new film "Ask for the Nice Lady", directed by our own  Rachelle A. Dermer, what it was like playing these characters, and their new project, "The Right Kind of Woman". CREDITS: Music from #Uppbeat @-the-block/inner-strength License code: 5ZMHIETFDRJSRON8 Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In part 2 of our season premiere with Kyle Moody - a professor of Communications Media in the School of Arts & Sciences at Fitchburg State University- we discuss the disintegration of public media, why journalism is becoming a lost art form, and why Samantha have an "S" on her chest? CREDITS: Music from #Uppbeat @-the-block/inner-strength License code: 5ZMHIETFDRJSRO...

Send us Fan Mail Kyle Moody, a professor of Communications Media in the School of Arts & Sciences at Fitchburg State University, discusses the changing landscape of ALL media, using social media to be a filmmaker, and the do's and don'ts of selling your film! CREDITS: Music from #Uppbeat @-the-block/inner-strength License code: 5ZMHIETFDRJSRON8 Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Kyle Lindfors has a lifelong passion for making films, having written and directed shorts since he was in middle school. He thrives in any artistic collaboration.  Some of his recent writing and directing works include the dark comedy 'Bumpy the Clown' and the horror short 'Mourning Night' .  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Ilene is a 20+ year production professional, serving in the roles of writer, producer, and director. She has worked in numerous production capacities including Script Supervisor, Producer & Co-Writer for 3 Alliance's adventure travel series andiamo! . Her work can be seen on PBS where she was a producer on the Emmy-nominated PBS Kids show Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman ,  Assis...

Send us Fan Mail Dave is a Massachusetts native who served 5 years of Active Duty in the United States Army as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic from 2013-2018. He was medically retired from the army after sustaining injuries during a training incident in which his neck was fractured. Dave lives in Central Massachusetts with his wife and 3 children and is a musician who also enjoys video gaming in his of...

Send us Fan Mail Every film starts with a story. It takes an imaginative mind to create the characters, scenes, and structure that bring it to life. These creative people are called writers. Cynthia Johnson, who is Tonia's mom, and Suzette Stranding talk about what makes storytelling powerful, how they create characters, and why they love what they do. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Zak Lee is a professor of film in the communications department of Fitchburg State University. Zak is also a filmmaker, musician, and lover of bike riding. Zak sat down with us to discuss his process and the ins and outs of the film festival business. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Oscar's Post Show! The Short Of It sits down with Sarah G. Vincent of sarahgvincentviews.com to discuss Oscar wins and snubs. Plus, Ashleigh Collins of @_hairbyash joins us for this year's fashion hits and misses! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Sarah G. Vincent is a freelance writer and film critic, who writes for sarahgvincentviews.com, Boston  Movie News, In Between Drafts, and AwardsWatch. She is a regular contributor on Reel Reviews on NBC-10/NECN and WGBH on WGBH News’ Rooted and Morning Edition and made a guest appearance on WBZ-TV/CBS News Boston. She is a Tomato-approved critic and a member of the Boston Society...

Send us Fan Mail Derek Tirrell is a producer and filmmaker from Abington, Massachusetts. After completing his bachelor’s degree at Fitchburg State University, he works as a freelancer, advancing his knowledge, applying his skills, and gaining meaningful experiences in the Boston film/video community. Derek discusses his upcoming series, Requiem; how to be successful in your internship, and his fir...

Send us Fan Mail Mario Holguin - aka YoungOjeezus - is a writer, recording artist and documentary filmmaker. His upcoming project, "Arose From Ash" will be his autobiographical work about being a young artist trying to make a way for himself and his family.  YoungOjeezus has bet on himself, and so far, this married man with two children, is winning! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Worcester filmmaker and music producer Cyrus Alexander has done a lot in his career, from producing songs for artists across the country to realizing his dream: writing, producing, directing, and editing his award-winning feature film, Year of the Rat. Alexander said he is already working on his next feature film, a crime story revolving around a group of students at a historicall...

Send us Fan Mail Samantha deManbey is a freelance filmmaker who has worked in Rhode Island and Central Massachusetts. In 2021 she finished a short documentary, Every Moment , about her friend Sahar Ghavimi, a multi-talented artist who emigrated from Iran to the United States. From 2018 to 2021 she was part of the leadership team of a small theater company, The Forge Theater Lab , which was dedicat...

Send us Fan Mail Jaden Blake wrote, directed, and edited the award-winning short film, "The Black Gig" which won Best Experimental Film at the 2025 Africa USA International Film Festival. Blake discusses how he fell in love with filmmaking and why telling this story was so important to him. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Buffy has always had a passion for television and movies. When she was 8 years old, she received her first camera. With that first camera, she made countless videos with her friends and family. Once she entered Hudson High School, Buffy became involved with Hudson Public Access Television (HudTV). Buffy spent her entire four years of high school volunteering and working as a summe...

Send us Fan Mail Keith Mascoll SAG-AFTRA,AEA M.Ed  is an Actor, Producer, Mental Health advocate, Sneaker-head, and  Founder of the Triggered Project. Keith is a co-host of the Living a Triggered Life Podcast with his wife Roxann, and a Luminary for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.  Keith strives to use his art for social change in the black and brown community. As a survivor of sexual abuse,...

Send us Fan Mail Jonah is an award-winning screenwriter, FSU alum, and producer currently refining his craft by continuing to write screenplays and submitting them to screenplay competitions. Support the show