A HOLIDAY I DO
Frazzled, single mom Jane (Hicks) is raising 10-year-old Lexi (Hahn) and managing her family’s horse farm following the loss of her father … holding it all together with a little moral support from her mom (Larson) and their festive neighbors. When she agrees to be the best (wo)man in the elaborate, yuletide wedding of her BFF ex-husband, Mark (Piazza), she finds herself navigating an emotionally charged holiday, a bridezilla fiancé (Chappell), a raging blizzard and a surprise visit from a no-nonsense banker (Warfield). Things become even more complicated and hectic when an unexpected romance sparks between her and the wedding planner, Sue (Reyes). As the big day looms, Jane’s going to need a little Christmas magic to not only clean up the mess she’s made, but to rescue her family’s farm before it’s too late.
Smalltown divorcee and farmgirl Jane is in the midst of planning the final events of her BFF/ex-husband Mark’s upcoming wedding. When he and his fiancee Heather get stranded by snow, Jane steps in with the wedding planner, triggering chaos. A HOLIDAY I DO is a charming cup of cheer for these festive months ahead.
The ensemble cast is delightful. Kayden Bryce, Marsha Warfield, Colette Hahn, Mandy Logsdon, Cameron Judd, and Dale Dobbs make you laugh and smile the entire film.
India Chappell gives Heather the precise amount of jealousy and meltable iciness, countering Mark’s (Joe Piazza) boy next-door aura. Jill Larson is Jane’s mother, Mary Ellen. Unbeknownst to the family, the farm is on the verge of bankruptcy. Larson is like a warm hug. She is an uplifting presence and an ideal mother figure.
Rivkah Reyes plays Sue with approachable sophistication. Her warm smile invites you in. Lindsay Hicks plays Jane with a brightness that mirrors the film itself. Her charming awkwardness is spot on. Hicks masters the art of romcom slapstick. The relationship between Jane and Sue develops naturally. Reyes and Hicks’ chemistry is endearing.
The score by Phil Tipping and Kanoa Wolfe-Doblin perfectly matches the light-hearted, breezy premise. Its sweet simplicity lulls the viewer into a calm state. The dialogue is cute and accessible, especially for families with younger LBGTQ members. A HOLIDAY I DO is an excellent addition to the Hallmark-esque holiday films on Tello.
A Holiday I Do
Holiday, Romantic Comedy, LGBTQ+ / 93 Minutes / Not Rated
From Tello Films and Rock Solid Creative Studios, A Holiday I Do was directed by Paul Schneider and Alicia Schneider from a screenplay by Melinda Bryce, based on a story by Paul Schneider and Alicia Schneider. Produced by Jennifer Nichole Lee, Paul Schneider and Alicia Schneider. Cinematographer was Jackson Swan. Music composed by Phil Tipping and Kanoa Wolfe-Doblin. Casting by Carmen Aiello. Production Designer was Nancy Oeswein.
Pre-order: Nov. 1 / Premieres: Nov. 10
Rent A Holiday I Do for $6.99 (14 days) or purchase the film for $14.99.
Make the season even more gay! Rent more yuletide fun in a special movie four-pack for just $10.99 (14 days) that includes the acclaimed LGBTQ+ Tello holiday romcoms Christmas at the Ranch, Merry & Gay, I Hate New Year’s and Season of Love:
· Christmas at the Ranch, starring Lindsay Wagner (Grey’s Anatomy; SyFy’s Warehouse 13; The Bionic Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Marcus Welby, M.D.) and Amanda Righetti (Captain America: The First Avenger, Friday the 13th, The Mentalist).
When a high-powered executive reluctantly returns to her family’s Nashville ranch just before Christmas, her introduction to ranch hand Kate goes terribly awry. But now they must put their differences aside and band together to save the homestead … and perhaps discover that finding love isn’t always where (or who) you expect. Featuring a holiday-inspired, original soundtrack.
· Merry & Gay, starring Dia Frampton (runner up in the inaugural season of The Voice and lead singer of the band Meg & Dia), Andi René Christensen (Bel-Air, Hacks), the first non-binary actor to star in a lead role in a holiday romcom, and Stella Parton (Nothing is Impossible, Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors).
When Becca finishes her run starring in a popular Broadway musical, she leaves New York City to spend the holidays with family and friends in her sleepy Tennessee hometown and to direct the annual Christmas pageant. Ecstatic, her well-meaning, but meddling mom and her best friend hatch a plan to reunite Becca and Sam, who were childhood pals and high school sweethearts. Featuring an upbeat, holiday-inspired soundtrack of all original music,
· I Hate New Year’s, starring Dia Frampton (runner up in the inaugural season of The Voice and lead singer of the band Meg & Dia), Ashley Argota (The Fosters, Lab Rats, Broadway’s The Lion King) and Candis Cayne (The Magicians, Grey’s Anatomy, I Am Cait, Elementary, Dirty Sexy Money).
Experiencing writer’s block, rising music star Layne Price visits a mysterious fortune teller whose flamboyant advice she misconstrues. Heading home to Nashville for New Year’s Eve, a holiday she hates, Layne hits the town with BFF Cassie, who is planning to finally confess that her feelings have evolved into more than friendship. However, Layne is too focused on “bumping into” her elusive ex to notice. But sometimes you find inspiration and love—with a little mystical intervention—where you least expect it. Featuring a high-energy, original soundtrack.
· Season of Love, starring starring Sandra Mae Frank (New Amsterdam, Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist), Jessica Clark (True Blood, Pocket Listing), Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Wynonna Earp, Avengers: Age of Ultron), Emily Goss (Snapshots, Murder at the Murder Mystery Party), Laur Allen (Christmas at the Ranch, Young and the Restless) and Janelle Marie Rodriguez (Kings of LA, Love and Basketball)
The first LGBTQ holiday romcom widely released, the film follows the lives of three very different couples dealing with their love lives in interrelated tales as they celebrate Christmas and New Years.
About Tello Films:
Tello Films produces, acquires and distributes innovative, high-quality films, series and shorts. Founded by CEO Christin Baker in 2009 and headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., with offices in Los Angeles, Tello Films was the first network dedicated to telling stories featuring and about lesbian/queer women. Powered by Vimeo OTT, Tello Films network content is available to stream on any device and includes such Emmy-nominated series as Secs and EXECS and Riley Parra and such critically acclaimed films as Season of Love, Christmas at the Ranch and I Hate New Years. Wanna see more? Visit us online at: https://www.tellofilms.com
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As of today’s Halloween launch day, the platform will feature over thirty titles, including those from indie distributors Oscilloscope, Dark Star, Dark Sky, Dekanalog, Utopia, Yellow Veil Pictures, and others. Titles include Jane Schoenbrun’s 
Don’t Tell Larry
Dot-Marie Jones and Ed Begley Jr. serve up pro performances that most certainly elevate DON’T TELL LARRY. Kiel Kennedy has a genuine Will Ferrell energy. His portrayal of Larry is cringe, uncomfortable, and entirely unhinged. It’s wild and wonderful. I won’t say more because seeing is believing. Kennedy gives Larry a larger-than-life persona, mastering the comedy and terror. 
Kenneth Mosley is Patrick, Susan’s work bestie and equally fabulous sidekick. Do yourself a favor. Watch Mosley’s reel on IMDB. You will wonder why he isn’t on every screen in your home. His performance as Patrick immediately catches you off guard in the best way. He’s magnetic. Patty Guggenheim is unforgettable as the hyper-ambitious Susan. Guggenheim is a star. She has a similar energy to Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Her comic timing and charisma pull you in. Her chemistry with Mosely makes me want a sequel/spin-off/whatever!
Paul Reiser, who also writes the screenplay with Wally Marzano-Lesnevich, plays Barry. A real estate mogul from NYC, he receives a call from his distant cousin in Ireland, requesting his presence to heal a wound from generations past. The caller is Ciáran, played by Colm Meaney. The two proud, established men momentarily connect for the sake of their family. When Barry finds himself inheriting half of the family land, shenanigans ensue, dividing this small town between old and new ways.
This breezy film is perfect for the festival circuit. Jane Levy grounds the film as Barry’s daughter. While 95% of her appearances occur as phone calls from NYC, her brightness keeps Barry grounded for the viewer. Reiser is as great as ever. His big-city energy is a delicious foil for Meaney’s homegrown pride. Ciáran wavers between forgiveness and fight, and Meaney is a pro.
The landscape of the film is breathtaking. The sets are inviting. The script is heartwarming and silly. Frankly, THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE is a film we all need right about now. While it doesn’t break the mold, it makes you smile from beginning to end. I would easily watch a sequel of these two men navigating whatever comes next.
Lewi Dawson plays Spencer, Sophie’s best friend and colleague. They are undeniably fantastic in this role. Stanley Browning is Adam, blind date and lead carrier of the infected alien hate worm. Etcetera Etcetera is our hostess with the mostess and hypnotizes with her spooky charm. Lauren Last gives us everything we need to feel grounded, permitting us to laugh at the premise. I would love to see her in more stories. I would welcome a sequel about Spencer and Sophie’s forthcoming shenanigans. 
2023 has been a step in the right direction for trans, queer, and nonbinary representation with films like 
Director John McPhail and screenwriter Mike Van Waes had the tricky job of taking Adam Ellis‘ real-life viral Twitter feed and translating it for the big screen. If you don’t know the “Dear David” story, let me sum it up. Cartoonist Adam Ellis starts to document the haunting of his apartment. Things get weirder each night, culminating in photographs of this little boy with a caved-in skull dropping onto Adam’s bed. It was truly terrifying reading the thread. I remember sweating as the incidents became creepier and more intense. It was an honest-to-goodness viral moment. This week, DEAR DAVID moves from small screens to movie screens, and the results are mostly comparable.
The film boasts amazingly timed jump scares. Let’s give a brilliant slow clap for editors David Arthur and Glenn Garland. The script is especially relevant in our ongoing age of vitriolic online engagement. It is also a mystery wrapped in a horror movie, using a personal connection about self-worth. If you know the Dear David canon, it might be better to separate the two. Did I shout with glee when the original “David” drawing appeared? Yup. If I’m being entirely honest, the climax feels a touch hokey, but the final scene brings some redemption. DEAR DAVID is inarguably intriguing. I needed to know how McPhail would expand upon the genuinely disturbing origin material, so there’s no denying I was along for the ride. Genre fans will eat this up.
Riley Rose Critchlow gives a particularly entrancing performance. Their living vs. dead personalities are vastly different but equally grin-inducing. Critchlow captures a relatable sadness, leaving a lasting impression. 
The subtle creepiness is just enough to teeter on the edge, as the film is more drama than your typical horror. THE JESSICA CABIN is a spectacular entry into the LGBTQIA+ genre, perfectly melding comedy, culture, and complex storyline. The film looks at mental health in a stunningly nuanced way. It is crazy charming and superbly funny, pushing moral boundaries while asking existential questions. Seek it out.
The cast is phenomenal. Focusing on our leading lady, Carmen Madonia, gives Renata an often aloof attitude, hiding a lost mindset. She’s soft-spoken, outwardly feeling othered by her sister’s personality. But little is said. Madonia’s face replaces any unneeded dialogue.
The overwhelming joy of hearing these kids laugh is infectious. SUMMER QAMP is an education, through and through. As a former theatre kid and current creative adult with two kids, I strive to understand how identity plays a part in overall confidence. I grew up with often crippling anxiety, a stranglehold of perfectionism, and feeling othered. It doesn’t feel good. My job is to protect my kids from the same overwhelming feelings of chaos any way I can.
SUMMER QAMP‘S brave kids allow the audience into their personal lives. They may not fully appreciate how fearless they are. Campers share their gender identity journey, the good, the bad, and the emotionally ugly. This film provides a conversation starter for understanding gender dysphoria from those experiencing it firsthand. It’s an aha of a film. 
Eva takes over as a Foley artist for her hospitalized sibling Zara. With no knowledge or self-esteem for the task, Eva endures shockingly abusive behavior from every angle; Zara, her boss, and the hospital nurse. When threatened with dismissal from Zara’s position, she becomes obsessed with the assigned commercial clip.
PIAFFE gives audiences a fever dream of imagery and sound. Music is an eclectic Giallo-inspired mix of ominous cello and techno. The color Red features symbolically in lipstick, a telephone, tinsel, roses, and lighting. Simone Bucio is fearless as Eva. Her palpable anxiety and social awkwardness pour off the screen, making her relatable in the most unexpected ways.
Both films also ask complicated questions surrounding the way ideals or symbols exist or endure once they are exposed to the whims of the broader world. When Barbie and Ken leave Barbieland, they quickly learn that what they believed to be universal truths no longer apply. The way they see themselves may not be how others see them. Similarly, an initial vision for how the atom bomb might be leveraged quickly shifts when the weapon rolls out of the lab and into the hands of the US military. Both Barbie and Oppenheimer are forced to realize that intention doesn’t necessarily translate to reality.
Joseph Castillo-Midyett and Ella Rae Peck are a great team as the local cops. Their scenes together are a welcome break. Marshall Bell plays Hammond as the wealthy town villain with the precise amount of elitist disdain we need. Alex Hurt plays Charley with a passion and relentless do-gooder attitude despite his surmounting inner turmoil. His physical work is magnificent. He has a strangely calming presence, even through his sullen outlook. I could watch him all day. 
The teenage shenanigans ring true. That feeling of invincibility and daring remind me of my crazy ideas and dumb decisions in the late 90s. Egghead and Twinkie take risks, make mistakes, hurt each other, get their hearts broken, and confess their fears. The film is a helpful guide for parents struggling to understand their kids’ feelings. Regardless of their core beliefs, 
THAT’S A WRAP
Award-winning director Marcel Walz’s upcoming horror/thriller THAT’S A WRAP is scheduled to release on digital platforms on August 25th, 2023 from Quiver Distribution. Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever), Monique T. Parent (Jurassic City), Sarah French (Space Wars: The Quest for Deepstar), Gigi Gustin (The Retaliators), and Dave Sheridan (The Devil’s Rejects) star in a film written by Joe Knetter and Robert L. Lucas.
The cast of a film arrive to a wrap party, but someone has dressed up as the slasher in the film, and begins to stage their own kill scenes. One by one, the cast disappear until the true nature of the evening is revealed.
Joe Knetter, Marcel Walz, and Sarah French produce, with BJ Mezek, Andreas Tremmel, Justus Heinz, Yazid Benfeghoul, Tina Limbeck, Robert L. Lucas, and Kai E. Bogatzki executive producing.
Luke Evans plays Nicky with a workhorse attitude that comes off as dismissive and arrogant against Billy Porter’s caregiver grace. This dynamic rings authentic for me as the default parent in my marriage. Porter nails every aspect, from his sing-songy tone of voice with Owen to the hesitancy to speak up for his emotional needs. Seeing myself on screen hit hard. While I’ve not had to go through divorce and custody dynamics, I have had these “come to Jesus” moments with my husband. I’ve been lucky.
The moment Sav Rodgers meets Kevin, it’s fireworks. Kevin gives Sav access to everything the rest of us have always wanted to know. Smith confesses that Holden is him. The film plays through his lens, and much of the story comes from real people in his life. Some conversations are word for word. Just ask a close friend of Kevin and GO FISH screenwriter Guinevere Turner, who put much of herself into Amy when collaborating on the script. 
Joey Lauren Adams, who gives us the iconic performance as Alyssa, explains her power in the role through archival interviews and a sense from the film. Kevin was, perhaps, ahead of their time in featuring a strong bisexual woman. But, the biggest irony may be Joey’s truth about CHASING AMY. This pivotal interview changes everything for everyone. Both Kevin and Joey get into their complicated past with Harvey Weinstein. Their experiences are vastly different. I am so grateful for their honesty. It means so much to so many survivors. *Waves hands in the air* 
Intertwined with everything else in this glorious doc, Sav lets us into their relationship with his girlfriend, Riley. Delving into deeply personal issues, he may or may not realize how universal they are until now. One part fanboy film, another part film history, all self-discovery story, and a love letter to Riley, CHASING CHASING AMY is tailor-made for Smith fans and indie fans, the queer community, and allies.
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