Gimme Three Podcast - A Series For Cinephiles

This week, co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by Gimme Three Producer and LADFF Director Sonja Mereu to celebrate the holy trinity of family Halloween classics.

They explore what makes these films endlessly rewatchable — from unforgettable characters and performances to the iconic production design, costumes, and quotable moments that defined a generation of Halloween movie nights.

Sonja kicks things off with Beetlejuice (1988), Tim B...

Once again, we are honoring the work of the late, great Robert Redford. This week, we explore Redford’s exploration and appreciation for the gorgeous American West. Not only did he depict this region with beauty in respect and film, he also spent his life protecting it with his environmental activism. 

• We start with Robert Redford and Paul Newman starring in the shape-shifting classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 
• Second, ...

This week’s episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, Producer Sonja Mereu and co-host Nicholas Ybarra celebrate the life and career of the late, great, and seminal figure in American cinema, Robert Redford. 

In particular, we discuss three of Redford’s most politically-charged films. 

• We start with the classic, pulse-pounding journalistic thriller All The President’s Men. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman portray Bob Woodwar...

This week, Bella is reunited with Ashley Kae Snyder and Jessica McLaughlin for round two of three films with exquisite costume design.

• Bella kicks things off with the audience pick, Poor Things (2023), where Holly Waddington’s whimsical and fantastical designs shape Bella Baxter’s strange, yet beautiful journey of self-discovery.

• Next, Ashley introduces Orlando (1992), Sally Potter’s groundbreaking gender-bendi...

This week, we’re stepping into the world of costume design with two incredible guests: costume designer Ashley Kae Snyder and writer/filmmaker Jessica McLaughlin. Part one of our two-part series highlights three unforgettable films and the visionary designers behind them.

• Ashley brings us Tarsem Singh’s The Fall (2006), where Eiko Ishioka’s breathtaking costumes blur the lines between imagination and reality. We talk about the B...

Football season is upon us! And to celebrate the return of America’s real past time, Nick and Bella are going deep on some of the more memorable football films this country has ever produced. 

• We begin with a modern classic, the Denzel Washington-led film Remember the Titans, which is based on an incredible true story. 
• Second, a rarely seen hidden gem, All The Right Moves, which stars a young Tom Cruise and is directed by l...

This week, we're talking about three outstanding coming-of-age stories that capture the highs, lows, and messy in-betweens of growing up.

First up, is The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), Stephen Chbosky's heartfelt look at friendship, trauma, and finding your place in the world.

Then we move to Catherine Hardwicke's Thirteen (2003), a raw and unflinching portrait of adolescence and rebellion.

And finally, we dive in...

This week, Bella Efstratis is back on the podcast! We celebrate the release of Freakier Friday by revisiting its 2003 predecessor and the 1976 original.

Bella & Nick do a deep dive on each Freaky Friday film, pick their favorites, and revisit some of their favorite scenes. 

• We start with the original 1976 film Freaky Friday, starring Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster. This screenplay was written by Mary Rodgers, the author...

This week, we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. 

Sylvia discusses her film, The Vote, a powerful and gripping drama that’s screening with LADFF on Sunday, August 24th at the Laemmle NoHo 7. 

The Sunday block of shorts is called Las Ángeles, and it will feature five incredible filmmakers who were affected by the Eaton fires in Altadena this year. LADFF will donate a p...

This week we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. 

Lyla Mzayek discusses her film, The Rain Lady, a beautiful love letter to immigrant mothers. Lyla talks about her approach to the project, her courage to make it, and how it became a family affair. 

We also interviewed Faranak Sahafian from Iran. From poet to filmmaker, her short film Kisses and Bullets perfec...

This week we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. 

Lee Ott discusses their journey to filmmaking and stop-motion animation, which led them to their directorial debut, Dragfox. A wildly impressive short film loaded with heart, design, and a fox in… you guessed it, DRAG! The short also features the voice-over work of Sir Ian McKellan. 

We also interview Bijon, a...

As we gear up for the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, Bella and Nick explore the work of some of the most important figures in Black Independent Cinema and Independent Cinema in general. 

These powerful voices are a huge reason why this podcast and the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival exist today - so tune in for our discussion on these bold movies. 

• We start with A Symbol of the Unconquered by the legendary Osc...

Earlier this month, the cinephile community lost another tremendous performer. In this episode, Nick & Bella pay tribute to the ever-cool and always hypnotic Michael Madsen. 

The duo discusses Madsen’s unique approach to the art and craft of acting and delves into some of his most famous roles, as well as some of his lesser-known performances. 

• We start with Quentin Tarantino’s debut feature film, Reservoir Dogs, wh...

This week, we’re stepping away from the cinema and turning our attention to the world of music videos.

Joined by returning guest and producer Sonja Mereu, we dive into nine standout videos that span genres, decades, and styles—each one iconic in its own right and packed with amazing visual storytelling.

Check out the lineup:

• Take On Me by A-ha
•  Express Yourself by Madonna
•  Telephone by Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé
•  Doin’ Time (cover) by Lan...

It’s summer! And for the cinephile community, that means it’s blockbuster season. In this episode, we tip our hat to the godfather of the summer blockbuster, Mr. Steven Spielberg. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the industry-changing classic, Jaws, we highlight three of Spielberg’s most iconic blockbusters. 

• We start with 1975’s Jaws, the summer blockbuster that started it all. 
• Second, Spielberg warms hearts and spar...

This week, in a really fun compilation episode, we travel back to 1995! Thirty years ago! Nick and Bella (and a friend or two along the way) chat about the magical year of ’95 and some of the blockbuster movies that accompanied it. 

On the list today:

• From our Pixar Films episode, guest Max Sopkin and the gang discuss the OG Pixar movie, Toy Story.
• From our Val Kilmer Tribute episode, we revisit the highest-grossing film of 1...

We’re keeping the Pride celebration going this week with an episode all about the history of drag!

Bella Efstratis is joined by a very special returning guest, Bailey Katler, to break down three essential documentaries that celebrate the art, power, and evolution of drag culture.

• First up: The Queen, which takes us inside the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest in New York City.
•  Then, it’s Paris Is Burning — the iconic deep...

This week, Bella is joined by special guests Melia and Henry Chendo to celebrate Pride with a look at Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy:

• Totally F***ed Up (1993)
• The Doom Generation (1995)
• Nowhere (1997)

A trailblazer of New Queer Cinema, Araki captured the chaos of queer youth in the ’90s like no one else. These films are loud, sexy, surreal, and devastating — soaked in color, contradiction, and emotion.

In this episode, w...

To celebrate the re-release of Dogma (which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary), Bella and Nick took a field trip to see the Kevin Smith classic on the big screen. We were joined by our good friend and returning guest, Max Sopkin. 

The trio discusses their theater experience and does a deep dive on Kevin Smith’s early career work. 

• First up, we explore the industry-shaking “little movie that could: " the foul-mout...