This past October, the city of Shreveport, Louisiana again became Prize Port as the Louisiana Film Prize showcased another remarkable lineup of short films shot and produced in the Pelican State. This week and next week’s shows are dedicated to the 2025 edition of Film Prize, and you’ll hear exclusive interviews with this year’s honorees for its Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress awards.
On today’s show, I’m joined by three members of the brilliant team behind Grand Prize-winning film Last Minute: writer/director Michael Cusumano, co-star/executive producer Charity Schubert and movie co-star Blayne Weaver. Set in 1989, the comedy stars Schubert as Jackie, a single mom whose procrastinating son Jason (played by Espyn Doughty in his movie debut) waits until - you guessed it - the last minute to work on a school project due the next day.
Racing against the clock, and without easy access to any materials that can help them get it done faster, Jackie and Jason must depend on the generosity and knowledge of her neighbors - Georgia, a science expert (played by Moriah L. Hicks), her brother//rich source of useless trivia Brian (played by Donnovan Roe) - and on a more bittersweet note, Jackie’s ex-boyfriend Ken (played by Weaver). As night turns into morning, the exhausted mother/son pair discover the importance of teamwork - and the value of time.
Last Minute won the $50,000 grand prize at the 2025 Prize Fest, and in this interview, Michael, Charity and Blayne recall their unforgettable memories of not just their film’s victory but also the invaluable experience of Prize Fest itself - from meeting audiences and fellow artists to enjoying their work win over movie fans at a festival that’s celebrated the works and talents of some of Louisiana’s best filmmakers and actors.
Find out more about Film Prize and PrizeFest at:
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https://www.instagram.com/whiskeycatproductions/
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Music by Audionautix.com
The Viewfinder Podcast logo designed by Matison LeBlanc
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