Best Nicholas Ybarra Podcasts (2025)

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103 - A Very Black Christmas (Shane Black Does XMas) 1:12:38

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1d ago1:12:38

1:12:38

On this week’s episode, Nick and Bella return as your favorite unlikely duo. Which is apt, as we dive into the work of one of the most impactful screenwriters of the last forty years, Shane Black. Over the decades, Shane Black’s action screenplays have thrilled audiences. And in most of his pictures, he loves injecting a bit of the holiday season. …

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102 - 50 Years of The Rocky Horror Picture Show & Rock Musicals (feat. Max Sopkin) 1:23:09

7d ago1:23:09

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Nicholas Ybarra and returning guest Max Sopkin celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the cult classic and the longest-running film in theatrical history. Nick and Max talk about their personal connection and history with the film, and delve into a hilarious and informative recap of this film and two other cult-classic roc…

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101 - Noir November 1:24:42

14d ago1:24:42

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Before heading into the Holiday season, Noir November could not be ignored. For the first time, Nick & Bella celebrate Noir November with three unforgettable, game-changing classics. We start with the Humphrey Bogart-led masterpiece and the catalyst for the Film Noir movement, 1941’s The Maltese Falcon. Second, Billy Wilder’s bleak, twisted, and su…

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100 - Masterpieces in Morality - The Godfather, Vertigo, 12 Angry Men 1:27:37

18d ago1:27:37

1:27:37

In our 100th episode, we invited you, our audience, to select the films we’d discuss. In a mini-tournament which included the top films from three different lists: Sight and Sound Magazine’s Greatest Films of All Time, IMDb’s highest rated films of all time, and Letterboxd’s highest rated films of all time, these were the films you selected. We ope…

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99 - Gimme Three's Greatest Hits - Volume 1 1:26:24

25d ago1:26:24

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With Gimme Three Podcast’s 100th Episode on the horizon, we are celebrating and revisiting some of our greatest hits. We bring you three of our most memorable, insightful, hilarious, and fun segments we’ve had! We open with our tribute to the late, great David Lynch. After a eulogy of the filmmaker’s undeniable staying power, we dive into his audac…

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98 - Bella & Nick's AFI Fest & Austin Film Festival Recaps 44:00

1M ago44:00

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Last week, Nick and Bella hit the festival circuit - from Los Angeles to Austin - and came back buzzing with discoveries. This week, they're shaking things up on the podcast with a special episode featuring six hand-picked, standout films from the festivals. Bella spotlights three bold, unforgettable, directorial debuts from AFI Fest, including The…

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97 - Hormonal Vampires: Three Generations of Teen Vampire Movies (feat. Sonja Mereu) 1:30:49

1M ago1:30:49

1:30:49

This week, Bella and Sonja are back to talk about another classic movie monster — and this time, they’re hormonal. That’s right, we’re sinking our teeth into TEEN VAMPIRES! We start with Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight (2008), tracing how her earlier film Thirteen shaped the tone and world of Twilight. Bella and Sonja dig into the casting magic that…

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96 - Frankenstein Film Adaptations - The Monster, The Parody, & The Creature 1:28:58

2M ago1:28:58

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To celebrate the release of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (Netflix, 2025), Bella and Nick revisit three unforgettable film adaptations of Mary Shelley’s iconic Gothic novel. From the classic Universal monster movies that defined early Hollywood horror, to Mel Brooks’ legendary parody and Kenneth Branagh’s (somewhat) faithful 1994 retelling, thi…

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95 - Halloween Family Favorites (feat. Sonja Mereu) 1:25:21

2M ago1:25:21

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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 gene…

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94 - Robert Redford & The American West 1:12:43

2M ago1:12:43

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By Nicholas Ybarra & Bella Efstratis

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93 - Robert Redford's Politically-Charged Dramas (feat. Sonja Mereu) 1:22:36

2M ago1:22:36

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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…

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92 - The Art of Costume Design pt. 2 (feat. Ashley Kae Snyder & Jessica McLaughlin) 1:37:12

3M ago1:37:12

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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 intro…

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91 - The Art of Costume Design pt. 1 (feat. Ashley Kae Snyder & Jessica McLaughlin) 1:23:33

3M ago1:23:33

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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 breatht…

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90 - Are You Ready For Some FOOTBALL (FILMS)?! 1:07:19

3M ago1:07:19

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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 g…

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89 - Coming of Age Films (90s - 2010s) 1:05:47

3M ago1:05:47

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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 u…

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88 - Freaky Friday Films 1:01:58

4M ago1:01:58

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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 …

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87 - Sylvia Ray "The Vote" & Angel Ruvalcaba "Driftin' On A Memory" 1:02:13

4M ago1:02:13

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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 filmmak…

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86 - Lyla Mzayek "The Rain Lady" & Faranak Sahafian "Kisses and Bullets" - LADFF 2025 pt. 2 52:43

4M ago52:43

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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 …

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85 - Lee Ott "Dragfox" & Bijon "A Thing About Kashem" - LADFF 2025 pt. 1 1:07:08

4M ago1:07:08

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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 f…

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84 - Black Independent Cinema - Oscar Micheaux, Melvin Van Peebles, and Cheryl Dunye 1:14:37

4M ago1:14:37

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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…

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83 - Michael Madsen: An American Badass 1:18:02

5M ago1:18:02

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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 st…

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82 - Music Videos (feat. Sonja Mereu) 1:31:24

5M ago1:31:24

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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 Expr…

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81 - Steven Spielberg Summer Blockbusters 1:27:55

5M ago1:27:55

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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 sum…

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80 - 1995 Films Revisited 1:16:23

5M ago1:16:23

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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. …

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79 - Category Is: Drag History (feat. Bailey Katler) 1:30:17

6M ago1:30:17

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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 …

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78 - Gregg Araki's Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy 1:24:18

6M ago1:24:18

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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, …

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77 - The View Askewniverse - Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma (feat. Max Sopkin) 1:41:16

6M ago1:41:16

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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 expl…

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76 - Sinister Beaches: The Dark Side of Paradise 1:05:03

6M ago1:05:03

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This week, we’re heading to the shore—but not for the sunshine. Returning guest Michel Eljaiek joins co-host Bella Efstratis to explore the darker side of paradise through three beach-set thrillers that reveal just how quickly bliss can turn into terror. First up is Old (2021), M. Night Shyamalan’s eerie tale of a secluded beach where visitors age …

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75 - Mission: Impossible? Mission: Accomplished! (feat. Sonja Mereu) 1:23:28

7M ago1:23:28

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This week, we’re celebrating the release of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, which highlights three films with the biggest stunts, highest stakes, and most pulse-pounding, applaud-worthy finishes of the Mission: Impossible franchise. We start at the beginning, with Brian De Palma’s now legendary spy thriller. 1996’s Mission: Impossible. S…

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74 - A Bear Called Paddington 1:16:05

7M ago1:16:05

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This week, Paddington is officially joining the Gimme Three Podcast family! Join us as we dive into these three magical films that feel like storybooks brought to life! We start at the beginning with Paddington (2014), where a little bear from darkest Peru arrives in London and teaches the Brown family—and all of us—how kindness and a little marmal…

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73 - Great Mother Characters (pt. 3) - Immigrant Mothers 57:18

7M ago57:18

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In celebration of Mother’s Day, we are revisiting one of our favorite themes: Great Mother Characters (our third installment). In this episode, we are highlighting immigrant mothers with three powerful and inspiring films. We start with the epic tale of generational courage, trauma, and perseverance in the 1993 classic Joy Luck Club. Second, an und…

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72 - Three Amigos: Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo Del Toro, and Alejandro González Iñárritu 1:20:41

7M ago1:20:41

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In the late 1990s and early 2000s, three real-life friends broke into the Mexican and International film scenes and made their mark on the art form. Since then, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo Del Toro, and Alejandro González Iñárritu have delivered several masterpieces and won several Academy Awards. In this episode, we highlight three of the filmmaker'…

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71 - Barbra Streisand Films (feat. Max Sopkin) 1:36:37

8M ago1:36:37

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Returning guest and friend of the show, Max Sopkin, returns for an in-depth episode on the legendary Barbra Streisand. After watching all nineteen of Streisand's films, Max has selected three that highlight the range, talent, and overall superstardom that Barbra possesses. - We start with Barbra Streisand's on-screen debut, her Oscar-winning perfor…

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70 - Baseball Films 1:26:04

8M ago1:26:04

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With Baseball season in full swing, we thought it’d be appropriate to dive into classic films that find a home on the diamond. America’s Favorite Pastime is the pastime of the Gimme Three Podcast this week. Listen to host Nicholas Ybarra's torment over his love/hate relationship with the sport, and find out if host Bella Efstratis was finally able …

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69 - Val Kilmer Films 1:16:26

8M ago1:16:26

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On this episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, we discuss the career of the late, great actor Val Kilmer; a life and saga cut short, but left several iconic performances. We explore a few here: First, Val Kilmer transforms every fiber of his being into Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s hypnotic masterpiece, The Doors. In one of the most memorable and quo…

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68 - Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival Greatest Hits (vol. 2) 1:01:59

8M ago1:01:59

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The Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival will return to the big screen this August. Save the dates: August 22nd - 24th, 2025. Visit LADFF.com to join the festival’s mailing list and stay current with venues and programs. On today’s episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, we revisit some of the greatest hits from LADFF’s 10-year history. First, a flashba…

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67 - Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival Greatest Hits (vol. 1) 1:02:10

8M ago1:02:10

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The Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival will return to the big screen this August. Save the dates: August 22nd - 24th, 2025. Visit LADFF.com to join the festival’s mailing list and stay current with venues and programs. On today’s episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, we revisit some of the greatest hits from LADFF’s 10-year history. First, a flashba…

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66 - American Pie Trilogy 1:17:13

9M ago1:17:13

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In 1999, the teen sex comedy was revitalized with the release of the shocking and wildly successful film American Pie. The box office juggernaut would become a modern classic and spark a franchise akin to the National Lampoon series. On today’s episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, we explore the first three American Pie films. The gang’s all here: J…

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65 - Gene Hackman Films 1:11:27

9M ago1:11:27

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On today’s episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, we honor the legendary Gene Hackman, who recently passed away. Whether it was through comedy, drama, or action, Hackman brought a stern energy and a grounded approach to each and every one of his pictures. Today we discuss three of Hackman’s most memorable performances. We start with Gene Hackman’s Aca…

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64 - Bong Hits! Bong Joon-ho Films 1:22:33

9M ago1:22:33

1:22:33

To celebrate the release of Mickey 17, The Gimme Three Podcast is exploring the work of director Bong Joon-ho. Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis dissect some of his most potent and memorable Korean films and his auteurist visual language. We start with the neo-noir, edge-of-your-seat thriller from 2003, Memories of Murder. Second, Bong uses a cla…

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63 - Claudette Colbert Films 1:10:13

9M ago1:10:13

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Today's episode spotlights Claudette Colbert, a genuine icon of cinema. Colbert's career traversed multiple eras in Hollywood: the Silent Era, the Pre-Code Era, and the Golden Age. To kick it off, we discuss what is widely considered one the of all-time greats, It Happened One Night. Claudette Colbert co-stars opposite Clark Gable in this genre-def…

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62 - Daniel Kaluuya Spotlight 1:16:21

10M ago1:16:21

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In this week’s episode, we highlight the impactful career of actor Daniel Kaluuya. In his young career, Kaluuya has delivered several performances that will be cemented in the cinematic lore. We start with the under-seen, under-appreciated film Judas and the Black Messiah, in which Daniel Kaluuya plays activist and Black Panther chairman Fred Hampt…

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61 - Favorites of 2024 pt. 3 1:11:49

10M ago1:11:49

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In the third and final installment of our Faves of 2024 series, Nicholas Ybarra, Bella Efstratis, and Sonja Mereu select three of the year’s most talked-about pictures. Nicholas starts with the haunting gothic horror film Nosferatu by Robert Eggers. Second, Bella selects the new and widely discussed Sean Baker gem, Anora. Finally, Sonja picks one o…

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60 - Denzel Washington x Spike Lee (feat. Trey Armstrong) 1:21:12

10M ago1:21:12

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To celebrate our first anniversary, we are spotlighting two of our favorite filmmakers and artists. In today’s episode, we explore the collaborations of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, a potent and mesmerizing cinematic duo. You, our listening audience, voted for our first film - the surprising and gripping heist film Inside Man. Second - Spike an…

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59 - Favorites of 2024 pt. 2 1:24:52

10M ago1:24:52

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Aaaand we're back! Co-hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis return with special guest Sonja Mereu for Favorites of 2024: Part II! This week, we’re revealing our second picks for last year's best films, and trust us—each one belongs on your "must-watch movies" list. First up, The Wild Robot, DreamWorks’ breathtaking adaptation of Peter Brown’s b…

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58 - David Lynch Tribute 1:33:56

11M ago1:33:56

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In this episode, we celebrate the life and work of the late David Lynch. Mr. Lynch was one of the most innovative and intuitive artists who tackled cinema. Co-hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis discuss the inspiring approach from David Lynch and three of his most memorable films. We start with Lynch’s audacious debut feature film, Eraserhead…

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57 - Favorites of 2024 pt. 1 1:13:30

11M ago1:13:30

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It’s that time of year. Nominations are announced. Top Ten lists are published. And cinephiles far and wide decipher which films from 2024 blew their hair back. Today, co-hosts Bella Efstratis and Nicholas Ybarra are joined by producer Sonja Mereu. Each provides one of their favorite films from 2024 (in the first of three 2024 episodes). First, Seb…

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56 - Pray for LA + (Previously Only Available on Patreon) Summer Discoveries 56:17

11M ago56:17

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We want to send our love, prayers, and condolences to the beautiful city of LA as it battles these horrendous and devastating wildfires. We also want to express our gratitude to our firefighters, first responders, and volunteers for helping our city overcome this immense disaster. In lieu of a new episode this week, we are sharing an episode previo…

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55 - Nick & Bella's Letterboxd Year In Review (2024) 59:28

11M ago59:28

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In this episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, Nick and Bella go through the fascinating 2024 statistics from their Letterboxd accounts. The dynamic duo compares notes on the number of films they watched, their most watched actors and filmmakers, and much, much more. Throughout this discussion, we learn more about Nick and Bella’s film-watching habits…

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54 - Virgil Williams Interview (2019) from the Austin Film Festival 42:13

12M ago42:13

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Nicholas Ybarra, co-host of the Gimme Three Podcast, recently saw Malcolm Washington's tremendous film The Piano Lesson. Virgil Williams co-wrote the outstanding August Wilson adaptation. In this episode, we revisit a 2019 interview with Virgil Williams and Nicholas Ybarra, recorded live at the Austin Film Festival. Virgil discusses his process, jo…