Richard J. Bosner on DEVOTEE and Nicholas Santos on STRANGE CREATURES @FollowingFilms

Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago

Today we're diving deep into the world of short films with two incredibly talented filmmakers. Up first, we have the esteemed producer turned director Richard J. Bosner, whose latest project, Devotee, is a gripping psychological thriller that will stick with you for days. With a background producing critically acclaimed films like Fruitvale Station and Black Bear, Bosner has assembled a dream team for Devotee, including breakout child star Grant Feely and a post-production crew fresh off Megalopolis.

But that’s not all! Director Nicholas Santos also joins us to discuss his haunting short film, Strange Creatures. A tale of grief and longing, the film stars Quinn Jackson and Sean-Michael Wilkinson and is as emotional as it is terrifying.

Both Devotee and Strange Creatures are making their world premieres at Hollyshorts this weekend

For more information about both films including how to screen them go to hollyshorts.com (hollyshorts.com/) .

Richard J. Bosner on DEVOTEE and Nicholas Santos on STRANGE CREATURES

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$Jennifer E. Montgomery on This Tempting Madness, Scoring a Film with Simone Ashley’s Voice, and T... Welcome back to the podcast, everyone. Today, we are examining the architecture of memory, trauma, and the blurred lines of reality. Hitting theaters and VOD on June 12, 2026, is a film that I promise is going to get under your skin. It’s called This Tempting Madness, a breathtakingly tense psychological thriller that marks the feature directorial debut of Jennifer E. Montgomery. Now, if you think you’ve seen all sides of Bridgerton superstar Simone Ashley, think again. She delivers a raw, bold, and genuinely transformative performance as Mia, a woman who awakens from a coma with a fractured memory, a grievously injured body, and the devastating realization that the man she loves is completely missing. Alongside an incredible supporting cast, the film takes us directly inside Mias disoriented mind as she tries to piece together a past she can no longer trust. But what makes This Tempting Madness truly unforgettable is where the story came from. This isnt just a Hollywood script; it is deeply inspired by a harrowing true story. Director Jennifer E. Montgomery wrote the film with her longtime collaborator and spouse, Andrew M. Davis, after living through her own firsthand tragedy. Years ago, Montgomery watched her own best friends life quietly collapse over a period of six months—culminating in an act of severe violence. When her friend finally woke from a coma, those entire six months of memory were completely gone. Instead of making a straightforward documentary, Jennifer and Andrew built an immersive cinematic landscape that mirrors how trauma actually works—in loops, contradictions, and shifting colors. From a custom score built literally out of Simone Ashley’s own vocal tones to vintage Panavision lenses that make the frames feel like unpredictable memories, every single detail of this film was crafted to make us question what is real right along with Mia. We are incredibly lucky to have the mastermind behind this phenomenal film with us today. Joining me to talk about the immense responsibility of turning personal trauma into art, pushing cinematic boundaries, and running towards the fire of complex storytelling... please welcome the director and co-writer of This Tempting Madness, Jennifer E. Montgomery!$

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