In my new episode of the Reel Mental podcast, I speak with co-writers and directors, Benjamin Cohen and Max Strand about their new film Rocky's. ROCKY’S stars Stanley Simmons (The Iron Claw, Superior), Ben Cook (West Side Story, Pretty Little Liars), Gil Perez-Abraham (The Batman, Carry On), Jasai Chase Owens (Mutt, The Expanse), Ani Mesa (Superior), Sharlene Cruz (In The Summers), Steven Maier (Omni Loop), Brandon Lindsay (A Soldier's Play - National Tour), and introducing Dante Palimteri and Dani Foster. The film was co-written and directed by Benjamin Cohen and Max Strand and produced by Josh Michaels and James Benson. Benjamin B. Cohen is a Brooklyn-based comedy filmmaker. Born in San Francisco, raised in Atlanta, Ben's work tends to explore mental health and undermining toxic masculinity through independent film, TV, graphic novels, and the New York City stage. He attended film school at the UNCW & GSU programs, graduating with a B.A. in Film, a B.A. in History, and an M.A. in Film Production & Screenwriting. He maintains a Certificate of French Civilization from the University of Paris IV - La Sorbonne. He also studied at the UCB, Reckless, and Annoyance Comedy Theaters. As Co-Writer and Director of the 90s-themed Godamsterdam web-series, Ben has appeared on CNN, The Examiner, and at Atlanta's High Museum of Art. Ben completed a television pilot based upon the web series. As a comedian, Benjamin's performed at the UCB, PIT, Annoyance, & Reckless theaters as well as festivals everywhere from North Carolina to Iceland. As a professor, Benjamin's teaches Screenwriting, Film History, and Improv at the New York Film Academy (Variety top 25 Film School) and ESRA Film School. And just like, as a person, he has a dog named Sasha Malia, a fiance named Sabrina, a Simba tattoo, and once helped Tony Danza put a bandage on Liza Minnelli's foot. Max Strand is known for Goodbye Honey (2020), Dead Man Down (2013) and Limitless (2011). Gravitas Ventures released ROCKY’S on digital platforms on January 21, 2025. The film has a running time of 79m 49seconds and will not be rated by the MPAA. About the movie Rocky's: Growing up, Charlie and his friends spent their days loitering in the parking lot of Rocky's, the neighborhood 24/7 deli. Years later, after drifting apart during their college years, Charlie receives word that an ex-girlfriend has tragically died. He returns home ahead of the funeral, aware that there are some people that it will be awkward to see. His first stop is Rocky's, where he runs into a cast of characters from his past; some are happy to see him, others are not. In real-time, Charlie's old crew reconnects to confront past wounds, eat a few sandwiches and face the reality that they've grown up, whether they want to admit it or not.
