Gimme Three Podcast - A Series For Cinephiles

Nicholas Ybarra & Bella Efstratis
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

Gimme Three is a love letter to one of the most powerful mediums of artistic expression—a love letter to the films that moved us and to the great experiences we've had watching them. In each episode, hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis (and frequent special guests) will pick three incredible movies based on a selected theme. The Gimme Three podcast aims to encourage people to return to the theater and expand their watch lists through fun banter and passionate analysis. 

  1. Aug 12

    138 - 90s Angst & Grunge (feat. Jack Efstratis) - Hype!, Singles, & Reality Bites

    This week, co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by musician, cinephile, and 90s grunge aficionado - and her brother ! - Jack Efstratis. Jack and Bella dive into three films that capture early twenties angst and the 90s grunge scene. From the music itself, to cameos of the bands, to messy angsty relationships, this episode is covering it all. We kick off the theme with Doug Pray's 1996 documentary, Hype!, which examines the Seattle scene as it became the focus of a merging of punk rock, heavy metal, and innovation. Featuring incredible special interviews and in the moment/on the scene footage from live concerts of some of the, now, biggest bands in the world. Next, we dive into Cameron Crowe's lesser-known romcom, Singles, which follows a group of young twenty-somethings trying to navigate romantic relationships and the rules of dating, set against the 90s Seattle grunge scene. Finally, we close out the show with Ben Stiller's debut feature and the ultimate 90s angst movie, Reality Bites. Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, and Steve Zahn star as a college friend group trying to find their way through careers, relationships, and their own feelings towards each other post-college. This is an episode you won't want to miss. Whether you're a fan of grunge or not, we can all admit to feeling a little lost in our twenties. Let us know what your favorite grunge bands and angsty movies are from the 90s! ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️ Support the show Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content. Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast You can  keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

  2. Aug 5

    137 - Miguel Ángel Ferrer, the filmmaker behind The Shadow of The Sun

    A dream can sound reckless when your world is on fire, but Miguel Angel Ferrer bets on it anyway and somehow gets the film across the finish line. We talk with Miguel, the director of The Shadow of the Sun, a breakout piece of Venezuelan cinema that ran a major international film festival circuit, earned a stack of Venezuelan Academy Award nominations, and became Venezuela’s official Oscars selection before landing on-demand for US and Canada audiences.  Miguel walks us through the real, unglamorous climb: moving from Venezuela to the United States, showing up in Los Angeles with two bags, taking whatever work paid the bills, then using a National Geographic cameraman credit and years in TV post production to learn how studio-level projects actually get delivered. From there we dig into how The Shadow of the Sun came to life: two brothers chasing a music contest to escape poverty, with the younger brother deaf and the older brother becoming his voice. The themes hit hard: brotherhood, deaf culture, Venezuelan spirit, and the kind of persistence that keeps going even when the odds feel insulting.  We get specific about craft and authenticity: crossing back into Venezuela, casting a deaf lead actor from within the community, directing sign language performances with interpreters at the monitor, and shaping the visual language with anamorphic cinematography and a deliberate 40mm approach to landscape. Miguel also shares what’s next, including genre projects and an English-language remake, then closes with three picks for your watch list: Meet Joe Black, The Sea Inside, and Take Shelter. If you like behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories with real stakes, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️ Support the show Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content. Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast You can  keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

  3. Jul 29

    136 - Sam Neill Tribute: In The Mouth of Madness, Event Horizon, & Hunt For The Wilderpeople

    In this week's episode, we celebrate the illustrious career of the late, great Sam Neill. Co-hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis explore some of the recurring character traits that Neill tackled in his work and gush over three of his most outstanding performances.  - We start with the dense, brilliant, and terrifying horror film by one of the masters of the genre, John Carpenter. Sam Neill stars in In the Mouth of Madness.  - Second, we dive deeper into the horror genre. This time, we blend it with science fiction in the wildly underrated and pulse-pounding film Event Horizon. - Finally, Sam Neill explores his softer side in the tender and hilarious Taika Waititi film Hunt For The Wilderpeople.  Let us know what you think of these films and what your favorite Sam Neill performance is.  ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️ Support the show Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content. Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast You can  keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

  4. Jul 22

    135 - Interview w/ Kylie Eaton, Filmmaker and Executive Director of AWD (Alliance of Women Directors)

    This week on the Gimme Three Podcast, we're honored to be joined by an incredible filmmaker and ED of the non-profit organization Alliance of Women Directors, Kylie Eaton.  Co-host Nicholas Ybarra and Kylie discuss her journey through the industry, her writing and storytelling process, the history of Alliance of Women Directors, and finally, AWD's collaboration with the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival coming this September.  Additionally, Kylie joins us in our Gimme Three Segment, highlighting three films that inspired her filmmaking career, including Star Wars, Sleepless in Seattle, and The Matrix.  Stay tuned for the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival dates and be updated by signing up for our newsletter at: https://www.ladff.com/ or following us on Instagram @ladiversityfilmfest Become a member or sign up for AWD's newsletter at: https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/ ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️ Support the show Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content. Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast You can  keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

  5. Jul 15

    134 - Director Spotlight: Christopher Nolan (feat. Trey Armstrong) - Following, The Prestige, & Tenet

    The countdown to The Odyssey is almost over, so what better time to celebrate the filmmaker behind it? This week, Bella Efstratis is joined by writer, actor, and filmmaker Trey Armstrong for a Christopher Nolan Spotlight. Together, they explore three films that chart Nolan's evolution from ambitious independent filmmaker to one of the defining directors of the 21st century: Following, The Prestige, and Tenet. They kick things off with Following, the micro-budget debut that introduced audiences to Nolan's fascination with fractured narratives, identity, obsession, and deception. Next, Bella champions The Prestige, a masterfully layered exploration of ambition, sacrifice, and the cost of greatness. Finally, Trey makes the case for Tenet, sharing why he believes it's one of Nolan's most misunderstood—and exhilarating—films. What's your favorite Christopher Nolan film? And are you excited to see The Odyssey? Let us know! ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️ Support the show Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content. Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast You can  keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

  6. Jul 8

    133 - International Short Film Classics: Emilie Muller, Dimensions of Dialogue, & The House of Small Cubes

    The World Cup has the entire globe buzzing. So we figured we'd do some world traveling here on the Gimme Three Podcast and celebrate three unforgettable and undeniable international short films.  - We begin in France with the 1993 short film Emilie Muller. A gorgeous black-and-white picture that is so great you'll be dying to rewatch it as soon as you finish.  Watch Emilie Muller here! - Next we travel to Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) with one of the greatest surrealist filmmakers of all time, Jan Švankmajer and his jaw-dropping (literally) piece, Dimensions of Dialogue.  Watch Dimensions of Dialogue here! - Finally, we move to Japan for the beautiful and meditative short film, The House of Small Cubes. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2009, and it was well-deserved.  Watch The House of Small Cubes here! Check out these short films and let us know what you think!  ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️ Support the show Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content. Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast You can  keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

  7. Jul 1

    132 - Gimme Three A - Z. The Letter B: Being John Malkovich, Beats, & Burning

    This episode marks the long awaited return of Gimme Three A-Z. Each month, Bella, Nick, and one lucky listener will contribute a film that they adore for each letter of the alphabet. This month is we've got nothing but BANGERS for the Letter B.  - We start with our audience selection: Charlie Kauffman and Spike Jonze collaborate in one of the more inventive and mind-expanding concepts to grace the silver screen with Being John Malkovich. - Bella's pick is the 2019 Scottish period piece that will make you cherish friendship and yearn for a night a music and fun. The film is called Beats.  - Nick's pick is the critically acclaimed Korean drama by Lee Chang-dong. The Academy Award-nominated Burning.   ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️ Support the show Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content. Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast You can  keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

  8. Jun 24

    131 - Queer Independent Gems: The Watermelon Woman, Show Me Love (aka F*cking Åmal), & Kisses and Bullets

    In this compilation episode we celebrate three independent cinema gems that highlight magnificent and original queer stories.  - We start with Cheryl Dunye's 90s indie-classic, The Watermelon Woman.  - Second, we travel to Sweden and do a deep dive into the angsty teenage coming-of-age romance, Show Me Love.  - Finally, we revisit our interview from last year's Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Filmmaker Faranak Sahafian joined the show to discuss her gripping and pertinent short film, Kisses and Bullets ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️ Support the show Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content. Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast You can  keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Gimme Three is a love letter to one of the most powerful mediums of artistic expression—a love letter to the films that moved us and to the great experiences we've had watching them. In each episode, hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis (and frequent special guests) will pick three incredible movies based on a selected theme. The Gimme Three podcast aims to encourage people to return to the theater and expand their watch lists through fun banter and passionate analysis. 

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