Echo Chamber - 292 - (Influence)
PEOPLE, what better gift to unwrap today than a brand spanking new episode of @EchoChamberFP your trusty film podcast!!!
Dreams, aspirations, relationships, communication, and mental health are explored in a thought provoking new indie film that we get to explore, thanks to Happy Medium Productions and the GREAT AJ Feuerman!!! THEN, we make space for FOUR people on the couch, as the writer/director, the producer, and the film’s two leads pass through to give us a thorough insight into the makings of this feature, with a lot of firsts for all involved!!!
'Influence' is the feature directorial debut from Ryan Moore, which he also wrote. A filmmaker (Cheyenne Perez) struggling with her mental health reaches a breaking point and kidnaps a famous social media influencer (Grace Kaufman) in an attempt to coerce them into playing the lead in her latest project.
Watch the conversation: HERE!
Today we have:
Influence - Poster
Influence
Watch Review: Here.
Dances With Film: NY, World Premiere: 2nd December 2023
Director: Ryan Moore
Cast: Grace Kaufman, Cheyenne Perez, Emily Hall, David Lengel, Hilty Bowen, Jenna Edwards, Ansa Woo, KT Kent, Jay Whitney Brown, Rudy Guerrino, Ted Sannella, Adrianna Krikl, Alice Millar, Jen Kennedy, Kristi Lugo, David Dean Ebert, Adam Hardman, Maryann Yee
Credit: Happy Medium Productions
Genre: Comedy, Thriller
Running Time: 83 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Instagram: @influence.film
Watch the conversation: HERE!
Ryan Moore
Ryan Moore
Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematographer
Ryan Moore is known for Influence (2023), Echo and Echo.
Follow Ryan via:
IMDb: Here.
Instagram: @theeclecticninja
YouTube: Here.
Ben Whalen
Ben Whalen
Actor, Producer, Director, Writer
Benjamin Louis Whalen was born on March 25, 1988 in Oceanside, New York. The youngest of three children, his father, Timothy Whalen, was a high school psychology teacher and football coach, and his mother was an attorney. His ancestry was similar to many New Yorkers of that time and place; Half Irish, Half Italian. Raised in Long Island, he was just a quick train ride away from New York City. It was there that he truly began his career as an actor and producer.
Ben played football, basketball and baseball throughout high school and went on to attend the University of Maryland. He started doing stand up comedy and student films. He took several film classes and became fascinated with movies. In 2008 a close friend, Patrick Altema, who is now an Emmy award-winning producer, cast him in his first feature film. After falling in love with acting and filmmaking, Ben dropped out of college after his junior year in order to pursue acting and producing full time.
From 2009-2011 Ben studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting in New York City. During that time he emerged himself in theater, plays, films and television. He loved being on set as often as he could, and in 2011 he produced and starred in Dream, directed by Patrick Altema. After graduating several teachers encouraged him to give Los Angeles a try, expressing their certainty he would be successful in film and television.
In 2013, within his first two years in LA, Ben booked a lead role in Anarchy Parlor, filmed in Vilnius, Lithuania, starring alongside veteran actor Robert LaSardo. It felt like all his dreams were coming true. The following years had several ups and downs, successes and disappointments, but by 2017 Ben had racked up over 25 acting credits in film and television. His most notable roles were James Rooker in A Neighbor's Deception on Lifetime, and Dante in Trip, playing the love interest of international music star, Jhene Aiko.
Since beginning his professional career in 2011 Ben has worked on shows that have premiered on Lifetime, TLC, BET, Investigation Discovery, LMN and Travel Channel. After a three year hiatus working as VP of Sales and Marketing for a successful start up from 2017-2020, Ben has returned to the entertainment industry with renewed love and respect.
Follow Ben via:
IMDb: Here.
Linkedin: Here.
Website: Here.
X: @BeWhalen
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @itsbenwhalen
Watch Ben's films via Prime Video UK: Here.
ACME Productions
Website: Here.
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @acmeproductions
YouTube: Here.
Grace Kaufman
Grace Kaufman
Actress, Singer
Grace Kaufman was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress, known for The Sky Is Everywhere (2022), Resurrection (2022) and Man with a Plan (2016).
Follow Grace via:
IMDb: Here.
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @imgracekaufman
YouTube: Here.
Watch Grace's films via Apple TV+: Here.
Watch Grace's films via Prime Video: Here.
Watch Grace's films via Prime Video UK: Here.
Cheyenne Perez
Cheyenne Perez
Actress, Writer, Comedian
Cheyenne Perez is an actress, comedian, writer and not a drug trafficker for real because why would she have a website for that. She would advertise her services on Craigslist under a pseudonym like "CheySellsDrugs."
You can see Cheyenne recurring roles in Mindy Kaling's "Sex Lives of College Girls" as Jo and "Heather" on Apple TV's "For All Mankind." She most recently booked comedic roles in a Will Ferrell movie, two Apple TV+ programs, and the Paramount+ "Frasier" re-boot! She's appeared in numerous commercials - Nike, Flaming' Hot Cheetos, American Express, Toyota, Converse and plenty more!
She's also a member of SAG-AFTRA. Wow! She should be done trying now!
Follow Cheyenne via:
IMDb: Here.
Website: Here.
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @cheyenneperezzz
YouTube: Here.
Watch Cheyenne's films via Apple TV+: Here.
Watch Cheyenne's films via Prime Video: Here.
Watch Cheyenne's films via Prime Video UK: Here.
*(Music)
'Strictly Business (Instrumental)' by EPMD - 2020