Entertainment
Terminally Unique: A Socially Relevant Short Film
Terminally Unique: A powerful short film by Talita Maia exploring mental health, addiction, and co-dependency in relationships.
Last Updated on November 16, 2024 by Daily News Staff
Terminally Unique
(Los Angeles, CA) – Terminally Unique, a new short film by Talita Maia, is set to make its world premiere at the LA Shorts Fest in July 2023. Maia, who wrote, directed, and produced the film, stars alongside Canadian actor Evan Williams. The short film explores the themes of co-dependency, gender tiers, and alcoholism in relationships.
The story follows Marianne, a young Brazilian woman who is dating an alcoholic writer from an affluent family. Caught between love and reality, Marianne begins the process of escape only to be ensnared by the powerful mix of love and pity. Terminally Unique candidly examines the tragic moments where the strength of love is ultimately toppled by substance abuse, providing a glimpse into the potentially endless cycles too many of us endure in codependent relationships.
As a woman and an artist, Maia strives to open her heart and tell stories that reflect some of what she has learned and hopes for change. The film is a fragment, a distilled moment that presents a potent glimpse into how women are often trapped by guilt and subordinate behavior that is drummed into them. “The path isn’t always about happy endings,” says Maia, “but that can be cathartic, a self-inflicted slap to break free of unpleasant realities that all of us can escape if we just trust our best selves.”
Terminally Unique’s premiere at the LA Shorts Fest is an exciting opportunity for the film to gain recognition and acclaim from audiences and industry professionals alike. As an Oscar® qualifying festival, a top award at the LA Shorts Fest would make the short film eligible for an Oscar® submission.
Overall, Terminally Unique is a powerful and timely film that tackles important social issues with sensitivity and nuance. The film’s honest portrayal of mental health struggles and co-dependency in relationships is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.
LA Shorts Fest runs from July 19th to 30th, 2023 at the LA Live Regal Cinemas in Los Angeles.
TICKETS: www.LAShortsFest.com
TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/821786850
For more information on Talita Maia, please visit the following links:
Official Website: www.TalitaMaia.com
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/
Instagram: @TerminallyUnique_TheFilm
Hashtags: #TerminallyUniqueTheFilm #LAShortsFest
Visit our Entertainment section for the latest news on independent films and the talented people behind them. Stay up-to-date with STMDailyNews! https://stmdailynews.com/category/entertainment/
Source: Citrino Productions/ ChicArt
Author
Discover more from Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
documentaries
EBONY Media Debuts EBONY Voices With Short Film “Standing in the Ashes,” Marking One Year Since the Altadena Fires
EBONY Media Group has launched EBONY Voices, a multimedia series highlighting human-interest stories. Its first release, “Standing in the Ashes: One Year After the Altadena Fires,” features three families affected by the 2024 Eaton wildfire, showcasing their journey of loss and resilience in their historically Black community.
LOS ANGELES — EBONY Media Group has launched EBONY Voices, a new multimedia series focused on human-interest stories aimed at connecting and uplifting communities. The debut release is a short film, “Standing in the Ashes: One Year After the Altadena Fires,” marking one year since the Eaton wildfire devastated parts of Los Angeles County in January 2024.
Film details
“Standing in the Ashes” is directed by Lyric Perez and produced by EBONY Media Owner and CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar and EVP of Editorial Content Cori Murray.
The film follows three long-time Altadena families as they navigate loss, rebuilding, and whether to remain in a historically Black community disproportionately impacted by the disaster:
- Staci and Thomas Andrews
- Ronda Carson and her mother, Barbara Carson
- Antoinette “Toni” Bailey-Raines, a community leader recognized as a 2025 EBONY Power 100 Community Crusader
Bailey-Raines co-hosts Altadena Talks, a grassroots radio show and podcast launched in response to the fires.
What EBONY is saying
“Standing in the Ashes reflects what EBONY Voices was created to do—center humanity, honor legacy, and ensure our communities are not reduced to statistics in moments of crisis,” Bridgeman Sklenar said in the release. “These families remind us that rebuilding is not just about homes, but about protecting history, culture, and the right to remain rooted where generations before them built a future.”
Impact of the Eaton wildfire
According to the release, the Eaton wildfire:
- Claimed 19 lives
- Destroyed or damaged 9,418 homes and buildings
The release also cites a UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies data study indicating disproportionate impacts in Altadena:
- At least 60% of affected homes were Black households
- 61% of Black households were within the fire perimeter (vs. 50% of non-Black households)
- Nearly half of Black households experienced destruction or major damage
- A majority of Black homeowners in the area are over age 65
Where to watch
“Standing in the Ashes: One Year After the Altadena Fires” is available now as part of EBONY Voices:
About EBONY
For 80 years, EBONY has chronicled the Black American experience and has expanded into a multimedia brand spanning EBONY, EBONY Studios, and JET, with a stated mission to Move Black Forward.
Sources: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ebony-media-debuts-ebony-voices-with-short-film-standing-in-the-ashes-marking-one-year-since-altadena-fires-302656624.html , https://www.ebony.com/ebony-voices-remembering-altadena/
STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.
Discover more from Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Entertainment
Vision Films Sets Jan. 13 TVOD Release for Joan Collins Whodunnit A Murder Between Friends
Vision Films will release Joan Collins-led whodunnit A Murder Between Friends on transactional VOD Jan. 13, 2026, across major U.S./Canada platforms.
The company announced a North American transactional VOD release for A Murder Between Friends on Jan. 13, 2026, via a deal with Scott J. Jones and Artist View Entertainment. The “murder-com” feature stars — and is produced by — Dame Joan Collins (Dynasty), with Mark Rozzano writing and producing and Jacob Young and Trent Garrett co-directing.
The film was shot on location at Úsobí Castle in the Czech Republic and leans into classic country-estate mystery energy: six friends on vacation, one of them murdered, and everyone suddenly a suspect.
Synopsis (official): When six friends vacation at the country estate of a legendary true-crime TV star (Collins), the last thing they expect is to find one of their own murdered. Everyone is a suspect as they try to determine who among them would have the means, motive, and opportunity. As tensions grow, they enlist the aid of their celebrity sleuth hostess to uncover the truth before the killer can strike again.
The cast includes Nadia Bjorlin, Jacob Young, Trent Garrett, Toby-Alexander Smith, Simon Cotton, India Thain, Hana Vagnerová, Jim Borstelmann, and internet personality Espen Hatleskog (IG’s @pilotviking).
Vision Films CEO Lise Romanoff called it a twist-heavy mystery that keeps flipping expectations, with Collins bringing “authenticity and humor for a suspense-filled ride.”
Trailer: https://youtu.be/eUdW9Jt_rxw
Where to watch: A Murder Between Friends will be available on most major streaming and cable platforms across the U.S. and Canada on Jan. 13, 2026. Pre-orders are live on iTunes/Apple TV (US, CA) and Vudu/Fandango at Home (US).
Looking for an entertainment experience that transcends the ordinary? Look no further than STM Daily News Blog’s vibrant Entertainment section. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of indie films, streaming and podcasts, movie reviews, music, expos, venues, and theme and amusement parks. Discover hidden cinematic gems, binge-worthy series and addictive podcasts, gain insights into the latest releases with our movie reviews, explore the latest trends in music, dive into the vibrant atmosphere of expos, and embark on thrilling adventures in breathtaking venues and theme parks. Join us at STM Entertainment and let your entertainment journey begin! https://stmdailynews.com/category/entertainment/
and let your entertainment journey begin!
Discover more from Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
streaming series and movies
Hulu picks up ‘The Toxic Avenger’ for January streaming debut
Hulu has acquired streaming rights to the cult classic The Toxic Avenger, set to premiere on January 8, 2026. Directed by Macon Blair, it stars Peter Dinklage and features a notable cast. The film addresses themes of justice while contributing to philanthropic efforts in medical debt.
Hulu is adding a new cult-leaning superhero to its lineup. Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS) announced that Hulu has acquired streaming rights to The Toxic Avenger, with the film set to make its SVOD premiere on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.
The action-comedy/horror title has already built strong buzz with critics and genre fans, including an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, according to Cineverse.
A reboot with a stacked cast
Written and directed by Macon Blair (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore), The Toxic Avenger features an ensemble cast led by Peter Dinklage as Winston Gooze, a downtrodden janitor whose life changes after a catastrophic toxic accident.
Cineverse highlighted additional cast members including Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Jacob Tremblay, and Taylour Paige.
What the story is about
The film follows Winston Gooze after he’s transformed into a new kind of radioactive hero: the Toxic Avenger. Now “Toxie” must go from outcast to savior, taking on corporate overlords and corrupt forces while trying to protect his son, his friends, and his community.
In Cineverse’s words: in a world where greed runs rampant, “justice is best served radioactive.”
A campaign with real-world impact
Beyond the film’s critical reception, Cineverse credited the movie’s campaign with helping eliminate more than $15 million in medical debt for over 10,000 people, in partnership with Undue Medical Debt.
Where it goes after Hulu
Cineverse said Hulu’s debut will be part of an exclusive window. After that, the film is expected to become available on other SVOD and FAST platforms, including Cineverse’s horror-focused streaming brand Screambox.
For viewers who don’t want to wait, Cineverse noted the film is currently available to rent (TVOD) or purchase digitally and on physical media.
About Cineverse
Cineverse describes itself as a “next-generation entertainment studio” that distributes more than 71,000 films, series, and podcasts, and includes properties such as Bloody Disgusting and a network of streaming fandom channels.
What to watch for
For Hulu subscribers, The Toxic Avenger could be a notable early-2026 add—especially for fans of horror-comedy, offbeat superhero stories, and cult franchises getting modern reboots.
Premiere date: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
Platform: Hulu
Source: PRNewswire (Cineverse), Jan. 6, 2026 — Read the release
Looking for an entertainment experience that transcends the ordinary? Look no further than STM Daily News Blog’s vibrant Entertainment section. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of indie films, streaming and podcasts, movie reviews, music, expos, venues, and theme and amusement parks. Discover hidden cinematic gems, binge-worthy series and addictive podcasts, gain insights into the latest releases with our movie reviews, explore the latest trends in music, dive into the vibrant atmosphere of expos, and embark on thrilling adventures in breathtaking venues and theme parks. Join us at STM Entertainment and let your entertainment journey begin! https://stmdailynews.com/category/entertainment/
and let your entertainment journey begin!
Discover more from Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
