Los Angeles, CA – Talia Shea Levin is not your average filmmaker. The Washington, DC native, now based in LA, is making waves with her unique approach to storytelling. Her latest film, Make Me a Pizza, recently screened at the HollyShorts Film Festival, where it garnered enthusiastic responses. In a recent conversation, Talia opened up about her journey as a writer, director, and producer, the challenges of creating unconventional art, and the deeper layers within her “absurdist porn parody.”
A Pizza Delivery Boy’s Unusual Encounter
Make Me a Pizza tells the story of a pizza delivery boy who finds himself in a bizarre situation. When a lonely housewife suggests paying for her pizza with something other than money, he’s perplexed. Unlike the typical pornographic trope the audience might expect, he is clueless and more interested in discussing the true value of a pizza. What ensues is an absurd conversation that leads the two characters to attempt to become pizzas themselves.
“The film plays with the absurdity of intimacy,” Talia explains. “The characters try to connect on a deeper level through this ridiculous scenario. It’s both funny and reflective of how absurd it is to truly know someone else.”
A Film Festival Hit
At the HollyShorts Film Festival, Make Me a Pizza was a hit. Talia describes the audience’s reaction as “amazing” and “fun.” The film’s mixture of joy and insanity left viewers entertained and surprised, which was exactly her goal. “There’s a deeper layer there for those who want it, but it’s also about having fun,” she says.
The Intersection of Absurdity and Intimacy
When asked if the film drew from personal experience, Talia muses on the inherent absurdity of human connection. “Attempting to have intimacy with anyone is absurd. The idea of truly knowing someone is a projection of our own experiences onto them. But we all know what a pizza is. Maybe if we can see someone as a pizza, we can understand them better.”
Talia’s exploration of physicality and absurdity in her work is a recurring theme. Her past projects, often involving dance and physical storytelling, blend seamlessly into this latest venture. However, Make Me a Pizza pushes those boundaries further, challenging both the filmmaker and the audience.
Taking Risks and Embracing the Absurd
Talia admits that making Make Me a Pizza was a risk—a necessary shout into the void during a time of frustration with the industry. “This was about leaning into chaos and pushing everything as far as possible,” she says. From using an 80s broadcast camera and 16mm film to transforming thrift store pillows into pizza crusts, the film’s production was as unconventional as its premise.
Talia emphasizes that the film’s success was born from the willingness to take risks and not move from a place of fear. “The worst motivator for art is trying to make something good. It has to come from something deep and felt. If it’s also good and people like it, that’s just a bonus.”
What’s Next for Talia Shea Levin?
As Talia continues to navigate her career, she’s juggling multiple feature concepts, including a potential feature-length version of Make Me a Pizza. “What happens after pizza sex?” she teases. “There’s a pizza baby involved.”
For Talia, the joy of creation lies in the absurdity and the risks that come with it. Whether she’s exploring physical storytelling, pushing the boundaries of absurdity, or taking creative risks, one thing is clear—Talia Shea Levin is a filmmaker unafraid to follow her own path, one slice at a time.
Podcast Link: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gemsjournals
Reporter: Gemma Gordon / @gemmaegordon