Make Me A Pizza
Directed by Talia Shea Levin
Written by Talia Shevin, Woody Coyote and Katie Peabody
Starring Woody Coyote and Sophie Neff
Runtime 12 minutes
Now available to watch on Vimeo via Staff Picks here

by Tori Potenza, Staff Writer

Sex sells, but so does pizza. Many might be familiar with the porn trope of the delivery boy that goes to the home of a beautiful woman who wants to eat a lot more than the pizza, no one will be prepared for the surreal turn that Make Me a Pizza takes. While it is not always easy to see short films, now is your chance to see this saucy short starting on today on Vimeo. 

Short films often don’t get enough hype but many times they are the most interesting and creative films I get to see at festivals. They are also an amazing way to discover new directors to be on the lookout for. The short, directed by Talia Shea Levin, made its world premiere at SXSW last year. Since then it has been racking up awards at a slew of festivals and has most recently been named a Staff Pick from Vimeo. With National Pizza Pie day on Sunday, there are few better ways to celebrate than ordering a pizza and supporting an amazing independent film.

There is clearly some special ingredient in the sauce because Make Me a Pizza has been showcased at a variety of festivals including; Beyond Fest, Stiges, Fantasia Fest, Brooklyn Horror Film Fest, Palm Springs International Film Fest, amongst many others. It has also won awards including Best Short at Chattanooga Film Fest, The Narrative Short Award Chicago Underground Film Festival, and Best Performances (for its leads Sophie Neff and Woody Coyote) at Brooklyn Horror Film Fest. While the filmmakers did not set out to make a horror movie, its heightened genre vibes and incredible practical effects have made it a gem at many genre focused festivals. 

In the press release it is described as a “Marxist porno” that was dreamed up by co-writers Talia Shea Levin and Woody Coyote during the pandemic where physical intimacy was at an all time low. It took two years to develop but once it came out of the oven it was clear they had something special in their hands. The cast and crew is made up of predominantly queer, femme, and/or nonbinary folks and they utilize a 16mm broadcast camera to give the film that perfectly cheesy 70s porno flair. And while some highly regarded filmmakers boast about not using an intimacy coordinator, the cast and crew know exactly how important a role such as this is on their set and are grateful for their contribution. And when it comes to effects well, I don’t want to spoil too much but just know the pizza sauce is real. 

Make Me a Pizza was one of my favorite discoveries this past year. It is such a unique piece of art and as someone who is always begging for stranger and stranger narratives in a world that seems too realist, this was exactly what I needed. So lean into the weird and go check this out on Vimeo! 

Editor’s Note: Looking for more pizza themed flicks to check out in celebration of National Pizza Day? Check out MovieJawn’s Pizzaman. A ten minute slasher featuring cheese, pepperoni, and MURDER! Watch it and subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

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