Chandler Chavez

About this episode

Chandler Chavez discusses his feature debut, a dark-comedy film told through a computer desktop, exploring themes of online attention and authenticity.

In this episode of The Truth In This Art , the guest is Chandler Chavez. Who is Chandler Chavez: A Los Angeles–based filmmaker, editor, story analyst, and writer originally from Arizona, drawn to complicated characters and stories that test our empathy—especially when they’re filtered through the strange mechanics of online attention. In our conversation, Chandler unpacks his feature debut: a dark-comedy “screenlife” film told entirely through a computer desktop, set inside the “hellscape” of live streaming—where the real-time chat isn’t set dressing, it actively drives the story forward. He talks about arriving at the format out of pure practicality (making something possible with very little money), then spending years refining the cut to make the digital world feel specific and true—not “movie internet,” but the kind of online authenticity you recognize immediately. We also get into the long road from early festival submissions with unfinished materials to a stronger re-approach—new poster, press kit, and a tighter final version—leading to the project’s selection for the 2026 Maryland Film Festival . Catch Chandler Chavez’s feature debut at the Maryland Film Festiva l, April…

People in this episode

Host: Rob Lee

Guest: Chandler Chavez

Topics covered

• filmmaking
• dark comedy
• online storytelling
• empathy
• film festivals

Keywords

• Chandler Chavez
• dark-comedy
• screenlife film
• online storytelling
• Maryland Film Festival

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, Maryland State Arts Council, Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund

Books & works: screenlife film

Places: Los Angeles, Arizona, Maryland, Baltimore

More episodes of The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter

• Megan Elcrat of Present Company on Hyper-Local Architecture, Preserving How Spaces Feel, and Place-Making in Station North · June 9, 2026 · 59 min
• Dr. David O. Fakunle II on Art, Storytelling, Health Equity, and the Power of Narrative · June 2, 2026 · 1h 23m
• Shaun Stewart of Patterson Pins · May 26, 2026 · 1h 5m
• Art Shopping Network's Maxwell Young & Amir Browder of HOMME DC ON 'Acquired Taste' · May 22, 2026 · 1h 36m
• Sarah B. McCann · May 18, 2026 · 57 min
• Sam Furnish & Bemo's Clothing · May 13, 2026 · 59 min