World Premiere

The World Premiere of The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary was held at the historic Tampa Theatre on March 22, 2017.

Many of the podcasters featured in the film traveled to Tampa for the premiere, including Lily Wong, who flew in from an expedition in Japan. Danny Peña and his family drove up from South Florida. Dave Jackson flew in from Ohio, and graciously volunteered to MC the event. Seeing the countless podcasters they’d interviewed in such disparate locations around the world come together in such a glamourous setting made the filmmakers feel as though they’d truly come full circle.

As the credits rolled, the applause, whistles and cheers were deafening. The filmmakers had a hit movie! The screening was followed by an informative and often touching Q&A with the filmmmakers. One of the most heartfelt moments came when Niel Guilarte thanked his father for supporting Niel in his 25-year quest to create a feature length film.

Behind-The-Scenes Trivia

The Motel from Hell

In an attempt to put as much of the project’s budget into the film itself, Chris Krimitsos booked the crew in what has to be the worst motel in all the Florida Keys – a glorified houseboat which Niel Guilarte described as a “floating roach motel” and where Willie Harper discovered a used condom under his sheets. Thanks to the crew’s shared dedication to (and willingness to sacrifice for) the film, they actually bonded over the squalid accommodations and were well-prepared for the adversities they would face later in the shoot.