Lisa Portolan Podcast Film Event Info

The film resumes. Final scene: two people leaving the cinema, walking side by side. Neither pulls out a phone. This event was based on conversations from Lisa Portolan’s ‘The Intimacy Doctor.’ No devices were used to arrange the after-party. It happened anyway. Would you like this expanded into a full short script or event treatment?

Some laugh nervously. One woman cries. A man reaches out — not to shake a hand, but to rest his palm on the armrest between them, open. lisa portolan podcast film event

Before the film, a podcast plays through the speakers. It’s Lisa Portolan’s voice, soft and direct: “We’ve outsourced intimacy to likes, listens, and algorithms. But when was the last time you sat in the dark next to a stranger and simply… felt their presence?” The film begins. No dialogue. Just close-ups of hands almost touching, breath on glass, people leaning toward each other in trains, in queues, in living rooms — then pulling away. A single recurring shot: a paused podcast screen on a phone, thumb hovering over ‘play’ instead of knocking on a door. The film resumes

Here’s a short piece inspired by the intersection of (intimacy, digital culture, connection) and the idea of a podcast-turned-film event . Title: The Proximity Effect Format: Hybrid documentary / narrative short (15 min) Inspired by: Themes from Lisa Portolan’s podcast The Intimacy Doctor and her writing on digital vs. physical connection Logline: In a world where dating apps swipe and podcasts whisper in our ears, three strangers attend a one-night-only film event designed to rebuild touch — only to discover the screen between us might be the last real frontier. Scene: The venue is an old cinema, repurposed for one night. No stadium seating. Instead, velvet chairs face a single bare screen, but they’re paired — two seats together, inches apart. The audience doesn’t know who they’re sitting next to. This event was based on conversations from Lisa

Midway, the screen cuts to black. A live prompt appears: Turn to the person beside you. 90 seconds. No phones. No words. Just eye contact.