Entertainment
“Hitch Hiking Is Safe”: The Ultimate Oxymoron
We’re thrilled to introduce Ylia Trotter, an amazing screenwriter from New Zealand who is making waves in the industry! His latest project, “Hitch Hiking is Safe,” has earned him a spot as a finalist for the Best Dark Comedy Film Award at the Houston Comedy Film Festival. He has brought an intriguing mix of dark humor and suspense to life in this short film. The film, which draws from Trotter’s own experiences and a surprising conversation about the dangers of hitchhiking, explores the chilling yet comedic scenario where both the driver and the hitchhiker are serial killers.

The Genesis of “Hitch Hiking Is Safe”
The inspiration for Hitch Hiking Is Safe struck Ylia during a casual lunch with friends. Growing up in the remote area of Te Arai, New Zealand, Ylia frequently hitchhiked into town as a teenager. The conversation at lunch took a dark turn when his friends shared their fears of hitchhiking—one feared the driver might be a serial killer, while another worried about picking up a dangerous hitchhiker. This sparked the idea: what if both the driver and the hitchhiker were serial killers, completely unaware of each other’s true nature?
Ylia quickly realized the potential for a dark comedy. The concept evolved beyond a simple gag into a deeper exploration of the two killers’ psyches. As the story unfolds, these outcasts, who approach killing in different ways, find themselves recognizing a kindred spirit in one another. What begins as a humorous situation develops into a poignant moment of self-realization, as each character sees a reflection of themselves in the other.
Overcoming the Challenges
The production of Hitch Hiking Is Safe was not without its challenges. Filmed over three days, the shoot was plagued by unexpected rain, which, while initially a logistical nightmare, ultimately added to the film’s stormy horror atmosphere. In a fortunate twist, the script’s dialogue even mentioned the possibility of rain, making the weather an unintentional yet fitting backdrop for the film’s events.
In addition to battling the elements, Ylia and his team embarked on a unique journey of documenting the entire filmmaking process. They created weekly one-minute vlogs throughout pre-production, shooting, and post-production, culminating in a 20-minute documentary. This content not only engaged their audience but also helped them successfully crowdfund the film’s production budget. Although Ylia is proud of this achievement, he admits that the additional workload of creating so much content alongside the film was intense.

A New Filmmaker on the Rise
Hitch Hiking Is Safe marks Ylia Trotter’s debut short film, but his passion for filmmaking has been a lifelong pursuit. From creating Lego stop-motion movies as a child to vlogging and working in video production, Ylia has always been drawn to visual storytelling. After working at an agency and eventually starting his video business, Sharehouse Video, with his wife, he finally took the plunge into screenwriting during the 2020 lockdowns.
With his first short film now complete, Ylia is focused on honing his writing skills. Hitch Hiking Is Safe was a learning experience, designed to see how his words translated to the screen and to gain valuable lessons for future projects.
What’s Next?
For Ylia, the next step is more writing. He has a feature film script in the works, along with several other ideas he is currently outlining. With Hitch Hiking Is Safe just beginning its festival run, Ylia is eager to see how it performs and is hopeful for success on the circuit.
Connect with Ylia
If you’re interested in connecting with Ylia for future projects, you can find him on Instagram at @yliatrotter. Though he’s not currently a member of any film organizations, he’s always open to new opportunities and collaborations.
On the Horizon
As Hitch Hiking Is Safe begins its festival journey, Ylia Trotter is at an exciting crossroads in his filmmaking career. With a unique voice and a passion for darkly comedic storytelling, he’s a new filmmaker to watch. As he continues to write and develop new projects, Ylia is poised to make a significant impact in the world of independent film.
For more updates on his work and behind-the-scenes content, be sure to follow his journey on Instagram.
From the Film Festival Circuit Founder, Mikal Fair:
Entertainment
Mother’s Day AfroFun Praise Party: Gospel Dance, Fitness & Feel‑Good Stats in 60 Minutes

This Mother’s Day in Spring, Texas, you’re invited to do more than just sit at brunch—come dance, sweat, and celebrate at the Mother’s Day AfroFun Praise Party: Gospel Dance, Fitness & Feel‑Good Stats in 60 Minutes. This one‑hour Afrobeat gospel dance class is for men and women, bringing live worship, high‑energy choreography, and real fitness benefits together in one unforgettable experience.
Live gospel + Afrobeat energy
On the mic is powerhouse gospel singer Shawna Pat, known for her heartfelt worship, energetic praise songs, and ministry that makes every room feel like church and concert at the same time. She’ll be leading live vocals all class long, turning each track into a moment to sing along, shout, or just soak in the presence while you move.
On the floor, Andrew from WoWo Boyz and the Kingdrewwskyy crew bring the Afrobeat power. Expect easy‑to‑follow, Afro‑inspired choreography that looks hype on video but still feels doable if you’re brand new to dance. Together, Shawna and Andrew create a “praise party meets fitness class” vibe you can’t get from a playlist or a regular gym session.
A co‑ed Mother’s Day celebration that counts
This event is built for men and women—moms, dads, sons, daughters, couples, and friends who want to honor the mothers in their lives while doing something healthy and fun. The format is simple: warm‑up, dance‑cardio, a short ministry moment focused on mothers and families, and a cool‑down to breathe and stretch it out.
All levels are welcome. If you can walk and two‑step, you can do this class. You choose your intensity: go all‑in with every jump or keep it low‑impact and still stay in the groove. The music is clean and faith‑filled, so you never have to worry about lyrics or the vibe if you’re inviting church friends or bringing teens.
The feel‑good fitness stats
Behind the fun, this one hour delivers real health wins. Health guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate‑intensity cardio per week, but less than half of adults hit that number. AfroFun helps close that gap—by making movement feel like a celebration instead of a chore.
In just 60 minutes, many people can:
- Hit 4,000–6,000+ steps, based on what similar dance‑fitness and Mother’s Day cardio sessions log in under an hour.
- Spend solid time in their heart‑healthy zone, where cardio actually strengthens the heart and builds endurance.
- Knock out a big chunk of their weekly 150‑minute cardio goal in one fun, faith‑filled session.
You walk out with more than photos and memories—you leave with better numbers for your heart, body, and mood.
Get your tickets
AfroFun Praise Party happens Sunday, May 10, 4–5 PM at 2400 FM 2920, Spring, TX 77388, with free parking and in‑person, high‑energy vibes. Tickets are limited, and early spots always move fastest once people see Shawna Pat and WoWo Boyz are in the building.
Advice
How Far Would You Go to Book Your Dream Role?

The question Sydney Sweeney’s career forces every serious artist to ask themselves.
Most people say they want to be an actor. But wanting the life and being willing to do what the life requires are two entirely different things. Sydney Sweeney’s performance as Cassie Howard in Euphoria is one of the clearest examples in recent television of what it actually looks like when an artist refuses to protect themselves from the story they are telling.
The Performance That Started a Conversation
Cassie Howard is not a comfortable character to watch. She is messy, desperate, and heartbreakingly human in ways that most scripts would have softened or simplified. Sydney Sweeney did not soften her. She played every scene at full exposure — the breakdowns, the humiliation, the moments where Cassie is both completely wrong and completely understandable at the same time.
What made the performance remarkable was not the difficulty of the scenes. It was the consistency of her commitment to them. Night after night on set, take after take, she showed up and gave the camera something real. That is not a small thing. That is the kind of discipline that separates working actors from generational ones.
What the Industry Does Not Tell You
The entertainment industry sells you a version of success built around talent, timing, and luck. And while all three matter, none of them are the real differentiator in a room full of equally talented people. The real differentiator is willingness — the willingness to be honest, to be vulnerable, and to let the work require something personal from you.
Most actors hit a wall at some point in their career where a role demands more than they have publicly shown before. The ones who say yes to that moment, who trust the material and the director enough to go somewhere uncomfortable, are the ones audiences remember long after the credits roll.
Sydney Sweeney said yes repeatedly. And the industry took notice.
The Question Worth Asking Yourself
Before you answer, really think about it. There is a moment in every serious audition room where someone might ask you to go further than you are comfortable with — to access something real, to stop performing and start revealing. In that moment, you have to decide what your dream is actually worth to you and, more importantly, what parts of yourself you are not willing to trade for it.
That is the question Euphoria quietly raises for anyone watching with ambition in their chest. Not “could I do that,” but “should I ever feel pressured to.” There is a difference between an artist who chooses vulnerability as a creative tool and one who is pressured into exposure they never agreed to. Knowing that difference is not a weakness. It is the most important thing a young actor can understand before they walk into a room that will test it.
Because the only role that truly costs too much is the one that asks you to abandon who you are to play it.
What You Can Take From This
Whether you are an actor, a filmmaker, a content creator, or someone simply building something from scratch, the principle is the same. The work that connects with people is almost always the work that cost the creator something real. Audiences can feel the difference between performance and truth. They always could.
Sydney Sweeney did not become one of the most talked-about actresses of her generation because she got lucky. She got there because she was willing to be completely, uncomfortably human in front of a camera — and because she knew exactly who she was before she let the role take over.
That combination — full commitment and a clear sense of self — is rarer than talent. And it is the thing worth chasing.
Written for Bolanle Media | Entertainment. Culture. Conversation.
Entertainment
Bieber’s Coachella Set Has Everyone Arguing Again

And honestly? That might be exactly what he wanted.
Justin Bieber stepped onto the Coachella stage Saturday night as the highest-paid headliner in the festival’s history — reportedly pocketing $10 million — and proceeded to sit down at a laptop and play YouTube videos.
The internet, predictably, lost its mind.
What Actually Happened
This was Bieber’s first major U.S. performance since his Justice era — a long-awaited comeback after battling Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 2022, which caused partial facial paralysis, plus years of mental health struggles and a very public disappearing act from the industry.
The stage setup was minimal: a fluid cocoon-like structure, no backup dancers, no elaborate lighting rigs. Just Bieber, a stool, and a laptop.
He opened with tracks from his 2025 albums Swag and Swag II, then invited the crowd on a journey — “How far back do you go?”
What followed was a nostalgic scroll through his entire career: old YouTube covers before he was famous, classic hits “Baby“ and “Never Say Never“ playing on screen while he sang alongside his younger self. Guests including The Kid Laroi, Wizkid, and Tems joined him throughout the night.
He even played his viral “Standing on Business” paparazzi rant and re-enacted it live, hoodie on, completely unbothered.
The Moment Nobody Predicted
But here’s what the critics burying him in their hot takes chose not to lead with: Bieber closed his set with worship music.
In the middle of Coachella — one of the most secular stages on the planet — he performed songs rooted in his Christian faith, openly crediting Jesus as the reason he was standing on that stage at all.
It wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t a quick prayer and a thank-you. He leaned into it fully, in front of a crowd of 125,000 people who came expecting pop bangers and got a testimony instead.
For fans who have followed his faith journey — his deep involvement with Hillsong and later Churchome, his baptism in 2014, and his very public declaration that Jesus saved his life during his darkest years — the moment landed like a full-circle miracle.
Why People Are Mad
Critics have been brutal.
Zara Larsson summed up the skeptics perfectly, posting on TikTok: “It’s giving let’s smoke and watch YouTube“ — and that clip went just as viral as the performance itself.
One fan on X wrote: “I’m crying, this might actually be the worst performance I’ve ever seen. He’s just playing videos from YouTube… zero effort, pure laziness.”
The comparison to Sabrina Carpenter’s Friday headlining set — elaborate staging, multiple costume changes, celebrity cameos — only made Bieber’s stripped-down show look more controversial.
And the $10 million figure kept coming up. People felt cheated.
Why His Fans Think Everyone’s Missing the Point
Here’s where it gets interesting.
One commenter on X put it best: “He did not force a high-production machine that could burn him out again. Instead, he sat with his past, scrolling through old YouTube videos, duetting with his younger self, and mixing nostalgia with new chapters.”
As the set progressed, Bieber visibly opened up. He removed his sunglasses. He took off his hoodie. He smiled, made jokes about falling through a stage as a teenager.
One Instagram account with millions of followers posted: “This Justin Bieber performance healed something in me.”
That healing language is intentional for Bieber — it mirrors how he talks about his faith. In interviews, he has repeatedly said Jesus didn’t just save his career; He saved his life. The worship set at Coachella wasn’t a gimmick. It was a confession.
The Bigger Picture
Love it or hate it, Bieber’s Coachella set is the most talked-about moment from Weekend One — more than Karol G making history as the first Latina to headline the festival, more than Sabrina Carpenter’s spectacle.
That’s not an accident.
In an era where every headliner tries to out-produce the last one, Bieber walked out with a laptop, a stool, and his faith — and made it personal. For millions of fans watching, the worship songs weren’t filler. They were the point.
Whether you call it lazy or legendary, one thing is clear: Justin Bieber isn’t performing for the critics anymore. He’s performing for an audience of One — and the rest of us just happened to be there.
Drop your take in the comments — was Bieber’s Coachella set lazy, legendary, or something even bigger?
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