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colin whitman

@samplewhitman

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followers

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Current film: DIMINISHING RETURNS (doc short)
A man hunts streets & dumpsters for recyclables to pay for his daughter’s chemo.

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$80 due today. Out of time and out of options, Ernesto keeps a positive outlook while he hunts the streets and dumpsters of LA for enough recyclables to pay for his daughter’s chemo treatment back home in the Philippines.

Next Screening: Dances With Films: LA PREMIERE!

📆 Monday, June 23rd
⏰ 4:45pm
📍 TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood
Tickets: www.danceswithfilms.com/diminishing-returns

Director: @samplewhitman
Cinematographer: @aleksjovic9
Editor: @alison.messinger @samplewhitman
Sound Mixer: @barryjneely
Composers: @annesophiemarquant @laurentdepla @justinhportis

Trailer for our short documentary film, Diminishing Returns.
#shorts #trailer #documentary #documentaries #shortfilm #shortdoc #shortdocumentary #ofw by @samplewhitman

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3

a year ago

Thrilled to be a part of this year's @chagrinfilmfest
Join us for a fantastic week filled with incredible documentaries!

Our screenings;
Wednesday, October 7th @ 3:30p
Thursday, October 8th @ 12:30p

www.chagrinfilmfest.org taken in Chagrin Falls, Ohio by @samplewhitman

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a day ago

Join us this Saturday for a screening at @diwafilmfest !
Excited to be a part of the festival and cannot wait to check out all the other amazing films!

Saturday, October 3rd @ 1pm
Shorts Program 2: Migrant Stories
Wing Luke Museum
719 South King Street
Seattle, WA 98104

Tickets: Diwafilmfest.com taken in Seattle, Washington by @samplewhitman

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2 days ago

Diminishing Returns
by Colin Whitman

$80 due today. Out of time and out of options, Ernesto keeps a positive outlook while he hunts the streets and dumpsters of LA in the hope of finding enough recyclables to pay for his daughter’s chemo treatment back home in the Philippines.

---
Diwa 2026 Shorts Program II:
Migrant Stories (with Filmmaker Q&A)
Saturday, October 3 • 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Tateuchi Story Theatre, Wing Luke Museum

Co-presented by Tanggol Migrante Movement
(Defend Migrants Alliance).

Come for the films, stay for the Q&A!

* Shorts Program II Tickets:
- 6 films (90 mins.)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diwa-2026-shorts-program-2-migrant-stories-with-filmmaker-qa-tickets-1999718162856

*Festival Pass (Save 20%!)
- from opening reception to all 8 programs
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-diwa-filipino-film-festival-full-festival-pass-tickets-1999734150676

* Full festival details and trailers:
https://diwafilmfest.wordpress.com/2026-festival/ taken in Wing Luke Museum by @samplewhitman

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22 days ago

Diwa 2026 Shorts Program II:
Migrant Stories (with Filmmaker Q&A)
Saturday, October 3 • 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Tateuchi Story Theatre, Wing Luke Museum

This program is co-presented by Tanggol Migrante Movement (Defend Migrants Alliance).

Come for the films, stay for the Q&A!

* Shorts Program II Tickets:
- 6 films (90 mins.)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diwa-2026-shorts-program-2-migrant-stories-with-filmmaker-qa-tickets-1999718162856

*Festival Pass (Save 20%!)
- from opening reception to all 8 programs
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-diwa-filipino-film-festival-full-festival-pass-tickets-1999734150676

* Full festival details and trailers:
https://diwafilmfest.wordpress.com/2026-festival/ by @samplewhitman

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23 days ago

Thank you Indie Street Film Festival for selecting us! Absolutely thrilled to finally share our film with the east coast!

Saturday, August 22nd
11am
Basie Center Cinema House @basiecentercinemahouse

https://indiestreet2026.eventive.org/schedule/6a5c9130e7883ce9c6e177d7 taken in Red Bank, New Jersey by @samplewhitman

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a month ago

"FILM SPOTLIGHT: DIMINISHING RETURNS. We're proud to feature ""Diminishing Returns"" as part of ""THE CROSSING: Finding Our Way Home Through Stories"", the FilAm Creative & ABS-CBN Program.

When his daughter's chemotherapy treatment back home in the Philippines depends on money he doesn't have, Ernesto spends the day collecting recyclables across Los Angeles in a desperate race against time.

Directed and written by Colin Whitman and starring Ernesto Bagayas, Diminishing Returns is a moving portrait of sacrifice, resilience, and the lengths parents will go to for the people they love.

Congratulations to the entire Diminishing Returns team.

Watch Diminishing Returns as part of Episode 4: Pinoys Abroad, Episode 16: Reel Life, and Episode 24: Documentary Spotlight on THE CROSSING on TFC around the world.

@facfilmfestival @kapamilyatfc

#TheCrossing #FilAmCreative #DiminishingReturns #documentary by @samplewhitman

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4 months ago

Hectic month! Beyond grateful that more people are being introduced to Ernesto's story. I hope we can cross paths and can chat at one of the screenings! Check out links in the bio or www.LoneMile.com for more information.

Bloomington Indiana Film Festival
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival
Phoenix Film Festival
Indy Film Festival
FascinAsian Film Festival

Dir.@samplewhitman
DP.@aleksjovic9
Ed. @alison.messinger @samplewhitman
Music. @annesophiemarquant @laurentdepla @justinhportis
Mix.@barryjneely taken in North America by @samplewhitman

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6 months ago

Cannot wait to screen in Indianapolis. It's been a goal of mine since I left central Indiana back in 2003 to build a career in TV/film. And as much as I'm ashamed it took so long put a short film together, I'm more excited to share with my fellow hoosiers some of that journey and the work and the love the folks credited below poured into this story.

Thursday, April 23rd - 6p @ Kan-Kan Cinema
Saturday, April 25th - 3p @ Dance Kaleidescope
https://2026.indyfilmfest.org/films/69c3090c82a4da7f9cfafa37

Dir.@samplewhitman
DP.@aleksjovic9
Ed.@alison.messinger @samplewhitman
Music.@annesophiemarquant @laurentdepla @justinhportis
Mix.@barryjneely taken in Indianapolis by @samplewhitman

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6 months ago

Can't wait to see all of the incredible films at this year's Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival @sebastopoldocs . Join us for our screening in Norcal! https://sdff2026.eventive.org/

Saturday, April 11th, 11:30am
Sebastopol Center for the Arts

Dir. @samplewhitman
DP. @aleksjovic9
Ed. @alison.messinger @samplewhitman
Music. @annesophiemarquant @laurentdepla @justinhportis
Mix. @barryjneely

#sdff #sebdocs #sebdocfest by @samplewhitman

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7 months ago

Excited to announce that we've been accepted in the 2026 @phoenixfilmfestival . April 9th-19th. Schedule coming soon! #pff2026

Dir. @samplewhitman
DP. @aleksjovic9
Ed. @alison.messinger @samplewhitman
Mix. @barryjneely
Music. @annesophiemarquant @laurentdepla @justinhportis taken in Phoenix, Arizona by @samplewhitman

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7 months ago

Thrilled to share Diminishing Returns with @cambriafilmfestival this week!

We screen:
Thu, Feb 5th, 4:00 PM @ Moonstone Cellars
Fri, Feb 6th, 1:30 PM @ Cambria Center for the Arts
Cambria, CA
Ticket link in bio.

Dir.@samplewhitman
Dp.@aleksjovic9
Ed.@alison.messinger @samplewhitman
Mix.@barryjneely
Music.@annesophiemarquant @laurentdepla @justinhportis taken in Cambria, California by @samplewhitman

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8 months ago