Episode 50 - Director of Theatrical & Special Events Theresa Mercado

Episode 50 - Director of Theatrical & Special Events Theresa Mercado

Author: They Live By Film July 26, 2026 Duration: 2:33:04
This week, We're stoked to bring you a first time guest on the show, director of theatrical and special events for Vinegar Syndrome, Theresa Mercado! She's been with the company from their west coast beginnings in Brighton, Colorado and we get to spotlight the hard work that goes on behind the scenes at the warehouse, the opening of The Archive (now Vinegar Syndrome Denver) and the various events they throw at all their locations, and finally taking a deep dive into Vinegar Syndrome's ever-growing theatrical exhibitions with VSP titles!

Afterwards, Chris and Eli took the Hurculean task of watching all of the May Halfway to Black Friday titles, along with some partner release for May and June, to talk about them and if you've been listening to prior episodes, you already know one of the year's best discoveries is among this watchpile and there's a new favorite among the sublabels too! We'll back in a little overweek with a special guest to discuss the August announcements!

You can follow Theresa on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/scream.screen/?hl=en
You can also check out VinSyn's events calendar for screenings, events, and VS pop-ups:
https://vinegarsyndrome.com/pages/sales-events-calendar

Thank you to everyone who listens and please let us know how we can make the show better. Always listening!

Someone's Favorite Productions 
https://www.someonesfavoriteproductions.com/

Eli can be found on most socials @eliolsberg, you can also catch his standup show the second Tuesday of every month at the Pleasure Chest in West Hollywood. Also, check out his Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/eliolsberg/

Chris is on
Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/personalhistory/
IG at personalhistoryoffilm

Celeste de la Cabra can be found on most socials at Celeste de la Cabra but is very active on YT and IG right now. Also, if you're not already spend a few dollars per month supporting Celeste: https://www.patreon.com/CelestedelaCabra

There’s a particular thrill in discovering a film that exists entirely on its own terms, made with raw passion rather than a polished playbook. Punk Vacation: An Unofficial Vinegar Syndrome Podcast from They Live By Film is a deep dive into that exact feeling. This isn't a formal history lesson; it's a conversation about the unpredictable, often overlooked corners of cinema that the Vinegar Syndrome label helps preserve. Each episode finds its focus in the joy of unfettered creativity, whether through reviews of specific films, interviews with the people who make them, or discussions about the contexts that shaped them. The podcast operates on a wonderfully simple premise: great stories and compelling art aren't defined by budget, origin, or era. You'll hear about movies from anywhere and any time, treated with a mix of genuine enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. The hosts approach each title not as mere curiosities but as legitimate works worth understanding and celebrating. Listening to this podcast feels like browsing the shelves of a fantastic video store with friends who are equally excited to talk about what they find, connecting the dots between genres, filmmakers, and film history's hidden pathways. It’s a guide to the wild, the weird, and the wonderfully inventive spirit of independent filmmaking.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Punk Vacation: An Unofficial Vinegar Syndrome Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 41 - The inimitable Scooter McCrae and March Releases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:47:58
Finding the joy in unfettered creativity. A podcast dedicated to bringing awareness and context to movies of any budget, from anywhere, and during any time.Episode 41 is Eli and I covering March titles in depth but most…
Episode 39 - VSP Director Kansas Bowling and February Releases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:50:14
Finding the joy in unfettered creativity. A podcast dedicated to bringing awareness and context to movies of any budget, from anywhere, and during any time.In Episode 39 Eli and I cover the Feburary announcements and det…
Episode 37 - Valentine's Special: Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:35
Finding the joy in unfettered creativity. A podcast dedicated to bringing awareness and context to movies of any budget, from anywhere, and during any time.In Episode 37, Eli and Chris are back for Part 2 of the Valentin…
Episode 33 - Valentine's Special: Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12:38
Finding the joy in unfettered creativity. A podcast dedicated to bringing awareness and context to movies of any budget, from anywhere, and during any time.In Episode 33 we are going to try something slightly different.…
Episode 35 - February Announcements With THE Ryan Verrill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:07
Finding the joy in unfettered creativity. A podcast dedicated to bringing awareness and context to movies of any budget, from anywhere, and during any time.In Episode 35 we finally sit down with the esteemed stepfather o…