Comedian and star of the upcoming comedy FIRST TIME FEMALE DIRECTOR, Benito Skinner, attended to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). Along with co-star Natasha Leggero and director/co-star Chelsea Peretti, the trio took to the red carpet to promote the film, which premieres on the Roku Channel next month on March 8th. FIRST TIME FEMALE DIRECTOR is screening at SBIFF after initially premiering last year at the Tribeca Film Festival.

SKINNER TACKLES A MAIN ROLE IN ‘FIRST TIME FEMALE DIRECTOR’

“I love this movie so much, and I’m so honored to in it,” gushed Skinner. “Chelsea was an incredible actor/director. This was my first main role…it was a dream, truly.”

The story follows Sam, a newly minted female director, who struggles to fill the shoes of her male predecessor, putting her Southern rural drama in jeopardy. With no one to lean on but her deeply troubled therapist and a desperate usher, Sam grasps for guidance from the theater’s sadistic artistic director. All the while the company’s ticket-taker Star is secretly rising up the ranks behind the scenes.

Skinner expressed his excitement being able to openly support and spread the world about FIRST TIME FEMALE DIRECTOR, since the film’s festival buzz was dampened by last year’s actors and writers strikes. “Obviously that [the strikes] were for the right reasons, but I’m so excited to celebrate this movie that Chelsea worked so hard on and that we all love so much.”

SKINNER REVEALS THE RIDE PODCAST’S FIRST GUEST

While FIRST TIME FEMALE DIRECTOR may be Skinner’s first major role, Benito has several other creative irons in the fire. He just appeared on an episode on hit show “Curb Your Enthusiasm“, his skits on his Instagram regularly garner millions of views, and Skinner co-hosts the popular podcast RIDE. A joint endeavor with his best friend and frequent collaborator Mary Beth Barone, the pair shares their witty, ridiculous, and irreverent musings on life, the universe, existence, and what they currently “ride” for on a weekly basis.

Ride’s popularity transcends the airwaves. Skinner and Barone went on an international tour, aptly called “Ride Live” with their hyper-specific, pop culture-laden, and irresistible brand of humor. With thousands of devoted fans who call themselves “Baronies”, they’ll be delighted to learn that this Skinner told Temple of Geek exclusively that next month will be “Ride Heritage Month”. Furthermore, the podcast will be welcoming its first guest. “We have a legend coming,” Skinner teased.

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH BENITO SKINNER

Kathy O’Connor, the mother of Skinner’s longtime boyfriend Terence O’Connor, will be the first guest on Ride. O’Connor, who Baronies might know better as “Terry’s Mom”, is a beloved character on Skinner’s Instagram. Since 2020, Skinner’s featured her in a series of videos where he plays a conniving adversary to Terry’s mom while pretending to be a loving partner to his unsuspecting boyfriend. The sketches are hilarious, and clearly only work as well as they do because Skinner and the O’Connors’ off-screen dynamic is nothing like what’s on Instagram.

SEE THE SKETCH WITH TERRY’S MOM

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Skinner’s excitement about Kathy’s appearance on Ride was palpable at SBIFF, “She’s my favorite ride of the season.” Ride releases new episodes weekly on Wednesdays, and is available on all major listening platforms.