Indie Spotlight: An Encounter With A ‘Ghost BFF’ Leads To A Discussion On Mental Health

We receive a ton of tips every day from independent creators, unaffiliated with any major motion picture studios, television networks, new media studios, or other well-funded online video entities. The Indie Spotlight is where we’ll write about and shout out to a select few of them and bring you up to speed on the great (and sometimes not-so-great) attention-grabbing series you probably haven’t heard about until now. Read previous installments here.

In Ghost BFF, the dead have returned to haunt the living, but this isn’t your typical supernatural story. Vanessa Matsui‘s dramedy uses the relationship between two friends — one alive, one dead — to explore topics like mental health and mindfulness.

In the first episode of Ghost BFF, we meet Amy (Matsui), whose best friend Tara (Riio Horn) committed suicide three years ago. Suddenly, as Amy is at her boyfriend’s parents’ house, Tara reappears as a ghost, forcing Amy to reckon with her own emotions. Meanwhile, Tara flits around the screen, turning otherwise normal dialogues into conversational havoc.

Ghost BFF shines thanks to the assured rapport between its two leads, its deft blend of comedy and drama, and its fearlessness as it approaches big issues. You can check it out via the video platform WhoHaha.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT

• Brothers. The second season of this frank exploration of transgender topics has launched via Vimeo On Demand.
• Gym Buddies. A foodie couple argues about what to eat for dinner.
• Everyone Else Has. A bunch of friends in New York want what everyone else has.

Got a series you’d like to see featured in the Indie Spotlight? Be sure to contact us here. For best coverage, please include a full episode in your e-mail.