#121: “André is an Idiot” Director Tony Benna & Producer Lee Einhorn | The Last Laugh

What if your last idea was the one that mattered most? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Mekanism alums Tony Benna and Lee Einhorn, the director and producer behind André Is an Idiot: a documentary that follows their friend André Ricciardi as he faces stage four colon cancer with a sense of humor. What began as an outrageous pitch from André—that if he was going to die, they should film it—became a three-and-a-half-year journey documenting the final years of his life through laughter, tears, and honest, irreverent storytelling. Tony and Lee share how the film came together, the challenge of balancing comedy and grief, and why staying true to André’s voice meant refusing to make the “sad cancer film” the world expected. They also look back on the film’s whirlwind path to success, from getting picked up by A24 to winning the Audience Award at Sundance and finally securing distribution, and how it has evolved into something more than just a documentary: it’s sparking conversations, encouraging people to get screened for cancer, and ultimately saving lives. Key Takeaways ✅ Humor can help us face the hardest truths ✅ Being invited in is an honor and a responsibility ✅ Sharing your story can make a difference ✅ Always stay true to your voice ✅ Great stories start with real relationships Memorable Moments 💡 “To be invited into those last years of his life was a huge honor.” 💡 “André’s like, ‘I’ve got stage four cancer, let’s make a comedy." 💡 “The bigger goal the whole time was to save lives.” 💡 “It was one of the best times of my life, as horrible as that sounds.” 💡 “Laughter was the best medicine—not just for André, but for all of us” Brought to you by Mekanism.