Mario Dhingsa

Websitehttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Mario-Dhingsa/author/B07Y9VSJM9?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEn
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/MarioDhingsa
Facebookhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17843128.Mario_Dhingsa

Mario Dhingsa is a UK-born, Wellington-based, award-winning author, and freelance film critic.

His first published work, High Office Whispers, was awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2018. His first full-length work, Maps of Bliss and Rage, won the Silver Award (Anthologies) in the Feathered Quill Book Awards 2020. His first work of children's fiction, Robot vs Dad was a Finalist in the 2021 ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition.

He is the founder and senior writer of SilverScreenBlack film reviews, available on Twitter. Since 2020, it has grown to become Asia-Pacific's most liked (English language) film review channel. He has also been a freelance film critic for Europe-based Filmotomy and DissectionReflection; and a member of Pandora International Film Critics.

In 2023, Dhingsa presented at the Environmental Protection Authority's (NZ) Annual Symposium, on 'Green Efforts in the Film Industry'. In 2024, he was a guest critic on the UK film podcast 'The Thriller Cabinet' (available on Apple, Spotify, and here).   

Mario Dhingsa is a member of the New Zealand Society of Authors, a former member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, and a former committee member of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.

Interview: 'Seven Questions with Mario Dhingsa' by Esther Rabbit (28/10/2019): Seven soul-searching questions spanning the length of indie publishing and the breadth of an author's sanity.

Genre:

  • Children's Fiction
  • Comedy
  • E-Book
  • Fiction
  • History
  • Review Writing
  • Short Stories
  • Thriller

Skills:

  • Novelist
  • Playwriting
  • Proofreading
  • Readings
  • Reviews
  • Short Story Writing

Branch:

Location:

Wellington

Publications:

High Office Whispers

==================================================================== Winner of the B.R.A.G. Medallion (2018) ==================================================================== 'Feathered Quill' Book Review by Holly Connors (9th June 2018): "Author Mario Dhingsa delivers an interesting, and entertaining, read in his newest work, High Office Whispers. If you've ever wondered what happens with powerful people behind closed doors, check out High Office Whispers - you're sure to get a laugh. Available only as an ebook, High Office Whispers is a collection of three short stories that were originally written as a radio play. For all three stories, the year is 2011, and the place is...well, each place is somewhere very important to world events. High Office Whispers is a quick read, one that you could easily do over a leisurely lunch. The stories are quirky - definitely a bit offbeat and unusual. They also all made me laugh, roll my eyes numerous times (in a good, "oh my" sort of way), and picture those famous people in the circumstances the author created. It is definitely interesting to imagine what the Pope or Putin might do behind closed doors and author Mario Dhingsa has given us a humorous look that may also get you thinking about what might really go on when the cameras are gone. As a very reasonably priced ebook, High Office Whispers is a good investment for a fun afternoon read." Read the full review at: https://featheredquill.com/high-office-whispers/ Read the author's interview at: https://featheredquill.com/author-interview-mario-dhingsa/

Maps of Bliss and Rage

==================================================================== Silver Award Winner, Anthologies - Feathered Quill Book Awards (2020) ====================================================================

'Feathered Quill' Book Review by Amy Lignor (6th September 2019): "There are those who will state that in the world of literature at this time, the number of short story collections are far too few. Those readers are absolutely correct. And this becomes even more blatantly clear when you begin reading this particular collection filled with suspense, romance, the fantastical, the inspirational, and everything else in between. This author has, quite literally, brought the reader along on one of the best trips through history, offering up a variety of factual moments and tales that take part in some of the most stunning areas of the world. In fact, you will not only come away from this book with a sense of longing to read it again right away, but also a yearning to go on the internet and start booking a trip to some of these locales. This author has done an amazing job of waxing lyrical, historical, cultural and, quite frankly, beautiful." Read the full review at: https://featheredquill.com/maps-of-bliss-and-rage/ Read the author's interview at: https://featheredquill.com/author-interview-mario-dhingsa-2/

#SilverScreenBlack film reviews

Founder and Senior Writer of Asia-Pacific's most liked (English language) film reviews!

Est. February 2020. Available on Mario Dhingsa's Twitter channel. 

Replies received from cinema's finest:

  • Rt. Hon. Helen Clark (former UN Administrator and NZ Prime Minister) on 'All Quiet on the Western Front';
  • Gates McFadden (director, actress), on directing a Star Trek horror classic;
  • Christopher McQuarrie (director, writer), on coping with COVID;
  • Frank Oz (director), on the original ending to 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986);
  • David Patrick Kelly (actor), on nunchaku training for 'Dreamscape' (1984)

Freelance film critic for:

Followers include:

  • Jean-Pierre Dorléac (Oscar- and Emmy-nominated costume designer);
  • Jazz Tangcay (Senior Artisans Editor, Variety);
  • Matt Maytum (Deputy Editor, Total Film);
  • Erlingur Einarsson (Production Editor, Total Film);
  • Tanya Black (Manager, Screen Wellington);
  • Julia Kato (actress);
  • Kulvinder Ghir (actor, writer);
  • James J Bryhan (actor)