FRUIT SNACK STUDIOS is a comedy sketch group started by my friend Brandon Lecy. His videos will occasionally feature myself in either the front of the camera or behind the camera, or possibly both. Brandon is one of the most talented people I know and his sketches are 100% him. All camera work, editing, writing, and original music is done by Brandon himself. He recently uploaded his very first short for FRUIT SNACK STUDIOS, which happens to be a reimagining of something we did together awhile back called "The Eggs".
Watch the video below and let us know in the comments what you think!
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Thursday, July 21, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
"A Victim, A Target" a short film by Me
I have another short film to share with you today. This is kind of long over due. It's a 16mm short film that I made for a production class in 2014. It was shot on a bolex camera using kodaks 16mm reversal black and white film. It was developed and digitally transferred by none other then NYC's shitty PAC lab. The short film actually deviated quite a bit from my original script, due to technical errors and beginner mistakes. However, it was a fun shoot and I'm happy with some of the overall photography. You may recognize the music from Francois Truffaut's The 400 Blows. Anyway, the film was originally an attempt to be an exercise in style. Share your thoughts in the comments below!
A Victim, A Target from Jonathan Rigler on Vimeo.
"Death Becomes Him"
Well, I'm back with another short film directed by a good friend of mine from New York. This one is called "Death Becomes Him". It is the first film from Williamscott Sorge and he wrote, edited, scored, and directed it. He also stars in it as well. It also features Jordan Yagiello, who appears in the last short I posted, and one of my films as well. Check it out below and leave your comments with any thoughts!
Death Becomes Him from Williamscott Sorge on Vimeo.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
A Very Short Affair
From Brooklyn, New York filmmaker William Breen delivers us an enjoyable short film titled "A Very Short Affair". From the very beginning it's clear that the film is very inspired by Woody Allen and pays homage to Manhattan. But, as the film goes on there are also influences from the French New Wave movement. The first half of the short film is wonderfully cut together and makes great use of quick cuts, still frames, long shots, and even a beautiful still long take. The writing is fun and sharp and the main actor Preston Mulligan gives the character a lot of life. However, at least in my personal opinion the tail end of "A Very Short Affair" loses some of it's momentum. It relies too much on the performers to liven up the material and it's just not strong enough for that. The beautiful scenic shots and lively editing is gone and is replaced with a phone conversation that cuts back between to static medium shots. It's not bad, it just doesn't live up to the first half. But, you might think my opinion is a bunch bollocks, so check it out below and leave your thoughts in the comments.
A Very Short Affair from William Breen on Vimeo.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
IRIS TRAILER
Well, I know its been some time (over a year) since I've posted on here, but now that my life has calmed down a bit, I'm going try to return to making regular posts and being more active.
My return comes with some big news. Back in February 2014, I posted about some short films that Christopher Steinberger had made that were leading up to his feature film Iris. After three years in the making Iris is finally going to have it's premiere and a trailer for the feature is finally here. Christopher Steinberger of Syracuse, NY was able to raise $7,000 dollars on Kickstarter to fund this action thriller. The trailer looks pretty stunning and I actually showed up as an extra for a scene in the film, so even more reason for you to seek this out to watch. Check out the trailer below and leave your thoughts in the comments!
My return comes with some big news. Back in February 2014, I posted about some short films that Christopher Steinberger had made that were leading up to his feature film Iris. After three years in the making Iris is finally going to have it's premiere and a trailer for the feature is finally here. Christopher Steinberger of Syracuse, NY was able to raise $7,000 dollars on Kickstarter to fund this action thriller. The trailer looks pretty stunning and I actually showed up as an extra for a scene in the film, so even more reason for you to seek this out to watch. Check out the trailer below and leave your thoughts in the comments!
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Top Picks of 2014 (so far)
With 2014 being half finished, I decided to make a list of my top 10 favorite 2014 films thus far. Granted, there is still many films that I regrettably missed and my list definitely reflects that. While some of these are serious contenders to be on the top of my list at the end of the year, others will shortly be knocked off as I see new films coming out and catch up on the ones I may have missed earlier on. I'll be counting down from 10 to 1.
10 - Neighbors (dir. Nicholas Stoller)
Now this is case and point of the fact that I just haven't seen all the movies I should have this year. However, I did really enjoy Neighbors. This studio comedy contained enough absurdity and weird bits to keep my interest and the performances were on-point. And I think at the end of the movie there is something to be said about learning to move on and accepting your current situation in life.
9 - Godzilla (dir. Gareth Edwards)
I had a tough time with this movie, simply because I wanted so bad to love it. I personally don't even fully know what I expected, but I was a bit let down. I am a huge fan of the 1954 Japanese Godzilla. It's simply one of the best monster movies period. I am also a huge fan of Gareth Edwards first film Monsters. A really unique low budget monster movie that features really great characters and some beautiful visuals. So my hope was that Gareth would be able to give us a 2014 Godzilla that contained the spirit of the original monster himself, along with human characters that I could really get to know and care about. I got about half of that. I'm not sure if a Hollywood version of Godzilla in the year 2014 could be handled any more faultless than he was for this movie. I mean, I could truly feel his presence in the theater. I'm pretty sure I was cheering during the battle scenes. However, everything else in the movie fell completely flat for me. I couldn't of been more disinterested in the characters and I thought there was a large waste of great talent. Not a huge of Aaron-Taylor Johnson either and I don't think he was a good lead. However, the thirty minutes that Godzilla is on screen was so much fun and that is why Godzilla is number 9 on my list.
8 - X-Men: Days of Future Past (dir. Bryan Singer)
It is extremely rare that a superhero movie will ever make my top 10 list. I'm just not that into superhero movies. The X-Men though, have always been an exception. I think that they are the most interesting and entertaining of the superhero movies, especially in the Marvel universe. X-Men: Days of Future Past exceeds on many levels, but mainly from it's great cast. I think that the actors chosen fit the roles perfectly and I am able to find myself engaged with them almost immediately. Dealing with a subject such as time travel, can too often become convoluted and distracting for the audience, because they are too busy trying to figure out the timeline of events. This movie skips all of that by making it very straight forward of how time works in the universe and how the future is affected by going back and changing events.
7 - The Grand Budapest Hotel (dir. Wes Anderson)
Wes Anderson gives us a black comedy that is very funny and yet sad. The tone of the movie almost depends on the audience you see it with. As expected there is an excellent ensemble cast in the movie, but Ralph Fiennes is truly superb and really stands out. You either like or don't like Wes Anderson's movies, I happen to like them.
6 - The Final Member (dir. Jonah Bekhor, Zach Math)
A documentary on the world's only penis museum and one man's pursuit in finishing his collection of mammal penises by finding the right human to donate his own. Absolutely hysterical and absurd, while also carrying a poignant theme on what it means to leave your mark or legacy.
5 - The Overnighters (dir. Jesse Moss)
There's so much I could say about The Overnighters, but none of my words would do it justice. What a roller coaster of a documentary. The turns it takes through out are not only surprising, but just truly and utterly affecting. This is going to be a contender for my end of year top 10 list for sure.
4 - Under the Skin (dir. Jonathan Glazer)
Beautiful, ambiguous, intense. This movie is on another level.
3 - Borgman (dir. Alex van Warmerdam)
What if evil came in a physical form and found it's way into your life unexpectedly and started turning everything around for you. Slowly taking over everything you once knew, until everything you had is no longer yours? Borgman is one of the most brilliant dark fairy tales I have ever seen. Hilarious, disturbing, and horrifying.
2 - Blue Ruin (dir. Jeremy Saulnier)
A very intense revenge thriller. Sounds pretty typical, but Blue Ruin handles revenge as something that one may not always want to do, but sometimes it has to be done.
1 - Only Lovers Left Alive (dir. Jim Jarmusch)
One of the greatest working directors Jim Jarmusch returns with one of the best and most unique vampire films in recent memory. With a fantastic lead cast, Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton as a couple of misfit aging vampires, Only Lovers Left Alive is hilarious, smart, and poetic. By far my favorite film of the year and it's going to be a strong contender at the end of the year as well.
10 - Neighbors (dir. Nicholas Stoller)
Now this is case and point of the fact that I just haven't seen all the movies I should have this year. However, I did really enjoy Neighbors. This studio comedy contained enough absurdity and weird bits to keep my interest and the performances were on-point. And I think at the end of the movie there is something to be said about learning to move on and accepting your current situation in life.
9 - Godzilla (dir. Gareth Edwards)
I had a tough time with this movie, simply because I wanted so bad to love it. I personally don't even fully know what I expected, but I was a bit let down. I am a huge fan of the 1954 Japanese Godzilla. It's simply one of the best monster movies period. I am also a huge fan of Gareth Edwards first film Monsters. A really unique low budget monster movie that features really great characters and some beautiful visuals. So my hope was that Gareth would be able to give us a 2014 Godzilla that contained the spirit of the original monster himself, along with human characters that I could really get to know and care about. I got about half of that. I'm not sure if a Hollywood version of Godzilla in the year 2014 could be handled any more faultless than he was for this movie. I mean, I could truly feel his presence in the theater. I'm pretty sure I was cheering during the battle scenes. However, everything else in the movie fell completely flat for me. I couldn't of been more disinterested in the characters and I thought there was a large waste of great talent. Not a huge of Aaron-Taylor Johnson either and I don't think he was a good lead. However, the thirty minutes that Godzilla is on screen was so much fun and that is why Godzilla is number 9 on my list.
8 - X-Men: Days of Future Past (dir. Bryan Singer)
It is extremely rare that a superhero movie will ever make my top 10 list. I'm just not that into superhero movies. The X-Men though, have always been an exception. I think that they are the most interesting and entertaining of the superhero movies, especially in the Marvel universe. X-Men: Days of Future Past exceeds on many levels, but mainly from it's great cast. I think that the actors chosen fit the roles perfectly and I am able to find myself engaged with them almost immediately. Dealing with a subject such as time travel, can too often become convoluted and distracting for the audience, because they are too busy trying to figure out the timeline of events. This movie skips all of that by making it very straight forward of how time works in the universe and how the future is affected by going back and changing events.
7 - The Grand Budapest Hotel (dir. Wes Anderson)
Wes Anderson gives us a black comedy that is very funny and yet sad. The tone of the movie almost depends on the audience you see it with. As expected there is an excellent ensemble cast in the movie, but Ralph Fiennes is truly superb and really stands out. You either like or don't like Wes Anderson's movies, I happen to like them.
6 - The Final Member (dir. Jonah Bekhor, Zach Math)
A documentary on the world's only penis museum and one man's pursuit in finishing his collection of mammal penises by finding the right human to donate his own. Absolutely hysterical and absurd, while also carrying a poignant theme on what it means to leave your mark or legacy.
5 - The Overnighters (dir. Jesse Moss)
There's so much I could say about The Overnighters, but none of my words would do it justice. What a roller coaster of a documentary. The turns it takes through out are not only surprising, but just truly and utterly affecting. This is going to be a contender for my end of year top 10 list for sure.
4 - Under the Skin (dir. Jonathan Glazer)
Beautiful, ambiguous, intense. This movie is on another level.
3 - Borgman (dir. Alex van Warmerdam)
What if evil came in a physical form and found it's way into your life unexpectedly and started turning everything around for you. Slowly taking over everything you once knew, until everything you had is no longer yours? Borgman is one of the most brilliant dark fairy tales I have ever seen. Hilarious, disturbing, and horrifying.
2 - Blue Ruin (dir. Jeremy Saulnier)
A very intense revenge thriller. Sounds pretty typical, but Blue Ruin handles revenge as something that one may not always want to do, but sometimes it has to be done.
1 - Only Lovers Left Alive (dir. Jim Jarmusch)
One of the greatest working directors Jim Jarmusch returns with one of the best and most unique vampire films in recent memory. With a fantastic lead cast, Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton as a couple of misfit aging vampires, Only Lovers Left Alive is hilarious, smart, and poetic. By far my favorite film of the year and it's going to be a strong contender at the end of the year as well.
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