Notes from the December 7, 2014 Iron Mule Screening

Hosts Victor Varnado and Jay Stern Santa-ing it up.

Happy Holidays from Iron Mule! We had a great crowd out on our December 7th show and hosts Jay Stern and Victor Varnado graced the stage in the spirit of the holidays.  This month's guest judge was Philip Shane, an award-winning documentary producer, director and editor. 

Guest judge Philip Shane talks about what he likes to see in comedy films.

There are many holiday traditions which people follow around this time and at the Iron Mule there's no exception! We started as we have every December, since 2003, with the entertaining WHITE BLOOD CELL SAVES CHRISTMAS by Tate English and Dano Johnson. This animated film about a white blood cell taking over for an ailing Santa is an annual holiday classic of choice.

WHY I MAKE MOVIES by Sam Frazier, Jr. was the first film in competition and it presented to us the life of a filmmaker -- not about creating the art of film, but about the parties and the people you'll meet once the film gets into festivals.  Frazier's witty slide projector style film gave an honest rundown of this glamorous festival lifestyle.

The next short was an animated piece by Jason Petrovich titled JIM MORRISON'S BIG COMEBACK.  Playing on the hoax of the singer's death, Morrison is seen live and well as a ventriloquist for his puppet Mojo Risin.

Q&A with Jason Petrovich

The international part of the competition came from Karen Di Porto of Rome with her short called CAESAR.  Shot around the surroundings of the Coliseum, the story focuses on a man's economic troubles who tries to make a living by taking photos with tourists dressed as a centurion.  Ironically, his name is Caesar and we explore his modern day battle in the Italian tourism marketplace.

HANKY PANKY is a quirky short about a napkin expert set up on a blind date.  Unaware and disinterested of his "date" at a friend's dinner, his love for napkins began to shine once the date's special vintage handkerchief enters and adds some sizzle.  Hanky panky ensues between the animated napkins and possibly through their respective owners.  Written by Nick Roth and Toby Bryan, directed by Lindsey Haun.

Asher Muldoon is the festival's youngest writer/director to have a short screened at the Iron Mule. screened His GOODNIGHT JEEVES was creatively done with minimal time, cast, and space. The film presented his offbeat take of a man's relationship with his butler inspired by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie's Jeeves and Wooster.

Producer Ryan Arey and filmmaker Asher Muldoon talk to the audience.

Geoffrey Plitt's THE HERO SUPER brought light to a different kind of superhero, a kind which doesn't get too much credit. In an effort to save his building from being demolished due to crime in the area, its very dedicated and handy superintendent makes himself into a superhero, complete with wrench nun-chucks and key-chain brass knuckles.  It has all the suspense of a superhero film with a comedic twist.

Our last film in competition, HIGHWAY OF HELL, invites us to visit a peculiar town called Clam Cove on Long Island, expressed through a man's frightening but fascinating story of his youth there.  The dark feel of the story was heightened by its animation done with charcoal on paper, creatively executed by Andy and Carolyn London.

Animator Andy London talking about his film.

Finally, it was time for the world premiere of this month's "Wanna Be Star" movie HILL OF BEANS, starring audience member winner Shelly Addi and written and directed by Pamela Wess. This film pretty much defies explanation. You can see it here.

Star Shelli Addi with director Pamela Wess

Choosing next month's "Wanna Be a Star" winner!

It was a tough contest, but THE HERO SUPER ultimately won the audience award and the judge's award went to HIGHWAY OF HELL.

We'll see you January 4th for the Best of 2014 Iron Mule screening at Symphony Space!

 

November 2014 Show Recap

Jay and Victor speak with Jessica Delfino

Hosts Jay and Victor kicked off November's show with special guest judge of the evening, Jessica Delfino, a comedic musician who shared her experience riding a bicycle around New York by performing a song titled "My Experiences Riding a Bicycle Around NYC".  

Jessica sings!

Before introducing the night's films, the hosts started off with a screening of GENTRIFY OR DIE, a film written by Joshua Fisher and Mike Brown with host Victor Varnado (who also directed), where tenants of a building fear hipsters moving in and ultimately gentrifying the neighborhood.  

with Mike Brown and Joshua Fisher

The first film in competition came to us from Australia titled TRASH, a story about a man who after fighting with his girlfriend needs to discreetly dispose of "something" with the help of his laid-back younger brother who has "done this before".  Written and directed by Ryan O'Donnell.

Next, Abby Holland's THE RETURN OF SATURN introduced a fun web series about how a planet's orbit could bring big changes into adulthood, whether you like it or not, even if it involves seeing imaginary friends.  The series is directed by Geoffrey Stevens.

with Abby Holland and Geoffrey Stevens

Then, Rahdy Elwan's amusing one minute short SUPERSNACKERS made us desire the power to instantaneously snack whenever from wherever.  

The animated portion of the evening featured SPAMORAMA by Mondo Ghulam, a creative puppet animation that made going through spam mail entertaining, and DICTIONARY MODELS, a cleverly funny illustration created by Jason Coates about Chuply and Babcock's career as models for dictionary words.

Rounding out the final two films were HOW GUYS' THOUGHTS RUIN PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS by Marvin Lemus, a humorous inside look of a guy's actual feelings about his girl, and lastly Rob Muraskin's CARPOOL THERAPY, an offbeat take on people's problems in carpooling.

Rob Murskin talks about "Carpool Therapy."

Last month's "Wanna Be a Star" winner Martin Lund introduced his role in FRONT ROW CENTER, which in typical "Wanna Be a Star" fashion was finished mere hours before the screening. The Audience and Judges' Award went to DICTIONARY MODELS by Jason Coates.

Star Martin Lund talks about "Front Row Center."

Jason Coates receives the Judges' Prize

Thanks to all of you who came out to the screening and we'll see you at the next show on December 7th at 7:30pm!      

Notes From Our October Show

Our special guest judge Mike Maronna (Big Pete from The Adventures of Pete and Pete) was an excellent addition as hosts Jay and Victor took us through this GREAT lineup of films from around the world featuring a web series, zombies, late night horror hosts and wheelchair-bound bank robbers.

Our QnAs included a chat with Ryan Decker and Garrett Johnston, the writers/directors of Man With a Van, a web series about movers in New York.
We then invited brothers Kyle and Levi McCachen, writer and director resp. of Disabled and Dangerous, a Canadian heist comedy about three friends with ALS who are driven to desperate measures.

The night's Judges' Award went to Brains? by Giles McNeil and Paul Stephanus, a fantastic comedy about zombies in New Zealand who are terrorized by the unstoppable threat.... of humans!
Our Audience's Award was won by Disabled and Dangerous.

We closed the night, once again, with our Wanna Be a Star? film, which pairs one lucky audience member with a local filmmaker to create a short film based on an audience-generated title. This month's film was a horror flick, Chop House. It was written and directed by Iron Mule co-founder Victor Varnado, and starred audience member Natalie Shutler.

Come on over to Symphony Space on Sunday November 3rd at 7:30pm for silent comedies from Denmark, an out-of-work super sidekick, our next Wanna Be A Star? film So I Married a Canadian, and more!

Films from the October show included:

Brains?
Zombies are threatened by an unstoppable threat. 
written by Giles McNeill and Paul Stephanus, directed by Giles McNeill

The Horrible Life of Dr. Ghoul
A late night horror show host is having a bad day. 
written and directed by Don Swaynos 

Disabled and Dangerous
Three people with ALS resort to drastic measures to save their local ALS Center. 
written by Barry Varga and Levi McCachen, directed by Kyle McCachen

Night of the Loving Dead
A zombie movie with more heart than brains. 
written by Anna Humphries, Regina Moriarty, and Toby Cohen, directed by Anna Humphries 

How To Steal a Bed
When a teenager tries to buy a bed for his grandmother, he learns some valuable life lessons. From Switzerland. 
written and directed by Cristian Sulser 

Guns For Cronuts and Other Pressing Issues Facing New Yorkers
Comedian and Late Night Basement host Chris Rose quizzes New Yorkers on the most pressing issues.
written and directed by Chris Rose

Man With a Van: The Commercial
A fake commercial for the best fly-by-night moving company in the city.
written and directed by Garrett Johnston

Chop House
Part of the "Wanna Be a Star?" contest, starring audience member Natalie Shutler! 
written and directed by Victor Varnado 

Notes From Our September 8th Show

The Iron Mule returned to Symphony Space for a night of great shorts. We began with a film about love... Italian style. "L'Appuntamento" by co-writer/director/star Gianpiero Alicchio shows the intricacies and duplicity of dating complete with overpriced vegan dinners and unforeseen second dates.

Next we showed a few films from LA-based sketch comedy troop, Kill Bosby. Check them out HERE.

Our audience award went to Kevin Maher & William Scurry's film, "King Kong Deleted Scenes." Scurry was in attendance for a QnA and to show off his sweet bow tie. Watch this long-lost conversation from the voyage back from Skull Island HERE.

The judges' award went to "Garden of Steven" from Chris Keener and Robert Shore.  Producer Nick Fitzhugh joined us for a QnA. Check out the trailer for this excellent, Guatemala-set film about a hapless missionary and his encounter with the saint of sinners and drunks, Maximon HERE.

Once again, we closed the night with our Wanna Be a Star? film, a series of films that pairs one or more lucky audience members with a director and an audience-submitted title to create something that will be screened at the following month's show. This month it was "Chartreuse Pantograph" directed by Iron Mule producer, Ryan Decker. The audience members participated in a fake audition for a terrible space opera about an inter-sex alien parasite who is trying to reunite the galaxy after a universe-wide war. The audience members included Kate Britton, Zak Kaplan, Garrett Johnston and Tim Hoobler.

Head to Symphony Space on Sunday October 6th for the next installment in the series, "Chop House" directed by the Iron Mule's co-founder Victor Varnado, a Halloween-themed lineup of films, and a very  special guest judge!

Check out our site for more details and we will see you at the next Iron Mule!

Notes from our August 4th Show.

The Iron Mule returned with guest judge, comedian Liam McEneaney, and a host of great comedies from around the world.

We started out with  ABOGADO AVOCADO from Austin, TX, an absurdly funny commercial for the tastiest law firm this side of the border. Directed by David Ward.

From Larry Ziegelman we showed LITTLE MAN OF STEEL, a great film about the difficulties of dating Superman. 

Who says Germans aren't funny? Other than Mark Twain and a host of other people? RETTE SICH WER KANN (Save Yourself) dispels all the rumors in this excellent film about a couple of hapless EMTs who can't seem to save a life without getting a speeding ticket, slapping an old lady or flipping their ambulance. Directed by Daniel Seideneder.

Our audience award went to COMPULSIVE LOVE, a great web series about a psychotic-romantic who can't help falling in love. Written by Adam Szymkowicz, directed by Kevan Tucker.

From comedian and host of the Brooklyn-based web talk show Late Night Basement, Chris Rose, we showed GUY FIERI'S RESTAURANT MOVES TO WILLIAMSBURG, a man-on-the-street video that asks hipsters their view on "factory farm-to-table cuisine."

CEDRIC AND HOPE, a medieval claymation from Australia about a peasant boy who tries to prove his mettle as a Crusader, took home our judge's award. Directed by Pierce Davison.

We closed the night with our Wanna Be A Star? film by local filmmaker and comedian Jeff Seal. Audience member Shlomo Gewirtz offers Jeff a little advice on the fairer sex in this very funny short.

 All photos by Tom Henning.

Notes From Our July 7, 2013 Screening

MOVIN ON UP!

The Iron Mule just had its first show at Symphony Space, and how sweet it was. We had a great turnout and showed some damn-good films.

We even had a famous documentarian as our guest judge; Phillip Shane (BEING ELMO, and the upcoming DANCING IN JAFFA). 

We kicked off the evening with HICCUP by Derville Quigley which was a surreal piece about the things that lie within and outside of our control... And bouncy castles, of course.
Then from Byron Brown and the guys at HUMORDY we showed MY COOLEST FRIEND. There's a lot of fun to be had when you combine a porche, an electric dog collar and John Merriman in a wig.

From Tim Blackburn and Lyndal Moody we showed MONOBROW, a hilarious short about a girl who's met the perfect guy, except.... He has a giant unibrow. Follow the link to see, it's Iron Mule approved after taking home our Audience Award!

Next we screened the first installment of the upcoming webseries, MAN WITH A VAN, a series about the misadventures of movers in New York. It's funny AND it's written and directed by one of Iron Mule's producers and local man with a van, Ryan Decker.

From Mitch Rouse we showed MERKIN PENAL, a prison comedy with more rape jokes than you could shake a shank at.

Jeff Seal came by to share a drunken conversation he'd recently had with his drunken 15 year old self called... A (DRUNKEN) CONVERSATION WITH MY 15 YEAR OLD SELF.

Then from Periods Films we saw BIG CITY, BRIGHT LIGHTS which was a great, five minute, first-person POV version of the novel/Michael J Fox movie.

Our Judges Award went to I'LL BE HERE ALL NIGHT by Andrew Parkhill, which featured a beleaguered pub singer and the deranged old man who just wouldn't let him finish his set.

We then ended our night with our monthly WANNA BE A STAR? movie which pairs one lucky audience member with an Iron Mule filmmaker to make a short to screen at the following month's show. This time around it was GRANDPA'S CANDY written & directed by Iron Mule hosts Jay Stern and Victor Varnado and starring audience member Brad Brownson. Check it out!

We will be back at Symphony Space on August 4th for the next installment of the Iron Mule. See you there!

Acclaimed Director, Editor, and Producer Phillip Shane to Guest Judge July 7 Iron Mule

We wanted to kick off our first show at Symphony Space with a bang, so we booked a high-caliber guest judge: old friend of the Iron Mule, Phillip Shane. Here's some info about Phillip.

Philip Shane is an award winning documentary producer, director and editor with over 25 years experience. Some of his most recent films include DANCING IN JAFFA (Editor; 2013 TriBeCa Film Festival World Premiere, and Winner of the Best Editor award at the DocAviv Festival in Israel), BEING ELMO (Co-Director, 2010 Sundance Film Festival World Premiere & Winner of the Special Jury Prize for Documentary), and the acclaimed biography EINSTEIN (Producer/Director, 2008, History Channel).

For more than ten years he was an editor with ABC News on many distinguished documentaries, including TIP OF THE SPEAR (2004, DuPont Columbia Award for Distinguished Broadcasting) and MARTIN LUTHER KING (2000, Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Program). A short film he made with Peter Jennings and Senior Producer Richard Gerdau, WITNESS TO HISTORY, which explored Jenning's personal memories of 9/11, was entered into the permanent collection of American History at the Smithsonian Institution.

But, holy moly, documentaries can be depressing, so he also loves comedy. As a student, performer and director at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater for over 12 years, he was a founding member of the pioneering LECHE MAGICA short comedy film festival, and he and Rob Huebel (of "Human Giant") created, directed and starred in FILET O' FILM, a short film & live comedy show which ran for many years at the UCB Theaters in New York and Los Angeles. He has made many short comedy films (which you can find on YouTube and Funny Or Die if you look hard enough) which are all pretty funny, and just a little bit sad… but mostly funny.