Notes from the February 1, 2015 Iron Mule Screening

A warm crowd of non-football-lovers braved the cold and sleet on this Superbowl Sunday to join the gang at Symphony Space.

Hosts Jay Stern and Victor Varnado's guest judge for the evening was filmmaker and video artist Joan Grossman.

Victor and Jay greet the Iron Mule audience.

Joan talked with Jay and Victor about what she likes in short comedy films (being funny and having a strong story helps) and what she doesn't like (a slow lead up to just one joke).

Then it was time for the films. Our first movie of the evening did have a slow build-up, but concluded with a series of jokes, each one building on the last. Shot in a creepy CSI style, Jean-Pierre Michael's Impact, our entry from France, was a classy way to begin the evening. It was followed by a West Coast film, Damien Patrick's Directors on Directing, in which, through a series of profound interviews, three movie directors reveal what they have discovered to be the real power of filmmaking.

Our second block of films began with Sam Frazier, Jr.'s documentary, The Ghost Pepper Eating Contest of Jefferson County. We've shown a few films by Sam before, and this one was just as good as the others, documenting a competition in which people perform the stupid act of seeing how many ghost peppers they can eat before their body shuts down.

Next was a film by another returning filmmaker: Perry Strong was back with his movie The Stick, a slickly-shot film about a very poorly executed caper. Perry was there to talk about his film afterwards, and we discussed his choice to shoot this very funny movie like a thriller.

Actor/writer/director Perry Strong talks to an adoring audience.

Out last film in competition was the epic Down in Flames: the True Story of Tony "Volcano" Valenci directed by William Stribling, and written by him and R.J. Lewis. This movie, featuring real Guinness World Record holders and performers Todd Robbins, The Great Throwdini, and Richie Magic, tells the story of a fire eater who decides his greatest stunt will be becoming the first person to blow fire while skydiving. Needless to say, his amazing journey is fraught with risks and challenges. Producer / writer R.J. Lewis was at the screening, along with actors Sarah Blaze and Richie Magic. We talked to them about their work on this ambitious film, which straddles reality and fiction in some interesting ways.

"Down in Flames" team from left to right: Richie Magic, Sarah Blaze, R. J. Lewis

Closing out the night were not one, but two "Wanna Be a Star" movies, featuring audience members from previous shows who won a chance to star in their own movie. This time, Jay and Victor each made a movie, both starring the same two ladies, and both starting with the same two lines of dialogue. First up was Jay's Velociraptors in Heat starring audience member Hannah Stone, and then Victor presented Salmonella, starring Trilby Schreiber. The ladies came on stage for an interview and seemed delighted with their appearance on the big screen.

Victor and Jay with Hannah Stone and Trilby Schreiber

Joan Grossman returned to announce this night's winners: the Judges' Award went to Down in Flames and the Audience Favorite was The Stick.

Joan Grossman announces the winners.

But as Joan said, all of the movies were winners, and we repaired to the Bar Thalia for our after party, where R.J. Lewis and Richie Magic thrilled the crowd with magic tricks!

R. J. Lewis starts a trick with filmmaker Pamela Wess...

…and he picks her card!

Thanks to all of you who made it out to the February Iron Mule, and we'll see you next month at our March 1st screening!

Notes from the January 4th, 2015 Iron Mule Screening

Happy 2015 from Iron Mule! 2014 was a year with great shorts and what better way to celebrate than by presenting the "Best of's" from the year's past shows!

Jay and Victor greet the crowd

Our first guest judge of the new year was comedy producer Sam Varela.

Victor and Jay chat with Sam

Sam talked about judging each work of comedy on its own terms and to determine if it successfully achieves what it tries to do. Of course with a "best of" her job of judging a favorite film was going to be extra hard, since all of the films in the lineup were quite successful.

There were many international submissions in 2014 with a quite few from Australia, two of which made to the top ten list. The first one of the evening was Craig Melville's THE POLYGAMIST, a funny story about a woman's life juggling three men. Next up was David Foster and Donald Russell's YOU GOOD!, a humorous twist of drug dealers working as doctors on the streets. Comedian Perry Strong also features in the film and co-produced. He was there to talk about the film, his work, and how to successfully get away with using the "n-word" in comedy.

Perry Strong explains it all to Victor and Jay

We went back to Australia with Nick Hunter and Seaton Kay-Smith's FLOAT, a long-standing favorite about a man disturbed by meeting his ex-girlfriend's new beau at a party. Director Pamela Wess presented her film, ON WOMEN WHO VALIDATE THEMSELVES THROUGH SEX, about one woman's angst in not getting enough attention from men as her friend lays spread-eagle on the ground, casually drawing in every guy walking by.

Pamela Wess talks to the crowd. You can't see it in this picture but she was wearing green galoshes!

Next up, from the West Coast, was Jeremy Ungar's I'M 23 AND THERE'S A FUCKING MONSTER UNDER MY BED about, well, a 23-year-old still plagued by a monster under his bed, and his last-ditch attempt to get rid of it. Then came SPOONERS, in which writer/director Bryan Horch playfully exposes how a man struggles to buy a mattress for him and his husband without having to make a big deal out of it. Co-star Ben Lerman was there to represent the film.

Ben Lerman talks about SPOONERS - now a webseries!

We closed with one final live action film, and three animated ones. First, Chris Capel's LIVING WITH JIGSAW starred a scary but very funny puppet playing twisted games.  Last month's judge's award winner, HIGHWAY OF HELL by Andy and Carolyn London, returned for an encore performance of this unique charcoal on paper animation about the "beauty" of Clam Cove, Long Island.  Next was Natalie Labarre's PAPA, a sweet father/daughter story where dad tries his best at being a good dad, despite the obstacles.  Finally, Jason Coates' creative DICTIONARY MODELS, about a dictionary-model duo, capped the "Best of" list for 2014.

Animators unite! From left: Carolyn and Andy London, Jason Coates

Then votes were tallied and Pamela Wess brought home the Audience Award for ON WOMEN… and in one of our toughest votes ever, Chris Capel's LIVING WITH JIGSAW squeaked to the top to win the Judges' Prize.

Thanks to all of you who came out, and to all the filmmakers who made 2014 so memorable.

Join us February 1st for the next Iron Mule screening at Symphony Space!

Photos by Angela Manzolillo

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.