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. 

Notes from our June, 2013 screening

On Sunday we had our final show at 92YTriBeCa. It was a fond farewell featuring some great films and it was even hosted the now former film programmer 92Y TriBeCa,  our friend Cristina Cacioppo.
We kicked the night off with Cristina's Wanna Be A Star film, SLEDGE, an old favorite of the Mule's.

Victor & Cristina Cacioppo. Photo by Thomas Henning

We then showed BREAKFAST SURPRISE by Chris Capel, a bloody/ puke-filled film about  breakfast and Jenga. There were as many screams in the audience as there were laughs.


That was followed by another installment in the J. CREW CREW series about the adventures of models and friends. Writer/ Director Meghan O'Neill  came to talk about this and other pieces based on magazines lying around her apartment.

Meghan O'Neill. Photo by Thomas Henning

                                                                 
A rare, midwestern appearance was made by Zach Yokum's SPRING FORWARD. A very punctual father rushes to get his family to church on time after daylight savings, and all in one Steadicam shot! Next up was another episode of SERIOUS BUSINESS (we also screened one at our May show) from Ballard Boyd.

                                                       Victor and Jay. Photo by Thomas Henning

We then showed a couple of man-on-the-street videos from Kevin Maher, WHO'S MORE RACIST? COMIC CON EDITION and 2+2=5. Hilarity and ill-informed judgements ensue.

Victor and Jay with Kevin Maher. Photo by Thomas Henning

From french filmmakers, Laurence Arcadias and Juliette Marchand, came  a fantastic stop-animation video about a couple trying to rekindle their lackluster love life called TEMPEST IN A BEDROOM. It took home BOTH our Audience's and Judges' Awards. Co-director, Laurence Arcadia was in attendance to accept.

Laurence Arcadia with Victor and Jay.

Next we screened DINNER WITH HOLLY from Joel Crockett and Daniel Sinclair, a great film about a young couple who invite their more adventurous friend, Holly, over for dinner and a chance to spice up their sex life.

Our Wanna Be A Star video this month, NEVERMIND, was written and directed by host Victor Varnado and starred audience member Sharon Alkalay.

Before the lights came up one last time for us at 92YTriBeca, we had a cerimonial handing off of the official hard drive from Cristina to Aishah at our new home, Symphony Space.

Cristina hands the ceremonial Iron Mule hard drive to Aishah from Symphony Space. Photo by Thomas Henning

Join us July 7th for the next Iron Mule!