Essay by Independent Filmmaker Jason Stogsdill about "The Everyday Adventures of Lane & Russell"

Jason Stogsdill is an independent filmmaker working on a comedy called "The Everyday Adventures of Lane & Russell."

The film is expected to be released by the end of 2013.

I've watched the trailer and it actually looks quite funny.

The following is an essay by the filmmaker.

It was really fun how we came up with the characters Lane and Russell.  It was way back in 2000 when one night, my friend and co-creator, Chris Stephens thought of doing an improv.  So, we had another friend grab a camera and shoot us.  After doing a little skit, we checked out what we came up with and we were stunned.  It was hilarious!

Later on, we decided to participate in the University’s film festival.  We weren’t really sure how the short film would come out. We were amateurs and it was our first time to do something like that.  The film was rough and we weren’t sure people would like it, but to our amazement, they did!  We even won the Best Narrative and people gave us a standing ovation.  Ever since then, we dreamt of producing a theatrical quality short film about Lane and Russell.

It was only in 2008 that we finally got down to business, pulled up our sleeves and started writing a script for the film.  We began to call up people, gathering a group of amazing artists, actors and technicians.  We started working with various talented artists on concept art, costume design and concept photography.  We also spent a lot of time looking for the perfect filming locations.  At the end of 2010, we were able to finish about 30 percent of the film.  We had a long way to go to finish the film, but we didn’t have enough budget.  Unfortunately, budget has always been the problem for us indie filmmakers.  This is probably something that other indie filmmakers can relate to.

Recently, we began thinking of various ways to raise the money for the film, so we decided to start a Kickstarter campaign, hoping that if it is successful, we’d be able to raise enough money to finally finish our short film, The Everyday Adventures of Lane and Russell.  We are hoping that with the support of friends, relatives and people who believe in what we do, we will be able to finish the short film.

I have to admit that I am a little biased about these characters but I think people will love them.  Well, people will probably hate Lane.  He’s an egotistical borderline sociopath who constantly abuses Russell, but I think people will love Russell.  Curiously enough, despite Russell’s lack of social skills, he seems to get along well with everyone.  It’s his heart – he has a huge kind heart.  I believe in this film.  I believe in friendship, loyalty and humor, lots of it, and this is what the film is all about. 

To see more about "The Everyday Adventures of Lane & Russell," check out laneandrussell.com

"The Cabin in the Woods" - Drew Goddard (2012)

If you only see one film this year about human sacrifice, for Jesus' sake, don't let it be "The Hunger Games."

 

"The Cabin in the Woods" is a simultaneously funny and scary horror film that comes out on blu-ray and DVD later this month.
 
 
Tension between city folk and hillbillies is just one of the fun elements of "The Cabin in the Woods."

The story is very familiar.  We follow a group of young people on a retreat into the woods where death and dismemberment awaits them.
 
The twist is the entire scenario is being controlled by a bunch of people in a lab.

Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford play the puppet masters who crack jokes like a sadistic Waldorf and Statler.
 

Seeing "The Cabin in the Woods" is the most fun I've had watching a movie in a very long time.

After years of a disturbing uptick in PG-13 horror movies, the horrific violence, profanity, nudity and sex in the film is more than welcome.

"2 Days in New York" - Julie Delpy (2012)

 Julie Delpy channels Woody Allen with "2 Days in New York and she does it quite well.
She also draws from filmmakers like Eric Rohmer.

But it would be misleading to say "2 Days in New York" is derivative.
The film is her follow up to her 2007 film, "2 Days in Paris."

The film follows Marion, played by Delpy and her boyfriend, Mingus, played by Chris Rock.

 

Rock gives an admirably understated performance as Mingus, who serves as Marion's confidant before becoming her lover.


Marion falls for Mingus shortly after her marriage disintegrates and, unlike her romance in "2 Days in Paris," we can actually see the attraction here.

Mingus is supportive and loving without the condescension we've seen from Marion's past lovers.

The story involves Marion's eccentric family who comes to visit from Paris and how they interact with Mingus, a decided pragmatist.
"2 Days in New York" is a character-driven comedy and the people we're asked to spend 90 minutes with are interesting and funny.

The film works on every level and although it's slight, is has more insight into relationships than most romantic comedies and it's easily one of the best films of the year.

Moonrise Kingdom - Wes Anderson (2012)

"Moonrise Kingdom" is a love story between two tween misfits and it may well be Wes Anderson's masterpiece. 

The story starts with a boy named Sam's escape from camp. He's a scout nobody seems to like.
 

Sam meets up with his girlfriend, Suzy, whom he's gotten to know primarily through letters. She is fleeing parents whose idea of family communication is certifiably disjointed.
 

The entire community goes hunting for the young runaways and that's the story in a nutshell.
 

But as with all of Anderson's work, the plot is more or less incidental.
 

The quirky characters are the focus of the film.
 

Ed Norton plays a strict, loving and clueless scout leader who loses a camper.
 

Tilda Swinton plays a villain who swoops in, going only by the name "Social Services."
 

And Bill Murray and Frances McDormand stand out as Suzy's maddening parents whose communication problems most likely precipitated their daughter's exodus.
 

Anderson's point, of course, is that we're all odd ducks.

"Ruby Sparks" Featurette

Here's a behind the scenes look at the making of the upcoming film "Ruby Sparks."


I'm actually pretty excited about this film.

"To Rome With Love" - Woody Allen (2012) - A Video Review

Woody Allen is back on both sides of the camera in "To Rome With Love."

The film is a continuation on Allen’s tribute to Luis Bunuel he started with "Midnight in Paris." 

  

This an homage to the eccentric bunuel of "The Discreet Charm of the Burgeiosie," not the psychotic Bunuel of "Un Chien Andalou." 

Allen continues his obsession with sex, fame and death, or more specifically, infidelity, fame and death. 

"To Rome With Love" is comprised of four intercut vignettes. And they take some surreal turns, feeling a bit like Harry Block's short stories from "Deconstructing Harry." 

The most satisfying story line features Jesse Eisenberg and his infatuation with Ellen Page, his girlfriend's friend who comes to stay with them in Rome.  

Alec Baldwin plays the conscience of the love triangle. 

He follows Eisenberg and Ellen Page around like an intimidating Jiminey Cricket. 

The only difference here is Baldwin's role as a conscience is to advise in reason, not morality. 

If you've seen "Hard Candy" you won't be surprised to hear that page gives the film's best performance, but Baldwin’s comedic timing is welcome. Other stories involve characters played by the likes of Penelope Cruz, Roberto Benigni and Judy Davis. 

  

It's wonderful to see Davis in a Woody Allen film again, although she's featured in the weakest of the four stories.  

It's also nice to see Benigni back in his element. 

Fortunately, we're treated to the quirky Benigni from films like Jim Jarmusch's "Down By Law" and "Night on Earth" as opposed to the sad caricature he made of himself twelve years ago. 

"To Rome With Love" has gotten mediocre reviews so far and that feels about right. It's not Allen at his best or worst. 

If you're already a Woody Allen fan, you'll like this film just fine. If you're not, "To Rome With Love" isn't going to convert you.

"Ted" - Seth MacFarlane (2012) - A Video Review

This film is howlingly funny.

Don't miss it.

"Hysteria" - Tanya Wexler (2012)

Imagine my disappointment.

I had high hopes for Tanya Wexler’s “Hysteria.”

I truly wanted to enjoy it.  I wanted it to be funny, insightful or at least entertaining.

Sadly, it was none of these.

“Hysteria” is the story of how the first vibrator was invented.

Sounds like a good premise for a period comedy.

The film centers around Mortimer Granville, a young doctor who comes to work for Dr. Robert Dalrymple who specializes in “female hysteria.”

The cure, of course is for the good doctors to give ladies a “pelvic massage.”

Sounds funny.  It’s not.

The film also goes into the merits of diagnosing women with hysteria.  I had hoped the film might say something insightful about female oppression.  It doesn’t.

It tries haplessly to make some kind of political observation, but any cultural analysis is ham-fisted and obvious.

The cast, including Felicity Jones, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, and Rupert Everett, is competent enough.

But the screenplay for this film is nothing short of abysmal.

The story stops and starts, staggering as it goes along, ineptly changing tones.

But it’s the lack of credibility in the character development that really stands out.

Dr. Robert Dalrymple’s character, played by Jonathan Pryce, is particularly bad.  The script can’t seem to decide if he’s a mentor, a villain, a father figure or a stooge. 

Dr. Dalrymple might just be one of the worst written characters I’ve seen in a film.  For the love of God, skip this movie.  Re-watch “Secretary” instead.

"My Week With Marilyn" - Simon Curtis (2011) - A Video Review

 

Here's my review of the gorgeous "My Week With Marilyn."