The official teaser poster for The Babbitt Brothers is here!

Click image to view in high quality! (Not available on Internet Explorer.)

Poster designed and illustrated by the talented Mario Graciotti. Mr. Graciotti is a Brazilian graphic-design student and his brilliant work has been displayed on blogs such as SlashFilm and Film School Rejects. You can check out more of Mario’s work at his DeviantART page or shoot him an e-mail to tell him if you liked the poster!

Production stage: 1st draft of the script for The Babbitt Brothers is completed!

Logline:

When a pair of tap dancing brothers, with a love for vintage vaudeville, find themselves out of their element in modern society and out of a job in Las Vegas, they attempt to save their act by adding magic. But when a trick goes awry, causing a mobster’s fiancé to vanish for good, the boys find themselves on the run—trekking across the country and into an adventure of hilarious proportions.

The feature film…COMING SOON!
Production stage: screenwriting and story development

Logline:

When a pair of tap dancing brothers, with a love for vintage vaudeville, find themselves out of their element in modern society and out of a job in Las Vegas, they attempt to save their act by adding magic. But when a trick goes awry, causing a mobster’s fiancé to vanish for good, the boys find themselves on the run—trekking across the country and into an adventure of hilarious proportions.

Director: Jason Eberly
Screenwriter: Nathan Hartman
Story: Nathan Hartman, Jason Eberly, Ryan Kasprzak
Starring: Evan and Ryan Kasprzak

Honorable mentions: Where the Wild Things Are, Julie & Julia, Passing Strange, The Last Station, and Drag Me to Hell

15. Sherlock Holmes

I went into Sherlock Holmes with an unjustified pretense of dislike–”Why must Hollywood ruin another literary legend”?  But, much like he did in Iron Man last year, Robert Downy Jr. reminded me of what onscreen chemistry can do to a weak plot and unnecessary action for the ADD generation.  In fact, I believe that the chemistry between Watson and Sherlock was more endearing and loyal than the romantic pandering in any chick-flick last year.  The kids in Twilight need to take notes.

14. Avatar

Unlike the rabid fanboys out there, I won’t go claiming that Avatar is the top film of the year, or the decade, or ever.  But, unlike the people leading the backlash, I also won’t claim that Avatar is a complete disgrace to classic cinema.  What I will say is that Avatar was an experience.  For the first time since Gollum, I was moved by realistic CGI characters in a live-action film.  And I also believe, for the first time, that the Avatar filmmakers managed to avoid the Uncanny Valley.  Instead of photo-realistic CGI characters with dead eyes, James Cameron managed to create a world with CGI “soul.”  Yet, with an incredibly weak script and aggravatingly static characters…Avatar missed out on being a truly great film and settled with the jaw-dropping visuals.

13. Up In The Air

Jason Reitman has built himself quite a resume in the last decade with films like Thank You For Smoking, Juno, and now Up In The Air.  His latest, albeit a solid film, is my least favorite of the three.  Yet, I do appreciate his continuing maturing when it comes to direction and the overall mood.  With Up In The Air, Reitman wasn’t out to create the next pop culture smash; he was simply telling a simple story that connected with these hard economic times.  I related.

12. Zombieland

As a big fan of past horror/comedy films (Shaun of the Dead), I was pumped about Zombieland since the first trailer.  And even though it didn’t get as many laughs as it’s English cousin, it was still a valiant effort by all involved.  Also, let me just say that I would be completely fine if Woody Harrelson had a supporting role in every film…every year.  I am ecstatic to see his dramatic chops in this year’s The Messenger.

11. Invictus

Invictus was another film in 2009 that completely exceeded expectations.  I went into the film with the belief that it was humanly impossible for Clint Eastwood to have another winner on his hands.  But ladies and gentlemen, it’s true.  Invictus is a sports film with lots of heart, relevant messages, and solid performances from all the leads.  In fact, if the Academy was so dead set on including a sports film in their 10 Best Picture nominations, Invictus should have replaced the paint-by-numbers film that brought in more money.  Yes, I’m talking to you Sandra Bullock…and your Blind Side!

10. Star Trek

Finally, a space epic that is everything the Star Wars prequels were suppose to be.  Right from the opening battle, J.J. Abrams set out to fill the void in every space geek’s heart.  And I was literally smiling until the credits rolled.  From the brilliant casting to the rousing action, the Star Trek franchise enjoyed a successful and much-need reboot.

9. An Education

Avatar could have learned a few things about story development from this year’s Indie sleeper.  It is all about the simple plot and complex characters.  For those of you who didn’t get the pleasure of seeing An Education, the story revolves around a girl in the 1960s who falls in love with a playboy and learns more about life than she bargained for.  Carey Mulligan was subtlety brilliant in the title role and possessed an onscreen grace that was reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn.

8. Up

In my eyes, Pixar has yet to make a mediocre film.  Of course, there has been masterpieces (Wall-E) and some that lacked polish (Cars). But each one has a big heart and a maturity beyond the animated genre.  Up is no exception.  In fact, the montage of the title character’s life at the beginning of the film contained powerful scenes of nostalgia and love.  I just wish the filmmakers would have kept the believability at the same level throughout the film.  I lost some respect for Up when the dogs started to fly little airplanes.  Still, the target audience is children after all; adults are just along for the ride.

7. A Serious Man

The Coen Brothers got deep into their Jewish roots with this film.  Set in 1967, the story follows a Jewish math professor, who is a good man on every account, as his life unravels before his eyes.  Although not a exact interpretation, A Serious Man borrows a lot from the biblical book of Job.  A black comedy in the truest sense, the film leans to the funny side of Plato’s spectrum of life as a comedy or a tragedy.  Or perhaps it was speaking to the fact that life can be both, a paradox.

6. The Brothers Bloom

As a big fan of Rian Johnson and his 2005 film Brick, I was looking forward to his take on the con-men caper.  Needless to say, The Brothers Bloom did not disappoint this fan.  And even though I enjoyed the film on the first viewing, it gets better with every re-watch (I’m on No. 3).  Well written, clever, and just plain entertaining, The Brothers Bloom reminded me of classic caper films with Cary Grant.  In fact, this is the type of film I would be proud to direct.

5. Bronson

Bronson is a little English film about the most notorious prisoner in British history.  Without the luxury of a big budget, Bronson relied on a fierce performance by Tom Hardy to captivate the viewer and bring the unbelievable true tale to life.  Mark my words, Tom Hardy will be the next great method actor as he makes the jump across the pond with Christopher Nolan’s Inception.  In one scene in particular, Tom Hardy acts as a vaudevillian on the stage of his imagination where he plays both a woman and a man in an argument.  This scene alone should have secured him an Oscar nomination.  It’s the type of performance that sticks with you long after the credits roll.

4. (500) Days of Summer

What do you get when you cross Zooey Deschanel with an honest script about love?  The best romantic comedy in years!  In my opinion, this was the biggest nomination snub at the Oscars this year.  Once again, Sandra Bullock and her Blind Side leaves everyone scratching their heads, saying the word “REALLY?” in loop.  But I digress.  (500) Days of Summer was funny without sacrificing its intelligent backbone and painfully poignant without stooping to preach.  It’s a rare bird among Hollywood’s flock of blockbuster romantic endeavors.  The financial and critically success alone of this film should make the production companies take note.

3. Inglourious Basterds

Thank you Tarantino, for creating a contagious and thrilling fairy-tale ending to WWII.  As the self-proclaimed world’s foremost lover of cinema, Tarantino pays homage to the language, style, and visual flair of the Italian epics of Tornatore.  Yet, the glorified violence and clever dialogue were all signature Tarantino.  The first scene in the Dairy Farmer’s house was a brilliant slow burn that shot the film into an almost perfect pace that lasted until the final scene.  Also, as a visual artist myself, I found Inglourious Basterds to be the most “handsome” film of the year.  The lighting, color pallet, art direction, and locations were all pitch perfect.

2. The Fantastic Mr. Fox

I never thought that an animated film could/should hold the runner-up position in my Top 10 Films list.  But Wes Anderson’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox broke all my preconceived notations on animated films.  While CGI animation tends to hold an audience at arms-length, the charming stop-motion in Mr. Fox was emotionally inviting.  With clever dialogue and perfect voice-casting, every minute of the 87 minutes of film was a delight: more stop-motion animation and less Dreamworks and their geometric animation.

1. The Hurt Locker

Incredibly suspenseful from the first scene onward, The Hurt Locker is a remarkable achievement in directing, editing, and acting.  These three elements came together perfectly to create a war film unlike any other.  Without containing any overt statements (anti-war or other), The Hurt Locker just appears to document the intensity of war and why it becomes a lifestyle of choice for certain personalities.

50. The Painted Veil
49. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbi
48. Best in Show
47. Almost Famous
46. Man on Wire
45. Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others)
44. Gladiator
43. Hedwig and the Angry Inch
42. Yi Yi (A One and a Two)
41. Hot Fuzz
40. Punch-Drunk Love
39. Kill Bill: 1 & 2
38. There Will Be Blood
37. A Beautiful Mind
36. Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas)
35. Memento
34. Cidade de Deus (City of God)
33. The Dark Knight
32. Inglorious Basterds
31. Pride and Prejudice
30. Brick
29. Monsters, Inc.
28. The Hurt Locker
27. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (Spirited Away)
26. Ocean’s Eleven
25. Casino Royale
24. Dear Frankie
23. Hero
22. Doubt
21. The Bourne Trilogy
20. No Country for Old Men
19. Millions
18. Munich
17. Wall-E
16. Slumdog Millionaire
15. Kung Fu Hustle
14. Atonement
13. In Bruges
12. Diarios de Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries)
11. Royal Tenenbaums
10. Pan’s Labyrinth
9. Moulin Rouge
8. Malèna
7. United 93
6. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
5. Big Fish
4. Amélie
3. Children of Men
2. Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind
1. In America

In less than a month, my college career will be over.  The last four years have absolutely flown by; and, in hindsight, I have been tremendously blessed with the friendships I’ve made and with my growth as a filmmaker and artist.  In a few weeks, I will take a look back at the projects and major events of my college years,  a nostalgic recap…if you will (or won’t).  But for now, I’ll just update you on the last few weeks.

The principle photography for “Candy: A Fairy Tale” was a definite struggle.  On past film projects, I have had my fair share of production mishaps and pre-production issues.  But “Candy” takes the cake regarding production nightmares.  And it truly wasn’t anyone’s fault, just plain bad luck.  For example, we had an actress injured on set, broken property on private locations, a camera break on set, faulty equipment rentals, legal issues, and location misunderstandings.  These problems were all on top of the fact that “Candy” was a huge undertaking (seven locations and twelve cast members) for such a limited amount of production time.

But, the main thing is that we pulled through and actually will finish the film.  There was a chance, after the first weekend of filming, that the production was going to be canceled due to multiple issues.  It was not; and we are in the midst of post-production, using all of our skills and experience to make the best film possible.  Even though I wish my last student production would have gone smoothly, the educational setting is the ideal place for issues to happen.  And I can honestly say that I learned a lot about communication and pushing through trials.  Isn’t that what film school is all about?  I’ve already had experiences with nearly-perfect shoots (”Meeting in the Middle” and “After Hours“) and huge undertakings that exceeded expectations (”Nero Bloom“).  Therefore, I was due for a production experience that stretched me emotionally, artistically, and technically.  Lessons learned.

Now on to the good stuff!  The day after I wrapped principle photography on “Candy,” I had the privilege to attend the “So You Think You Can Dance” live tour. My buddy Evan Kasprzak (star of “After Hours”) was the 3rd place finalist for Season 5 of the show. And after an incident caused our original complimentary tickets to be sold to the public, Jeanine Mason (winner of Season 5) was able to get Hartman and I two tickets by her family (with help from the amazing Barb Kasprzak). We had incredible seats and completely enjoyed the show (cheesy banter and all). The dance numbers were more impressive live and Evan rocked every piece he was in. After the show, we were given two passes for the After Party. Since it was the LA show, we got to see all the judges, film director Adam Shankman, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson from “Modern Family.” Oh, and the entire cast for Season 6 of SYTYCD were there so I got to meet Jakob Karr. Mark my words…he will be the winner of this season if there is any justice in this world.

To be completely honest, we were a little apprehensive about meeting Evan at the After Party since we hadn’t seem him since the Cinema Center premiere for “After Hours” and “Nero Bloom” back in May 2009. A lot had happened in those six months, so we were just hoping that he would recognize us, haha. We should have known better because he knew who we were immediately and gave us both the old Kasprzak hug (and even remembered to call Nathan by his last name). The dude hasn’t changed at all, completely down-to-earth and humble. And since it was hard to talk with all of his adoring fans around, he offered to treat us to dinner. The cast had two days off in LA, so we want to a Greek restaurant the next day to catch up with Evan. Talk about awesome food and company! It was great to get the inside scoop on the show as well as talk about future endeavors. If all of our stars line up, we hope to shoot a feature with both Kasprzak boys (as brothers who are tap dancing con-men) in the future.

Speaking of “After Hours,” it is being honored at the NewFilmmakers of Los Angeles on December 10th at the Sunset Gower Studios. And the day after the screening, I will be interviewed by the LA Film Critics Association for Moviemaker Magazine. I still can’t believe all the doors that have opened up since I’ve been in LA. Now, I’m just waiting for an opportunity to turn into a job or representation by an agent. But, no matter what happens, I will never regret coming out to LA for a semester!

Sorry for my current lack of updating, but this month has been a whirlwind of pre-production as I am poised to direct “Candy: A Fairy Tale.” This short film is quite the undertaking for a 10-minute film: 7 locations, 14 characters, and only 4 days to shoot. But I am confident since I have such a talented team working alongside me (not to mention the return of composer Rich Douglas who scored “Nero Bloom” and “After Hours”).

Without giving away too much, the story (written by the talented Jeremy Navarro) is a modern-day Grimm’s Fairy Tale with twisted characters, little kids who get in trouble, and valuable life lessons. It’s definitely dark and brooding, but has a great message and colorful characters. We spent the last two weeks casting 14 actors and have found extraordinary talent. On a sour note, we are still trying to lock down locations. But this seems to be the case with a lot of Los Angeles productions. I just wish we could fly everyone to the Midwest to film because I could find multiple locations that would love to be involved (and not charge ridiculous amounts of money).

On top of “Candy,” I directed three other films this semester (thus, my insane busyness). My latest project was dedicated to my grandmother Eddie Snyder and was titled “My Billie.” The actress that I casted in the lead role just finished the international tour of Mama Mia as the lead. The project, in its entirety, took less than two week to complete. You can watch the short film below (click on the “Vimeo” logo to watch the film in HD):

“A Dance for Life” was directed by Jason Eberly, choreographed and written by Ryan Kasprzak, and shot and edited by Jordan Steele. (Click on the fullscreen button to view the film in its native quality.)  Enjoy!

What if my life was more than just steps?
Danced in patterns, shapes, and unstraight lines.
A movement for change that begins one soul at a time.
Bigger than me and greater than you, when all hearts are aligned.
Together, we create a feat more magnificent than these two of mine.
Be more than just steps. Dance for life.

Donate!

“The Bellhop” is a 3-week project (from pre-production to post) that was filmed in NYC.  It’s been a few years since I’ve had to do a film in such a short amount of time.  And it was definitely hard to put aside my perfectionist nature and concentrate on a deadline.  It is the first assignment in my Motion Picture Production class at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, covering short films with simple plot and complex characters.  After filming this project, I decided that I truly enjoy directing broad comedies…especially when working with such a great cast!  And much thanks to Jordan Steele for making the film look so handsome.

Go to Vimeo to watch the film in glorious HD.

Directed by: Jason Eberly
Written by: Nathan Hartman and Jason Eberly
Starring: Ryan Kasprzak, Adriana McPhee, and Derek Roland
Produced by: Duane McKee
Cinematography by: Jordan Steele
Sound by: Jonathan Gregg

At the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, there are five major short films that are produced each semester (each has a sizable budget and are in production for three months). Out of the 60 students at the program, 5 scripts are picked and 5 directors are picked to direct the chosen scripts. Surprisingly, I was picked to direct AND my script was picked (although I am not allowed to direct my own script). My script is a comedy called “Ginger.” The logline: A fantastical, red-headed girl named Ginger, who takes a vowel of silence due to troubled family life, befriends a cable repairman who displays rare kindness. It’s Amelie meets The Royal Tenenbaums. I’m excited to see what the chosen director and crew are able to do with the script. And I am STILL pleasantly shocked that my script was one of the five chosen. “Ginger” is currently in the 3rd draft and should be locked for pre-production by early next week.

Concerning directing, I was picked to direct a short film that was scribed by the talented Jeremy Navarro. The script is called “Candy” and it is a modern-day Grimm’s Fairy Tale…very dark and brooding. Since I’ve only done light comedies and nostalgic films in the past, I am pumped to tackle a more “angsty” subject matter. I also have a very talented crew who I am working with. If everyone works together as well as the “Nero Bloom” crew, I will be one happy director.

My internship at ICM is going well. I wouldn’t want to work at a casting agency for the rest of my life. But, it’s a great stepping stone to a future job that I want. (Besides, they like to hire their interns…and I will need a job soon!) Because of union laws, we aren’t allowed to set foot on a film set. That’s why I wasn’t able to get an internship with a film director or cinematographer. Here’s to hoping that I will acquire some contacts that can get me into production situations…SOON.

This weekend, I will wrap up the post-production on my short film “The Bellhop.” Since that was the “backburner” project in NYC…it definitely has some continuity and tech problems. But, the story and characters are the main thrust for this quick project, so I should be okay. Speaking of NYC projects, we are currently on the second cut of Ryan’s Kasprzak’s “A Dance for Life” piece. Steele is doing a great job with the editing while Ryan and I are trying to produce from thousands of miles away. It’s definitely an experience in post-production and patience. But I have complete confidence in the crew members who I work with. Be watching for the film to hit the web early next month!

From September the 6th - September the 13th, I had a whirlwind of a week that took me from the Hollywood Bowl to Times Square and finally to the Cinema City International Film Festival.  Here is a day-by-day rundown:

Day 1: Last Saturday, all the students and faculty from LAFSC went to the Hollywood Bowl to hear John Williams conduct his own music.  The Hollywood Bowl is a beautiful outdoor stadium in West Hollywood that seats over 17,000 people.  Because of our cheap tickets, we were in the VERY back of the stadium.  But, there really isn’t a bad seat.  For the first entire first half of the concert (1 hour), Williams played his music from the Harry Potter films.  It was good stuff, but we were all itching to hear his classic themes.  Finally, in the second half, Williams played classics such as Jaws, Back to the Future, Schindler’s List, and Star Wars.  And when he played Star Wars, a few hundred attendees took out light-sabers and moved them to the beat.  It was a hilarious sight!

Day 2: I flew out of LAX at 8:30am on Sunday morning.  Luckily, one of my roommates (Mike Allen) was willing to take me to the airport at 6:30 in the morning.  I bought him breakfast…so I think it was a fair trade. :p  My flight went fine and I landed in NYC at 5:30pm.  Ryan and his gang were already practicing at a studio in Manhattan, so I had to grab a Taxi to meet them at the studio.  It was my first time ever riding in a Taxi and I must say that I was shocked by how expensive it was (45 dollars).  It was awesome to watch Ryan teach the “mob choreography” for the first time.  Everyone started to see his vision for the piece and we were pumped to begin filmed.  And while Ryan and the 4 other tappers practiced their choreography, Steele and I went down to eat food and hang out with some dancers and stage actors that were part of Ryan’s piece.  It was great to hear about all of their experiences on Broadway and catch a glimpse of NYC community.

Day 3: Our first day of principle photography was at Brooklyn Bridge Park.  This location was breathtaking and overlooked both the famous bridge and the cityscape.  As a visual director, I was in heaven and the choreography looked amazing against such a backdrop.  Steele did his magic and made the scene look even better on film! Also, once we got more than 20 dancers doing the mob choreography, we drew quite a crowd.  We were afraid we were going to get shut down because we didn’t have a permit for that park.  But…even the police officers just watched the filming.  For lunch, Ryan treated everyone to Grimaldi’s Pizza, the “best pizza in NYC.”  Good stuff!  Speaking of food, Ryan fed us some amazing NYC dishes.  I got spoiled and now I’m trying to get back in the habit of cooking for myself.  Blah!  That night, we went to the IFC Center (Independent Film Theater) to watch Spike Lee’s “Passing Strange.”  Definitely a new cinematic experience for me and I enjoyed myself!

Day 4: This was a busy production day.  We started the day off by filming the five main tappers in an old church gym in Astoria.  Even though we didn’t have any lighting equipment, the natural light worked well for a semi-silhouetted shot.  After lunch, we headed back to Ryan’s apartment to film two more locations for the mob choreography.  The first setup was on the apartment building’s roof with an amazing view of Manhattan.  The second setup was on the street by Ryan’s apartment with the camera shooting down from the rooftop.  Since the mob was a little smaller than the day before, the second setup may not be used for the final cut.  But I’m glad that we got the footage just in case.  After dark, we headed back to the church to record the “spoken work” section of the film with just Ryan.  Everyone agreed that it was definitely a magical shoot that produced fabulous footage.

Day 5: This was my favorite production day, hands down.  In the morning, we headed to Times Square to shoot the final location for the dance film.  Just minutes after setting up our enormous camera, we were approached by the NYPD.  But, we had a permit from the Mayor’s Office…so we were golden.  (They even commended us.)  We shot coverage of the five main tappers first and then added in the mob choreography.  We drew impressive crowds and some people even recognized Ryan from SYTYCD.  After we called the wrap, we let all 20 dancers look at playbacks on the external monitor.  It was so gratifying to see them amazed at the footage and how the project was coming together.  In the afternoon, I started production on my MPP Class short film called “The Bellhop.”  Ryan Kasprzak was gracious enough to be the lead and his friend Adriana McPhee was the female lead.  It was the final scene in the script and was also shot in Times Square.  That night, we had a small viewing party to watch “So You Think You Can Dance” since Ryan was going to be on the episode.  It was definitley surreal to watch a guy on TV while you are sitting right next to him.  It was an awesome audition and one judge even called it the best they have ever seen.  Needless to say, we were ecstatic for Ryan!

Day 6: At 9:00am, we ran over to the old church and recorded a quick audio pass of tapping.  Then,the rest of the day was set aside for principle photography for my short film.  We shot all the other scenes in front of the Astoria World Manor (which used to be a hotel).  We weren’t really suppose to be shooting there, but with Ryan’s brilliant/scheming plans…we were able to escape the law and complete the shoot.   On a random note, one of the supporting actors looked like young Dustin Hoffman’s twin.  And Ryan’s friend Derrek was hilarious in the role of his easily-angered boss.  All and all, a surprisingly good shoot (since it played second-fiddle to the dance piece).  That night, we had a wrap party with a lot of the dancers.  It was a great way to end my week in NYC.  As a toast, Ryan gave an emotional speech thanking everyone for their help.  And it’s true!  Everyone was amazing to work with; but Ryan was the brain and spirit behind the project.  It would be a pleasure to work with him again in the future!

Day 7: On Friday, I flew back to LA to attend a prestigious film festival.  On both Friday and Saturday, Hartman and I went to the Cinema City International Film Festival since “Nero Bloom: Private Eye” was being honored and screened.  It was quite the social experience: two Midwest boys among B-list celebrities and wealthy patrons.  On Friday, we just went to get a feeling for how our screening day would go.  And Saturday was the big day.  The “Nero Bloom” screening was at 12:40pm and we had a pretty-good turnout.  Afterward, some people we talked to said our film was the best of the festival.  Very refreshing to hear!  Then, after viewing the screening for “Charlie Valentine,” we walked the red carpet to promote our film.  It was surreal to have people yelling your name to get good pictures of you.  Next was the Black Tie Gala.  It was hosted in a GIANT ballroom and everyone was in tuxes and evening gowns.  We ate a great meal first and then the awards ceremony started.  We won two awards, CCIFF Finalist and Best Student Feature Film.  Since the week was so busy, I didn’t even cross my mind to come up with an acceptance speech.  So, I just did a speech off the top of my head.  It was short and sweet, just like the audience likes it.