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REVIEW: New York City Indie Theatre Film Festival Short Films: Matthew Modine’s ‘I Am What You Imagine’, Ryan Spahn’s ‘Router,’ Don Castro’s ‘Your Blue Heart’ and more

Posted on February 18, 2024 by The Sleepless Critic

The eighth annual New York City Indie Theatre Film Festival is back this year and runs from February 15 through February 18 at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre at the A.R.T/New York Theatres at 502 West 53^rd Street in Manhattan. Here are some reviews of a portion of the shorts. There are 34 films in all. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Intermission

Ryan, portrayed by Michael Barringer, is smoking. In a white fur, a bun on top of her head, and large earrings, chatty Laura, portrayed with finesse by Laura Butler Rivera, has something to say about it.

In fitting black and white cinematography, Intermission is an unpredictable and seeming tongue in cheek foray into smoking. It is also a humorous and fascinating film featuring Rivera and Barringer who have peculiar chemistry. Rivera is mysterious, quirky and shrewd in a conversation with unexpected results.

Ryan Spahn’s Router

Hearing strange noises?

Being alone in the house can be creepy. A creak, shadows on the walls, and was that a scream? With intriguing cinematography by Thomas Brunot, just the glow of a cell phone to light the way and a cryptic message drives this twisty tale for a wifi signal. The wide eyes of Britt Vicars and a spooky and original score by Pablo Signori build the tension and reeling suspicion as Vicars inches her way in this battle through the dark.

Don Castro is LITO by the window in ‘Your Blue Heart’ Photo credit to NYCITFF and Don Castro

Don Castro’s Your Blue Heart

With expressive black glasses and red flip flops, Don Castro as Lito is making breakfast alone in the kitchen. Your Blue Heart is a moving journey into memory. Spoken in Filipino and shot in Woodside, Queens, Castro and Ron Flores as Rey have a sweet rapport featuring stirring and original music by Paul Aranus.

Kate Szekely in Still Photo credit to NYITFF and Kate Szekely

Ash Singer’s Still

The battle to be still with the jarring feeling of anxiety is overwhelming. Heart racing and breathing can be deafening. Still delves into the life of Kate Szekely who is arduously trying to shake that terrible feeling through various methods including the meditative phrase ‘I am surrounded by abundance.’ Composer Shira Bouskila and Somer Bingham’s haunting and unique sound composition ebbs and flows throughout the film in relatable unease, dread, and calm.

Matthew Modine’s ‘I am What You Imagine’ Photo by Adam Rackoff

Matthew Modine’ I Am What You Imagine

I am what you Imagine is a vivid, kaleidoscopic and visceral journey that explores the true meaning of life from the very beginning. With mesmerizing editing and visual effects by Terence Ziegler as well as surreal photography by Matthew Modine and Kevin Joseph Grossman, I am What You Imagine is a powerful film that should be experienced rather than explained and boasts a surprise ending.

Jeff Hathcoat and Ellen McQueen in ‘Late Sleeper’ Photo credit to NYITFF and Peter Hardy

Peter Hardy’s Late Sleeper

What happens to a late sleeper? A shadow sits at the window.

Filmed in black and white, Peter Hardy’s Late Sleeper delves into this concept with creepy creativity and intriguing results featuring Jeff Hathcoat and Ellen McQueen.

REVIEW: New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory’s ‘Here I Fall Up’ and ‘How I Disappeared’

Posted on August 22, 2023 by The Sleepless Critic

A girl is starting to wonder if she is fall apart or is she just falling up?

Gianna Milici, Sophia Drapeau, and Lauren-Quigley in ‘Here I Fall Up’ Photo credit to Natalie Powers

Featuring chiming melodies, a girl is somehow tethered to her family’s seaside home in a way that makes her question her own sanity. Surrounded by her sisters who narrate the story, Here I Fall Up is thoughtfully directed and composed by Beth Golison and directed creatively by Annabel Heacock and Maiya Pascouche and is just under an hour. It was featured at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory in NYC and was streaming through August 12. Click here for more information.

The girl, portrayed sympathetically and realistically by Sophia Drapeau, ventures into dark places that keeps the audience guessing whether the girl is actually experiencing something outside this world or is it all happening inside the girl’s head? Drapeau’s suffering throughout this production makes a real case for either and watching the girl attempt to cope with anxiety and a severe degree of agoraphobia is heartfelt, earnest, and a bit distressing to witness. The bluish and haunting shadows by Chris Voegels combined with the simple, multifunctional set by Jessie Baldinger are as imaginative as it is symbolic of a girl longing to make a connection outside the girl’s fears and vulnerabilities.

Rose Tablizo and Sophia Drapeau in ‘Here I Fall Up’ Photo credit to Natalie Powers

Here I Fall Up’s inviting, folksy, and intermittently catchy acapella harmonies from sisters and narrators Samantha Medina Chachra, Lauren Rose Quigley, and Gianna Millici combined with Rose Tablizo’s mysterious presence keeps the production a bit lighter while tackling some darker issues.

Here I Fall Up is thoughtfully directed and composed by Beth Golison and directed creatively by Annabel Heacock and Maiya Pascouche and is just under an hour. It was featured at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory and was streaming through August 12. Click here for more information.

Does it matter where I put my roots down?

Identity should be not what one is, but who one is. Not the labels, but the person. That is not such an easy journey living in NYC.

Told from the perspective of six immigrant Asian individuals living in NYC, How I Disappeared is a bilingual production about grasping for acceptance in the world without assumptions or grief, but with understanding. Directed by Tianding He and produced by CHUANG Stage, it is done creatively, though not always clearly in this abstract and Avant Garde production.

How I Disappeared is just under an hour and was featured at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory and was streaming through August 12. Click here for more information.

From an individual covered in overwhelming and all encompassing remnants of NYC including a liberty hat, Broadway sign, wearing a mask and carrying a suitcase subway map to the desolate and metaphorical marine characters on the NYC subway, How I Disappeared emphasizes the intimidating, overwhelming, noisy, and isolating city atmosphere.

The glassy reflections particularly stand out in this part projection by Brian Shin-Hua Ellis and part animated puppetry by Wilden Weihn production. From a Puffer fish to a whale wandering on a subway, each distinctive marine creature delivers a combination of bittersweet and relatable humor as the narrator describes each creature’s authentic capabilities and defenses. Steeped in soothing blue aquatic lighting by Will DeJianne, it seems absurd witnessing them on the subway, and yet it becomes a snapshot of humanity as the show progresses.

The production does have lighter moments of dancing including catchy and original live music by John Tsung and Siyi Chen as well as its fair share of silliness with underlying messages of perseverance in the face of fears, doubt, and judgment. Staying true to oneself and anything is possible.

How I Disappeared is just under an hour and was featured at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory and was streaming through August 12. Click here for more information.