Curiously it got picked up not that much time after my sit down with him, I was pleased to finally meet up with burgeoning Canadian filmmaker talent Stephen Dunn who just earlier this year landed in Sundance with a trio of Pop-Up Porno shorts and who wowed at the Toronto Int. Film Festival in September with his directorial debut, which was selected as a competing film in Marrakech. I took the opportunity to speak to the supporting players of Closest Monster in veteran actor Aaron Abrams and up-and-comer Aliocha Schneider. We spoke about their respective characters and rapport to principle player played by Connor Jessup and their respective careers. Interviews with all three coming soon.
It was at the overly long, not many referenced clipped but no less insightful conversational Masterclass for Park Chan-wook where the festival bug made its presence known – the one that wrecks havoc on your digestive system,...
It was at the overly long, not many referenced clipped but no less insightful conversational Masterclass for Park Chan-wook where the festival bug made its presence known – the one that wrecks havoc on your digestive system,...
- 12/15/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Epistemology of the Closet: Dunn’s Impressive Debut a Pronounced Portrait of Agitated Angst
Notable short filmmaker Stephen Dunn (Pop-up Porno, 2015) makes an impressive feature debut with Closet Monster, a film easily classified as a coming-of-age/coming-out drama but augmented by a masterful sense of tone and visual authority. As ambient as a thriller but without the frills of genre as metaphor, you’d be hard pressed to recall a recent cinematic endeavor that so vividly and compellingly relates the modern queer teen’s terrified angst so effectively. Grappling with familiar yet nevertheless pertinent issues in regards to the heteronormative machinations Lgbt youth struggle to navigate, the Canadian helmer unveils an original and moody psychological portrait of agonized adolescence.
Oscar (Connor Jessup) is an aspiring special effects make-up artist finishing up his last year of high school in small town Newfoundland. Hanging out with his friend Gemma (Sofia Banzhof), who...
Notable short filmmaker Stephen Dunn (Pop-up Porno, 2015) makes an impressive feature debut with Closet Monster, a film easily classified as a coming-of-age/coming-out drama but augmented by a masterful sense of tone and visual authority. As ambient as a thriller but without the frills of genre as metaphor, you’d be hard pressed to recall a recent cinematic endeavor that so vividly and compellingly relates the modern queer teen’s terrified angst so effectively. Grappling with familiar yet nevertheless pertinent issues in regards to the heteronormative machinations Lgbt youth struggle to navigate, the Canadian helmer unveils an original and moody psychological portrait of agonized adolescence.
Oscar (Connor Jessup) is an aspiring special effects make-up artist finishing up his last year of high school in small town Newfoundland. Hanging out with his friend Gemma (Sofia Banzhof), who...
- 9/13/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Fortissimo Films has acquired international rights to Canadian filmmaker Stephen Dunn’s directorial debut Closet Monster.
Currently in post-production, the English-language coming-of-age drama follows a creative and imaginative teenager who has spent years destabilised by his dysfunctional parents, unsure of his sexuality and haunted by horrific images of a childhood trauma.
Connor Jessup (Falling Skies, Blackbird) plays the teenager. The film also features a talking hamster voiced by Isabella Rossellini.
The film was produced by Rhombus Media (The Red Violin, Blindness) and Best Boy Entertainment with the participation of Telefilm Canada, Newfoundland & Labrador Film Development Corporation and The Harold Greenberg Fund and Rogers Telefund. Canadian distribution will be handled by Elevation Pictures.
Dunn’s short films have won awards at festivals including Toronto and Tribeca. In 2015, his short film series Pop-Up Porno created a sensation at Sundance.
The deal for international rights was finalised by Fortissimo Films’ chairman Michael J. Werner and producers Fraser Ash and Kevin Krikst...
Currently in post-production, the English-language coming-of-age drama follows a creative and imaginative teenager who has spent years destabilised by his dysfunctional parents, unsure of his sexuality and haunted by horrific images of a childhood trauma.
Connor Jessup (Falling Skies, Blackbird) plays the teenager. The film also features a talking hamster voiced by Isabella Rossellini.
The film was produced by Rhombus Media (The Red Violin, Blindness) and Best Boy Entertainment with the participation of Telefilm Canada, Newfoundland & Labrador Film Development Corporation and The Harold Greenberg Fund and Rogers Telefund. Canadian distribution will be handled by Elevation Pictures.
Dunn’s short films have won awards at festivals including Toronto and Tribeca. In 2015, his short film series Pop-Up Porno created a sensation at Sundance.
The deal for international rights was finalised by Fortissimo Films’ chairman Michael J. Werner and producers Fraser Ash and Kevin Krikst...
- 5/12/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
An unlikely combination of elements — the children’s pop-up book and X-rated adult relationship stories — collide in one of the more unusual series of shorts at this year’s Sundance Film Festival: Pop-Up Porno. Toronto-based director Stephen Dunn was inspired by friends’ tales of online dating, and he worked with various graphic designers to come up with actual book illustrations. The resulting three films premiered in Park City, where the books were also exhibited. Bringing the turning pages to life is cinematographer Catherine Lutes, who below talks about the Canon C300, realizing the film on a tiny budget and accenting […]...
- 2/13/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
An unlikely combination of elements — the children’s pop-up book and X-rated adult relationship stories — collide in one of the more unusual series of shorts at this year’s Sundance Film Festival: Pop-Up Porno. Toronto-based director Stephen Dunn was inspired by friends’ tales of online dating, and he worked with various graphic designers to come up with actual book illustrations. The resulting three films premiered in Park City, where the books were also exhibited. Bringing the turning pages to life is cinematographer Catherine Lutes, who below talks about the Canon C300, realizing the film on a tiny budget and accenting […]...
- 2/13/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Top brass have announced 60 films culled from 8,061 submissions across four categories – Us and international narrative, documentary and animation.
“This year’s short film-makers have broken through their limited timeframe with a high level of artistry and story that will resonate with audiences long after each film has ended,” said senior programmer Mike Plante.
The Short Film programme is presented by YouTube.
Sundance 2015 is set to run in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah, from January 22 to February 1.
All synopses provided by the festival.
Us Narrative Short Films
Actresses
Jeremy Hersh
The film follows the relationship between a young, aspiring actress and an established off-Broadway star.
A.D. 1363, The End Of Chivalry (USA-New Zealand)
Jake Mahaffy
A little-known historical catastrophe leads to the definitive end of the era of chivalry and questing.
Color Neutral
Jennifer Reeves
A color explosion sparkles, bubbles, and fractures in this handcrafted 16mm film. Jennifer Reeves utilises...
“This year’s short film-makers have broken through their limited timeframe with a high level of artistry and story that will resonate with audiences long after each film has ended,” said senior programmer Mike Plante.
The Short Film programme is presented by YouTube.
Sundance 2015 is set to run in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah, from January 22 to February 1.
All synopses provided by the festival.
Us Narrative Short Films
Actresses
Jeremy Hersh
The film follows the relationship between a young, aspiring actress and an established off-Broadway star.
A.D. 1363, The End Of Chivalry (USA-New Zealand)
Jake Mahaffy
A little-known historical catastrophe leads to the definitive end of the era of chivalry and questing.
Color Neutral
Jennifer Reeves
A color explosion sparkles, bubbles, and fractures in this handcrafted 16mm film. Jennifer Reeves utilises...
- 12/9/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.