RASH Films

Films from the Trip to Louisville

2008-08-04T20:03:00.002-05:00

Kino Louisville had their twice-yearly Spring Kabaret back in June, which means we were on the scene. This time, we got Emily and Rob to come along with us. Here is a video shot during the trip, part of the ongoing "Sam and Josh Go to Louisville" series:

Later we made a quick and dirty unstructured little film following that weekends Kabaret theme of "Distraction," it was basically just a camera set up in a corner and us passing the other camera around. It's called "Distraction (Joan)" and it's groovy:

Now you may have noticed that we had that little "(Joan)" thing next to the title. That's because Rob wrote and directed a little ditty by the same name. It's a continuation of the story started with his film "Complicated" and you can view it below:

Lastly Rob and Emily and Sam came up with this quick little Kino Louisville ID:

Two More From The Vault

2008-08-04T17:04:00.003-05:00

Below we have two films from 2007 that just never quite got up on the site until now. They were both edited on a PC using Windows Movie Maker (yuk!) and thus they never got on to the main RASHfilms computer until now.

The first one, "Tom Waits Was Right" was created during the 2007 Kino Louisville Kabaret, the theme for that Kabaret was "drunk" or "drinking" or something like that. It is based off of a lyric in the Tom Waits song "Heart Attack and Vine" and in addition to Sam and myself, includes a bunch of local Louisvillians and a brief cameo by our friend John Mirsberger. Basically, it's about the devil going out to drink and causing mischief.

The second one, "When Brothers Fight" was created for the 2007 Wis-Kino Fall Kabaret, the theme for that Kabaret was "Down the Gutter." In it, two young children learn a valuable lesson brotherhood from a wise father figure.
I suppose that somehow your content was reencoded. BTW, did you elect to have anything put in the DVD-ROM area?

The Miscellaneous Ailments Foundation

2008-07-18T16:17:00.005-05:00

Posted below here is the video footage of the play we wrote for the 2008 Blitz a few weeks ago. It's called The Miscellaneous Ailments Foundation, and the play was directed by Gary Kriesel. This play had a great cast as well as an amazing crew that brought this and seven other amazing short plays to stage in a little less than 12 hours.

It's a twisted little play that is your basic farce. A bunch of people, in a silly setting (a Victorian era sanitarium, think "Road to Wellville" in a different time setting) cross paths as they run in and out of scenes. There is mistaken identity, odd sexual disorders, and a whole lot of marital aids...

We will likely post the scripts to this play, Smoochy Woochy Poochy, and Be Careful With That Axe Eugine (who's video footage is unfortunately lost) on the website sometime in the near-ish future.

Well I am off to go edit a crap ton more of the various Mercury Players shows that we have filmed. Toodles.

All projects loaded, multiclipped and synced...

2008-07-17T02:27:00.002-05:00

From our Blitz 2008 play: "The Miscellaneous Ailments Foundation"

2008-07-12T03:34:00.003-05:00

Blitz/Blitz Smackdown 2007 Discs Available

2008-07-11T03:47:00.003-05:00

The Blitz 2007 collection is created and ready for sale. Come to Blitz this Friday (Jul 11th) and Saturday and pick up a copy for $15 (it includes three discs, Blitz Friday Night, Blitz Saturday Night, and Blitz Smackdown, as well as a photo gallery and some bonus RASHfilms). Also available will be DVD's for "Revenge of the Mini-Musicals" and "Mercury Rising" for $10 each.

Note that the first five Blitz 2007 Collections sold will have a bonus disc containing some footage from the Saturday night of the *2006* Blitz. These five bonus discs are THE LAST COPIES of those discs that will ever be available. So you may want to rush to get this before it sells out this Friday (Jul 11th) at Blitz, at 8pm at the Bartell Theatre.

Blitz 2007 Collection

2008-07-08T20:30:00.003-05:00

***UPDATE****
Sam and I developed a workaround and the first two of three master discs are done, the third one will compile overnight. In the meantime, I have already started producing copies of Discs 1 and 2. So tomorrow I will make copies of Disc 3, buy DVD cases, and print labels for those cases.

So to be short, the Blitz 2007 DVD collection *will* be on sale for Blitz this Friday. Also, it will be available for purchase directly from us while we are writing this Thursday night for Blitz on Friday.
***************

We are encountering technical problems with the system that we use to master DVDs. I have ordered a replacement part, but unless it arrives in the next 48 hours, it is unlikely that we will have the DVDs ready by Blitz, but they definitely will be ready by the time Mercury Players Theatre opens it's next show, The Full Monty.

In the meantime, "Mercury Rising" and "Revenge of the Mini-Musicals" discs will be available at the Bartell box office during Blitz this Friday and Saturday night. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Smoochy Woochy Poochy

2008-07-05T21:13:00.003-05:00

Last year Sam and I wrote a script for Mercury Players Theatre's Blitz event. It was called Smoochy Woochy Poochy and it is full of spite and dirty thoughts. Rob wrote an "interrupting" play for the night that interrupted each play, this one included, you'll know it when you see it.

This Thursday night, Sam and I will once again write for Blitz. You can see the fruits of our future labor by going to the Bartell Theatre (on E. Mifflin, just off of the Capitol Loop) at 8pm on Friday and seeing Blitz. Also, if you have ever, in any way, wanted to try out your acting abilities on stage, contact Mercury Players about acting on Friday night, they will take you in, whatever your skill level (all you have to do is be available all day Friday). And hey, you could end up in our play, that would be cool.

What has RASHfilms been up to?

2008-06-30T18:02:00.002-05:00

So yeah, we have been pretty dormant lately. That's not to say we aren't busy doing things though. However, as far as short films go, we have went from torrent to trickle, and that is because, well, real life is a bitch to us both in different ways. Plus running Wis-Kino (thank God Emily keeps up the Wis-Kino Myspace page for me) can kinda drag as well (though in the coming month, we will be making some announcements about changes on the Wis-Kino front...)

That's not to say that we are completely down and out. For example, check out our most recent creation RASHnotes - 1984 which is part of a planned series of adaptations of briefly read Cliff's Notes (Sam and I recently stopped by the local Barnes and Noble's in house Starbucks to quickly read the synopsis to "Fahrenheit 241" and "All's Quiet on the Western Front"). Not to mention the slew of films we made a few weeks ago in Louisville with our friend Emily Mills and Rob Matsushita. Plus you can count on us always making something for each Wis-Kino Kabaret.

On the live front, I personally have been very busy catching us up on old projects. The Aporia footage is edited and awaiting further plans. The Selfish Gene project has been officially closed. I have edited about 70% of the Reverence '07 footage. Blitz/Blitz Smackdown 2007 are being edited right now. "Revenge of the Mini-Musicals" (which I got to be an actor in for the closing weekend) is finished and available on DVD as is "Mercury Rising." Footage of "Celeste and Starla Save Todd and Win Back the Day" was shot and already burned to DVD and distributed in a matter of days. The footage of Mercury Players "Reefer Madness" will see the cutting room sometime in August I think, as will a few other archival projects we still have of Mercury shows that fell to the wayside. Early production on the Blitz 2008 DVDs (planned release in July of 2009) will begin soon as well.

Footage from ourtrip to France has finally arrived, and it will soon be edited into something shared on the website. Lastly, a RASHfilms Year 2 and Year 3 DVD are in the works. After that, our slate will be clean, and years of footage caught up with; hopefully all by then end of summer.

In the near future, we will be attending and filming for posterity, Hot Mess at The Majestic, a celebration of Burlesque Shows, Drag Kings, and these two broads we know, sponsored by DANE 101 and INDIE QUEER.

Also, unrelated, I got a blog: http://blog.thegentlemanloser.com, so that's fun.

Up to something,,,

2008-06-28T01:59:00.001-05:00

2 New Films (NAADS, and RASHnotes: 1984)

2008-05-23T02:25:00.004-05:00

RASHfilms is coming out of it's Year+ long hibernation. First off is NAADS, a film that we shot several months back incorporating our new audio rig (though we still didn't know how to use it so well). This film was created for Wis-Kino's February 2008 screening (theme: love/sex). It's about ballsacks.

The other film was created in April for the Wis-Kino 2008 Spring Kabaret. The theme (drawn out of a hat two nights beforehand) was "Prop: Ice Cream Cones". It's called "RASHnotes: 1984" and it's a kickoff of a new series. Basically the premise goes like this: Sam and I pick a book we have never read, we go to the mall's Barnes and Nobel, grab the Cliff's Notes for the book, sit in the attached Starbucks and drink overpriced coffee while we read the two page summary, then make a movie with minimal costumes and props. We think it will start a trend on YouTube, unless someone else has thought of the idea first, but we are so confident that we are being original that we won't even check to see if that's the case. (NOTE that this is the rush-cut version, a reshoot is planned to fix some of the audio issues and tighten the script.)

It Lives...

2008-02-12T00:26:00.000-06:00

Support the NAADS today. Let RASHfilms show you how this Sunday at WisKino (7pm at Escape Coffee).

Go to the Wis-Kino Retrospective Party on the 15th

2007-12-02T18:59:00.000-06:00

RASHfilms is on Indefinite Hiatus

2007-11-21T21:44:00.000-06:00

As you may have noticed, things are pretty dead around here. Life interveans and stuff happens. Stuff like not really making films much unless it is a Kabaret. That is basically the gist of it. We are not making any new films at the moment, and don't know when we will resume. It will happen eventually, but for now, you best bet is to look forward to the next Wis-Kino Kabaret, which will kickoff on 04/20/08 at Escape Coffee Gallery at 7pm, I know for sure that we will make something for that.

As for our live projects, they are still on track, and in various phases production. Currently working on:

-Aporia - Live at the Mercury Lounge (soon)
-Reverence '07 - A Documentary of Sorts of Gothic/Industrial Mayhem
-Blitz Smackdown 2007
-Blitz 2007
-Revenge of the Mini-Musicals (Due out late spring 08)
-Mercury's Production of Reefer Madness (scheduled for non-public release)

Z-Word

2007-09-20T21:53:00.000-05:00

Come to the WisKino Kabaret! RASHfilm's will hopefully be premiering a new series there as well.

Go to Blitz

2007-07-04T23:07:00.000-05:00

So yeah, every year, Mercury Players Theatre (who we are totally in bed with) has this Blitz thing, where people write short plays that are then put together on stage in front of a live (drunk) audience 24 hours from when they start writing. We wrote a play last year (you may have remembered it, as it involved the pope and some various carnal shenanagans), and we are writing again this year (for the first night's show). So check it our at 7pm on the 13th, and then see even more weird plays the next night. The tickets are not reserves, so get their earlier if you want a seat because this show will sell out.

Also, in news that will make some of you very happy, we have decided that since we were only able to retrieve some of the footage from last year's Blitz (and only from the second night); we will release the edited footage from Blitz 2006 for free on this site in iPod format on July 13th.

That said, yes we made it fine back from France and made three movies that we will post up here when we have our shit together (as well as the long overdue video we made in Louisville). Also, if you are interested I wrote a blog about our trip that can be read on our Myspace page at myspace.com/rashfilms. Also, there are photos up on my Flickr profile at flickr.com/GentlemanLoser

Kabaret in Louisville, Kabaret in France

2007-06-06T02:10:00.000-05:00

Well, we went to Louisville, and despite some car troubles, things were quite fun. We brought with us another installment of our Sam and Josh Go To Louisville films, and it is attached here for your viewing enjoyment.

The theme was announced as "Drunk" and boy were we. We made a film based off of a Tom Waits lyric. We will upload it as soon as Sam gets a chance to re-edit it on a proper system (we were using laptops and *shudder* Windows Media Maker).

This Sunday, we will be flying out to France to participate in their Kino Kabarets, so expect at least two new films from that trip when we get back at the end of the month.

And lastly, a message we found from Office Rocker Productions:

Our message to them: Oh it is on.

Three New Films

2007-05-15T22:58:00.000-05:00

First off is one many people have been waiting for. The second episode of I'm A Cop. There is an elaborate action sequence in this one directed by Rob Matsushita, it's awsome. Most of this was filmed back in August of 2006, but editing and voicework stalled out until the April 2007 WisKino screening (Theme: Explosions). So here it is:

Then, just last week was the WisKino 2007 Spring Kabaret. The kickoff screening had the theme "Silent Movie" and the day of the screening, I had an idea for a political PSA. So I storyboarded it during my lunch break, grabbed a co-worker and filmed/edited it a few hours before the screening. Seemed like a good way to start off Kabaret. Here is that movie, simply titled: Silent Movie.

Last off was our actual Kabaret film. Conceptualized, written, shot and cut in 48 hours. The theme was "Complecated." Sam and I decided that we would do a RASH double feature. Sam came up with the first short and trailer, and I came up with the second. However, I wanted this to be special, and so I collaborated with Steve VanHaran on my short. The two shorts and two fake trailers were packaged together. All together, this film (named Cottage Mill) has it all, children, murderous pop icons, sexyness, and jihad. Check it out:

WisKino 48Hour Kabaret

2007-05-08T10:15:00.000-05:00

Just a heads up, but if you are reading this, you should join us on May 10th and 12th at The Orpheum Theatre for the Wis-Kino Spring Kabaret! Sam and I will be hosting the event and there will be lots of great films to watch and make. Also, as a special treat, there will a behind the scenes documentary on CHAD VADER, the run-a-way internet hit by Blame Society Productions. We will not likely have a film for the first night's screening, but you can bet your ass we will have made something for the Saturday screening.

Two New Films: RASH Take 3 Productions

2007-02-20T23:46:00.000-06:00

First off, let me mention some unfortunate news. Since the last film of ours "Dick," our main camera (the lovely Panasonic DVX) was stolen. Thus for the foreseeable future we are forced to work with a little consumer-grade handheld. Video, and especially Audio, quality is going to be lower for awhile. We hope to purchase a seperate audio recording unit in the near future so that we can use our professional mics again, but this month's films do have audio issues. Please bear with them.

So first up is a film that Sam made about love just not quite making it's connection. It involves Dean Martin, dancing, and toothbrushing. It is called Ritorne Me and it is below:

Now you may be asking. What is this "RASH Take 3" business? Well, this is the third year of RASHfilms, and Sam and I have been wanting to move away from our dick and fart jokes to something a bit different and more challenging. Thing is, we still love our dick and fart jokes. So we decided that anything we make that is a little more thought or emotion provoking would fall under the imprint "RASH Take 3" (Take 3=Third Year), kinda like "Fox Searchlight Films" or something. Don't worry, the usuall stuff you expect from us will also get made, it it will go under the imprint of "RASHfilms" like it always has.

Now, on to the other film of this month. See, February's Wis-Kino theme was "love/sex" so you may notice that theme in these two videos. The next one is by me, and it is about not being able to relate to another human being, and thats when things go downhill for our main character. This film is called "Above Conceit" and check it out below:

That's all. See you next month. We will likely do a film or two following that month's Wis-Kino theme of "Music Video"

Coming Attractions...

2007-02-13T23:40:00.000-06:00

the opposite of achievement

2007-01-05T17:22:00.000-06:00

Due to a voodoo donkey curse (it's like a voodoo death curse, but cheaper and only available in Tijuana) godaddy.com didn't get thier rent check from us and deleted the site. I am still working to restore it, however, I don't have a unified backup to work off of so it may be messy here for a little while

PS: All the wmv videos I encoded for the site are gone, but hey, that has just led me to get with the times. All our videos were still backed up at youtube.com, so now all our "Recent Films" on the site will take the form of embedded YouTube videos. Easier for me, and easier for you the viewer to, well, view.

Post WisKino Fall Kabaret Post

2006-11-21T23:01:00.000-06:00

So this last weekend was WisKino Kabaret. We had two screenings at the Oprheum. On the first we showed Like A Fox. After the screening, the secret theme for this year's Fall Kabaret was announced: Counterfiet. 48 hours later, we showed our newly made film Dick. That is about that. Two new shorts.

Here is a link to the Isthmus article about the 2006 Fall Kabaret.

Like A Fox

Dick

Like a Fox Shoot

2006-11-07T01:11:00.000-06:00

So below are some shots from last night when we started filming our most recent short, Like a Fox, (a short film about a rock starlet, a guitarist and a gay man) which we expect to have ready by the 16th of November (a Thursday). This just happens to be the WisKino Fall Kabaret kickoff. It will be a normal WisKino screening, except at the end a theme is announced and filmmakers have until Saturday (48 hours) to make a film based on the theme. If you are reading this, and live in or near Madison, do yourself and us a favor and mark this day on your calander. Even more than that, get as many of your friends together as well. We are quite serious, we want you to be there, we want your friends. Think of it as a great party at a theatre with beer and short films. Be at the Orpheum Stagedoor Theatre (on State St.) at 7:00pm that night to see this film and many other great films from indie filmmakers like us from around the world. If you only go to one WisKino screening, this is the one to go to.

Two more from the opposite of the vault

2006-10-16T00:51:00.000-05:00

So you all may remember that we went to KinoLouisville earlier this spring for their Kino Spring Kabaret. We made a film on the drive down about us hitting a homeless person and disposing of his body. Well, their Fall Kabaret was just recently. So we made a sequel of sorts to the film we had made them before, this time detailing our attempts to pass off the dead guy as an actor. Then we waited around until they announced the theme, which was "Breeze" and got ready to film something here in Madison, then drive down the day of screening to get the film over there. Initially we were going to film an old script we found and wedge the theme into it. We were packing up and then it hit us! Perfume commercial!

It got made, and at 9:30am on Saturday, we left for Louisville. We arrived an hour before the screening and hung out after the screening to catch the band Love Jones at the very cool music venue The Phoenix Hill Tavern. Then at 1:00am we drove back to Madison, arriving at 9:30am Sunday morning, just in time to sleep before doing the Madison WisKino screening. So without further ado, click below.

Sam and Josh Return to Louisville

Breeze