“Joke” features the voice over work of the supremely talented and popular Kevin Yon (voice of the ongoing Chrysler campaign.) The short was recently described by the art blog Kuriositas as “art eating itself”.nn”Joke” is a 3 minute experimental film that deconstructs comedy and comedy’s need to be taken seriously. Director Nickolas Duarte (of NYC-based Rated Content) describes the project, “We tried to create a bizarre, fun-house mirror of dissonance and expectation through perversion of props and gag-inducing images of antiquated gags. We’re not as concerned with what you think or feel- just as long as you do.nn”Wanna know the truth though? All that garbage I just said was complete BS. We just wanted to make an art film to prove we can make art films. But we think we’re too cool to do that so we shot the weirdest effing thing we could think of. Enjoy!”nnAnd hopefully you will.nn
nnCreditsnTitle” “Joke“nDirector: Nickolas DuartenProduction Company: Crown Chimp Productions nVoice Over: Kevin YonnClown: Mark KlugheitnProducer: Nathan Lee FullertonnCo-Writer/Creative Producer: Drew GrubichnDirector of Photography: Oscar RiveranMusic: Tom BaileynSound Design/Mix: Mike ClarknMake Up: Sonia CampbellnVFX: Caleb Merrick nAnimal Wrangler: Steve YoungnProduction Assistant: William Vidkus nnAbout NickolasnNickolas is represented by Rated Content out of NYC for national/international commercial projects. He also runs the production company Crown Chimp Productions down in Arizona. Nickolas’ commercial work has earned him a National ADDY, 2 Silver Tellys, an ADC Young Gun finalist mention and a Museum of Modern Art nomination. His short and experimental films have been recognized consistently on the national and international levels. Nickolas recently began his 6 Shorts Then a Feature project which is…6 short films…then a feature. www.nickolasduarte.com
Nickolas Duarte Contact Nick via email
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More