Lighthouse International Film Festival

Lighthouse International Film Festival was an incredible experience and is hands down one of my favorite film festivals. I had the opportunity to meet and learn from Guy Nattiv, Oscar winning director of Skin, and numerous other talented filmmakers and industry people. Some friends and fellow Filmshop members screened at LIFF and it was fun seeing so many familiar faces. My family also enjoyed attending the festival and my 8 month old daughter ate lobster for the first time, thanks to Charlotte and the rest of the crew at the hospitality house. I highly recommend the festival and will definitely be coming back. Thanks to the entire team at Lighthouse Intl FF for such a memorable and wonderful experience!

Q&A with Guy Nattiv, writer/director of the opening feature film, Skin, and some cast members

I met Guy Nattiv and attended his filmmaking masterclass. Guy won the Oscar this year for best live action short film for his short, Skin.

My 8 month old daughter Leuca enjoying the view and lobster at the filmmaker hospitality house

Q&A following the screening of my short film, Settling Up. Photo by Clayton Dean Smith

Lisa and I in front of the Long Beach Island Historical Museum

Congrats to all of my fellow Filmshop members that screened at LIFF!

Settling Up Film Premiere Sunday June 9th

My narrative short film Settling Up will premiere Sunday, June 9th, at 1:30 pm at Long Beach Island Historical Museum (129 Engleside Avenue, Beach Haven, NJ 08008, USA) in competition at Lighthouse International Film Festival, one of MovieMaker’s “Coolest 25 Film Festivals in the World”. Settling Up will also screen alongside Filmshop short films If the Shoe Fits by Cinder Chou and Self(Ish) by Dani Tennenbaum. Oscar winner Guy Nattiv will open the festival with his narrative feature film, Skin, and Sundance documentary American Factory will close the festival.

Check out the full program here and schedule here. We are so excited to screen at LIFF and hope to see you there!

Favorite Patient Film Wrapped

We just wrapped the latest narrative short film I directed starring Barbara Miluski and Isabelle Pierre. We were fortunate to have Jackson Eagan as the director of photography, and this was very much a Filmshop collaboration. Hats off to our talented and hard working cast and crew. Below are some behind the scenes photos by Monica Kapoor and we look forward to sharing our film soon. Stay tuned…

Settling Up Film Festival Premiere at Lighthouse International Film Festival

I’m excited to announce my latest short film, Settling Up, will have its film festival premiere at Lighthouse International Film Festival, one of MovieMaker’s “Coolest 25 Film Festivals in the World.” The festival will take place June 6-9 on Long Beach Island and stay tuned for screening info. Thanks to our cast and crew for all of your hard work and we hope to see you there!

Directed by Reuben Hernandez
Written by Brady Evan Walker
Produced by Reuben Hernandez, Maryann Alspaugh, and Brady Evan Walker
Production Sound Mixer and Sound Design by Ash Knowlton / Silver Sound
Edited and colored by Patrice D. Bowman
Made in collaboration with the Filmshop collective

Maddie Online Premiere

I’m excited to announce my short film Maddie premieres online today on Film Shortage! Huge thanks to our cast and crew that worked so hard to bring this project to life, and to all of you that supported our film. Please consider sharing, leaving a comment, and/or liking on Vimeo. After watching the film, you can read my director’s statement to learn more about the inspiration and backstory. I recommend watching the film with good sound if possible.

There once was a time when I thought making this film would be impossible. I learned so much through the process and that ultimately anything is possible with the right team, hard work, and dedication. To my talented cast and crew, it was an honor working with you and making this film together.

Thanks for watching.

All My Best,
Reuben

2017 A Year in Review

According to the Weather Channel, it feels like 2°F outside in Brooklyn right now! Mamma mia! After living in NYC for nearly seven years, it still feels like a foreign concept to have to check the weather every single day. No one ever talked about the weather where I grew up in SoCal. Despite the cold, I still love it here and enjoy experiencing seasons and continual change.

And so 2017 ends on a very cold note. 2017 is also the end of American made denim; today the Cone Mills White Oak plant, the last American selvedge denim mill, sadly closes it's doors after 112 years in operation. Cone Mills White Oak denim is my favorite denim fabric, and I ordered one last pair before White Oak shuts down for good. 

As 2017 comes to a close, I look back with gratitude. My narrative short film, Maddie, premiered at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in NYC (sadly also closing it's doors for good next month) earlier this year. Maddie screened at a handful of film festivals and unexpectedly took home a few awards, including the Best Williamsburg Short Award at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival in Brooklyn last month. Maddie will screen at a few more festivals in 2018. Big thanks to everyone that came out and supported our film this year. 

Another project I enjoyed working on this year was This Is Our New York, a short spot I directed for the New York Immigration Coalition, that was broadcasted on the big screen in Times Square.

On a personal note, the major highlight of 2017 was marrying my best friend Lisa in Puglia, Italy last summer alongside our dear friends and family members. We hosted a three day celebration and were intentional about spending quality time together with our loved ones over the course of several days. Afterwards, Lisa and I road tripped, swam, and ate our way around Southern Italy for a month. It was a memorable summer to say the least! 

Photo by Nathan Smith

Grotta del Soffio, Italy

Grotta della Poesia Grande, Italy. One of our favorite spots.

Matera, Italy

This year I really had to learn not to sweat the small things in life. Life is too short to focus on little things that really don't matter in the end. I definitely want to continue working on this in 2018 and beyond.

Next year, I will also dance much more.

I also launched a brand new website that you're looking at right now (thanks to my web guru Katherine).

Last but not least, I moved my business into a new studio this year with my friends at Skypie Studio, and have been much more productive and happier. It has been really great and invaluable to move my work life outside of the house, and constantly be surrounded by a community of creatives. I have some exciting projects that I'm looking forward to working on next year.

Much love, peace, and Happy New Year to you all.

All My Best,
Reuben

Maddie Wins an Award of Merit

My film Maddie recently won an Award of Merit at the One-Reeler Short Film Competition and will have its LA premiere in competition at the Marina del Rey Film Festival.

Maddie will screen at the AMC theatre in Marina del Rey in October. Stay tuned for screening info and we look forward to sharing it on the big screen out west.

making a movie

I’m 3 months into making my short film, knee deep in preproduction with casting, meetings, trying to coordinate a complicated stunt on the streets of NYC, and a whole list of other things. I’m all in pouring my heart and soul into this project, switched to 7 day workweeks, and forget to eat lunch sometimes. Despite feeling overwhelmed and alone at times, I also feel empowered and able to bring this project to life in a beautiful and compelling way. So many people have been supportive, generous, and willing to help, even strangers (friends of friends of friends of friends of friends, etc.) that don’t even know me. I can’t thank you enough. And I’m learning something new and growing every moment along the way. I absolutely love it and I’m beyond grateful.

I’m blown away by the hundreds of actors that have responded to my casting call. Thank you! I wish I could audition every single one of you, but that is impossible. The amount of talent/passion/dedication/hard work out there is truly remarkable. Keep kicking ass. You inspire me.

I have high hopes for this film and am working towards completing it in time for the Sundance Film Festival deadline in September. If all goes to plan, principle photography should commence in 3-4 weeks (OMG!)!!

Shit is getting real, real fast. Stay tuned folks…

Much Love,
Reuben