How places, people, and things shape and influence our lives. Fighting nostalgia to relive the best, we selfishly attempt to cage forever. Amidst a bleak ending, protagonist, Frank Wells, trudges past present day deformities to retreat into a much more colorful past.
The short film winner of the K-Swiss Ping Pong Classic at Gen Art at Sundance 2010.
- Jake Scribner (played by Jake Miller) is a rugged burnout bro from Ocean City Maryland with a girlfriend that won’t get off his freakin’ back and an undying passion for competition. He finds himself at a ridiculous party in the Valley and must face the most important match of his life. Overwhelmed by a sense of self doubt, he must face the voices in his head, find balance and discover the true spirit of the game.
Gabriel Sunday has been making films since he was 16, but is also an accomplished actor with roles in Judd Apatows Year One opposite Jack Black, directed by Harold Ramis and Taking Woodstock, directed by Ang Lee. He is also the is actor/writer/editor of the festival favorite My Suicide, which had its New York premiere at the Gen Art Film Festival.
Archie Williams (Gabriel Sunday) is a 17-year old media geek who has suddenly found himself the most talked-about kid in school. He has announced that he’s going to kill himself – on camera – for a class project. His classmates, parents, Sierra – the most beautiful girl in school (Brooke Nevin), and a “Shady Bunch” of shrinks, doctors, pill-pushers, and counselors descend on Archie. Some are hoping to save him, some want to imitate him, others try to push him over the brink. Archie films every moment of his high school experience, hiding nothing from his audience: realities of life, death, violence, sex, drugs, and the intense media overload and hypocrisy that bombard all teenagers.
“As a director watching My Suicide, I’m fascinated and delighted by the unusually creative and innovative technique of these filmmakers in service of a beautiful screenplay and wonderful performances. As the father of teenage sons, I’m deeply touched by the anguish of the protagonists and the terrible pain of growing up alone and lonely in a society that seems increasingly complicated and dangerous for our adolescent children. It’s a movie for parents to watch with their kids and an opportunity for all of us to redeem our shared grief.”
–Harold Ramis, Writer-Director, Ground Hog’s Day, Ghostbusters, Animal House
“My Suicide really opened my eyes to suicide in a way I found terribly unexpected. By the end of this film it’s clear how difficult this world is and how we need to come together to bring awareness to the subjects of depression and mental illness — those things that we don’t want to talk about in our families. We can save people’s lives by doing it. This is an amazing, amazing film and I think it’s very important that everyone sees it.”
–Mariel Hemingway, actor, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway
“My Suicide is a modern day ‘Catcher in the Rye,’ speaking for today’s generation in its storytelling, tone, honesty, humor, self-reflection and social commentary. It is audacious and entertaining while offering direction, comfort and solutions. Blending animation and live action, heart, humor and music, it delivers a fabulous film experience.”
–Julia Pistor, MTV and Nickelodeon Producer of Lemony Snicket, Spiderwick Chronicles, The Rugrats & SpongeBob Movies
