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The Sushi Friends
A few years ago my friend Ward and I dreamed up an idea for a kids’ cartoon. Sushi Friends is an action/comedy/adventure show about 5 pieces of sushi that fight crime. They are, in essence, Super Sushi. They’re your typical group of dedicated, committed, sometimes focused, professional super heroes; except they don’t get paid, they don’t lead double lives and they don’t have their own action figures…yet. They are walking, talking, philosophical, good-natured do-gooders . Sushi Friends mixes the absurdity of Sponge Bob and the mock seriousness of Super Friends with the warmth and personality of the Muppets. No, we haven’t sold it yet, but if you know anyone who wants to make a billion dollars with the next Spongebob, let us know. Find more goodies and entertainment at our website: www.thesushifriends.com.
The Adventures of Zed, Ped & Fred
| http://www.gregoryabbey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/zpf-web.flv | I really wanted to work with my good friends Ted and Vinnie so I wrote and directed a short film for us. The Adventures of Zed, Ped & Fred was shot over a week-end with the greatest group of film production people in the history of cinema. I think it’s a testament to just how ridiculous I can be if I put my mind to it. I’m hoping I can get off my ass and make another ZPF Adventure soon. I know the public is desperately clamoring for it. |
The Wonder
There was a time a few centuries ago I was waiting tables and depressed. My friend Vinnie yanked me from my doldrums by insisting we make a short film. And thus, The Wonder was born. The story of a young, naive “waiter prodigy” who comes to the Big City to fulfill his dream of becoming the greatest waiter that ever lived. Our hero ultimately becomes sidetracked when he gets cast in a summer blockbuster and takes the rocket ride to movie stardom. Vinnie acted, I directed, and together we nearly made cinematic history. Neither of us had any idea what we were doing, but we pushed ahead with ignorant bliss. Below are three of the more mildly successful scenes from our 15 minute epic. If you are 9 years old or under, you will especially enjoy this film. Our little screwball comedy was accepted to a handful of festivals and actually won 1st place at two of them: First Glance (Philadelphia) and the San Diego Film Festival. I’ve recently put the finishing touches on a full-length screenplay based on the idea. Last month it made the top ten of the Cinequest Film Festival screenwriting competion. If you happen to know Jack Black and can get him my script, let me know.
| http://www.gregoryabbey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/wonder-1.flv | The War Scene
Vinnie and I somehow convinced our boss to let us use the restaurant at night after it was closed. We proceeded to fill the joint with over 70 extras and trash the place beyond recognition. How we didn’t end up fired is beyond me. |
| http://www.gregoryabbey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/wonder-2-1.flv | A Star is Born
Shooting on the streets of NY is great, even for a little production like ours. Within minutes we were surrounded by tons of people under the illusion we were actually making something of quality. We totally duped the movie theatre into letting us shoot there for free. I’m not sure how we pulled that off either. Perhaps it was our unsurpassed genius. |
| http://www.gregoryabbey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/wonder-3.flv | The Wait-Off
If all else fails, just speed up the scene and add some wacky music. Oh yeah. A definitive laugh riot. |
Promos
http://www.gregoryabbey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ghostbusters.flv http://www.gregoryabbey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/star-wars.flvA few years ago I was pondering the highly unoriginal idea that people love to sit around and quote lines from their favorite movies. And by “people” I mean drunk frat boys. No, seriously, lots of people do it. Except my parents. But I digress. I thought it’d be funny to do some promos based around ordinary people acting out scenes from their favorite movies. I knew a guy at AMC who I thought I could pitch it to. Additionally, I felt it could work on any network that showed movies (i.e. TNT, TBS, USA, TMC etc). Mostly I wanted to run around and shout direction at people. So over a week-end I grabbed a camera and with the help of about 1 and a half people, I shot the two spots above. My friend ended up leaving AMC so the pitch never happened. Luckily for you, an idea so brilliant it stands on par with ”magic shell” lives on here in all it’s celluloid glory. My gratitude to my fearless and funny actors: Vinnie Penna, Kelly McCallister, Shannon Thomason, Jamal O’Rear, Michael Monroe & Kim Monroe. (be patient for the download and be rewarded with unsurpassed awesomeness.)