Film Favs 2020
Films I watched (again) and dug in 2020 — in no particular order:
I Lost My Body – directed by Jérémy Clapin
Inception – directed by Christopher Nolan
1917 – directed by Sam Mendes
Klaus – directed by Sergio Pablos
The Skeleton Twins – directed by Craig Johnson
Honey Boy – directed by Alma Har’el
One Child Nation – directed by Nanfu Wang, Lynn Zhang
Marriage Story – directed by Noah Baumbach
Yesterday – directed by Danny Boyle
MFKZ – directed by Guillaume Renard, Shoujirou Nishimi
Wild Wild Country – directed by Maclain Way, Chapman Way
The Family – directed by Jesse Moss
LA 92 – directed by T.J. Martin, Daniel Lindsay
Apostasy – directed by Dan Kokotajlo
The Nice Guys – directed by Shane Black
American Anarchist – directed by Charlie Siskel
Joker – directed by Todd Phillips
The Social Dilemma – directed by Jeff Orlowski
The Trial of the Chicago 7 – directed by Aaron Sorkin
The Last Black Man In San Francisco – directed by Joe Talbot
Casablanca – directed by Michael Curtiz
A League Of Their Own – directed by Penny Marshall
Film Favs 2019
Films I watched (again) and dug in 2019 — in no particular order:
Bohemian Rhapsody – directed by Brian Singer
The Master – directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
The Incredibles 2 – directed by Brad Bird
The Handmaiden – directed by Park Chan-wook
The Stanford Prison Experiment – directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez
He Won’t Get Far On Foot – directed by Gus Van Sant
The King’s Speech – directed by Tom Hooper
The Red Violin – directed by François Girard
Music and Lyrics – directed by Marc Lawrence
Black Snake Moan – directed by Craig Brewer
Arrival – directed by Denis Villeneuve
Hereafter – directed by Clint Eastwood
The Lives Of Others – directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
The Discovery – directed by Charlie McDowell
Our Idiot Brother – directed by Jesse Peretz
Once Upon A Time In America – directed by Sergio Leone
BlacKkKlansman – directed by Spike Lee
Cop Car – directed by Jon Watts
The Family Fang – directed by Jason Bateman
Native Son – directed by Rashid Johnson
We Are Your Friends – directed by Max Joseph
Bad Times At The El Royale – directed by Drew Goddard
Steve Jobs – directed by Danny Boyle
Downsizing – directed by Alexander Payne
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile – directed by Joe Berlinger
First Man – directed by Damien Chazelle
No Strings Attached – directed by Ivan Reitman
The Little Hours – directed by Jeff Baena
Blue Valentine – directed by Derek Cianfrance
Welcome To Marwen – directed by Robert Zemeckis
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood – directed by Quentin Tarantino
Beats – directed by Chris Robinson
Thirteen Days – directed by Roger Donaldson
Dolemite Is My Name – directed by Craig Brewer
La La Land – directed by Damien Chazelle
PROJECT MIDNIGHT: Color Dance
When yin yang flows black and white in color. A render experiment created by Reynier Molenaar for his forthcoming film, PROJECT MIDNIGHT.
Title: PROJECT MIDNIGHT (working title)
Directed by: Reynier Molenaar
VFX/Design by: Pixelmutt aka Reynier Molenaar
REYNIER MOLENAAR: CDDP Finalist
I’m so proud to be SELECTED AS A FINALIST for the 2019 Commercial Directors Diversity Program, from over 300 submissions! In partnership with the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), this program answers a much needed call for more diverse voices in film.
I’m honored to be mentioned with this amazing group! Very special thanks to Tamika Lamison for supporting underrepresented voices, and big congratulations to the fellows!
Read the full press release over at SHOOT MAGAZINE.
STRAIN: Theatrical Trailer (Award-Winning Short Film)
From award-winning film director Reynier Molenaar (Replay/2007), comes an eerie look at the last days of mankind. STRAIN follows two survivors of the zombie apocalypse who must travel across ground zero — an abandoned Los Angeles — to deliver important biological samples.
BRIDE is a battle-weary and jaded warrior who has lost everyone and given up on people. CHRIS is a struggling optimist who is desperate for anyone he could call a friend.
When the mismatched pair discover they are being hunted, they must join forces to save their lives — and their humanity.
WINNER: BEST HORROR FILM @ OFFICIAL LATINO SHORTS FEST
WINNER: EXPO FILM AWARD @ LATINO COMICS EXPO: BROWNSVILLE
For more info, check out: http://strainmovie.com
PROJECT MIDNIGHT: Infinite Yin Yang 360
Virtual Reality animation featuring a 360 yin yang spiral, original binaural beats music and hypnotic countdown. The music starts at 8Hz (Alpha Waves) and drops down into 4Hz (Theta Waves). Listen with headphones for full effect.
Director: Reynier Molenaar
VR Production/Animation: Pixelmutt VFX
Music and Voice: Reynier Molenaar
STRAIN: Film Festivals
From award-winning film director Reynier Molenaar (Replay/2007), comes an eerie look at the last days of mankind. STRAIN follows two survivors of the zombie apocalypse who must travel across an eerily abandoned Los Angeles in order to save their lives — and their humanity.
AWARDS:
- WINNER: EXPO FILM AWARD @ LATINO COMICS EXPO: BROWNSVILLE – Brownsville, Texas – 2018
- WINNER: BEST HORROR FILM @ OFFICIAL LATINO SHORTS FEST – New York, NY – 2017
- SEMIFINALIST: BEST SHORT @ SHAPE: AT&T FILM AWARDS – Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, CA – 2019
- NOMINEE: BEST SHORT @ OFFICIAL LATINO SHORTS FEST – New York, NY – 2017
- NOMINEE: BEST SHORT @ LONG BEACH INDIE FEST – Long Beach, CA – 2016
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS:
- CLEVELAND CONCOCTION FILM FESTIVAL – Cleveland, Ohio – March 3rd, 2019
- CINESOL FILM FESTIVAL – South Padre Island, Texas – November 17th, 2018, November 18th, 2018
- BALI INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL – Bali, Indonesia (Touring):
- September 15th, 2018 @ RUMAH FILM SANG KARSA – Singaraja, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia
- September 15th, 2018 @ MOZILLA COMMUNITY SPACE JAKARTA – Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
- September 16th, 2018 @ KOMUNITAS MAHIMA – Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia
- September 22nd, 2018 @ RUMAH SANUR – Sanur, Bali, Indonesia
- September 22nd, 2018 @ PLATFORM 78 – Bandung
- September 22nd, 2018 @ CINEMA CIREBON – Jadimulya, Cirebon, Indonesia
- September 29th, 2018 @ WR STORE – Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
- LATINO COMICS EXPO: BROWNSVILLE (WINNER: EXPO FILM AWARD) – Brownsville, Texas – February 2nd, 2018
- CHANDLER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Chandler, Arizona – January 15th, 2018
- GALACTICURT FILM FESTIVAL – Catalonia, Spain – December 19th, 2017, June 8th, 2018
- INSHORT FILM FESTIVAL – Lagos, Nigeria – December 15th, 2017
- CULVER CITY FILM FESTIVAL – Culver City, California – December 8th, 2017
- DREAD FEST – Seattle, Washington – October 28th, 2017
- FAKE FLESH FILM FESTIVAL – Banff Alberta, Canada – October 27th, 2017
- OFFICIAL LATINO SHORTS FEST (WINNER: BEST HORROR FILM) – New York, NY – October 6th, 2017
- BIG TERROR FILM FESTIVAL – Parkersburg, West Virginia; Marietta, Ohio – October 1st, 2017, October 2nd, 2017
- ASBURY SHORT FILM CONCERT – Fryeburg, Maine – November 11th, 2016
- LONG BEACH INDIE FEST (nominated for BEST SHORT) – Long Beach, California – August 31st, 2016
- COMICPALOOZA – Houston, Texas – June 17th, 2016
For more extras, check out: http://strainmovie.com
Film Favs 2018
Films I watched (again) and dug in 2018 — in no particular order:
Imperial Dreams – directed by Malik Booth
Dope – directed by Rick Famuyiwa
Sicario – directed by Denis Villeneuve
The Shape of Water – directed by Guillermo del Toro
50/50 – directed by Jonathan Levine
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – directed by Martin McDonagh
The Gift – directed by Joel Edgerton
Last Flag Flying – directed by Richard Linklater
Arrival – directed by Denis Villeneuve
Only The Brave – directed by Joseph Kosinski
Brawl In Cell Block 99 – directed by S. Craig Zahler
What Happened to Monday – directed by Tommy Wirkola
The Imitation Game – directed by Morten Tyldum
Wind River – directed by Taylor Sheridan
Prisoners – directed by Denis Villeneuve
Baby Driver – directed by Edgar Wright
Creed – directed by Ryan Coogler
Lucky Logan – directed by Steven Soderbergh
Nightcrawler – directed by Dan Gilroy
Hustle & Flow – directed by Craig Brewer
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – directed by David Fincher
Get Out – directed by Jordan Peele
Coco – directed by Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina
Gifted – directed by Marc Webb
Boogie Nights – directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Milk – directed by Gus Van Sant
Apollo 13 – directed by Ron Howard
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) – directed by Noah Baumbach
War For The Planet of the Apes – directed by Matt Reeves
Colossal – directed by Nacho Vigalondo
Downsizing – directed by Alexander Payne
Election – directed by Alexander Payne
Ready Player One – directed by Steven Spielberg
A Quiet Place – directed by John Krasinski
The Big Sick – directed by Michael Showalter
Nymphomaniac (Vol 1 + 2) – directed by Lars von Trier
Adventureland – directed by Greg Mottola
The Little Death – directed by Josh Lawson
Gran Torino – directed by Clint Eastwood
Tully – directed by Jason Reitman
Hostiles – directed by Scott Cooper
The Disaster Artist – directed by James Franco
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World – directed by Edgar Wright
The Fundamentals of Caregiving – directed by Rob Burnett
Sucker Punch – directed by Zack Snyder
Bird Box – directed by Susanne Bier
It’s A Wonderful Life – directed by Frank Capra
PROJECT MIDNIGHT: Pixelmutt Vortex
I made this trippy animation for a special project I’m directing. Stare at the center and ask yourself “how far down the rabbit hole will Reynier take me?”
Design and Animation by: Reynier Molenaar aka Pixelmutt