Fenton Arts

Stories of a Painter and a Filmmaker
Film

Narrative

 

Clips from four short films:
-"Heads Up"
-"Last Laugh"
-"Herman?"
-"Your Wife's Pregnant"

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss

SCREENPLAY-1

Everything in It

by Ryan and Katie Fenton-Strauss

Synopsis:

In the year 2040, Kolbo, Inc. has a monopoly over all entertainment, news, communication, literature and art. The Kolbo, which means 'everything in it', is the 'must have' ultimate digital device. A flexible gooseneck arm mounts on the viewer's shoulder, suspending a transparent screen in front of the face, which allows the viewer to consume media during every waking hour of the day. Eye contact during conversation is an inconvenience, and language has devolved into abbreviations and fragments. In this satirical world, the culture of consumption has nearly rendered human creativity extinct.

The protagonist, Howard Finch, is out of place in this manic, technology‐driven culture. Howard works in the lowly "Waste Management" department at Kolbo because he worships Kolbo's founder, Mr. Wunderman, but lacks the confidence and the ambition to aspire to a higher position. Howard is happiest when he is lost in an old movie at The Treasure Cinema, one of the few movie theaters that has not yet gone out of business. There finds a soul mate in a movie usher, Alice, who also seems to belong in an earlier time......(Continue Reading)


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SCREENPLAY-2

The Marriage of Figowitz

by Ryan and Katie Fenton-Strauss

Synopsis:

The Marriage of Figowitz is a quirky romantic comedy about living life fully, even when you’re just hanging on by a thread. Sam Figowitz’s wife, Ada, lies on her deathbed. She pulls Sam close and struggles to speak. “If you even think of finding another woman,” she tells him, “I’ll haunt you for all your remaining days.” And then she dies.

After the funeral, Sam’s family and friends gather to sit shivah. The gathering is more of a jubilant cocktail party than a solemn religious ritual, because the only one mourning is Sam. But instead of mourning Ada, Sam is mourning his own wasted life -- his miserable marriage which often seemed more like a prison sentence than a relationship. Sam’s best friend Max valiantly tries to get those gathered to say some kind words about Ada, which is no small feat, because Ada had a remarkable gift for driving people crazy. (Sam’s friend Rose recalls the time Ada insisted they all take a long walk in subzero weather just so she could get the last fifteen cents-worth out of her parking meter.)......(Continue Reading)


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Documentary

 


PAINT AS YOU LIKE

Trailer for feature documentary
about a son's journey through
his father's life as an artist.

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss

www.paintasyoulike.com


MELODIES OF AUSCHWITZ
MUSIC SAVED MY LIFE
ANGELS SENT FROM HEAVEN


Excerpt from three short
documentaries. Produced by
USC Shoah Foundation for
COMCAST XFINITY on demand

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss

Promos

 


About IWitness

Released as a supplemental
video for Schindler’s List
Blu-ray designed to promote
the USC Shoah Foundation's
web application IWitness.

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss


One Voice at a Time

Public service announcement
for the USC Shoah Foundation,
aired on Comcast channels.

Director:
Gasper Patrico

Director of Photographer:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss

Editor:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss


IWitness Youth Institute Pilot

Video bringing USC Shoah
Foundation educational
program to inner city learning
center in Philadelphia.

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss


USC Digital Repository

Promotional video for the USC
Digital Repository.

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss


Education Superhighway

Video to promote the
nonprofit organization
educationsuperhighway.org

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss

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Popularity Contest

30 second spot for Joe Biden's
2008 presidential campaign.

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss


John Kerry

A 30 second piece created by
June Beallor Productions and
edited by Ryan Fenton-Strauss
for the 2004 Democratic
National Convention.


Flip Decision

30 second spot for Joe Biden's
2008 presidential campaign,
aired on Chris Mathew's
Hardball.

Director:
Ryan Fenton-Strauss

Ryan’s Profile

Ryan Fenton-Strauss has been working for the past 13 years at The USC Shoah Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Steven Spielberg to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. Ryan oversees the preservation of video testimonies given by genocide survivors. He also runs a video production group to promote the educational mission of the USC Shoah Foundation. He directs and edits numerous short documentary films, and educational and promotional videos. Several videos have been featured on Comcast Xfinity On Demand.

In addition, Ryan has produced and edited a number of political videos, which have played at the Democratic National Convention, and another that was recognized on Chris Mathews’ Hardball. He has written two feature scripts, one of which was a Fade In Screenwriting Award Semifinalist.

Ryan Fenton-Strauss earned a BA in Theater at Brandeis University and an MFA in Film Production at Chapman University. Post graduation, Ryan returned to Chapman to do adjunct teaching at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

He has just completed his first feature documentary film, Paint as You Like, about his father’s life an artist.

 

Ryan’s Filmography