Jay Larson’s star-studded comedy short is a departure - and a coming home - for this commercial editor
Jason Lucas of bicoastal Union has edited comedy spots for directors like Frank Todaro (Honda/RPA), Jeff Bitsack (Build.com/Vitro), and Nick & Charles (Amazon/XCM). At the same time, he has performed standup comedy on the regular at the famed Comedy Store. These two worlds come together in his latest project, ANY ASSHOLE, the short film directing debut of longtime standup Jay Larson. Produced by Tim Case and heralding Larson’s arrival as a spot director in the Supply & Demand lineup, ANY ASSHOLE stars Larson alongside Joel McHale, Kumail Nanjiani, Blake Griffin, Hannibal Buress, Neal Brennan, Johnny Knoxville, Sarah Tiana, and Helen Hong, as he tries to find out if he has what it takes to direct commercials.
"This was one of those projects that seemed like it was too good to be true from the beginning,” beams Lucas, recalling that Union Partner/Managing Director Michael Raimondi told him an editor was needed for a short film being shot by Jay Larson, a director that Supply & Demand just signed. “I was thinking, ‘Is this the same Jay Larson I've done stand up comedy with at the Comedy Store?' Turns out it was. Then I saw the script and could hear it in Jay's voice with that thick Boston accent hitting every line.”
The 6:30 film accomplishes a high-wire act of sorts, conveying Larson’s directorial chops, while utilizing some very well-known faces in a way that is fresh, organic, and entertaining. “I had a lot of great footage to work with,” Lucas says. “Almost every take was a good one since the talent we were working with were some of the funniest people in the business.” One surprise: basketball star Blake Griffin. “Most athletes who try to act are awful. Blake was hilarious. He got who his character was and nailed it.” In the assembly, says Lucas, “I offered Jay and Tim a few different ways to tell that story until we found the perfect flow and structure."
“As a kid, commercials were a huge part of entertainment. ‘Time to Make the Doughnuts’ and ‘Where’s the Beef?’ were taglines that defined my childhood,” Larson explains. “SNL would always parody commercials and the Superbowl became The Superbowl for commercials. As a comedian and sketch comedy writer/director I always wanted to get into commercial directing, I just didn’t know how. I had written a bunch of spec spots and was hired a few times to write some copy. Finally one day I realized that I could take my experience in short films and sketch comedy as a tool to get me into the commercial directing world, and that’s what I did. Sometimes they don’t let you in the front door, or the side door, or the back door, so you need to climb the fire escape and get in through the roof.”
“For the last 24 years the two most important things in my life, aside from my wife and kids, are my Comedy Store family and Union Editorial family,” Lucas concludes. “It was a very special moment to see them come together.”
company
Union’s Graham Turner Wins Best Editing Award at NY Indie Shorts
An explosive tale of romance, fear and bravado, writer/director Peter Novosel’s TELLER NUMBER FOUR is all about pushing buttons, and it’s as zany and funny as it is unlikely. For one thing, the short film - which...
A Bold Depiction of The Immigrant Struggle and The Cost of The American Dream
Carmona Pictures, a New York-based production company, proudly announces that Chisel, the short film written and directed by Julissa Scopino, has been selected as an official entry at the 2024 Chelsea Film Festival. The film, which powerfully explores the immigrant experience, will screen at the prestigious event, held from October 16-20 at Regal Theaters Union Square in New York City. In Chisel, a jobless teenage immigrant desperately seeks employment, only to be met with cold indifference from fellow laborers on a street corner who are also desperately looking for work. Isolated and longing to fit in, he faces a moral crossroads: follow the right path or get involved in a risky opportunity that promises quick success. The film offers a raw and urgent portrayal of the immigrant struggle, addressing labor exploitation, inequality, and the harsh realities of chasing the American dream. The film's main character is portrayed by actor Nico Bustamante (Riverdale, Gotti, and Bel Canto), who brings an emotional depth and authenticity to the role, capturing the internal struggle and desperation of his character. Chisel draws its power from Scopino’s sharp directorial vision and her dedication to illuminating this untold story of the Latino labor community. Influenced by cinematic giants like Vittorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief) and Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York), Scopino captures the emotional and physical toll of working-class life in an unforgiving system. "This film resonates profoundly with me as I witness the pervasive struggles in our New York City streets, where individuals grapple with challenges ranging from theft and violence to homelessness and unemployment," states Scopino. "The impact of inflation has... Read More