Variations on a Theme

Jason Abrams and I have started a new YouTube channel: Variations on a Theme.

It is a collection of shorts exploring a theme. The current theme is MORALITY.

Each short is around 5 minutes, shot on an iPhone, has minimal dialogue, and a budget of less than $100.

Not to sound too cheesy, but we are making art for arts sake. New shorts come out every couple of months.

Check out the current published shorts below:

A thief is faced with a difficult question when a home invasion takes a surprising turn.

An EMT faces a difficult decision when confronted with saving her sister's abuser.

"Tapochki" short film wrapped

I had the honor of directing my first short film this past weekend, a short that Marina Gasparyan and I spent over a year and a half writing, producing and bringing to life.

And you know what the best part was? Getting to make it with an all female crew.

Oh, and getting to act with our actual mothers. (Talk about good casting!)

I am filled with gratitude for everyone that helped create this magical story.

Shoutout to Cojeco, there would be no movie without you.

Director: Irina Gorovaia
DP: Barbie Leung
Producer / AD: Tyler McClain
Producer/ Nina: Marina Gasparyan
AC: Beatriz Barbieri Costa
Gaffer: Claire Halloran
Scripty: Kristi Gunther
Sound: Teresa-Esmeralda Sanchez
BTS/PA: Samantha Mellina

Marina, Ella, Irina & Anna

The all female crew for “YASHA“

Hungry Dog Blues wrapped and featured in Variety

Hello friends!

I hope you have been well, and I hope that you have made plans to, or have already voted.

Hungry Dog Blues has officially wrapped principal photography! We filmed for 16 days, and all stayed covid free and injury free. We tested everyone on our set 3 times a week, and complied with all CDC guidelines.

And! Some very exciting news- we had some press coverage in this week’s Variety: https://variety.com/2020/film/news/film-news-in-brief-18-1234815978/
(We are second under Friday October 30th.)

We just wanted to reach out and thank you all for contributing to our project and being so patient with us as we learned to adapt. 

Most of the cast and crew on our last day of filming Hungry Dog Blues at Tina’s house in Foristell, MO.

Please follow along with us as the adventure into post production begins!
@hungrydogblues

Wishing you health and peace.

Irina

A Magnificent Gray x Northeast Film Festival

Our movie has been submitted to another film festival!

I am proud to announce that it will be screened at the Northeast Film Festival, happening September 6-8 in Teaneck, New Jersey.

A Magnificent Gray will screen on Saturday September 7, during the 6-8pm block.

The film was also nominated for best short, and I was nominated for best actress!

For tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4312286

I would love to see you there!

A priest and a nun run away together but are forced to question their decision in the face of what seems to be divine intervention. "A Magnificent Gray" - Written and Directed by Jason Millner. A Zona Pictures Production Carmen: Irina Gorovaia Lawrence: Jason Millner Executive Producers: Marcos Topolos, Anna Gorovaya, Anatoli Gorovoi, Claudia Alexander, Alexander Hufschmid Producers: Irina Gorovaia, Jason Millner, Fig Chilcott, Davy Mellado Co-Producer: Jason Friedman-Mendez Director of Photography: Alexander Hufschmid AD: Fig Chilcott Gaffer: Brad Morse Production Design: Davy Mellado Production Sound: Matt Barrera Sound Design & Mix: D. Chris Smith Production Assistant: Simona Blat Colorist: Max Myman "A Magnificent Gray" by Slow Meadow Written by Matt Kidd Courtesy of Hammock Music "Fall Becomes" by Ricky Lewis Written by Ricky Lewis Performed by Ricky Lewis

In the Mood...

It has always been my dream to make an 80s workout dance video, so a few months ago I asked Jason Millner if he would direct it. I then contacted Abbi Press (DJ extraordinaire) and together with Jeff Buoncristiano as our killer DP, Alicia Rota choreographing the moves, and some badass girls working their butts off.. we made some magic.

'In the Mood...' is a new single written, produced, recorded, and mixed by Abbi Press.

Zona Pictures & Buon Co presents Abbi Press in "In the Mood..."
Producer: Irina Gorovaia
Director: Jason Millner
Director of Photography: Jeff Buoncristiano
Choreographer: Alicia Rota
Sound: Keith Trinh
ADR: Mitch Luther
PA: Hannah Borden
Cast: Abbi - Abbi Press
Girl Gang Leader - Irina Gorovaia
Girl Gang- Marina Gasparyan, Erin Johnson, Alicia Rota, Kauri Sievers and Courtney Torres
Special Thanks: The Cobra Club & Marcela Gomez

A Magnificent Gray x New York Shorts International Film Festival

A Magnificent Gray has been selected to screen at this year’s New York Shorts International Film Festival! It will be shown on Thursday June 6th at 7:05pm, at the Cinema Village located at 22 East 12th street in the Village.

For tickets: https://www.nyshorts.net/copy-of-film-program-19

There will be a q&a following the screening & I would love to see you there!

The Sun On Your Elbows

The Sun On Your Elbows, a short film written & directed by Jason Millner, starring me, has won JetBlue’s National Flip My Forecast 60 second Film Competition. We won two free tickets anywhere that JetBlue flies!