Two of my favorite up and coming directors are Jason LaRay Keener and his filmmaking partner Jeremiah Ledbetter. Together they run the studio Reining Nails and make verité style shorts. They have amazing titles like The Man with Apple Shaped Boxing Gloves” and Hail Cracking Cobra Eggs. They took four of those shorts and made what they call a “film EP” called Catfish with Falcon Wings. The total running time for the DVD is a quick 25 minutes and leaves you wanting much more. I know I’m eagerly awaiting when these two make a feature.

I met Jason on the Harmony Korine message boards where he posted his first short 2 years ago. I instantly recognized the loads of potential and I offered to support his cause by doing the DVD art for him. He and I worked together and this is what we came up with. If you like Harmony Korine films like Gummo or Julien Donkey Boy, you will like Catfish With Falcon Wings. I would also say that Jason and Jeremiah are influenced by neo-realism from directors like Werner Herzog, John Cassavetes, and even some mumblecore. Film director Todd Rohal who directed The Guatemalan Handshake even offers commentary on the DVD which is very cool.

Their filmmaking is done with a very DIY spirit, which I admire. In fact I’m in the early stages of planning a DIY art, music, and film fest in Cleveland in 2010 and they will surely be invited.

Oh yeah, buy the DVD! It’s worth it.