Cheeks Documentary Short, MiniDV/ 16MM, B/W, trt 20:00 Min.
Synopsis Meet Joe Cheek: folk musician and dedicated son of two paranoid schizophrenic fundamentalists. Constantly berated by a father who blames him for every mishap and finding no support from his pathologically withdrawn manic-depressive mother, Joe is in an untenable situation. Still, he is unwilling — or unable — to leave. His only recourse is to make music with the very man who torments him so. Part Edgar Allen Poe, part David Lynch, Cheeks draws on our gothic fascination with families in decay. It is a haunting portrait of a life defined by obligation and circumstance.
Directors Tal Sharon & Daniel Barcelowsky
Producers Drew R. Figueroa & Tal Sharon
Production Companies Secret Society Productions & Moxie Films
Distribution Docurama
>>> View Cheeks
Trailer
Director of Photography Yaron Orbach
Editor Alexander Kopit
Composers The Cheeks
Sound Editor/Mix Matthew Polis, SoundSpace Studio NYC
Sound Design Brian Emrich
Online Christine Giorgio & Brad Kimbrough, Film Loft @ F/VA
Festivals & Awards
IFP Market New York 2004 Spotlight On Documentaries
IFP Buzz Cuts
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2005
Los Angeles Film Festival 2005
Nashville Film Festival 2005
The Hamptons International Film Festival
Press
The New York Times
IndieWire.com (a) , IndieWire.com (b)
Film Threat
IFP
MTV
Philadelphia Weekly
Independentfilm.com
VH1
IFQ: Independent Film Quarterly
CTNow.com
Newsobserver.com
Films In Review
Industry personnel Comments
Lisa Lewis, Fine Line Features: "Everyone who saw it thought it showed an amazing subtlety, strong and unique choices in mood and tone, the subjects were absorbing. The editorial choices in the direction didn't force comment, but explored and opened up the world. Everyone loved how creepy it was and the music and editing reinforced that. The work shows a strong grasp of the narrative style and authorial voice without being overbearing. People were really baffled that this was a non-fiction piece. Tal Sharon and Daniel Barcelowsky are definitely on the lists as directors to watch”.
Mark Tusk, Former Miramax Executive: "A Southern New Jersey "Grey Gardens".
Revelation 18:2 -Working Title- (In Pre Production)
Synopsis “The angel shouted, fallen! Powerful Babylon has fallen and is now the home of demons. It is the den of every filthy spirit and of all unclean birds, and every dirty and hated animal”.
A feature length documentary film about the secret world of exorcism: its rituals, myths, rumors and controversies that surround it. This project offers innumerable insights into the lives of several characters as we follow them in their path to cleanse their possessed soul by the devil and the priests who help them get there.
Directors Tal Sharon & Daniel Barcelowsky
Producer Jon Ramos
Salvation (In Development; Feature Length Screenplay)
Synopsis In the era of the 1950’s in the south, a preacher and his blind daughter face the ultimate encounter of a young man entering their lives. This feature length screenplay touches upon religion, obsession and lost.
Screenplay Tal Sharon
Producer Secret Society Productions
Telekinetic (In Pre Production, Short Film)
Synopsis Telekinetic is the film treatment of an Eisner Award nominated short story by the same name. Crafted from the drawing pen of New Yorker artist Tomer Hanuka, Telekinetic deals with identity, memory, and destiny. From the hollow existence of twenty-something urbanites in Brooklyn and their magical parallel lives, to a dense psychological collage of a split-second lifetime, the narrative is both wide and specific, universal and painfully local.
Directors Tal Sharon & Tomer Hanuka
Producers Tomer Hanuka & Secret Society Productions
Story Tomer Hanuka
Screenplay Tomer Hanuka & Tal Sharon
The Coal Room - working title- (In post production, Short Film)
Synopsis a commissioned project documenting the remains of a closed down underground coal room in a lower east side cultural center. This short film will be followed by a future exhibition of still images and video works.
Director Daniel Barcelowsky
Director of Photography Jon Ramos
Editor Jon Ramos
Night Manager (In Development, Short Film)
Synopsis One night in a life of a night shift manager as he faces the odd encounters and personal demons of his nightly routine and the vicious circle that his job description requires.
Director Tal Sharon
Screenplay Tal Sharon & Daniel Barcelowsky
Directors of Photography s Jon Ramos & Yaron Orbach
Producers Jon Ramos & Tal Sharon