Alex is a pizza delivery boy who is fed up with people who don’t tip and he is out for revenge in this horror comedy short film Just the Tip! Written & Directed by Jesse Small Produced by David Canola Cinematography by David Canola Edited by Jesse Small Starring Nicholas Blackford Mary Brownstorm Mario Nalini Music by: The Sheckies, Killed by Florida, & The Mercy Fucks!
The Filming Process
During The month of October I had the privilege to be the lead Actor in a film called “Just The Tip” written and Directed by my friend Jesse Small AKA Jessesmallanimation process of shooting the film took about a month, rather low intensity on my part thanks to the expert planning of Jessie Small and David Canola.
I am Happy to Announce my collaboration with The Reel Idiots and Team Insomniac Films on the recent release of Buzz off Insecticide Spray:
Buzz Off Insecticide Spray Animation
The Synopsis
“Buzz Off Insecticide Spray” is an Adult Animation advertising an all purpose insecticide spray that not only kills bugs but also enhances the taste of anything it is sprayed on. The ad takes place in the backyard of a home during a barbecue/get together. Chris the man at the grill is interuppted by his Adam (his alcoholic friend) who compliments him on his grilling ability.
However undenounced to Adam Chris is being annoyed by a fly who carry’s him off into the sky after Chris snatches him in-between his fingers. Chris is left flying in mid air while his wife and best friend try to figure out how to get him down. During this crisis several character’s enter the scene touting the bug spray while fumbling it’s use.
The ad suddenly ends with Chris plunging to the floor killing a group of fly’s attending the funeral of a fly supposedly killed by the spray.
The Cast
Buzz Off was Written and Directed by Tyler Council who is the founder of The Reel Idiots a Film Troupe located in South Florida, known throughout the local and Regional Film Circuit for their Bohemian approach to comedy using the classic American Advertising format to showcase fictitious products. Some of the Reel Idiots more notable works include:
In the whimsical world of “Buzz Off Insecticide Spray,” laughter meets insect control in a backyard barbecue like no other. Directed by Tyler Council of The Reel Idiots, this adult animation brings to life the unexpected consequences of an all-purpose bug spray that not only eliminates pests but also flavors anything it touches.
Greetings, fellow audience members! Excitement is in the air as we proudly unveil our latest creation – a collection of exclusive merchandise inspired by the enchanting universe of Tomatohead. For those of you who have followed Tom’s thrilling escapades with our beloved characters, this merchandise isn’t just clothing; it’s a ticket to immerse yourself deeper into the captivating world you’ve grown to love.
Discover Your Power of Slack: “The Bunch A Damn Slackers” Collection
Hi-roic Hoodies:
Bunch a Damn Slackers, Hoodie, Color No Text
Slide into the couch and enjoy a bong rip with your favorite trio with our signature hoodies. Crafted for comfort and designed for style, these hoodies will keep you warm while you embark on your everyday quests or you just wanna stay home. Whether you’re facing the chill of a winter’s night or simply want to exude that hero vibe, our hoodies are the perfect choice.
Trendy T-shirts:
Bunch a Damn Slackers, Short Sleeve Shirts, Color No Text
Make a statement with our trendy t-shirts featuring iconic designs and characters from Tomatohead. Each shirt tells a story, allowing you to express your fandom wherever you go. These t-shirts are not just garments; they are canvases that bring the magic of our series to life.
Lively Longsleeve Shirts:
Bunch a Damn Slackers, Long Sleeve Shirts, Color No Text
For those who prefer a bit more coverage, our long sleeve shirts are the ideal blend of comfort and fashion. Emblazoned with exquisite designs, these shirts are perfect for casual outings, gaming marathons, or simply lounging at home while you binge-watch your favorite episodes.
Why You’ll Love It:
Exclusive Designs: Our merchandise features exclusive designs that you won’t find anywhere else. Each piece is a work of art, meticulously crafted to capture the essence of our characters and their adventures.
Premium Quality: We believe in offering nothing but the best to our fans. Our hoodies, t-shirts, and long sleeve shirts are made from high-quality materials to ensure durability and comfort, even during the most epic quests.
Limited Edition: Hurry, because these items are limited edition! Be one of the few to own a piece of [Your Web Series Name] history. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.
Remember, this isn’t just apparel; it’s a statement. It’s a way to show the world your love for adventure, fantasy, and the extraordinary. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of something legendary.
Thank you for being a part of our incredible journey. Your support fuels our creativity, and we can’t wait to see you all proudly wearing our [Your Web Series Name] merchandise. Get ready to unleash your inner hero – the adventure begins now!
LennyandFriends/Team Insomniac Films interview on Miami Community Radio.
It started with a story on my friend’s Instagram promoting a small film festival located in the heart of Miami, The Event was called the 786 Film Festival, streamed live by a little known organization called Miami Community Radio.
The event was organized by a small Gen Z lead production group called Omegaspit in association with Casa Crea a Miami based creative space dedicated to all things artsy.
Coming off the high of having submitted Tom Gets Ghosted to Film Gate Miami and Winning nothing and a brief council with the Tomatohead producer Chris Krider we made the decision to submit the film to the film festival.
The organizer’s reached out to let us know the details like the date of the event as well as meet and greet with the other filmmakers.
The Interview at Miami Community Radio
The interveiw was streamed on Miami Community Radio, a small online streaming station located in Little River Miami. They mainly stream DJ’s and musical artists as well as some topical discussion shows.
All that aside the interview was probably my favorite part of the whole experience more so then the film festival itself because it gave Chris an I an Opportunity to talk briefly about Tomatohead, the voice actors as well as future plans for the show itself. The was quite a novel experience that provides resources for smaller creators to talk about themselves and their brand. I will definitely be using this video to promote my show as well as lennyandfriends as a whole. Plus its cool to see myself on camera talking about my passion and being accompanied by a friend that supports my work.
The 786 Film Festival
Unfortunately Chris was not able to attend the event so I went solo which was a good thing considering the audio issues that came about during the streaming of Tom’s Supernatural Experience. However it did make for some heartly laughs since the audio issue worked for the show and I kept getting repeatedly asked if that was intentional to which i replied “no” then gave them the youtube link to the original.
Ultimately I also did not win this one either but it was still very good exposure which lead to Tom’s Supernatural Experience being featured on Miami Film Lab’s Youtube Channel which I will discuss in another blog post.
On Tuesday June 20th at 7:00pm I streamed “The Last Lap” An Animation and Film Showcase comprising of the works of several of my friends and collogues in the creative field.
Having always been a fan of Adult Swim, It was a dream of mine to see a Cartoon I made on that program. I even got the opportunity to Pitch Adult Swim for their show Development Meeting Back in 2020.
Earlier in 2023 I helped a friend move to Atlanta, I will never forget that trip except for one moment when my friend and myself went to visit the William St building (Home of Adult Swim) what we saw was the building virtually abandoned (potentially due to remote work thanks to covid).
We also asked to check out some murals next to the building but we were informed by security that the murals had been knocked down since 2020.
We thought “no worries, lets check out the CNN building” which was also disappointing since only the first floor of the building was open while every other floor was closed even the Cartoon Network Office looked relatively abandoned. I didn’t realize it at the time but something felt fundamentally wrong about what’s going on with Adult Swim and their parent networks as a whole.
When I finally came home to South FLA I participated in an art show were I played a series of Animations I made as well as doing research on the viewership of Adult Swim. I had my friend Chris from Team Insomniac Films edit all my animations together. Loving the way they were edited together I reached out to my friend Chris with an Idea for a block of Animations and Film (the initial idea for the last lap) Chris agreed, and work on the series began.
The Promotion of The Last Lap
The promotion of the event lasted about a month, consisting mainly of video and animated Gifs promoted exclusively on Instagram and Facebook without the assistance of paid ads. Each week every 3 days A story would be posted with the following design below:
As the event drew closer I decided to up the anti and make one final push to promote the even by making specific trailers for each presenter then sending to them asking them to promote the event on their respective IG accounts.
Long story short the event was a success garnering over 200+ viewers, one of the things I was most proud of was the activity on the chat as well as people making clips from the event. Hopefully there will be another event like the last lap in the future that means I have alot of work ahead of me for the next 1-2years, I better get started Animating.
The idea for Tomatohead Animated Series came to me around 2012 when I was first started working in portrait photography. I took a range of sessions from Family Photos, birthdays, milestones etc.
I was a key part of that fantasy for alot of people particularly women.
In most cases it was the women that dragged their families, boyfriends, kids, and even pets to take photos.
They were also the ones that spent the money, the men were mearly accessories to the women’s fantasy.
I also hate to say it but guys get “baby fever” as well, not as bad as women tho.
These disparate factors came together to form the idea of a man that almost looks like he could fit perfectly into that fantasy except one problem.
The problem was whenever he got a date she would bit a piece of his head off which was the punchline.
The first skit for Tomatohead that I ever came up with formed the basis of the first episode of Tomatohead I animated.
Panels from Early Tomatohead Comic
Changing The Idea
It was around 2017 That the Idea for Tomatohead began to undergo a bit of a shift.
I moved into a one bedroom apartment with a friend of mine and very quickly found myself in a financial slump.
I didn’t have any disposable income for the finer things in life plus the women just weren’t interested.
Dejected I decided to stay home and work on the comic that soon became the first episode of Tomatohead.
This version was different from the original in that I removed the part were his head gets bitten off by women he’s dating.
To a story that more told the audience a story about Tom, who he is his goals and life struggles.
I also chose to keep the scene with Tom having a back and fourth with his “parents” as a vehicle for that story.
I also felt this would give me an opportunity to tell the story with some supporting characters such as:
Tots (voiced by me)
Reg (voiced by Chris Briggs)
Frank (voiced by Chris Krider)
Rind Squad (voiced by Nelson)
and Broc Ecoli (also voiced by Chris Krider
I also wanted to give Tom a bit of a backstory which i will not spoil for the viewers here.
I proceeded showing the comic to anyone in my friend group willing to read it, I had even expressed a desire to animate it.
I also mentioned I needed voice actors, thats when a serious actor Adam Crain volounteered to be the voice of Tom the leading man in the show.
Since then I have so far stalled out on episode 3 but I intend to get back in the saddle on that one … eventually. I have decided to go in a different direction with Tomatohead once again to get back to the core of the story, Tom getting a girlfriend.
This led me to the creation of the colloquially known “Tom Get’s Ghosted“
Also critique of the wider state of dating.
Male to female relationships from the perspective of an average looking, working class male.
I also want to use the show to look at the adversities of these kinds of men.
Also how these problems demotivate them and keep them infantile and pleasure seeking.
I hope more young men relate to the struggles of Tom and his friends and I also hope this gives the women that are paying attention, to the plight of the average man.
We can only build an understanding by listening, I also believe that there is a curiousity building for the male perspective on these issues.
2 Weeks ago. I attended the live showing of Tom Get’s Ghosted at Filmgate Miami located in Silverspot Cinema, a high end movie theatre in Downtown Miami.
What is Film Gate
Filmgate Miami, is a film organization committed to showcasing the best films from creators all over South Florida. Read more about who they are board of directors and about page
The initial setup is pretty cool, almost designed to make the filmakers feel like mini celebs. They had an area with the filmgate background were a professional photographer would photograph the crew of each film. Then they had the filmmakers (myself included) talk a little bit about the film with a quick interview.
Once that was over, we went into the cinema were they had a session called a “percolater”. This is when a filmmaker talks a little bit about their film and plug their next production.
Me speaking at the percolator
The Film Line Up
Movie Line up for Filmgate Poster for Tom Get’s ghosted
I wouldn’t say all the films were great but some were quite memorable (myself and The Anti Foundation Foundation). Also there was a very trippy film about someone’s dog dreaming as well as a film were the whole thing consisted of a banana getting peeled to some weird sound effects.. Overall still a great lineup of interesting and provocative films.
Unfortunately we did not win anything (neither myself or the Reel Idiots) 2 chick flicks won best movie and Audience favorite, I don’t actually believe the results to be very honest with you especially when you consider the overt wokeness of the organization and Judges but it was a great experience and I definitely look forward to the next one.
Happy to release another Animated short titled “Tom’s Got a Date, It’s a SUPERNATURAL Experience” The short follows our protagonist Tom getting ready for a hot date tonight by trying on some Wigs. He then decides to get some style advice from his stoner roommate Frank who is cleaning the kitchen.
When Franks advice was not to Tom’s liking an argument starts to break out (Tom starts complaining about Frank)
He then notices Frank is cleaning the kitchen, Frank lets Tom know that he’s going to bake weed brownies for his friends Tots and Reg (supporting characters) to watch a bear simulator on twitch. Frank then wishes him good luck then cautions him that she may ghost him since thats what females do now. Annoyed Tom finally storms off to head to his date. You can watch the rest to find out.
Credits
The film was produced by myself (lennyandfriends) as well as Team Insomniac Films
Adam D Crain (voice of Tom, and wrote the script)
Chris Krider and Sam for recording the audio and providing extra material for the short Brandon Hoffman As the voice of the waiter Adriel Kaplan the first person to hear the story and contributing ideas.
Check out more of our Animated Shorts
If you enjoyed our recent short be sure to check out more in our gallery section. I will definitly be working on more animated shorts in the future not just with Tomatohead but also some collaborations.
On July 31st I had the opportunity to be apart of an amazing movie by Team Insomniac Films for the Miami/Fort Lauderdale 48 Hour Film Project
What is SNAP SHOT about?
The film is called “SNAP SHOT” Directed by Chris Krider.
The story is about 2 career criminals who take up a job to recover a polaroid photo taken of their client by a photographer named Samantha Jimenez.
Samantha enchants the photo like a voodoo doll and can harm or even kill the subject by damaging the photo. Long story short you can watch the film below:
I was cast as “the brains of the operation” and a master lock picker who breaks into the studio as well as Samantha’s lock box to recover the photo.
While my co star Adam Crain, who also voices Tom from Tomatohead
is the muscle with a penchant for using his hammer to do the talking.
If you haven’t already watched the film then *spoiler alert* we both die in the film. Its a bummer if you like bad guys maybe we should have had guns?
The 48 hour Film Project and SNAP SHOT’S Debut
The film premiered at the 48 hour film project on August 04th with about 20 plus other films.
Afterward we still thought our film was pretty solid and we were proven right on September 30.
During the 48 hour film’s award ceremony our film took 3 awards. Best lighting, best special effects and placing 3rd for the best film of the competition.
It was a stellar day which ended with us celebrating with a bar crawl of fort lauderdale.
In conclusion if your reading this I recommend you check out the film snapshot in the link above.
I had so much fun filming it and you will have as much fun watching it.
Its a wild ride with an interesting revelation at the end.
Support Team Insomniac
If you enjoy Team Insomiac’s work you can check out their youtube channel.
They also have a podcast called “Tryptich” were they talk about movies as well as pop culture happenings.
Support for Team Insomniac is also Support for Lennyandfriends
Did you know Team Insomniac is also a collaborator for Tomatohead?
Did you also know that by watching tomatohead liking and subscribing to my channel you are also supporting Lenny and Friends therefore supporting Team Insomniac?
The Animation is about a doting husband Nokia cellphone trying to get in contact with his wife a cordless phone to let her know he will be home on time for dinner and whats for dinner. Little does he know he will be on the adventure of a lifetime, from the top of a mountain to jumping out of a plane. This man will stop at nothing to reach out to his wife only to hilariously crash land through their roof.
The Idea
Ahmad mentioned the idea when we were talking about something else via IG messenger, I beleive it was a voice recording, I don’t remember how long I thought about the idea whether 5 minutes or 5 days but I do remember reaching back out to him and letting him know I was gonna animated it.
I drafted a storyboard and went out and bought a pop filter for my Samson mic but some how ended up recording the audio in my car with the pop filter and being happy with the clips. I did the animatic with break neck speed and sent it to Ahmad which he gave me his emphatic approval.
The Animation Process
The Nokia Cellphone Guy at different angles
For the animation process I took a different approach which I hope to replicate for future animations. Mainly repurposing angles for different shots and only animating elements when it was absolutely necessary. This is my attempt at breaking away from my original approach from my pitch adult swim days.
Nokia Guy with his hiking / parachute napsack
In short I enjoyed this process and I think it helps the story more then conflicts with it.
The Final Export
This is by far the most annoying part of the process because the rush to just get it out there gets the best of me and I upload the finish product with errors that for some reason I alone notice.
My biggest issue was uploading the final product to Instagram which butchered my clips by eliminating 5-10 seconds off each clip, this is why I recommend the youtube video above.
