THE STRONGEST MAN A Film by Kenny Riches 2015 / USA / English, Spanish / Comedy 98 min/ HD / 16:9 / Dolby 5.1 Sales Contact: 173 Richardson Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222 USA Office: +1.718.312.8210 Fax: +1.718.362.4865 Email: info@visitfilms.com Web: www.visitfilms.com
LOGLINE Beef thinks he s the strongest man in the world. But when his precious golden BMX bike is stolen, he must battle demons and find his spirit animal to recover it. FESTIVALS Sundance Film Festival 2015 TECH SPECS Run Time: 98 min Format: HD Sound: 5.1 Frame Rate: 24fps Exhibit Formats: DCP, Blu-Ray Country: USA Languages: English, Spanish SYNOPSIS Playing off of Miami s complicated cultural and social strata, The Strongest Man is an existential dark comedy about an anxiety-ridden Cuban man named Beef, who fancies himself the strongest man in the world. Beef s best friend is a Korean man named Conan, who is seeking acceptance from his parents and successful older brother. When Beef becomes involved with his art collector employer s niece Illi, it sets off a series of events that leads to the theft of his prize possession a solid gold BMX bicycle. Beef and Conan s lives are bumped off track after attending a spiritual meditation class that Illi coaxed them into. Not fully understanding the metaphorical assignment to find their totem animals, Beef and Conan who both work construction jobs for a living embark on a journey to find their respective power animals in the streets of Miami, where both feral dogs and chickens run rampant. Conan s relationship with his family crumbles, as Beef s relationship with Illi is in its nascency. Yet even with the exciting distraction of Illi, Beef can t seem to escape his looming anxiety, which is echoed by the daily conditions of his life in the Magic City.
DIRECTOR S STATEMENT The storyline of The Strongest Man has been incubating for quite some time. I first visited Miami many years ago during the winter months and returned annually before eventually packing up and making it my home. During the early visits I became fascinated with Miami culture and the complexities within it. The economic divide placing extreme poverty and excessive wealth in the same melting pot along with South American and Caribbean immigrants and a dash of political corruption, confused tourists and art collectors makes for a fascinating place to sit and watch the atoms collide. I met Robert Lorie (aka Meatball) when I first arrived in Miami and was gifted an amazing inside perspective of the city with its multiplicity of varied neighborhoods and people. Much like Beef and Conan, I worked with Meatball and listened to his stories and colloquialisms and tried to pay attention to our similarities and differences. I also became close friends with many of the other artists in Miami s creative scene something that has significantly marked the city. These were the beginnings of what would become The Strongest Man. Though completely fictional, the characters were certainly influenced by my friends, surroundings and experiences; such as my bike being stolen, seeing the street chickens, having anxiety, watching the city change at an alarming rate, etc. The film has a great deal of symbolism that is Miami-specific, and some of the elements aren t easily translated to those who have never been to Miami, but I did my best to make them accessible. In the end it s a silly comedy about three friends, but my hope is that it also gives a sense of the greater portrait of Miami I ve painted.
CREW KENNY RICHES Writer / Director Kenny Riches was born in Toyota City, Japan, raised in Utah, and currently resides in Miami, Florida. He holds a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Utah. His first feature film, Must Come Down, premiered at Cinequest and went on to screen at Newport Beach Film Festival, Minneapolis/St. Paul International, among others. He is Vice President of The David Ross Fetzer Foudation for Emerging Artists, which is a grant giving organization for filmmakers and playwrights, founded in memory of David Fetzer. ANTHONY PEDONE Producer Anthony Pedone resides in Victoria, Texas and holds a degree in Music Composition. Anthony has produced or directed 15 features through his company Film Exchange. He is the founder of the Victoria TX Independent Film Festival and RxSM, a festival that runs simultaneously, but completely independently of SXSW in Austin, TX. Anthony is a champion of truly independent cinema and works tirelessly to support filmmakers through the Texas Indie Incentive Program. Developed by Film Exchange, the program provides over $400,000 worth of camera, sound, lighting and post-production equipment and facilities in exchange for equity in the projects. JESSE BROWN Producer Jesse Brown is an independent film producer from Salt Lake City, Utah. He has worked on a number of short and feature length films, most recently, an independent feature titled The Strongest Man, which was an official selection at the 2015 Sundance film festival. He is also involved in the David Ross Fetzer Foundation for Emerging Artists, a foundation dedicated to promoting innovative theater and film through grants and mentoring. Jesse has a profound respect and admiration for the great outdoors as well, from white water rafting and fishing to going on week long backpacking trips with his friends. Jesse is a passionate person, and it shows in everything he does, from his work to his personal life.
TOM GARNER Cinematographer Tom Garner graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts in Film. Over the last 15 years, his career as a cinematographer has taken him around the world to over 40 countries shooting documentaries for non-profit organizations, as well as television commercials and short films. He most recently served as DP on feature film The Strongest Man, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. CARA DESPAIN Production Designer Cara Despain is an artist working in film and video, sculpture, drawing and installation. Despain was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and currently lives and works in Miami, Florida. She holds a BFA from the University of Utah (2006). In 2012, she was selected for the Salt Lake City Mayor s Award in the visual arts. Despain has shown in galleries and institutions across the country. Recent exhibitions include: Autobody, an independent exhibition during Miami Art Week 2014 and traveling to Faena Art Center, Buenos Aires, Optic Nerve 14 at Miami MOCA, and Cast Set, a solo project at Emerson Dorsch, Miami. In 2014 she was the Production Designer and Associate Producer for the feature length film The Strongest Man that premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. She is a founding board member of the Davey Foundation, a grant-giving foundation that gives grants to emerging filmmakers and playwrights. Despain is an arts writer who has been published in various magazines, and contributes regularly to The Miami Rail. She is currently Foundation Education Manager at the Rubell Family Collection. ANDREW SHAW Composer Andrew Shaw is a songwriter, composer, and performer based in Salt Lake City. He composed, performed, and recorded the original score for the feature films The Strongest Man (Sundance Film Festival 2015) and Must Come Down. His music has been used in public television and commercial applications, as well. Shaw writes and performs music with a handful of bands and solo acts, including Color Animal, Magic Mint, Albino Father, and Andrew Shaw. He has previously performed as The Platte, was a member of Calico and Bluebird Radio, and has sat in with David Williams, Will Sartain, Band of Annuals, GIANT, and many others.
CAST ROBERT MEATBALL LORIE was born and raised in Miami. He is an artist and metalworker. He received his BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. PAUL CHAMBERLAIN was born in Seoul, Korea and is a professional chef in Salt Lake City, Utah. He appeared in Must Come Down, and the short film Isip the Warrior. ASHLY BURCH is an actress and writer, known for the webisode Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin?, Expiration Date and Must Come Down. She received a BFA in film studies at Occidental College. PATRICK FUGIT is an actor and producer. In 2011 he produced Riches first feature film, Must Come Down. His acting credits include Almost Famous, Wristcutters, Thanks For Sharing, and most recently David Fincher s Gone Girl. LISA BANES is an actor, and has been in films including Cocktail and Pumpkin in addition to extensive work in television. She is also Fugit s co-star in Gone Girl. DAVY ROTHBART is the creator of FOUND Magazine and a filmmaker and storyteller. He has contributed to This American Life, and authored several essays and books including My Heart is an Idiot. FREDDIE WONG produces Video Game High School in addition to a boat load of other Youtube content under his production company, RocketJump.
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