Ryan Stephenson Price

Rett Coen - "The Levee Effect" (2022)

Music Video / Sci-Fi, Drama

4m35s

Writer / Director / Producer / Cinematographer

Synopsis

Consumed by reports of a catastrophic impending climate disaster, a man shuts himself off from the world by barricading himself in a homemade bunker: things do not proceed as planned.  The Levee Effect is an exploration of the ways one’s mind tries to cope with an ordeal it doesn’t full comprehend.

Starring

Altair Vincent, Rett Coen

Key Creatives

Rett Coen (Music, Lyrics, Performance), Liz May (Producer), Rita Ushakova (Editor / Colourist), Nathanial Jai (Production Design), Enrico Tosoni (VFX Compositing), Stephen Wallace + Shuba Dasgupta (Practical Effects, LairdFX), Reuben Ghose + Andrew Lauzon (Audio Mastering, Audio Consult)

Status

Released Summer 2022

Notes

This was my first foray into larger-scale practical effects, working with the team at LairdFX to build out an economically-viable water rig, water cannon, and dunk tank system to help realize our fictional flood enveloping our protagonist.

Tempor Tempor (2024)

Short / Sci-Fi, Thriller

~12m

Writer / Director / Producer / Editor

Synopsis

David Generis’s wife disappeared three months ago without a trace.  As if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s just woken up in an uncomfortably clean condo that’s not his own – and his host has an assortment of “toys” that she seems all too eager to play with.

Starring

Jessica Kennedy, Altair Vincent

Key Creatives

Liz May (Producer), Kevin Hall (Director of Photography), Roy Lee (Visual FX), Simon Poole (Composer)

Status

Preliminary edit w/score included here.

Accolades

Frights! Camera! Action! Screenplay Competition 2018 (Runner-up: Best Villain)

Notes

We’d intended on completing the film in 2020; however, the Pandemic and then subsequent personal circumstances changed that timeline.  Currently prepping to shoot an additional intro sequence (written and ready for filming in the spring), alongside completion of VFX + colour + audio mix for a 2024/25 festival run.

Misinformed (2017)

Short / Crime, Drama

6m

Writer / Director / Producer / Editor

Synopsis

After a raid on a supposed arms dealer warehouse turns up nothing but embarrassment, rookie detective Lauren receives a frantic note from her childhood friend-turned-informant Mark that suggests something much larger might be in the works.

Starring

Victoria Urquhart, Randy Singh, Brianna Love, Robb Johannes

Key Creatives

Kevin Hall (Director of Photography), Simon Poole (Composer), Liz May (Producer, AD)

Status

Currently submitting to festivals.

Accolades

Toronto Short Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection / Premiere), Cinéfest Sudbury CTV Best in Shorts (Finalist), Canada Shorts Film Festival 2018 (Official Selection), Santiago Independent Film Awards 2019 (Official Selection), Dumbo Film Festival 2019 (Official Selection), CineX Independent Film Festival 2019 (Official Selection)

Gratuitous Behaviour (2016)

Web Series / Comedy

5x ~10m

Director / Producer / Editor

Synopsis

Two disgruntled bartender/server best friends start a late-night podcast to complain about all of their terrible customers!  Join hosts Wes and Avery for the ongoing trials and tribulations of the Gratuitous Behavior podcast: the only podcast dedicated to servers, hosts, bartenders, busboys, dishwashers, and everyone indentured to the service industry.

Starring

Dony Lugo, Ian Lynch, Malcolm Taylor, JD Smith, Matt Olver, Ucal Shillingford

Key Creatives

Liz May (Producer), Dana Robert Taylor (Writer/Creator/Co-Producer), Patrick Hodgson (Director of Photography), Daniel Skeete (Composer), Mercedes Coyle (Production Designer)

Status

YouTube Digital Series; Currently submitting to festivals

Accolades

Dances With Films 20 (Official Selection / Premiere), Maverick Awards 2017 (Nominee: Best Actress, Best Writing, Best Music), Canada Independent Film Festival 2018 (Official Selection)

Notes

My favourite scene is the cold open from Episode 1; though Episodes 3&4 are our usual screener picks for their direct connective tissue of Wes’ relationship with his boyfriend falling apart (ep3) in time for Valentine’s Day (ep4).

11:11 (2015)

Featurette / Sci-Fi, Drama

57m

Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor

Synopsis

The abrupt end of an illicit love affair leads 20-something Trevor on a downward spiral – of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll – while other-worldly forces beyond his control begin to intervene.  As Trevor descends into a multi-year stupor of loneliness, drug use, and debauchery to try and cope, he gradually falls under the influence of the music of Toronto rock band Paint (or some metaphysical manifestation of their creative id) and learns to see the good in himself — and other people — again.

Starring

Zac Ché, Victoria Urquhart, Jessica Speziale, Emily Bones, Greg LeGros, Suzanne Debra Miller, Maggie Doucet, Pona Tran, Robb Johannes, Jordan Shepherdson, Carolina Pinzon, Keiko Gutierrez, Devin Jannetta

Key Creatives

Robb Johannes (Writer/Co-Producer/Composer/Songwriter/Band Frontman), Jordan Shepherdson (Guitarist/Vocalist), Keiko Gutierrez (Bassist), Devin Jannetta (Drummer)

Status

Independent Premiere @ The Royal Cinema, Physical DVD Release + digital release via Vimeo streaming service VHX.

Notes

My favourite scenes are the Kubrick/Lynch-esque hallucinogenic drug overdose (15:37—20:20) and Trevor’s struggle and subsequent commitment to throw away the last pieces of his failed relationship in “Bonfire of Vanities” (27:56—34:50)