MEET THE FILMMAKERS
James Bruffe
James is a video artist, musician, writer, actor and teacher living in Brooklyn, New York. His work has been featured in Gothamist, Grantland, Refinery29, USA Today, WFAN and The NY Post. He has performed original music at venues all around New York City including Mercury Lounge, Webster Hall, BAM, Brooklyn Bowl and The Knitting Factory. James teaches Media Literacy at an elementary school, poisoning the minds of impressionable children and helping them express themselves through their own videos, music recordings, and other odd creative projects. James is thrilled to be working on new content with the mad scientists at Magnet Video Lab, as well as attending classes and performing improv comedy at the Magnet Theater. He hopes you find your stay at this website comfortable. MVL FILMS: Season 3 Music Video Interstitials |
Dan Dobransky
Dan is a creative person with a few titles here and there. He's in love with all kinds of media and all the different ways to perform or design with them. When he's not art directing or graphic designing, he's acting in front of the camera or on stage (written or made up), or filming things with his lovely friends. He likes improv, sketch, pretty pictures, weird movies, music he considers "fresh", and other nifty things. MVL FILMS: This is Paul, Decaptroflaxen, Ptong |
MVL FILMS: The Job Interview
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Ruby Marez
Ruby is workin' it as an actor, writer, producer and a has been as she has been seen in online videos, in commercials for BudWeiser, Reebok, College Humor and MTV as well as in several obscure films. Ruby studied and fell in love with filmmaking under the tutelage of Josh Ruben + Vincent Peone during her film internship. After that she worked alongside Joe Sabia and C.D.Z.A. making viral videos that garnered over a million clicks. She also freelances with LandlineTV & PBS. Ruby is a TIME OUT CHICAGO critics pick with her improv duo RuBin and is a sketch writer & performer on the sketch team CA$H at the Magnet Theater. (They also make very silly videos.) Ruby is developing a solo show about being a hoarder with A.D.D. and borderline O.C.D. Her promo videos for these shows have garnered over 12 views. Not including clicks from her parents. You can follow her blog, videos, and see where she'll be performing next at www.rubymarez.com. MVL FILMS: StaZhia's LenZ |
Annie Quick
Annie Quick is a filmmaker specializing in stop-motion and hand-drawn cell animation. She also makes music videos, documentary-style narrative and motion graphics for many fine organizations. A devoted storyboardist, Annie also makes her own hand-painted business cards. Before she discovered film, Annie was an indie rocker transversing our land in a crotchety 1996 Ford Aerostar and before that she was a kid in Central California who adopted banana slugs against their will and tried hard to get lost in the redwood forest. Annie is a proud founding member of the Magnet Video Lab and self-appointed bestower of merit badges. MVL FILMS: Science Time, Rotary Phone |
Abby Russell
Abby is a student and comedian living in Brooklyn. She studies film production at Hunter College in the hopes of working as an editor post-graduation. In the meantime, she helps produce and edit small films while working in theater production. Follow her on twitter to keep up to date on Abby and her #brand. Abby feels very fortunate to be a part of the Magnet Video Lab. |
Alex Shifman
Alex Shifman is a Producer, Sketch Comic, and Improvisor who has recently completed work producing American Kung-Fu, a profile series on the Kung Fu masters of NYC, exploring their lives as people and martial artists. An immersive project, American Kung Fu required not only skills in production, but writing and story telling as well. As a comedian he preforms every Monday night at the Magnet Theater with his improv group LOS PALUMBOS and regularly at the PIT with his sketch team, COCKADOODLE DON'T. Alex is also a member of the Magnet Theater's Video Lab, a collective of sketch comics and film makers working together to create innovative comedic material for the internet. A graduate in film and theater from Sarah Lawrence College, he has also studied sketch and improv at the Magnet Theater, The PIT, UCB, and Second City Chicago. His writing teachers include Armando Diaz (Writer: Upright Citizens Brigade TV Show) Geoff Haggerty ( Writer: The Onion News Network, Sex House), and Malia Scotch-Marmo (Hook). MVL FILMS: Feinbergs Sex Products & Home Security, Titty Dick Explosion Force, Fists of Vengeance |
Quentin Tice
Ghostbusters II. Musical Theater. Cartoons. Falafel. Just four of Quentin Tice's (writer and cartoonist) ten favorite things. People often say, "Quentin is more than just an Emmy winner." He lives in Brooklyn with his super hot girlfriend and two cats. MVL FILMS: Season 3 Science Interstitials |
Shalini Tripathi
Shalini has studied sketch and improv with many wonderful people at the Magnet Theater. She is currently a member of the Magnet sketch team American Wormholes, the Magnet Video Lab, and the Circuit improv team Niles. MVL FILMS: GUNS |
Jim Turner
I started making films and comedy in junior high when my mom brought home a video camera for me to play with (I bet she regrets it…). I’ve been working in video and television production since high school. I’ve produced and directed music videos, shorts, and web-series, including: Jack In A Box (best web-series NYTVF2010), The Actress, Atrabilious (official selection NYTVF2013), and Ninja Sex Party (official selection SXSW & LA Comedy Shorts 2010). I love being a part of Magnet Video Lab because I find collaboration to be invaluable, and it's great to work with and meet talented people who want to make things. MVL FILMS: Hearts for Farts, Pauli Brothers Pizza |
Michael Vaingauz
Michael is a film editor who edits promos for TV shows and films. When he's not doing that, he's improving his life through comedy and writing. He's also looking for his Carl Reiner or Mel Brooks or Amy Poehler or Tina Fey or, you know, someone funny to work with. He doesn't do slefies... starting now. |
Joe Whelski
Joe is a NYC writer, director, producer, actor (SAG-AFTRA, EQUITY), & graphic designer. He wrote, executive produced, & starred in the sci-fi comedy short, “Mating Dome”, which played numerous festivals including the NYLA International Film Festival, and The Jersey City Golden Door Film Festival.He is the creator of endangered animal PSA’s for the Shark Angels, World Rhino Day & Wild Tigers. Joe played various characters on ABC’s “One Life to Live” and starred in over 20 stage productions in NYC, NJ and PA. He attended AADA (NYC) and has a BFA in Design from Kutztown University in PA. MVL FILMS: Clown Love, Green Fables |