Wank God (2021)
After a shocking jolt of pure sex, an all-but invisible office worker trys and fails to get a moment alone to rub one out in the office bathroom. His success is manifold when his drive for self pleasure secures his self preservation. The short has amassed 46K views on YouTube, organically, sans any promotion nor festival play, and is used as a teaching aid in effective short filmmaking sans dialogue. Made during the waning days of the Pandemic, “Wank God” had a crew of one, with Taranto having to do everything from building an office and bathroom set from scratch, lighting, filming, directing, and even filling in as an extra body.
Production Comnpay: TARANTO BRUTTO
Starring: Alexander Kargaltsev, Abby Jame, Cassie Grimaldi, Jackson Napierela
“Junk It” (ongoing)
An experimental, multi-camera comedy short chronicling a day on the set of a press junket from the POV of the boom operator. The short features an ensemble performance of actors portraying television stars, and incorporates the entire real crew as cast as the wall between on camera and behind the scenes is blurred throughout the film.
Due in large part to the experimental nature of the film, production is ongoing, with a slated completion date of June 2025.
Production Company: TARANTO BRUTTO
Starring: Héctor Jiménez Castillo, Abby Jame, Tara Bruno, David Rosenthal, Tim Dietrich
Director of Photography: Nicolas Tepper
“More Money” (2024)
An immigrant couple enjoy a rare day out in Coney Island before an important meeting, and another stop along the express track to their version of the American Dream. Shot on location over 6 days, we utilized the Coney Island Boardwalk, an open amusement park, a Long Island funhouse, and a number of locations across Brooklyn, including the Steiner Studios lot. Unfolding over the course of a single evening, “More Money” is a heartbroken love letter to a New York of strivers, lovers, and others.
Production Company: FRAUHAUS
Starring: Nastasia Koulich, George Olesky
Director of Photography: Nicolas Tepper