PRIMARY ROLE

DIRECTOR

GENRE

DRAMA

YEAR

2023

Rye and Rhetoric depicts the final moments of a relationship and explores the dynamics that emerge when a caregiver leaves the one who only thinks of themself. Each frame captures the raw nature of intimacy, not in a physical but in an emotional sense.

Director’s Statement

While living in a gallery in Brooklyn, New York, I experienced narcissism on an entirely new level.

I was living in an artist community, one of the last of its kind; we all had our personalities that clashed against the owner’s will. As my time there came to a close, I became inspired to create a short film about the self-absorbed owner.

The original script evolved from a story about two artists engaging in one-sided dialogue to a story about a woman who had grown tired of caring for a self-entitled man. I wanted to explore a character who lacked emotional intelligence yet was completely unaware of it. Women often shoulder the emotional burden in this type of relationship.

I took my own experiences of watching people endure emotional abuse under the guise of an artist community and channeled a fraction of their frustrations into a story that revolves around a dying relationship, a relationship that showcases generational decay.

We knew our budget was low, so we went all in on a gritty aesthetic that let imperfections tell the story. Working with the crew was humbling, and their ingenuity enabled us to create a film in a challenging space with minimal resources.

I grow more thankful with every viewing, and I’m beyond impressed with what we achieved. I hope our story conveys a sense of nostalgia and bittersweet relief for those who view it. We’ve all had to let go of someone at some point.

Festivals

• Chicago Indie Film Awards, Chicago, Illinois, US – Official Selection
• Vegas Shorts, Las Vegas, Nevada, US – Official Selection
• NewFilmmakers NY, New York, New York, US – Official Selection
• The Hollywood First-Time Filmmaker Showcase, Hollywood, California, US – Official Selection
• San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival, San Francisco, California, US – Nominee
• Dallas Movie Awards Festival, Dallas, Texas, US – Semi-Finalist
• Vancouver Independent Film Festival, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Finalist
• Toronto Independent Festival of CIFT, Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Finalist

Michele Farbman as Mary

Farbman has extensive theatre experience and has had her work performed in the NY International Fringe Festival, The Living Theatre, Thespis Theatre Festival, Dixon Place, and she was a finalist in the Venus Theater Festival for Women.

Guy Ventoliere as Jack

Guy has 20-plus years of theatre experience and has been involved in over 25 films in recent years. He has also worked for Saturday Night Live and was “Ted O’Toole” in the Disney series Cool Tool Adventures.

Stills

Crew

Directed by: Taylor Bingham
Written by: Taylor Bingham & Cameron Stablein and Michael Haley & Tyler Bruett
Edited by: Taylor Bingham and Cameron Stablein
Executive Producers: Taylor Bingham, Cameron Stablein, and Michael Haley
Production Manager: Cameron Stablein
Assistant Director & Script Supervisor: Cameron Stablein
1st Assistant Camera: Zach Cooper
2nd Assistant Camera: Michael Haley
Gaffer: Sara Abbassi
Location Manager & Property Manager: Michael Haley
Production Sound Recordist: David Clark
Post Production Sound Services & Foley by: David Clark
Special Thanks: Britt Michael Gordon

BTS