Chop & Steele
| Chop & Steele | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ben Steinbauer & Berndt Mader |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | Alex MacKenzie |
| Starring |
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| Music by |
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| Cinematography | Priest Batten |
| Edited by |
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Production company |
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Running time | 77 minutes |
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Chop & Steele is a 2022 American comedy documentary film co-directed by Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader.[1]. It follows the story of Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett, founders of the Found Footage Festival[2], as they prank unsuspecting morning news shows. When their news shows' appearances go viral, the media conglomerate behind the networks sues Prueher and Pickett, threatening the comedians' livelihood and their lifelong friendship.
The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival[3].
Synopsis
The film follows childhood friends turned professional comedians, Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett from their early beginnings as teenage pranksters in Massachusetts to their international cult following as the founders of the Found Footage Festival. While touring with the festival across the U.S., Prueher and Pickett started booking fictional characters and pranking unsuspecting morning news shows with guests like yo-yo master Kenny "K-Strass" Strasser,[4] played by Mark Proksch, and strongman duo Chop and Steele[5][6][7][8][9][10], played by Prueher and Pickett. When their pranks go viral and land them in federal court with media conglomerate Grey Television[11][12], the stress of the lawsuit and pressure to continue their pranks put Prueher and Pickett in a difficult position as they question their future and the importance of staying true to themselves and their comedy. The documentary has appearances by comedians David Cross, Howie Mandel, Bobcat Goldthwait, Reggie Watts, as well as John Lee (producer) and Alyson Levy of Wonder Showzen fame and Igor Vamos and Jacques Servin of The Yes Men.
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival[13][14] on June 10, 2022, followed by a performance of the Found Footage Festival hosted by Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher, with surprise special guests. It also screened at the Calgary Underground Film Festival on June 17, 2022[15][16][17], and the Oak Cliff Film Festival on June 25, 2022, also with a performance of the Found Footage Festival[18]
Reception
Critical response
Chop & Steele has received positive reviews from film critics[19][20]. Brooklyn Vegan called it "the feelgood sleeper hit of the year"[21] and High on Films described it as "an honest, hilarious take on TV’s comedic duo that entertains and enlightens."[22]
References
- ↑ "Tribeca Film Festival 2022: 'Chop & Steele' (Interview)". Film Fest Report. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "About FFF". The Found Footage Festival. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "Chop & Steele | 2022 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "Meet the comedy duo who got sued for pranking the news". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ Nast, Condé (2017-03-21). "Two Geniuses Tricked Their Way Onto Local Morning News by Pretending to Be Strongmen". GQ. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "'Found Footage' Duo Pranks Local News Again, This Time as Fake Strongmen Chop and Steele". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ Appugliesi, Jordan (2017-03-22). "Chop And Steele, The Fake Strongmen Who Trolled Morning News, Explain Their Secrets". ET Canada. Archived from the original on 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "The Fake Strongmen of Morning News Explain How They Get Away with It". Esquire. 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "The Chop & Steele Lawsuit is Over!". The Found Footage Festival. 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "The Found Footage Festival Has Triumphed in its Copyright Lawsuit". pastemagazine.com. 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ Berkowitz, Joe (2017-07-25). "Inside The Dumbest First Amendment Battle Of 2017". Fast Company. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ Gallagher, Danny. "Chop & Steele Is a Documentary About Comedians Who Pulled Off an Epic Prank". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ Hoff, Sawyer. "UWEC Grads Premiere 'Chop & Steele' The Movie at Tribeca Film Festival". volumeone.org. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "Tribeca 2022: Previewing 9 films from this year's festival". Moviejawn. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "CHOP & STEELE | FOUND FOOTAGE FESTIVAL DOUBLE BILL - Calgary Underground Film Festival". www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "Home". Crooked Marquee. 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "Accidental hilarity: Found Footage Festival to bring a new treasure trove of the unintentionally comical to Calgary". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "2022 Oak Cliff Film Festival". ocff2022.eventive.org. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ "Tribeca 2022 | Chop & Steele Review - The Ultimate Pranksters Meet in One of the Most Inventive Documentaries I've Seen All Year". Austin B Media. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ Silver, Stephen (2022-06-10). "Chop & Steele Tells the Story of Two Unheralded Pranksters". Tilt Magazine. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ Pearis, Bill PearisBill. "Documentary 'Chop & Steele' is a funny, illuminating portrait of pranks, VHS tapes and lifelong friendship". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ↑ Das, Santanu (2022-06-11). "Tribeca Review: Chop and Steele (2022)". High On Films. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
External links
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