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City People

Brothers get the last laugh

Indie filmmakers Damien and Josh Kincannon specialize in comedy and hope someday to have a career in feature films.

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published January 12, 2007

TAMPA

Damien is in a hotel room. He's trashed, he's wearing women's clothing, and he's ordering hardcore adult films. Josh, meanwhile, is making copies. Um, of his butt.

Granted, these performances in Hand Delivery might never get the Kincannon brothers on Inside the Actor's Studio. But they are inarguably hilarious.

Not just actors, the pair wrote and produced Hand Delivery, a perfect example that the two possess true comic filmmaking talent. And that's rarer these days than it might appear.

Independent filmmaking - at least of a sort - has exploded in recent years, thanks to high-definition video replacing pricey celluloid as the medium of choice. You Tube and similar Web sites provide an immediate worldwide outlet for these works.

A lot of people are picking up cameras and filming themselves doing a lot of "funny" stuff that's really just dumb.

And then there are the people who know what they're doing, who understand that film comedy that really works requires a tight script, smart performances, great visual gags and, especially, perfectly timed editing.

That's what the Kincannon brothers specialize in. The New Jersey natives plan to make features for a living.

Their independent business reselling medical supplies pays the bills and gives them the freedom to film projects regularly. They brainstorm ideas at Josh's Rocky Point condo.

"We've produced more in the last 18 months than we had in the previous six years," said Damien, whose talents lie toward the visual. He drew comic books growing up, went to art school and attended film school in Virginia.

Actually, Damien's film school experience lasted all of a single day, because he realized it didn't have much to offer him: "They were going to teach me how to starve for $16,000 a year."

While Damien was following the arts path, his big brother went to law school and practiced as a trial lawyer for a time. It actually turned out to be useful for his later vocation.

"Directing a movie is just like prepping a case for trial," said Josh, 31. "The jury is the audience, and the actors are my witnesses. And I need to prepare the witnesses on how to deliver a message."

Damien took the directing reins when a group of disparate Tampa filmmakers recently decided to join together to film a short horror movie. The Quiet Place, written by Chris Woods, premieres tonight at the free Tampa Film Review at International Bazaar in Ybor City.

It's a big change of pace for Damien who, like his brother, prefers to work in comedy filmmaking, even though that's one of the most challenging genres.

"I think comedy's harder to do than drama," said Paul Guzzo, who has known Josh for more than 13 years. "In drama, you can manipulate what you've shot with the score, with the editing, all these tools. But in comedy, if it ain't funny, it ain't funny."

Paul, who also runs the Tampa Film Review and produces films with his brother Pete, met Josh when the two roomed together for freshman orientation at Rowan College in New Jersey. Paul quickly learned of Josh's rural roots.

"Seriously, I went to Josh's town once, and a cop tried to pull us over, and Josh said, "Don't worry, we just have to outrun him. He's the only cop in town,' " Paul recalled.

"And he really was the only cop, and we did outrun him. True story."

For all the humor by and about the Kincannons, they are extremely serious about their work. They carefully craft screenplays and storyboard their shots to ensure an efficient shoot.

"We strongly believe in what we're doing," said Damien, 28. "I want to make sure we're doing our first major feature by the time I'm 30."

Josh's focus is on the words, while Damien leans toward the visuals. If the two perspectives ever conflict, whatever gets the laugh wins, Josh said: "Tie goes to the funny."

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 226-3431.

The Kincannon Brothers

Ages: Josh 31, Damien 28.

Creative gig: Filmmaking.

Paying gig: Medical supply reselling.

Whirligig: Is a silly word.

They live in: Josh- Rocky Point. Damien - Sun Bay South.

Nicknames: Damien -"Damo." Josh - "Josh."

If you go

The Tampa Film Review celebrates its third anniversary tonight with several films, including the premiere of The Quiet Place, directed by Josh Kincannon. The review is at 8 p.m. at International Bazaar, 600 E Eighth Ave. in Ybor City's Centro Ybor complex. The event is free.

* * *

On the Web: See a sampling of the Kincannons' short films online. Go to www.youtube.com/profile?user=jdshorts or log on to youtube.com and search Channels for "jdshorts." Note: Some contain profanity and other adult content.

[Last modified January 11, 2007, 09:13:53]