Greg DeLiso
Born
Greg DeLiso

(1986-10-25) October 25, 1986
Shelby Township, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUnited States
Alma materNew York Film Academy
Occupation(s)Director, producer,editor,screenwriter, cinematographer
Notable workHeavy Metal Picnic, Canada's Best Kept Secret, Hectic Knife

Greg DeLiso (born October 25, 1986) is an American filmmaker, film editor, and director of photography. He was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in the suburbs of Shelby Township. Throughout his career, DeLiso has demonstrated his passion for filmmaking, navigating personal challenges while pursuing his artistic endeavors.

Early life

After graduating high school in 2004 at the age of 17, DeLiso relocated to New York City to attend the New York Film Academy’s one-year directing program, graduating in 2005.

Film career

2000s

In the Spring of 2008, DeLiso was tapped by legendary noise artist PBK to create a video for his song "Tout Va Bien". DeLiso enlisted the help of actor Jakob Hawkins (a consistent collaborator) and Sharon McPeek, and the three conceptualized and shot the video with DeLiso serving as editor and director.

Later in 2008, DeLiso began working with Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett of The Found Footage Festival, a touring comedy show featuring edited montages of unintentionally funny found VHS tapes. DeLiso joined the Found Footage Festival as a tape collector and editor. Through Prueher and Pickett, DeLiso was introduced to Jeff Krulik, and in 2010 served as editor and co-producer on Heavy Metal Picnic—Krulik's feature length follow up to Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986), a legendary cult documentary about fans in the parking lot of a Judas Priest concert in Washington DC.[1] Picnic was released on August 6, 2010, to rave reviews.[2]

In 2009, DeLiso, again with Jakob Hawkins, released a video series called "Fun With Henrik Zetterberg." The videos center around a bumbling Henrik Zetterberg look-alike (played by Hawkins) and were positioned as spec commercial spots for the NHL and their affiliates. Although the spots were never picked up, the videos themselves went viral, garnering over 50,000 views in two days.[3] The success of the videos spawned "Fake Henrik Zettererg," a twelve-episode web series authored by DeLiso and Hawkins. The series was launched on October 26, 2011, and has been featured on Yahoo Sports[4] and The Huffington Post. The series featured Kevin Brown and Austin Pendleton.

Also in 2009, DeLiso shot, edited and directed the short documentary Store Front New York. The film is about photographers James and Karla Murray, and serves as a companion piece to their photo book, Store Front, which features shot of various neighborhood store fronts in New York City. A described in a review via The New Yorker,[5] "These unfussy, elegant, and richly colored photographs of butcher shops, bakeries, fabric wholesalers, cuchifritos stands, stationery and sporting-goods stores, laundromats, groceries, and dive bars give connoisseurs of signage, folk typography, and ambient erosion much to pore over." The film screened at the Red Hook Film Festival in Brooklyn in October 2009.[6]

2010s

In 2011, DeLiso completed Canada’s Best Kept Secret, his first feature-length documentary as director, editor, cinematographer and producer.[7] The film chronicles the life of RD Lawrence, a Canadian author/naturalist integral in the green movement of the 20th century. The original score was composed by actor and musician Peter Litvin, who DeLiso met in high school,[8] and featured music by Ewan Dobson.

In January 2013, DeLiso co-founded the movie blog Smug Film with fellow filmmaker Cody Clarke, where DeLiso contributed movie reviews, essays, lists, and interviews, and appeared several times on its podcast.

DeLiso's first feature, Hectic Knife, was released on July 28, 2016.[9][10] Hectic Knife is a super-hero comedy about a knife-wielding vigilante who fights against drug dealers, murderers and other "baddies," including Piggly Doctor, a villain bent on world domination.[11] The idea for the film gestated as Litvin, who later co-wrote, starred in and produced the film, and DeLiso were working on a series titled "Short Films for Nobody". Filming began in 2010 and wrapped in 2015. Shortly after the film was finished, DeLiso and Litvin secured distribution via Troma Entertainment.[12]

Critical reception

"Psycho Ape" has received mixed reviews from critics. The film, known for its no-budget, self-aware approach, has garnered different reactions from viewers.

One reviewer on Letterboxd described the film as reminiscent of low-budget, self-aware projects commonly seen in film school screenings during the late aughts. They noted the poor aesthetics, hacky jokes, and overall unpleasant viewing experience. However, they acknowledged that the film might appeal to horror movie enthusiasts who appreciate its intentional homage to a specific style: "Why anyone would ever want to watch a 63-minute version of that shit is beyond me. Oh, everything about the film is poorly done, the aesthetics are terrible, the jokes are hacky, and you did all that on purpose as a kind of homage? Well, it was really unpleasant to watch, so good job, I guess. Mission accomplished."[13]

Another reviewer mentioned that "Psycho Ape" feels like a project made for a close-knit group of friends to enjoy and reminisce about later. While not part of that friend group, they acknowledged the effort put into making the film and appreciated it for its amateur charm: "This movie feels like it was made so a bunch of friends can have fun and watch it back to relive that fun later. Not being in that friend group, I didn't have much fun. But hey, they made a movie and got it out there. Kudos. Truthfully, I'd rather watch this than a bunch of assholes with a budget who think they're clever."[14]

Another review simply stated, "Wtf."[15]

"Hectic Knife," released in 2016, has also received mixed reviews from viewers. Despite being available for several years, the film has only garnered a limited number of views on platforms like Letterboxd.

One reviewer criticized "Hectic Knife" for being intentionally bad, describing it as pretentious arthouse nonsense that dragged on: "I absolutely can't understand the reviews for this. Hectic Knife is so intentionally bad, it is pretentious. It feels like the worst kind of arthouse bullshit and it goes on and on and on. The worst part for me is, that near the end of it, suddenly a musical number shows up and it is actually not bad. But it follows a 10-minute scene of gangsters talking about bagels and t-shirts, and I just wanted to die at that point. One of the worst things I ever sat through."[16]

Another reviewer expressed dissatisfaction with the film, highlighting its tedious nature and perceived attempts at being random and edgy: "'This movie sucks!' OooOoo WaTCh mE I'm So RandOM aND EDgy. Yeah, no, it got so tedious that my eyeballs rolled so hard that I almost fell asleep."[17]

It is evident that "Hectic Knife" has generated mixed responses, with some viewers finding it pretentious and tedious, while others may appreciate its unconventional elements.

Future work

Greg DeLiso has announced his upcoming film titled "Bad Brains." In an effort to fund the project, DeLiso initiated an Indie-A-Go-Go campaign with a target fundraising goal of $25,000 for the film's production. However, as of late 2022, the campaign had reached a total of $13,270. As of the current date, no recent updates have been provided regarding the progress of the film's production. The film is anticipated to be delivered to investors by December 2023.

"Bad Brains" is described as a quirky and humorously terrifying universe, featuring a stranded teenager and her dog, an Elaine Benes-themed punk band, and other peculiar characters. The film draws inspiration from the '90s era and incorporates references to various sitcoms, including the age-old debate between "Seinfeld" and "Friends" .

DeLiso has expressed personal motivation for the project, citing the loss of his wife and his own experiences with mental illness. Through "Bad Brains," he seeks to channel his grief and pay homage to his late wife through artistic expression. The film aims to explore themes of mental illness, particularly depression, and foster connection with individuals who may share similar challenges .

Independent filmmaking presents inherent risks and challenges, yet DeLiso remains committed to bringing "Bad Brains" to fruition, working alongside a talented team. Despite the common obstacles encountered in the realm of independent filmmaking, he demonstrates determination to overcome them and successfully complete the production process [^1^].

Personal life

Greg DeLiso has faced personal challenges and struggles throughout his life. In August 2020, DeLiso shared a tweet on his personal Twitter account expressing his inner struggles, stating, "Someday I hope to have the guts to commit suicide".[18] This vulnerable statement sheds light on the difficulties he has faced and highlights the importance of mental health awareness and support.

In March 2020, DeLiso created a GoFundMe campaign to seek financial assistance during a challenging period. In the campaign description, he shared personal details about his life, including the passing of his wife, financial hardships, and the impoundment of his car. DeLiso expressed gratitude for the support he received from others and apologized for having to seek assistance in this manner. This campaign demonstrated the impact of personal setbacks on his life and his resilience in seeking support from his community.

References

  1. ↑ "Jeff Krulik Loves the '80s". Washingtoncitypaper.com. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Heavy Metal Picnic". Film Threat. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  3. ↑ Landon, Simone (November 17, 2011). "Greg DeLiso Brings Henrik Zetterberg, Hockeytown Humor To NYC". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Behind the scenes of hilarious 'Zetterberg' bathroom clip". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Store Front". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  6. ↑ Designs, Durning. "Red Hook Film Festival". redhookfilmfest.com. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  7. ↑ "Film highlights Lawrence's wolf work". Mindentimes.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Hectic Knife". Indiegogo. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  9. ↑ "Film Review: Hectic Knife (2016)". HorrorNews.net. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  10. ↑ Bench, Anthony Ray (February 10, 2017). "Review: Hectic Knife". Film Threat. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  11. ↑ "HECTIC KNIFE | Troma". www.troma.com. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  12. ↑ "Hectic Knife (Review)". Horror Society. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  13. ↑ "A ½ review of Psycho Ape! (2020)". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  14. ↑ "A ★ review of Psycho Ape! (2020)". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  15. ↑ "A ★ review of Psycho Ape! (2020)". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  16. ↑ "A ½ review of Hectic Knife (2016)". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  17. ↑ "A ★ review of Hectic Knife (2016)". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  18. ↑ "https://twitter.com/GregDeLiso/status/1298968934830440449". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-07-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
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