Bryan Michael Stoller Explained

Birth Place:Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Years Active:1970–present[1] [2]
Occupation:Independent filmmaker
Parents:
  • David Stoller
  • Carole Stoller

Bryan Michael Stoller (born 1960) is a Canadian independent filmmaker whose films include First Dog, The Amazing Wizard of Paws, Santa Stole Our Dog, (Universal) Turn of the Blade, The Random Factor, Miss Cast Away, Undercover Angel, and Light Years Away.

His childhood hobbies included magic tricks and clay animation.[3] His dad attempted to convince Bryan to pursue a different career; later, his dad said he was proud of Stoller's career.[4] As a teen, he earned multiple Film Awards: a gold award in "Film Magic" at The Festival of the Americas (1978), a bronze medal at the Miami International Film Festival for a super documentary (1979), and Best Youth Film at the Canadian International Amateur Film Festival (1979).[5] When Bryan was twelve years old he hosted a national children's show on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company) called "Film Fun" showing pre-teens how to make their own super-8 movies.

After producing commercials for local businesses, he moved to Los Angeles at 19 when he was selected as a Director Fellow at the American Film Institute[6] Later he earned a role dusting the Hulk, Lou Ferrigno on The Incredible Hulk TV series when he crashed through a wall.

Stoller said he prefers directing to producing because he enjoys the creative aspect. He has also acted briefly, making a few cameos in his productions and starring in a short A Canadian Werewolf in Hollywood, a parody of American Werewolf in London where he transforms into a werewolf in the middle of a call and uses his wolf side to produce a film. A Canadian Werewolf in Hollywood and other spoofs Stoller directed were packaged into a movie called Undershorts: The Movie for Paramount Home Video.

Other shorts in Undershorts: The Movie received attention from celebrities parodied by them. The Incredible Bulk, a parody of The Incredible Hulk TV series, included Lou Ferrigno from the TV show reprising his role as the Hulk.[7] [8] "The Shadow of Michael", a parody of a Pepsi commercial caught Jackson's attention,[9] [10] and Jackson reprised his minor character Agent MJ from Men in Black II in Stoller's feature film parody titled "Miss Castaway & the Island Girls"[11] and movie Silly Movie 2y.[12] [13]

Jackson and Stoller were planning to release a new movie called They Cage the Animals at Night prior to Jackson's death.[14] [15] [16] Jackson's estate was not aware there was a formal deal for the movie, as Jackson didn't have a management team at the time he discussed the movie—though there was a contractual agreement drafted and signed through Jackson's attorneys.[17] Stoller was interviewed after Jackson's death to talk about his friendship. Stoller noted that Jackson seemed frail prior to his death and said he didn't believe allegations against Jackson.[18] [19]

Stoller adopted a dog named Little Bear. The dog was previously fostered by former president Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan. Stoller met Nancy Reagan, which inspired him to create the movie First Dog starring Little Bear as the First Dog who gets lost, and found by a foster kid.[2] [20]

Stoller has also coached filmmakers[21] and actors and written the coaching books Filmmaking for Dummies and Harry Potter: Imagining Hogwarts, and Smartphone Movie Maker. Stoller has accomplished a feat that most independent filmmakers have not achieved; his movies UnderCover Angel and Wizard of Paws amassed close to eighteen million views on AVOD without any advertising—word of mouth only.

Stoller's films have appeared on almost every modern platform, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS and in syndication.

Selected filmography

Films

YearTitleAsNotes
1971Film FunWriter, Director, Producer, Co-Host
1977Just Like MagicWriter, Director, Producer
1987Undershorts: The Movie[22] Writer, Director, ProducerAppears as himself in the short "A Canadian Werewolf in Hollywood"
1994Turn of the BladeDirector, Writer (story), ProducerCameo appearance as "Stroller couple."
1995The Random FactorDirector, Writer, ProducerCameo appearance as "Van Passenger."
1996Dragon Fury IIDirector
1999Undercover AngelDirector, Writer, Producer.Cameo appearance as "Speedy Messenger."
2004Miss Cast AwayDirector, Writer, ProducerCameo appearance as "Courier"
Featuring Michael Jackson.
2007Light Years AwayDirector, Writer, Producer
2010First Dog[23] Director, Writer, Producer.(Also editor and music supervisor) Cameo appearance as "Letter Carrier Paul"
Featuring original songs by Dolly Parton
2014The Amazing Wizard of Pawswriter, producer, director, editor
2017Santa Stole Our Dogwriter, producer, director, editorStarring Ed Asner as Santa Claus

Television

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hill . Kelly . Bryan Michael Stoller's Advice for Actors . Hollywood Success . 2 August 2021 . Hollywood Success . 25 July 2004.
  2. Web site: Hollywood beckoned for this Peterborough boy: Film director's father ran Dave's Surplus Circus and North George Sundries . The Peterborough Examiner . 6 August 2021 . 27 April 2014 . Peterborough.
  3. Web site: Bryan Michael Stoller News interview 1985 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/r-HVmgJdiYM. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . 2 August 2021 . 80s interview.
  4. Web site: Bravo presents A Canadian Werewolf in Hollywood 2021 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/LmG9HHpWTHI. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . Bravo . 6 August 2021 . documentary.
  5. Web site: Bryan Michael Stoller 1978 News Segment . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/d_bacYH-x_Y. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . Bryan Michael Stoller . 2 August 2021 . teen news.
  6. Web site: Stoller . Bryan . About Bryan Michael Stoller . Bryan Michael Stoller . 2 August 2021 . bio site.
  7. Web site: Stoller . Bryan . HULK spoof --The Best Hulk Spoof! . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/Tn99iNaC5Ho. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . Bryan Michael Stoller . 2 August 2021 . Hulk video.
  8. Web site: Stoller . Bryan . Bryan's Celebrity Corner . Bryan Michael Stoller . 2 August 2021 . celebs.
  9. Web site: Stoller . Bryan . MICHAEL JACKSON Parody - Directed by Bryan Michael Stoller . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/HhO9-MvOkU0. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . Bryan Michael Stoller . 2 August 2021 . MJ Pepsi parody.
  10. Web site: Stoller . Bryan . Michael Jackson friendship . Bryan Michael Stoller . 2 August 2021 . MJ page.
  11. Web site: Stoller . Bryan . Michael Jackson as Agent MJ . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/s76C3LmVwY8. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . Bryan Michael Stoller . 2 August 2021 . Agent MJ parody.
  12. Web site: Carroll . Larry . Michael Jackson Chases His Movie Dreams in Bizarro Spoof . https://web.archive.org/web/20150405070527/http://www.mtv.com/news/1506702/michael-jackson-chases-his-movie-dreams-in-bizarro-spoof/ . dead . April 5, 2015 . MTV . 2 August 2021 . 29 July 2005.
  13. Block . Alex . The Michael Jackson Movie You Never Saw . Billboard . 2 August 2021 . Never-Saw.
  14. Lash . Jolie . Michael to Direct Movie . Rolling Stone . 2 August 2021 . RS-Jackson . 24 April 2003 . 13 November 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20030424131908/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=14931 .
  15. News: Block . Alex . Michael Jackson and Stoller aimed to co-direct a movie about foster children based on the best selling book of the same name.. Reuters . 22 July 2009 . Hollywood Reporter . 2 August 2021 . MJ-Reuters.
  16. Web site: Michaels . Sean . Michael Jackson planned to co-direct film about foster children . The Guardian . 2 August 2021 . MJ-Guardian-2009 . 23 July 2009.
  17. Web site: Jackson hoped to co-direct the movie about foster kids with Stoller . Today . Reuters . 2 August 2021 . MJ-nbc-article . 22 July 2009.
  18. Web site: Michael Jackson's Final Hours & Brian Oxman's Warning to Jackson Family About MJ Overmedicating . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/mhr9x45nnSA. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . NBC News . 2 August 2021 . NBC interview.
  19. Web site: Fleeman . Mike . Fan who saw Jackson Monday was horrified . Today . NBC . 2 August 2021 . NBC-MJ-bts . 26 June 2009.
  20. News: Block . Alex . Meeting with Nancy Reagan inspired dog film . 21 June 2010 . The Hollywood Reporter . 6 August 2021 . Reagan.
  21. Web site: 2015 Bryan Michael Stoller Film Workshop . Edmonton Short Film Festival . 2 August 2021 . Edmonton.
  22. Web site: Stoller . Bryan . Undershorts parodies by Bryan Michael Stoller . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/a62MDx7lOGI. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . Bryan Michael Stoller . 2 August 2021 . Undershorts on YouTube.
  23. Web site: First Dog . IMDb . 2 August 2021 . First Dog on IMDb.
  24. bio site
  25. Book: Filmmaking for Dummies . Amazon.com . 8 November 2019 . Amazon . 978-1-119-61785-3 . 2 August 2021.
  26. Web site: Filmmaking For Dummies . Barnes & Noble . 2 August 2021.
  27. Web site: Gund . Jeffrey . Harry Potter: Imagining Hogwarts – Book Signing and Free Networking event with Author/Filmmaker Bryan Michael Stoller . info list . 2 August 2021 . Harry Potter.