Welcome to the official website of Matthew Kreiner: a NYC-based director who has worked throughout the Northeast. Matthew's experience ranges as a producer, director, writer, actor, choreographer and designer. His passion for theatre and movies has lead to his knowledge of the smallest to the most massive components of both industries. Matthew’s productions are varied in material, issues, and budget. However, one thing remains consistent in all of Matthew Kreiner's works: the power, impact, enthusiasm, and zeal that Matthew strives to infuse with every one of his productions.. In this site, you will see the works that Matthew Kreiner has worked on in both the theatre and in film including Matthew’s latest short, “Four Boys and a Game of Risk”, which was shot in various locations outside of New York City as well as his musings about the theatre, movies, and more!

 Here's a little food for thought this week.  I get this argument A LOT. People tell me something must be good because of how great it is doing in the box office.  The inpenatrable conclusion that if the box office returns are high, that means the general public like, therefore, the movie is good.  I hate to break it to you, folks, but that just isn't so.  Here's a little information pulled from Box Office Mojo of the record grosses.  

Here are three movies currently sitting at the top worldwide grosses:

1. Avatar 

 
^{"Oh yeah... blue people sex...."}

A shitty, unoriginal story stealing story points from other movies that did it better (Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas) tha actually refers to the extremely rare element as "Unobtainium".  Seriously?   The entire gross of this movie was based off of making a movie in 3D.  That's it.  Number 1 movie of all time.  Because it's in 3D.

2. Titanic

 
^{"Nothing says fast paced action like a 2 hours of a sinking ship."}

 This week we're going to listen to me talk about what gives nerds and geeks out there the creamiest of jeans.  A spectacular spectacle so awe-inspiring that it could make Aristole reconsider his six elements of storytelling.  Poetics literally was rendered obsolete in 2012.  It had a good run so you can't blame it so much.  What I'm referring to is the recent release of Marvel's The Avengers.  For those of you under a rock for 10 years, Google "Avengers Movie."  For those of you under a rock for 20 years, click this link.

 
^{"Who knew a movie about a team would be a symbol of collaboration?"}

A few months ago, Jason Tyne-Zimmerman and I engaged in a debate of how to affect a modern day audience for them to leave the comfort of their homes and go see theatre. It spawned from one of my first postings.  An interesting point he made was that theatre should not try  to offer an audience what a movie offers because movies are successful because they do those things better. What theatre should focus on is what it can do better than movies. What is it that theatre offers that you cannot do in movies, or at the very least, not do as well. There is something that movies cannot provide and that is lighting a dynamic three-dimensional object. 

^{"Who wouldn't want to see this up close and personal?"}

The movie industry is having it's own brand of struggles.  Much like theatre having problems getting audiences into the seats, movie theaters are having similiar problems.  With the advent of HDTV and home theater systems, there is less reason to go out and watch a movie.  Therefore, the movie industry has been searching for a reason that people must go out.  

One of the biggest mysteries to me is the Mets/Yankees rivalry.  Disclaimer: I am a Yankee fan so please be aware of my bias. When the Yankees faced the Phillies in the World Series in 2009, I asked Met fans who they were rooting for, and I got a LOT of responses favoring the Phillies.  Why?  Because they hate the Yankees.  I don't get that.  If the Mets were playing the Red Sox in the World Series, you bet your bottom dollar that I would be rooting for my hometown Mets.  Hell, if the Mets were facing ANYONE outside of the Yankees, I root Mets.  Why?  Because I'm a New Yorker and I root for the New York team every time. 

^{"This old guy gets it.  Why can't you?"}

I get it. The Yankees have won significantly more championships so that puts them as the big brother team.  We're owned by people who invest in their team.  We have a lot of douche bag fans.  But that all still doesn't justify all the hatred.

 You may have noticed from my posting a few weeks ago, there was a slight contradiction.  I preached the need to be open to what personally works and not let others determine your method, and yet, at the same time, I made a very anti-Strasberg proclamation at the end.  It was said, in part, in jest.  However, there is a segment of Strasberg that I am against.  A form creatively called "Bad Strasberg" or as I shall now call it "BaBurg".  

^{"It begins..."}

I'm not talking about the kind of Strasberg that makes an actor go into the corner, bend over, and start digging deep into their psychosis.  At least not solely.  If you're that type of actor, have at it.  I don't agree with it, but who am I to judge and who am I to pay your therapist bills? 

^{"Artist impression of me when asked to pay therapist bills."}

Hello all,

Here's an announcement I'd like to make to break from the weekly postings.

I have accepted and am now the Artistic Director of the EndTimes Bunker at 133rd Arts Center.  I will be taking artistic responsibility over what we do in that space.  I'll be using this space to make all the announcements of everything that is going to happen in our lovely black box space.  Either way, I am VERY excited as I have all sorts of plans.  I'll be announcing what shows we're doing in the coming weeks along with our entire 2012-2013 schedule.  

In addition, the EndTimes Bunker is always open for submissions for full-length scripts.  I can't promise I'll personally respond to every play you submit, but I can promise I will look at it.  You can reach me on the contact page at the top of the screen.

ALL HAIL THE NEW ERA!!

That's all I got for now,

Matthew

 I want to preface this week’s posting with a statement that what is written is not an absolute, there are reasons not to do this, it comes down to personal preference and style, and what show you’re working on.  All I want to say that whenever you’re on that stage; enjoy yourself.

 
^{"That's right.  Dem be some Euros"}

"Finding a pencil.
Pizza with sausage.
Telling the time.
Happiness is learning to whistle.
Tying your shoe for the very first time."
                -   You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

For the past month, I feel like most of my postings have been relatively negative rants in one manner or another.  So this week, I'm going to mix it up by talking about happiness.  Short and simple.  And no, it's not going to be one of those "clever" postings where my stream of thoughts become so heated about people needing to be happier that I end up "subtly" countering the point of my... Nevermind.

^{"See me air quotes?   Now I'm clever like Glenn Beck!"} 

Moving on.  I think that it is vitally important for people to take a proactive approach in their lives to maintain their own happiness in their lives.  Whatever that may mean.  

 
^{"Serial killers need not apply..."}

Blackouts: the silent killer of independent theatre.  That may seem like hyperbole, however I believe that blackouts are a symptom of what has been continually pushing away a modern audience from going to see theatre.

 
^{"It's not this guy.  I'd love to have tomatoes on my nipples!"}

Let’s take a step back a second.  A blackout is when a scene ends and the lights go out to signify the end of a scene. 

Or as I like to view it: massive gaps of time blanketing the audience in completely non-engaging darkness while the actors return to the stage in full view, in or out of character, and set up for the next scene.  Meanwhile the audience removes themselves from the action of the play so they can start thinking about what groceries they need to buy and how cute the box office girl was... what was her name?  Mary?  Samantha?  Julie?