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3 Comics Make a Movie - Not a Joke! 'Cheat' Rocks Tribeca
Comedians Bill Burr and Robert Kelly teamed up with fellow comedian and friend Joe DeRosa to make their own self-produced short film, Cheat, which premiered at last week's prestigious 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. We caught up with the trio just before one of the screenings of their film to ask them a few questions (see the above interview - and hey, there's a few NSFW comments in there, so be forwarned). For you TV-watchers, you've seen Bill Burr in countless Comedy Central specials, Letterman spots, and "Chappelle's Show," and you will see him on a very cool TV show this summer (can't tell you about it yet!); Robert Kelly will be very familiar to you as Louie C.K.'s brother in FX's "Louie," and Joe DeRosa has most recently been on TV on IFC's "Z-Rock" and HBO's "Bored to Death"
Burr, Kelly, and DeRosa co-wrote and co-produced Cheat and DeRosa directed and edited the film. All three comedians are featured in the film with DeRosa as the lead - the trio also called upon several other comedian friends to participate and got cameos from Colin Quinn, Bonnie McFarlane, Jessica Kozak, and Rich Vos. Together this team brought to life the very funny story of a desperate guy getting advice from his buddies on how to pull off a clandestine hook up.
The movie was incredibly well-received at the screening we attended where it was included with several other films, about half of which were comedies. When Cheat appeared on the screen at the end of the program, it definitely revitalized the crowd which was flagging a bit - there is so much energy packed into the 15 minutes, you can't help but perk up and get into it. Of all the comedies, Cheat easily got the most laughs and the film had the most questions directed towards it in the after-screening panel.
Most filmmakers have had to submit many films to Tribeca over a span of years before getting accepted. For a first-time director and producer team to have their film accepted means it's an exceptional movie and it will again be recognized at an upcoming film festival in Chicago later this year. Cheat has also been written as a full-length film and a book which will come out in 2012 with a copy of the short film included. We can't wait to get our hands on it.
Check out the trailer below, new information on the film will be posted on its website, also check out the websites of the film's creators: Bill Burr, Robert Kelly, and Joe DeRosa, to see when they will be coming to town again.
The Cheat trailer:
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