Joe Tripician

Last updated

Joseph Tripician
Joe Tripician.jpg
Occupations
  • Producer
  • writer
  • screenwriter
  • film director
  • playwright
  • songwriter
Years active1970–present
Spouse
Cecilia Tripician
​
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2, Helena Tripician, Olivia Tripician

Joseph Tripician, also known as Joe Tripician and Joe Trip, is an American producer, writer, screenwriter, film director, [1] songwriter, playwright and performer. He is best known for the documentaries Borders and Metaphoria and his memoir Balkanized at Sunrise, based on Tripician's journey to the Balkans in 1997.

Contents

1980s – Music videos, Borders and other documentaries

In 1980, Tripician worked as editor of the documentary Memories of Duke, directed by Gary Keys and based on the biography of the famous American composer, pianist, and bandleader of a jazz orchestra Duke Ellington. At the same time, he wrote and directed the short film Shrapnel Training Course, a parody infomercial satirizing the CIA. From 1979 to 1981 Tripician produced video recordings of live performances of over 100 different bands at the New York City nightclub Hurrah.” [2]

Later, Tripician produced and co-directed several musical videos included in a compilation called Danspak, which was distributed by Sony Video Software and released, in three parts (1982, 1984 and 1986). Some of the videos included were "Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don't Stop)," by Man Parrish, "Pointy Head Gear," by Shöx Lumania, "Jimmy, Gimme Your Love," by Michael Musto & The Must, and "Alien Girl," by Richard Bone, in 1982; "I've Got A Right," by The Lenny Kaye Connection, and "Sweet Jane," a cover of The Velvet Underground's song performed by The Jim Carroll Band, in 1984 (that video featured a cameo appearance of the late American songwriter Lou Reed); "Grace," by The Ordinaires, "Skintight Tina," by Prince Charles Alexander, and "Buttercup," by Stevie Wonder performed by Carl Anderson, both released in 1985. In 1984, Tripician and his partner Merrill Aldighieri were listed in the Rolling Stone Book of Rock Video as one of the twenty top video directors in the world. [3]

1990s – Metaphoria, Aliens and Ozark Melody with Jeff Buckley

In 1997, Tripician's paperback book The Official Alien Abductee's Handbook was published by Andrews and McMeel. That book was the inspiration for Melodies for Abductees, a pop-music album which included the novelty song "Ozark Melody," composed by Tripician, Frederick Reed and American songwriter Jeff Buckley, who also sang and performed guitar and mandolin on it. [4] Tripician also co-directed with Jakov Sedlar the feature documentary Tudjman, narrated by the American actor Martin Sheen and based on the biography of the Croatian president, Franjo Tudjman. Later that year, Tripician traveled to the Balkans, after being hired by the Croatian government to write Tudjman's official biography. The working title of that book was In Tito's Shadow. After granting Tripician editorial control of the book and receiving the complete manuscript, the content caused a controversy within the Tudjman government, [5] and the book was summarily banned. In May 2002, Joe performed his one-man play Balkanized at Sunrise at Dixon Place Theater in New York City. The play was based on his 1997 trip to the Balkans. Joe subsequently published his story in a memoir of the same name.

2000s – From Balkanized at Sunrise to Honeymoon in Oak Ridge



In 2016 Tripician began developing a feature film project titled Team Joy with Tony Award nominated actor Jesse Williams. [6]

In 2021, Tripician won the monthly London International Screenwriting Competition in September for his script “President Zappa”. [7] That year, his screenplay was also included in the “Hot 100 Winners” at the Capital Fund Screenplay Competition. [8]  “President Zappa” is a comedic and dramatic biopic that imagines what would happen if the rockstar Frank Zappa ran for the U.S. Presidency and won. [9] According to Tripician, “In the script, Frank discovers that he must bend his principles in order to win the Presidency so he can enact policies that benefit many people who are in need. However, he pays a price for his compromises and regrets doing them.” [10]

In December 2023, Joe completed his documentary, "Honeymoon in Oak Ridge." [11] The film follows Joe on a personal journey as he travels with his parents to Oak Ridge, Tennessee where they worked, unknowingly, to create the first atomic bombs. Interwoven with their journey are candid reflections from Tripician's wife and daughters, examining how the legacy of the Manhattan Project resonates across generations. [12] [13]  In 2024, the film won the Jury Award for Best Short Documentary at the Uranium International Film Festival. [14] The film screened at various cities around the world including Asheville (TN), Chicago (IL), Las Vegas (NV), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Seville (Spain) and Berlin (Germany). [15] [16] “Honeymoon in Oak Ridge” is being distributed by Alexander Street [17] and Docsville (Lightning International/Asia Satellite Telecommunications). [18] [19]

In 2024, Tripician was awarded one of the Top Ten Finalists at the 2024 Cinequest Film Festival for his dramatic Teleplay “Jenny Appleseed”. [20]   The script is a contemporary story about a headstrong teen who has her life turned upside down when she tries to help someone who needs abortion pills in a state where they are illegal. [21]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardForResult
1984Top 20 Music Video Directors WorldwideRolling Stone Book of Rock VideoWon
1991Chicago International Film Festival [22] MetaphoriaWon
1991The Montreal International Film FestivalMetaphoriaWon
1991The Sinking Creek Film FestivalMetaphoriaWon
1991Cyber Arts Festival Los AngelesMetaphoriaWon
1992Chicago/Midwest EmmyMetaphoriaWon
2007Big Apple Film FestivalThe Student
2007Nevada City Film FestivalThe Student
2007Dallas VideoFestThe Student
2014Williamsburg International Film FestivalA Pizza Chegou (Pizza Run)
2014El Ojo Cojo Film FestivalA Pizza Chegou (Pizza Run)
2014Dallas VideoFestA Pizza Chegou (Pizza Run)
2018Dallas VideoFestMeeting Carol
2021London International Screenwriting CompetitionPresident ZappaWon
2021Capital Fund Screenplay CompetitionPresident ZappaWon
2023Shore Scripts Film Fund SpringThe Gringo in the HammockWon
2024Cinequest Film FestivalJenny AppleseedWon
2024Uranium Film FestivalHoneymoon in Oak RidgeWon

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1980Memories of DukeEditor
1980Shrapnel Training CourseWriter/director
1988The Kissing BoothProducer/editor/co-director
1989BordersWriter/producer/editor/co-director
1980The Gun is LoadedDirector
1991MetaphoriaWriter/producer/editor/co-director
1991The Wall Street Journal ReportEditor
1993Motel Blue 19Producer/editor/co-director
1993The War RoomDirector of graphics and animation
1995The Conspiracy of SilenceOn-line editor
1997TudjmanCo-director
1999Marty: The Martin Scorsese StoryActor
2007The StudentWriter/producer/editor/director
2009Kitchen Sink StoriesWriter/editor/director
2013A Pizza Chegou (Pizza Run)Writer/producer/editor/director
2018Meeting CarolWriter/producer/editor/director
2024Honeymoon in Oak RidgeWriter/producer/editor/director

Books

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References

  1. ↑ "Joe Tripician". IMDb.
  2. ↑ Tannenbaum, Rob (June 10, 2021). "In the '80s, Post-Punk Filled New York Clubs. Their Videos Captured It". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ Shore, Michael (1984). The Rolling stone book of rock video. Internet Archive. New York : Quill. ISBN   978-0-688-03916-5.
  4. ↑ "Jeff Buckley Collaborators Recall Origins of Alien-Inspired 'Ozark Melody' -- Free Download - Spinner". September 18, 2012. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ Sven Milekic (May 3, 2017). "Propaganda Trip: Why Franjo Tudjman's Biographer Rebelled". Balkan Insight.
  6. ↑ "Jesse Williams | Actor, Producer, Director". IMDb. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Winners – London International Screenwriting Competition".
  8. ↑ "Winners". Capital Fund Screenplay Competition. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  9. ↑ President Zappa (Biography), retrieved September 28, 2024
  10. ↑ "Screenplay contest writers gain film investor exposure here at Capital Fund". Capital Fund Screenplay Competition. July 3, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ Tripician, Joe (March 31, 2024), Honeymoon in Oak Ridge (Documentary, Short), Paid Propagandist Film, retrieved September 28, 2024
  12. ↑ "Shadow Of The Bomb: Newlyweds Unknowingly Helped Create First Atomic Weapon In 'Honeymoon In Oak Ridge'". ladailypost.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ Cento, Sal (March 17, 2024). "Honeymoon in Oak Ridge: What's It Like Being In A Complicated Relationship With The First Atomic Bomb?". The Movie Nerds. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  14. ↑ "13th IUFF Rio de Janeiro 2024 Announces Award Winners". www.filmfestivals.com. March 1, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Rio 2024 Award Winners | International Uranium Film Festival". uraniumfilmfestival.org. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Honeymoon in Oak Ridge | Manhattan Project". HoneymoonInOakRidge. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Alexander Street, a ProQuest Company". video.alexanderstreet.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  18. ↑ Honeymoon in Oak Ridge (2024) - IMDb . Retrieved September 28, 2024– via www.imdb.com.
  19. ↑ "Honeymoon in Oak Ridge".
  20. ↑ "Cinequest Screenwriting Competition | Cinequest". www.cinequest.org. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Jenny Appleseed by Joe Tripician - Coverfly". writers.coverfly.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  22. ↑ "1992 to 1994 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Winners" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. April 2013.
  23. ↑ Chats from Beyond: Stories to amuse, frighten and disturb. 2016.
  24. ↑ Joe Tripician: Obras Seleccionadas, Volumen 1. 2013.
  25. ↑ My Night With Sarah Palin ... and other disturbing stories.
  26. ↑ Tripician, Joe (April 1997). The Official Alien Abductee's Handbook. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p.  125. ISBN   978-0836227604.
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