News

January 9th, 2012

I just released my newest cinematography demo reel, featuring clips from the award-winning web series Western X, the spec TV pilot "Extended Stay", my award-winning short film "Solo", and the music videos for Ember's "Embrace" and Tommy Gibbons Project's "Conform".  Check it out HERE

In other news, I was hired by a production company out of Washington D.C. in mid-December to direct photography on this commercial for Kyrsten Sinema's congressional campaign.  Take a look-see...
 

 

December 3rd, 2011

A show called "Meet the Filmmaker" on a new indie entertainment network, DirectorsLive.com, just did a piece on me.  It features an interview and some of my riding at Reed Wheels Court in Mesa, and some clips from my short film "Solo".  These guys were stoked I was able to give them some eye candy instead of just a talking head in a studio, and I'm psyched 'cause it's gotten a cubic shitload of views! 

For the first time these guys have shot any kind of action sports, they did a great job.  They used a couple Canon 7d's and a GoPro Hero camera, and created a cool look in the color grade.  God, I'm proud of the 7d.  One of the best purchases I've ever made.

You can check the piece out on the Directors Live site at:
http://www.directorslive.com/channels/interviews/meet-the-filmmaker-jason-ryan/

Or you can just watch it here: 

 

November 19th, 2011

Got a new music video production flyer done. 

Need a music vid?  Hop on that keyboard or phone, son!

 

September 5th, 2011

The official music video for "Conform" by the Tommy Gibbons Project has been released!  If you like it, give it some love in the YouTube comments and spread the word!

August 2nd, 2011

Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton!  We just wrapped shooting a music video for "Conform" by the Tommy Gibbons Project.  (Check em out at http://www.facebook.com/TommyGibbonsProject )  We shot it at a Phoenix high school all in one day and knocked that shit out, son!  We had militaristic marching cheerleaders, stunt falls, a BMX riding double for the main character, and two full performances.  Here are some stills from the shoot.  All photos by Bruce Haseley- http://www.Brucehaseleyphotography.com

 

TGP in the cafeteria.  This is an approximation of the color correction I'll be doing on this performance.  From left, Chris Snipes, Tommy Gibbons, Aaron Belk and Chris Torres.

 

                Cheerleaders!  From left to right:  Kaily Alissano, Bethany Brown, Taylor Van Gorder, Maria Brubaker, Angeline Taylor, and Maryam Hajibeigi.

 

Frank Ruiz gettin down with that get-down...

 

Yay!  I'm directing right now!

 

Tommy Gibbons of the Tommy Gibbons Project

 

Our key grip Ruben Nino rigging my Canon 7d to a dolly to get a polished floor-scraping shot.

 

Why does this photo of the crew getting the first shot of the day look like The Last Supper?  From left, Matt Gismondi (1st AD/Producer), Jason Ryan (Director/Producer/Cinematographer), Ruben Nino (Key Grip), Mike Heberling (Gaffer), Tyson Smith (1st AC) and Ted Goodman (Stunt Coordinator).

 

Nice candid of Tommy Gibbons

 

Jason Ryan shooting from a ladder.

 

Valentin Navarro and Frank Ruiz

 

Stunting!

 

Nappy-time for cheerleaders.

 

June 22nd, 2011

'Solo' to be screened at the Bicycle Film Festival in NYC on June 26

 

April 24th, 2011

 

Sweet Jesus, has it really been almost two months since I updated the site?  Looks like.  The thing about Phoenix is the film business here gets really busy in April, because everyone wants to get their stuff shot before the heat hits, including mwah.  So here's me squeezing in a quick update about "Solo" screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival before I shut down production at 8pm to get some sleepy weepy, only to get up at 1 am to go shoot Western X. 

So about "Solo":  It will be screened at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 'Action Sports Shorts 1' starting at 3:30 PM on Thursday, May 5th, 2011 at Triangle Square Cinemas, located at 1870 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa, CA.  If you're anywhere in the area, stop by and sit a spell.  Seeing this sumbitch on the big screen is soooo much better than seeing it on your little computer.

Below are some grabs of "Solo" from the NBFF program, a full page and a closeup view.

 

 

March 1st, 2011

I just found out today that "Solo" is an official selection of the Newport Beach Film Festival!  Totally pooping pants right now! 

Here's some history on the festival, from their website:

Set in beautiful Newport Beach, a few blocks away from spectacular coastline and less than an hour from Hollywood, the Festival annually host several premieres and galas for a singular festival experience. Films will be shown throughout the city that boasts one of the largest movie consumer groups in the world, a rich filmmaking history as well as fine dining, shopping, and exceptional recreational activities.

In addition, the Newport Beach Film Festival offers filmgoers a rare opportunity to meet the filmmakers. Directors, screenwriters and cinematographers eager to share their work will provide an exclusive inside look at the industry during post-screening Q&A’s.

Reportedly 51,000 people attended the festival last year, so lotsa heads gonna see mah shit!

 

February 10th, 2011

 

YEEE HAAWW! My film "Solo" won the best short film award at the 2011 X-Dance Film Festival!  It was up against 4 other creative and well-made short films including a skateboarding film, two surf films and a mountain bike film. This is a huge honor, because there was SERIOUS competition and SERIOUS judges.

It's been 3 years since a BMX film has been accepted into the X-Dance Film Festival, and even longer since a BMX film has won an award at X-Dance.  This is a great honor, especially considering that all the judges were highly-respected action sports and mainstream filmmakers. 
Warren Miller was a judge, as well as a couple Oscar-nominated cinematographers. That's right...more than one Oscar-nominated cinematographer! Warren Miller is a legendary ski and snowboard film director.  His films have had huge theatrical releases, and I catch his films being re-played on TV all the time. 

SO STOKED RIGHT NOW YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW!

 

X-Dance winners write-up on Grind TV

Follow the below link to see this write-up by GrindTV about all the winning films at this year's X-Dance.  Page down about 1/4 page to see where they write about "Solo".

http://www.grindtv.com/film/blog/23906/the+2011+x+dance+winners/

 

January 16th, 2011


 

I recently found out that my newest short film "Solo" was accepted into the 2011 X-Dance Film Festival! 

Super psyched!!  

"Solo" is one of only four short films chosen to be in X-Dance this year, and the ONLY BMX FILM in the whole festival!

 Whooo yeaaahh!

So to all you Utah BMX riders, come out and see "Solo" on the big screen and support BMX's place in the action sports community!  "Solo" will be shown on Monday, January 24th at 9:15 pm at The Depot, located at 400 West South Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Get advance tickets HERE


A little history:  X-Dance started in 2001 as an alternative satellite festival to the Sundance Film Festival, taking place at the same time and the same town (Park City, Utah) as Sundance.  Instead of focusing on independent film (or in recent years, mostly studio-financed "indy" film), X-Dance focuses on the best in action sports filmmaking.  I have entered a couple of my films in X-Dance in prior years, so it's sweet to have finally gotten in.

The X-Dance film festival has released its 2011 X-Dance Film Festival trailer, and "Solo" has a clip in it. It's a great honor to have a clip amongst such sick footage.  Click on the X-Dance logo below and check that trailer on the left side of the home page, son! 

X-DANCE FILM FESTIVAL

 

January 5th, 2011

I doggone gone and done it!  I'm getting "Solo" out on the film festival circuit.  The acquisitions guy from FUEL TV called it "phenomenal", but their smallest slot was 22 minutes so they couldn't air it.

"Solo" is an original mixture of narrative, experimental, action sports video and music video.

Here's the official description:

Toiling on a cracked and arid landscape, a man grooms earthen monuments
into a functional outlet for his soulful vigor and creativity. Steven
Mueller stars in this beautifully shot, environmental high speed BMX short
film about a man that seeks and finds immense satisfaction in solitude.

Directed, shot and edited by Jason Ryan

Score by Threefold Fate

 

December 28th, 2010

The music video which I wrote and cinematographed (my new word) back in April, Ember's video "Embrace", has just been released.  Do tell what you think about it in the YouTube comments.

Director:  Akil Williams
Story and Cinematography:  Jason Ryan
Special thanks:  Eric Sundt for making my dry ice bubbles a reality
                      Executive Producer Chris Jensen
                      Ember
                      VSR Music Group/EMI

 

December 8th, 2010

Western X Premieres tonight!

After much hype, hoopla and sabre rattling, the first 3 webisodes of Western X will finally premiere tonight on Koldcast.tv back to back at midnight!  Included with the webisodes will be an introduction to the series by Michael Flores, creator of Western X, and Dustin Hale, who plays X in the series.  A coming soon trailer will also be included for webisodes 4-16.  I shot the introduction to the series, and here are a couple still frames from that shoot:

 

I'm the series cinematographer for Western X, so I got a dog in the hunt.  See this shit!  If you can't stay up past your beddy-bye time to watch it, then watch it tomorree, dood!  Click the logo below to get to Koldcast.

Big Updates coming soon

Besides Western X, I've gotta catch you all up on what I've been doing.  The music video which I wrote and cinematographed (my new word) a few months ago, Ember's video "Embrace", will be out soon.  Above is a still of the soldier's daughter from the piece.  Also, I've got big news about my short BMX film, "Solo".  I'll be getting a cut of the experimental film piece I made based on Caravaggio's incredible painting, Supper at Emmaus on here as well. 

Checkitty-check back soon!

 

June 10th, 2010

Ah, so much catching up to do!  Hella busy!

I just got this from the news page on Sarah Darling's WEBSITE
Of course, I couldn't be more stoked, because I directed "Whenever it Rains"...

Sarah is BACK on CMT Pure! VOTE!

June 01, 2010
Sarah Darling's music video for "Whenever It Rains" is in medium rotation on CMT Pure! Congrats, Sarah!

The video has also been added back to the voting page for CMT Pure's 12-Pack Countdown! Last time the video was on the countdown it was NUMBER TWO! Let's all vote to get Sarah to #1!

Click here to vote for Sarah!

You may vote every day and as much as you want, so plesae spend 5 minutes per day casting votes for Sarah! Thanks everyone!


This video got the number two spot on CMT's Pure 12-Pack Music Video Countdown in April, and now it's back in contention.
So what are you still stickin' around fer?!  Go vote!  You heard me....GIT!

 

Ember "Embrace" Music Video



Frame from a close jib performance take atop a parking structure in downtown Phoenix

So at the end of April, I directed photography for one of Ember's new music videos, "Embrace", for which I also wrote the treatment (basically the script).  Ember hails from Austin, Texas, and their label is VSR Music Group, which is distributed worldwide by EMI.  I also operated jib for their music video for "The Deep End".  Both videos will be premiering on about 100 cable stations worldwide- "The Deep End" will come out within the next couple months, and  "Embrace" will come out in the fall.

For more info on Ember, visit http://www.myspace.com/emberaustin

                                                                                                              
                                                                                                        Photo by  Akil Williams   
I have an enormous ego, which must be constantly fed by pictures like this one
 


                                                                                                             Photo by Ellie Hernandez

Once our jib was weighted with the RED camera and weights, we found it was far too heavy for the dolly we had based the jib on.  I had my Canon 7d with me, so instead of having to scrap the jib, I threw the Canon up there and shot all the jib shots with it.  Both frame grabs you see above and below were shot on the 7d.  It worked out really well, too, because even though we had Zeiss Super Speed T1.3 lenses on the RED, it just couldn't see the cityscape in the background as well as the 7d with my T2.8 20mm lens.  I swear that thing sees in the dark! 




                                                                                                                                                                       Photo by  Akil Williams  
Jib operation on "The Deep End"
                                                                                       



Frame from a wide jib performance take atop a parking structure in downtown Phoenix

 

Western X March shoot



Frame from a closeup of the clerk in a postal office scene.  Actor-Greg Bronson
 

Frame from a closeup of Colonel Leein a bordello scene.  Actor-Richard Anderson


Frame from a scene from the prairie home with the Dead Three.  Actors-Cisco Saavedra, George Velasquez


Back at the beginning of March, I directed photography for another round of filming for the first season of Western X, a new sci-fi western webisode series.  This time we shot mostly interiors at Rawhide Western Town, giving me some fun opportunities to light through windows. 

For more info on the series, visit www.westernxtheshow.com



                                                                                                                                                                                        Photo by Aaron Flores
Quick production meetin' before the day's shootin'                                            



                                                                                                                                                                                          Photo by Aaron Flores
Shooting the bordello scene with the god....damn.... black coats

 


                                                                                Photo by Aaron Flores
Don't knock the taste of a RED viewfinder until you've tried it...

 


                                                                                                                                                                                   Photo by Aaron Flores
A little contemplation during a short respite on set

 

Kevin Daly's Chicken and Waffles music video for "William Cook"

I recently finished editing the first full music video I've shot on my Canon 7d.  I shot it with the single camera, then edited the piece to make it look like it had been shot with multiple cams.  It can be found in the music video section under the films tab, or by clicking HERE



January 7th, 2010

Western X Shoot at Goldfield Ghost Town

                             
Photos by Aaron Flores

 

During the last half of December I directed photography for Western X, a new sci-fi western webisode series.  We shot at Goldfield, and got incredible footage.  Goldfield was a real mining town back in the day, and many of the buildings at the tourist attraction were built using wood and tin that is over 100 years old!  Above left is a production still from one of the scenes, and above right is me on a steadicam rig with the RED One camera.  For more info on the series, visit www.westernxtheshow.com

 

December 31st, 2009

My New Cinematography Reel Now Online


Frame grab by Jason Ryan

I just finished editing together my newest demo reel for cinematography and got it on the site.  Check it out here.

 

Caravaggio's 'Supper at Emmaus" Sneak Preview

I shot and directed this piece on 16mm color film on December 12th.  It will be a couple months before I get the film developed and telecine'd, but here's a 35mm film production still I shot that day.

 

Photo by Jason Ryan

November 26th, 2009

Cinematic re-creation of Caravaggio's Supper at Emmaus

I am currently casting for my cinematic re-creation of Caravaggio's Supper at Emmaus (above).  Caravaggio, one of the most famous painters of the Baroque period, is noted by many cinematographers as one of their key artisitic influences for his dramatic use of light and shadow.  I'll be directing and shooting the piece, and I will be holding auditions on Saturday, December 5th, and shooting on December 12th.

Location: 

Scottsdale Community College Campus
9000 E. Chaparral Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85256
Northwest AP building
Room AP 208 (The screenwriting room next to the studios)

Map:

 

November 12th, 2009

Western X official trailer just released

In other news, Cazador Productions just released the official trailer for their new webisode series Western X, and it looks amazing!  I'm proud to say I helped light and shoot the first three webisodes, and I'll be directing photography on many of the upcoming webisodes for the first season, and directing a webisode as well.  Peep the trailer at www.westernxtheshow.com

 

November 5th, 2009

Sarah Darling and Black River Artists coming in concert

Over the summer, CMT.com held a contest in which 4 Sarah Darling music videos were pitted against each other--2 made by Scottsdale Community College's Film School students and 2 made by Full Sail's Film School students.  The music video I directed, "Can't Call Love" garnered the most votes, and as a prize, Black River Music Group is bringing Sarah and the rest of their artists out for a concert at Graham Central Station in Tempe!  Thanks to everyone who voted for "Can't Call Love"!

The concert is open to the public (there is a cover charge) and it starts at 9pm.

Graham Central Station
7850 South Priest Drive
Tempe, AZ 85284
480-496-0799

 

August 21st, 2009

LOLtv

Last week I directed and directed photography for the opening credits intro to a new comedy show, LOLtv.  I also directed and directed photography for "The Real Wives of Polygamy County" which is one of the skits to go in the first show.  LOLtv will be airing on a local Arizona TV station, and I'll let you know the exact station and air date soon.  Here are a few production stills:

Screen grab from LOLtv cast member Helene Diamond's opening credit sequence on Mill Ave.

Screen grab from LOLtv cast member Will Hightower's opening credit sequence on Mill Ave.


 

The "Real Wives" of Polygamy County, and Director/DP Jason Ryan with a creeps smile

 

The cast of "The Real Wives of Polygamy County" skit

 

 Partial crew of "The Real Wives of Polygamy County" skit

 

The Making of "Can't Call Love" on News Channel 3

Channel 3 News recently shot a piece about the Sarah Darling music video I directed, "Can't Call Love".  It will be airing on Friday, August 28th at around 9:45 pm.  "Can't Call Love" can be seen on CMT.com by following this link:  http://www.cmt.com/interact/sweepstakes/sarah_darling/vote.jhtml?videoId=395391
or on my Music Videos page.

Screen cap from "Can't Call Love"

                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by Will Schoenfeld

Sarah Darling and Jason Ryan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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