A bunch of 'Dans' celebrate release of DVD at Cup
The Island-based indie filmmakers formerly known as Bad Ben Franklin host a party, free screening
Friday, August 12, 2005
By ANDREA BOYARSKY
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

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Add a dash of sketch comedy, a pinch of dark humor and a sprinkle of silliness and what some people might call "off-color" antics, and you've got "A Dan Amongst Dans."

That's the title of the new DVD -- by independent film group Bad Ben Franklin--being celebrated with a release party Friday at the Muddy Cup in Stapleton. The group, which is changing its name to A Dan Amongst Dans, will also host a free screening.

"It's going to be relaxed and laid back," said troupe member John Szeluga of Travis. "It'll be more of a party atmosphere than a performance."

Szeluga, 25, said the group will be showing some of their old stuff and, of course, some of their new. Although he didn't "want to give too much away."

REVIVING 'GIRL-ARM'

One of the shorts that might be shown is "Girl-Arm," a film set in the 1950s. In it, a man picks up a girl on the street, gets into a car accident and wakes up to find her dead and his right arm missing. His only option: Take her right arm.

Another possibility could be "The Adventures of Chubbi-Wan Kenobi," a Star Wars spoof, where Obi-Wan is more of a Jedi loser than Jedi master.

Also being screened are never-before-seen clips that aren't on the DVD.

"It's kind of nice to show a few things that didn't make it to the disk, but are still kind of funny," Szeluga said.

In one of the scenes, one of the group members has a little trouble with the law -- which was all real, unscripted and caught on tape, Szeluga said.

The party starts at 8 p.m. and the group anticipates it will last until at least midnight. They will be selling their DVD for $10. An Island rock band, Happy Anarchy, will provide the soundtrack.

DISHING IT OUT

In addition to Szeluga, the members of A Dan Amongst Dans are: Bryan McGuckin of Port Richmond, Frank LaMonaca of Brooklyn and Chris Sorrentino of Great Kills. They are all former film students of the College of Staten Island.

And their new name sort of represents the humor -- which sometimes pokes fun at others -- they dish out.

"All film classes at the College of Staten Island have a lot of guys named Dan in them," Szeluga said. "They're people who are clones of each other. They're kind of geeks and fans of certain things, like 'Star Wars.' Dan is a term for anyone who acted like them.

"You have to experience it to fully understand it," he added.

For more on Bad Ben Franklin and A Dan Amongst Dans, visit www.badbenfranklin.com or www.adanamongstdans.com.

Andrea Boyarsky is a news reporter for the Advance. She may be reached at boyarsky@siadvance.com.

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