Right in the middle of the seven day Golden State Film Festival, administered by Jon Gursha and Peter Greene there was a reunion of sorts, with the common denominator seemingly being MTTS. As founder of the MTTS movement, Ty Brueilly who had three titles in the festival 1)Shucks 2)Skunk Season 3)Do That, spoke with us a few minutes Thursday morning before his flight back to NC.
“This year is the 20th anniversary of Mightier Than The Sword Records, which evolved into something much bigger than just a record label, in 2023 we had our first ever film festival in my hometown of Asheboro, NC, followed by our second annual last month, and in one way or another we were all linked into that somehow and have built this extended family of filmmakers and musicians that include pillars of Hollywood, Richard and Anastasia Elfman and Horror Icon, Allen “Chainsaw Jerry” Danziger from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the original. Now he is here premiering his own film, Weedhacker Massacre and introducing Pokerface! How cool is that, I just hate I’m flying out the same day he’s coming in, but the connection is there, we’ve been texting each other this morning already and I know Hollywood is going to love what he’s bringing.”
Ty continued with “I met Austin Judd, Sean Haitz and the Cannibal Comedian crew at another Jon & Peter directed festival, Marina Del Rey Film Festival back in 2023, the connection was immediate. It was the premiere of their film and the adrenaline was flowing, it was an historic night in L.A. for certain. After seeing that film I knew my state and city needed to get familiar with Happy Fright Films and Pink Plaid productions and I told Ryan James that night we had an historic theatre in my hometown that would be a great fit, and we all came together to make that happen, they essentially hooked me up with Ed Neal and Allen Danziger, and Allen became our guest of honor and since then I have built a solid friendship and working relationship with the Elfmans, who were our second guests of honor, to see them again in Hollywood was immaculate. I’ve learned a myriad of lessons from them in two years”
Witnessing the TCL Chinese Theatre lobby and bar area on February 18th, 2025 was an eclectic array of quirky artists and conversations mixed with slight touches of vintage yet modern fashion as Ty wore a flashy pink Barbie bomber jacket with vivid jogger pants that he designed from photos he took in Shanghai. Beside Brueilly was the acting duo from Bellevue Bob, Mis Sadistic in powerfully praiseworthy Houndstooth apparel, and David Vega in his clown and character makeup with the most elaborately elegant facial hair I’ve seen in recent memory, the group rounded off with Ty’s long time friend and L.A. hip hop artist, ethemadassassin, donned in what I learned is his signature Ralph Lauren, the group a living testament to a lyric in his song “we flyer than everybody” produced by Grammy nominated D.R.U.G.S. Beats. An historic night for independent film and music that I fully appreciate being invited and involved in.
