News & Updates
What's New at Ruskie Poochie
Sunday, November 9th, 2003
(AP) Hillsborough, NJ
Now entering its sixth year as the most famous student production company in Hillsborough, Ruskie Poochie Productions is at an all time production low. After the short dramatic film The Assasin won acclaim at Hillsborough High School and with those close to the company, RPP has not come near the drawing board. But that is all about to change.
Since starting the fall term of college at Rutgers University, neither Kyle Pucciarello nor Ilya Livshits have had much time to collaberate on a project, being far too busy with school work and trying not to take the Kratovil-approach to schooling (aka hoping not to get kicked out of school).
During Christmas break however, RPP will begin a new three-part documentary series on the origins and roots (no pun intended) of plants. Local plant enthusiast and educator Hank came to Pucciarello late in the summer of 2003 hoping to do a project together. Hank, a well-traveled man, frequently holds seminars for plant lovers all over New Jersey, and wanted to add another piece to his successful lectures - video presentations.
Hank recently completed writing the script to the films, and meetings will commence throughout November to further plan the project. "We hope to have all of the groundwork done by the end of November," Pucciarello stated. "As of right now, if we can get that accomplished, we're looking at a Christmas-break shoot and editing period."
Ilya Livshits, assistant producer at RUTV, has been hoping to work on something for a while. His last solo project, "Nighty Night," was a complete bomb and Livshits has yet to rebound. However, now that there is a new project at hand, he says he is "very happy to be doing something with video editing again."
The guys also hope to do another project during Christmas break, but won't let in on just what it is...probably because they don't have a clue as to what it is. "Ilya keeps telling me to write a script and then we'll shoot something. But recently it's been difficult to get the motivation to write anything. Call it writer's block, call it what you will, but I just can't come up with anything worth shooting."
Fans of Ruskie Poochie know that's never been an issue. With such crap as "Shaft:Ya Damn Right," it's quite evident that Ruskie Poochie doesn't worry about necessary content before wasting time on a project. "I know in the past we've been rather trigger-happy with some of our stuff but I think it's time to get serious. Our last few films have really shown that we are quite skilled and can get things done in the video department."
Pucciarello does, for once, speak the truth. "The Assassin," "Ravi's Watching TV 2," and their documentary series were all of very high craftsmenship and were very well-received in their respective audiences.
As for the future, Pucciarello hopes that "we can continue to improve and get to work on fun projects." Best of luck to the duo.
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©2003. Pucciarello Press.
The Archives
Sunday, December 1st, 2002
(AP) Hillsborough, NJ
For the past four months, Ruskie Poochie Productions has been out of the public eye, seemingly fading into obscurity. However, while it has been rather silent on the outside, within Ruskie Poochie studios, things have been buzzing.
Kyle Pucciarello and Ilya Livshits decided to return to a familiar form of filmmaking in mid-October - the music video. Although they had not filmed one since the summer of 2001, the duo was destined to create another smash video to follow up on the success of the Ricky Martin "Loaded" video.
After listening to Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising," Pucciarello and Livshits decided to make a film of the song, "Waitin' on a Sunny Day," one of the cuts from the former number one album. The concept was to create a "lost video" that would capture the essence of the song.
After a surprisingly quick two hour shoot, the boys set up the editting studio and went set out to create a masterpiece. The film was completed and debuted in Hillsborough High School to rousing reviews. Mrs. Olga Zarestky, the video and film instructor at the school, praised the boys, saying that their work "continues to get better."
You don't believe her? Well, we didn't either, but you can see for yourself by clicking Here.
After creating this video, the boys set upon a new task. For their high school calculus class they were called upon to describe a difficult math theorem without using any mathematical terms. As is always the case, Pucciarello and Livshits decided to make a video to complete this task.
The film turned out to be very informative, and described the theorem in complete and distinct detail. The twelve minute film also proved to be their funniest yet, with hilarious quips and one-liners that rival their previous work. Clips from this movie will be available online shortly.
Ruskie Poochie has also been very busy in their writing adventures. Kyle Pucciarello has continued to get published by the online newspaper, "The Tattoo," which can be reached by clicking Here. Pucciarello's latest, "Clarence Clemons in Asbury Park," is the current feature on the site and is one of his prized works.
Pucciarello was quoted as saying he really enjoys writing and has decided to focus on this. Ilya Livshits, another published teen, has also noted writing as a passion, and his "School Life" series will soon be featured online, as well as his and Pucciarello's other submissions. The Ruskie Poochie Writer's Circle will be up and running shortly with a wide range of things to read, from the comical and entertaining, to the social and informative. The group has also decided to take outside submissions as well, and this can be done by emailing either Kyle Pucciarello at [email protected] or Ilya Livshits at [email protected].
Academically, the 2002 year has proven to be very auspicious for the founders of Ruskie Poochie. Both were accepted into Rutgers University, sporting exceptional scholarship awards as recognition of their academic prowess. The two will continue their craft into college, and continue to provide works for your pleasure.
And what about Terminator 2.5? As of now, production on the much anticipated film has been put to rest. Time permitting, the filming will recommence and the action-thriller can be completed. Pucciarello stated at a press conference that he is "upset that the film may never get to see completion." He continued, "We all worked very hard on this film, fought through a lot of troubles and script problems, and had a very nice movie going. The first half hour (which have been editted) looks absolutely tremendous, and it would be a shame for this not to be completed."
All of the actors have been put on call for when T2.5 begins filming again. Frank Scerbo, who plays a late teen John Connor, is apparently still on board, as is Ilya Livshits, who does a fabulous job as the T-900. Kyle Pucciarello is anxious to get back into the T-800 role, but needs to work on some issues beforehand. "I put on 15 pounds since we last filmed," he said, "so I guess I'm gonna have to get on the Stairmaster or something."
Thus, after a long apparent hiatus, Ruskie Poochie is still on top of its game.
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©2002. Associated Press.
Saturday, July 27th, 2002
(AP) Hillsborough, NJ
The past week has seen quite a bit of action from Ruskie Poochie Productions. On Wednesday, an extensive shoot took place, where challenging motorcycle scenes were shot, as well as important John Connor and Terminator interaction shots. The following day, the first scene where a person is killed was shot. And on Saturday, the script to the action thriller Terminator 2.5 was enhanced and nearly completed. Quite a lively week, for a company that, a week earlier, was left for dead.
When news that T2.5 had shut down came out to the public, many antipating fans were left disappointed. Mary Jones of Rumson, New Jersey, was one of these upset fans. "It's been over a year since we got something new from the 'Jersey Boys', and now it's going to be even longer." Larry Cole of Raritan, New Jersey had more to say. "I read a lot of the script ideas for their Terminator film, and it looked very promising. It's a shame to see the film just die. At that time, it was a sad day for fans of the heralded company. However, in the following days, the company announced that the plug it pulled out of the Terminator 2.5 production was now plugged back in, and the film would be moving at a rapid pace.
Monday and Tuesday were days in which the film's producers got reacquainted with the film and each other, working on various plot changes and new ideas to keep the film going in the right direction. On Tuesday night, it was announced that filming would start again the following day.
Wednesday was unlike any other film shoot that Ruskie Poochie has ever been a part of. The shoot took three hours in total, and various scenes were shot, including scenes with The Terminator and John Connor on a motorcycle, as well as interaction within a building structure. Sources around the company said that the shots went very well, and that the film was "looking good." Kyle Pucciarello, who plays "The Terminator", said, "That was the most grueling shooting day I've ever had. I haven't been so tired after filming a movie than today." Frank Scerbo, the newcomer in the company, also seemed in high spirits about the film. Various photographers caught his uncanny smile around the set, and Pucciarello admitted it was the "happiest I've seen him in a while."
And that brought Thursday. The actual filming was not very long, but the preparation and cleanup took about an hour. The F/X team made its first appearance on the set, and created a masterpiece. All that was released to the press was that this particular scene was when the T-900 took it's first victim. The shoot went very well, and Livshits and Pucciarello were pleased. "It looked absolutely great!" said Livsihts. Scerbo was not called onto the set for this day.
This film is being editted in sections, unlike any other film in Ruskie Poochie history. "It will be a lot easier to do this way, and by doing it this way, fine tuning can be done along the way, and will work out to a better finished product," stated Livshits. A few short clips were shown to the public, and the buzz around the film was that it was very highly received. A reporter for a local New Jersey television station said that the film looked very professional and was exicited to see the finished product.
And that leaves us with the final question: when will there be a finished product? The teaser for the film showed a late Summer 2002 release, but that seems like a remote possibility. Pucciarello hinted that the filming will be done by summer's end, but that the finished product may not be released until Christmas time.
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©2002. Associated Press.
Monday, July 22nd, 2002
(AP) Hillsborough, NJ
Only one week ago, Ruskie Poochie Productions' staff members considered pulling the plug on the highly anticipated summer action film Terminator 2.5. The story was that the deadlines initially set could no longer be met, and that the producers of the film wanted to move onto other projects. As of a press conference last night, those actions will never take place, as Terminator 2.5 is moving into high gear.
Pucciarello and Livshits had a production meeting Saturday evening, where they made the decision as to whether or not the film would be completed. Once the meeting had ended, those involved with the company said the situation looked grim. "Those two guys have been going at it for a while and they just can't seem to find a common ground," said staff member Leroy Robinson. "I would be surprised if this film continues." However, once the meeting was complete, a press conference followed, where the boys announced their plans. Pucciarello began with "We told you we'd be back!", which showed the crowd that he was in good spirits about the decision. After discussing the issues which led to the meeting, Livshits announced that "Terminator 2.5 will go on as scheduled, and the production will move rapidly."
The filming schedule is as follows. The boys will shoot on Monday, July 22nd, and then take a day off. At the time of release, T2.5 will restart shooting on Wednesday, and from there it is cloudy as to what will take place. "We have lots of work to do and just over a month and a half to complete it. Alongside our athletic and academic committments, this will be a tough schedule, but a maintainable one," Pucciarello assurred the audience.
Thus, the Ruskie Poochie empire has not faltered at all. In fact, it is rated as high as it has ever been, as per a poll in "Entertainment Weekly." With Terminator 2.5 on the way, the boys at the established production company have a sure-fire hit on their hands, and one can only imagine where it will take them.
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(c)2002. Associated Press.
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