Written by Grant Scott-Goforth

Theo Baransky spontaneously performing an epic longform joke at Films for Fools

Theo Baransky knows movies. Really knows movies. He’s watched thousands of them, interviewed filmmakers, and can recite the history of everything from major studios--their hits, flops, and legal troubles--to niche companies that created family-safe edits of motion pictures for Mormon viewers.

He’s put this lifelong passion into art at Studio Route 29, where he’s painted reproductions of dozens of production company logos, created animated shorts, and helped spur a monthly film event in Studio Route 29’s theater space, Films for Friends (FFF).

A selection of Theo’s production company logo paintings

Studio Route 29 is a young studio that supports artists with disabilities founded by Kathleen Henderson, Lydia Glenn-Murray, and Hop Peternell in the fall of 2022. Located in rural Frenchtown, New Jersey, the studio and gallery offers space and programming for local artists and has become a community venue for exhibits, performances, and programs like Films for Friends.

“We put on a lot of public events,” Hop says. “That’s something that we wanted from the beginning when we started this project. We imagined an organization that brings resources to artists and the community at large. To also make it fun and exciting to be here for the people who aren’t necessarily artists.”

A selection of past Films For Friends posters

Studio Route 29 supports a wide variety of mediums, another aspect that Hop says was a goal from the beginning. The two- and three-dimensional art produced by artists fits into a more traditional studio template, with gallery space for exhibits and art sales. Hop knew they also wanted a strong music program, but it wasn’t until meeting Theo, who came to the studio through a high school program and has stayed on since graduating, that the idea of a film program was born.

Theo was interested in movies before the studio was founded, but said he wasn’t yet passionate about art, and the stifling nature of the pandemic left him unhappy and feeling directionless.

“After coming here I feel totally different,” he says, describing picking up new art techniques and a strong community to expand his creativity.

Films for Friends was born out of Theo’s love of movies, and the studio’s desire to connect with the broader community and expand the types of art it supported. Making use of a theater housed in the same building and loaned by sibling org ArtYard, they screened the Irish adventure movie Into the West for the first event, and quickly realized the screenings could be showcases for their own artists to share performances and more.

Still from David Weinhold’s The Many Ways to Use Homer Simpson’s Catchphrase

Christian Turner and Amanda Eckstut during shooting for Weather Report #1,2

BJ Armour in I Love BJ Three Different Ways

Mick McDonough and Citrus the Clever Monkey in I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Hop Peternell and Karyn Tettemer in Bing Bang Boom (I Got You Babe)

“FFF is important to show works that don’t fit into the traditional gallery structure--music, poetry, performance, music videos, original songs, and more,” says Hop.

Films for Friends typically revolves around a theme chosen by the studio. A recent comedy night included films, animation and--when one performer was running behind--an impromptu stand-up comedy routine by Theo.

“There’s a spontaneity to Films for Friends,” Hop says. “The activities are organic and interactive.”

Studio Route 29 has also opened up opportunities for Theo to record interviews with people in the film industry and screen them at FFF. He recently spoke with producer William Horberg, and screened the interview alongside Horberg’s recent film Ezra, a comedy and drama about the relationship between a father and his autistic son.

Theo also spoke with Jim Lebrecht, a long time artist, activist, and the co-director of Crip Camp, a documentary about a summer camp for disabled youth that helped spawn the disabled rights movement.

Hop says FFF has become central to Studio Route 29’s vision: a showcase of creativity and togetherness. “It’s how we want to be understood by the broader community”.

Hop Peternell, Ernest, and Karyn Tettmer onstage at FFF16

Theo Baranksy interviewing Douglas Murray

Carl Trunk and Austin Alfano performing at Spring is Coming Concert

Ira Carp and Bread and Puppeteers in The Honey Let's Go Home Circus

Mick McDonough and Citrus the Clever Monkey onstage at FFF16

View interviews by Theo Baransky and other films that have been screened at Films for Friends events on Studio Route 29’s Youtube channel: youtube.com/@studioroute29

Follow along online at studioroute29.org and Instagram @studioroute29

Films For Friends (FFF) at Studio Route 29

Staircase: Take a Step

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