Riz Story
Encyclopedia
Riz Story is an American
musician
, composer
, and film director
.
Riz Story was born in California in 1976. In his early teens he began to study symphonic orchestration with celebrated composer Dr. Langley, and at age 15 composed his first full-scale symphony. Story was called "a true Renaissance man" by Billboard
, in reference to his wide array of talents, including musician, composer, record producer, poet, film maker, actor, and artist.
(later of Foo Fighters
) and guitarist Sean Murphy. Story wrote 90% of the material. After Sylvia broke up, Story started a new band, Anyone
, with Juano from Sky Cries Mary
.
After several years in the underground alternative scene of Huntington Beach, California, Anyone won Best Band honors at the 1999 Los Angeles Music Awards. A self-released live album, Live Acid, attracted the attention of several labels, including Korn's Elementary label. The band signed to Roadrunner Records
in 2000 and recorded their major label debut, which was co-produced by Story and Rick Parashar
. The album received favorable reviews, and Anyone was named best new band by Kerrang!
and Metal Hammer
.
Several European tours followed including appearances at the Reading, Leeds, Pookelpop, and Lowlands festivals. Subsequent press coverage reflected the bands standout live show. Metal Hammer called the band's Reading performance "the highlight of the festival".
Story co-wrote, with Paula Abdul
, the theme for Abdul's NBC show Live to Dance
.
In 2004, Story was invited to direct by the adult film company Vivid Entertainment
. The resulting film In Aphrodite which also features original music written and performed by Story, met with favorable reviews, the majority of reviewers noting its highly artistic quality.
His first feature film, Goloka debuted on July 31, 2003 at the Dances with Films
film festival in Santa Monica, California.. Goloka also played at other film festivals and was noted for it highly experimental poetic quality. Entertainment Today
magazine proclaimed that, "gorgeous shots abound, and the score is an unexpected treat". Story later told the press that he considered Goloka to be his student film, and removed the film from circulation.
Currently, Story is completing his first commercial feature film entitled Places on the Run, which he wrote, produced, directed, edited, scored, as well as starred in. The film co-stars his fiancée, actress-singer-model Gabriella Ethereal.
“The concept is that an individual artist creates the film single handedly” he explained to Independent Film Journal magazine, “that is to say you not only write the score, but you perform all the instruments, produce and mix, everything… editing, color correction, sound design… basically just one guy and a Macintosh computer”.
Story is founder and President of Togetherment Films and Music. The Hollywood based production company was founded in 2000 as a vehicle for Story's films and musical projects and later grew into a commercial production house.
. Other screenwriting credits include Marcin Teoduro's 2010 film Closure.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Riz Story was born in California in 1976. In his early teens he began to study symphonic orchestration with celebrated composer Dr. Langley, and at age 15 composed his first full-scale symphony. Story was called "a true Renaissance man" by Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, in reference to his wide array of talents, including musician, composer, record producer, poet, film maker, actor, and artist.
Music career
Story formed the group Sylvia with Taylor HawkinsTaylor Hawkins
Oliver Taylor Hawkins is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters....
(later of Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
) and guitarist Sean Murphy. Story wrote 90% of the material. After Sylvia broke up, Story started a new band, Anyone
Anyone
Anyone is a band from Southern California that formed in 1995. Their 2001 self-titled album was released on Roadrunner Records. They have described their music using the term "maximum acid", combining a heavy metal sound with psychedelic rock influences...
, with Juano from Sky Cries Mary
Sky Cries Mary
Sky Cries Mary is an American trance rock musical group from Seattle, Washington, that formed in the late 1980s.The husband and wife team of Roderick Wolgamott Romero and Anisa Romero sing dual lead vocals...
.
After several years in the underground alternative scene of Huntington Beach, California, Anyone won Best Band honors at the 1999 Los Angeles Music Awards. A self-released live album, Live Acid, attracted the attention of several labels, including Korn's Elementary label. The band signed to Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
in 2000 and recorded their major label debut, which was co-produced by Story and Rick Parashar
Rick Parashar
Rick Parashar is a music producer who came to prominence in the early 1990s through his work with grunge bands such as Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Blind Melon. Parashar co-founded London Bridge Studio with his brother, Raj...
. The album received favorable reviews, and Anyone was named best new band by Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
and Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
.
Several European tours followed including appearances at the Reading, Leeds, Pookelpop, and Lowlands festivals. Subsequent press coverage reflected the bands standout live show. Metal Hammer called the band's Reading performance "the highlight of the festival".
Story co-wrote, with Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
, the theme for Abdul's NBC show Live to Dance
Live to Dance
Live to Dance was a United States television reality program and dance competition on the CBS network. Dancers from all over the country auditioned for Live to Dance in "specially constructed Dance Domes"...
.
Film career
Story began his film directorial career with Togetherment. Part documentary, part art film, Togetherment explores issues pertinent to today's society through interviews with many Orange County luminaries (Korn, Social Distortion, Foo Fighters, Orgy, Lit, etc.).In 2004, Story was invited to direct by the adult film company Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment Group is an adult video producer, featuring a catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry....
. The resulting film In Aphrodite which also features original music written and performed by Story, met with favorable reviews, the majority of reviewers noting its highly artistic quality.
His first feature film, Goloka debuted on July 31, 2003 at the Dances with Films
Dances With Films
Dances With Films is an annual independent film festival located in Los Angeles, California. Taking place every year since 1998, the festival is dedicated to representing true independent cinema stipulating that all films entered into the festival competition have no known actors, directors,...
film festival in Santa Monica, California.. Goloka also played at other film festivals and was noted for it highly experimental poetic quality. Entertainment Today
Entertainment Today
Entertainment Today, established in 1967, is a quarterly magazine and online publication focusing on the business aspect of the entertainment industry and entertainment technology. It was formerly Los Angeles' oldest free weekly entertainment newspaper, distributed around the Hollywood, Burbank,...
magazine proclaimed that, "gorgeous shots abound, and the score is an unexpected treat". Story later told the press that he considered Goloka to be his student film, and removed the film from circulation.
Currently, Story is completing his first commercial feature film entitled Places on the Run, which he wrote, produced, directed, edited, scored, as well as starred in. The film co-stars his fiancée, actress-singer-model Gabriella Ethereal.
“The concept is that an individual artist creates the film single handedly” he explained to Independent Film Journal magazine, “that is to say you not only write the score, but you perform all the instruments, produce and mix, everything… editing, color correction, sound design… basically just one guy and a Macintosh computer”.
Story is founder and President of Togetherment Films and Music. The Hollywood based production company was founded in 2000 as a vehicle for Story's films and musical projects and later grew into a commercial production house.
Writing career
As a writer, Story has completed several volumes of poetry including a collection entitled Love Letters to Humanity. In addition he has penned several screenplays including Sip the Pleasure of Days, which he co-wrote with Steven E. de SouzaSteven E. de Souza
Steven E. de Souza is an American producer, director and screenwriter. He is among a handful of screenwriters whose films have earned over two billion dollars at the worldwide box office.-Life and career:...
. Other screenwriting credits include Marcin Teoduro's 2010 film Closure.