Black and A Half Episode 11: Edi Zanidache and Nicholas Gyeney

This episode of Black & A Half with Manny Martin & Silas Lindenstein, they sit down with the creative team of Matt’s Chance Director/co-writer Nicholas Gyeney & co-writer/actor Edi Zanidache. They chatted about the making of the movie, fun times with fellow cast member Gary Busey, and what films they are looking forward to this summer.
Here’s a trailer for the movie Matt’s Chance.

About Nicholas Gyeney:

Nicholas was born in Seattle, Washington to Hungarian parents on July 15th, 1986. Since childhood, Nicholas avidly immersed himself in the world of motion pictures with the indelible influence of his father, Örs Gyeney. Every weekend, Örs would sit down with Nicholas to show him new films like Star Wars, The Terminator series, and the adventures of James Bond. Sadly, the tradition ended in 1998 when Nicholas’ father died tragically. Fueled by his loss, Nicholas started diving deeper into movies than ever before and soon discovered his calling as a filmmaker.

Throughout high school, Nicholas completed numerous short films, with most continuing on to win best picture and best director awards from his school’s film department. At the age of 17, Nicholas wrote and directed his first feature-length student film, which he submitted to the University of Southern California in hopes of being accepted into their prestigious film program. To his surprise and elation, he was not only accepted but granted a full-ride scholarship.

At age 20, while continuing his studies at the USC Film School, Nicholas began work on his first independent film, an ultra low budget schlock thriller called “The Falling.” The film premiered in Seattle on December 21, 2006 to a crowd of 600 people who gathered to witness the local filmmaker’s artistic endeavor. Shortly after, the film found distribution and began paving the road for Nicholas to establish relationships with many of the industry’s most successful professionals.

In 2008, with USC and his first feature behind him, and after three years developing and sharpening his abilities as a filmmaker, Nicholas wrote, produced, and directed his 2nd feature and first theatrically released film, “The Penitent Man,” which has been highly acclaimed for its unique structure and style. “The Penitent Man” stars Lance Henriksen (Aliens, The Terminator, Millenium), and Andrew Keegan (10 Things I Hate About You), and is available on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and other digital platforms.

In 2012, Nicholas directed his third feature, a dark comedy called, “Matt’s Chance” starring Edward Furlong, Lee Majors, Margot Kidder, and Gary Busey. After a successful film festival tour that garnered critical acclaim and several swards for best picture, acting, and original score, “Matt’s Chance” is now on its way to worldwide release.

As Nicholas prepares his next directorial effort in the coming months, he is quickly establishing himself as one of the top filmmakers in the Northwest.

About Edi Zanidache

Edi Z can be compared to an exciting carnival ride that will never end but won’t make you sick. A weird all around artist that employs comedic energy upon a crowd like some sort of comedy wizard. Or a lion ready to pounce on a helpless audience with his claws of humor. A giant humanoid can of Redbull that raps comedic flows so fast and so hard you’ll feel a cool breeze of astonishment.

Born in Romania, based in Seattle, Edi Zanidache can be seen performing all over the United States at comedy clubs and theaters. Apart from stand up comedy you can find Edi working/performing his latest projects in Seattle from sketch comedy, comedic raps, slam poetry, and even two comic strips THOSE DARN ZOMBIES! and The Stickmen Revolution. Edi has also just finished co-writing/acting in a movie called “Matt’s Chance” starring Edward Furlong, Lee Majors, Margot Kidder, Gary Busey, and Seattle Seahawk’s own Marshawn Lynch coming out in 2013.