Rob Michael Hugel Is Here

A new episode of Rob’s Room with Dom Manzolillo. Hey check it out! There’s only a few more weeks till the big finale! Pass it on!

I Hate Being Single Episode 3: The Banker
One of my favorite Episodes. The story of this episode is very close to real life.

Last year I met a banker at a chase in the city whose name is Norbert. He was so so so nice. We would talk about goals, dreams, life, movies. I did sign up for a new checking account but it was a free upgrade! I would stop by his Chase often on my way home from getting groceries at Trader Joe’s. Over the course of hanging out with Norbert he told me what my name meant, recommended a pizza shop, an inspirational book, and a dvd store to me. We talked on the phone a few times and he would leave a voicemail, talk about something bank related and before hanging up he’d say, “Seriously, go see Suckerpunch.” which was in theaters the time. The last time I saw him he came to our stand up show in Brooklyn. It was a good time, and we hung out, he met some of my other friends. He was glad to get out of the city and meet some “creative” people. One day I emailed him about another show and it got bounced back. I called Chase asking for him and he was gone! He left the branch! They don’t know where he went. He’s not on facebook. I’ve searched for him before. So if anyone out there knows Norbert Delva from Chase let him know I’m looking to hang out! He knew I was doing an episode about him too, he gave us some of the promotional materials on Rob’s desk. He’s a good dude and I’m sure he just ended up at a better job. I wish he’d let me know where though!

Tech Up Episode 1 
Episode 2
Episode 3

All 3 episodes of Tech Up are out now! Check them out on My Damn Channel. This was a very fun and crazy production funded by Subway and through the NYU film program. The creators Charles Rogers, Heather Jack were a delight to work with and I met some other awesome people Russ Armstrong, Ariana Seigel, and Nicholas Feitel, old friend Will Storie always makes me laugh on camera. Then there’s Kumar Pallana, from Wes Anderson film history, and Stephen Spieldberg’s The Terminal. The man was just amazing to meet not to mention hang out with. He’s 94 and he flew here from Oakland, stayed for for 2 weeks in the winter because he wanted to enjoy NYC, meet new friends, and make connections. We went to see the Artist, went to a chinese buffet in Jersey City, attended the wrap party for the show, and he performed at my friend Todd Bieber’s Animated Stories show at UCB Theatre. Over the course of hanging out, he is full of stories about traveling Africa, India in the 1930’s, performing in Paris with Sammy Davis Jr. about how “The” Tom Hanks eats sushi everyday… Did I mention he’s 94? That’s a bad ass right there. The man is full of love.

Working on this was an unexpected and exciting experience. It was quick paced with a lot of content and the most intense shooting schedule I’ve had to follow yet. I am very proud of how it turned out. It was cool to see how a web series can be made with a bigger budget and still had a very independent spirit. The series premieres today at SXSW at the IFC Crossroads. I did always want to go to to SXSW I guess this will have to suffice for now.

It’s a big week! We are excited and honored to be hosting this year’s Channy Awards! This Wednesday, December 14th at 92Y Tribeca, 200 Hudson. 7:30pm. Be there!
Photo by Eric Michael Pearson!

This was an awesome week! We premiered the first 2 episodes of I Hate Being Single at the New York Television Festival and won the Audience Choice Award presented by Bing. Thanks to everyone for helping make this happen! We are working on finishing the season and I can’t wait to release it! Please follow the IHBS Facebook profile!
Another awesome event was my good friends Carlo, Matt, and Jason winning The Best Animation award with Cafe Bloodbath! Something I’ve been saying for a long time!

Photo by Timothy Baily

I’m honored and humbled to announce My web series I HATE BEING SINGLE is an official selection of the NYTVF 2011 Independent Pilot Competition!

The show will air sometime during the week of September 19-24, 2011.

This has been a crazy month. I am so so so excited to be involved in the festival. I have to thank a lot of people who really made the show possible. This might be an excessive post but it means a lot to me to put the info out there.

First huge thanks to Shannon Coffey, my girlfriend who literally said, “If you don’t finish this, I’ll break up with you.” Besides that she is behind everything I do and consistently makes me work harder and be better.

Thanks to my brother, Johnny Hugel for being completely supporting on the internet and off with everything I do.

Shannon’s sister Kelly, who is also like a sister and supports us both more than anyone in the world.

Thanks to Broad City, where I got my feet wet in the web series world, and who encouraged me to make something of my own. Thanks to Dan Opsal, my friend and director who I came to first with the idea for the show. Giga Shane of Boat Safety Films, the DP (also did colorization and animated the titles) who made the show look like nobody else could. Matt Cook, a close friend and collaborator, who will talk your ear off about production and writing and then let you talk his ear off in return about how hard it is to make a web series. And on top of that he is our amazing sound man!Jake Zavracky music extraordinaire, who does the music for the show. Special thanks to Mackenzie Condon, Hunter Nelson, Bridgid Ryan, and Jason Weitzman for their support and help through the process of putting the first couple episodes together. Mike Yardley of The Black Axe for his amazing design in the logo and title card. These locations which are also favorite places of mine filled with awesome people, The Parlour Brooklyn, The Blue Stove, The Creek and the Cave.
The cast of Episodes 1 and 2: Dom Manzolillo, Zed Cutsinger, Shannon Coffey, Bridgid Ryan,Hunter Nelson, Kelly Hudson, Emily Strachan, Jennifer Leigh Schwerer, and Mackenzie Condon!

And of course thanks to the staff at NYTVF who have been super sweet throughout the whole process of even just submitting.

My cohorts at The Cheap Thriller have produced an animated show called Cafe Bloodbath that was also accepted to the festival! SO proud of them and excited for Cafe Bloodbath to finally reach the masses. It’s insanely good.

Also accepted was Emily Axford and Libby Winters’ pilot Band Girlfriends, which looks hilarious and has a lot of our friends in it as well. (Shannon Coffey and I make a short appearance too as a more annoying couple than usual hopefully.)

I was surprised and disappointed to see that another pilot Gainfully Unemployed wasn’t selected. I think the final product was amazing and completely worthy of the festival but for whatever reasons it wasn’t chosen. I am so proud of the show I want others to see it and hopefully it’ll be entered into other competitions throughout the year.

Another project Nights In Ultraviolet should be mentioned because I think this is one of the most inspiring and creative things I’ve ever been a part of. The pilot was submitted to the festival but more importantly the entire season is already shot and in post production. This will be an amazing release when it’s ready. I can’t wait for people to see it later this year.
This is just the beginning of what I’ve been wanting to do my whole life so it’s a little overwhelming. I can’t wait for the future. Thanks again everyone who is helping make these things possible.