If you watched the Webby Awards–which, thank you so much for asking but, no, we did not sweep–you probably saw the funniest introduction of the night. It featured Jason Bateman and Will Arnett introducing Arnett’s wife, Amy Pohler:
What you may not know is that the introduction was written by Ruchikiwriter and Company member Peter Warren. Congratulations, Peter, for the joke of the night–which means a lot next to Zach Galifianakis and BJ Novak. Make sure you put in a good word for us next time.
Ruchiki is the story of Rachel Moeltz, a fifteen year old girl living in Pickering, Ontario, whose profound sense of displacement–in her body, with her parents, in her school, and her country–finds expression in an obsession with a beautiful Japanese pop-star, Ayumi Takanawa.
Ruchiki is, secondarily, the story of nineteen year old Ayumi Takanawa, plucked from obscurity at a young age by GoJam record executive Mushiro Hiboshi, who has been sexually exploiting his pop starlet even as he guides her career to fame and fortune.
It is also the story of Barney and Maxine, Rachel’s quietly desperate parents; of Banner Tutilo, star of the sadistic reality show EAT IT!; of Clark and Mickey, who want only to grow up and join Banner’s gang; of Pickering and Tokyo, of fantasy, reality, naiveté, wisdom, high school, youtube, and of a girl’s insistence on following her dreams, even at the cost of her innocence.
It is, finally, a short narrative film, written by Peter Warren, directed by Matt Paley, produced by Fletcher Deitch, Liz Phelps and Jake Teresi, with cinematography by Brian Barth and Jeff Kulig, and art direction by Sasha Winters. It is the first true Company film; a collaboration that involves all eight of us in many different roles. Filming begins in February and ends in June, and we will document every step of the process here.
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Ruchiki has been made possible by the generous contributions of the following individuals:
Laura Goldman and Scott Haas Gail Davis and Stuart Manitsky Charles and Nancy Barry Neva and Yossi Chait Mitchell and Arlene Frumpkin Arnold and Seena Davis Barbara Goldman and Neil Primack Robert Haas Alfred and Elaine Frumpkin Arthur and Cynthia Fertman Wendy and Stuart Schwam Joel Becker and Rusty Wiggs Robert Paley and Marianne Steiner
