Experiencing Interruptions?

Ranting & Raving

Cliff Matthews is a schmuck. Everything he touches turns to shit. His job sucks, his marriage is failing and all he wants is to write the Great American Novel, but he's stuck in a rabbit hole writing How-To books. Now, his life just got worse when he and his wife get stuck with a problem child they didn't bargain for.

This new-age slapstick, complete with laugh track, brings a modern and unique approach to situational comedy as never seen before.

  • Jay Zellman
    Director
  • Jay Zellman
    Writer
  • Jay Zellman
    Producer
  • Brent Katz
    Producer
  • Paul Wang
    Producer
  • Patrick Avella
    Key Cast
    "Cliff Matthews"
  • Cali Elizabeth Moore
    Key Cast
    "Nora Matthews"
  • Jessica Howell
    Key Cast
    "Bridget Henderson"
  • David Perez-Ribada
    Key Cast
    "Ted Henderson"
  • Erik Zellman
    Key Cast
    "Timmy Henderson"
  • Pun Bandhu
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Seminara"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Television
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 1, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hoboken Film Festival
    Greenwood Lake, NY
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Georgia Shorts Film Festival
    Atlanta
    Best Editing Nomination
  • Jersey Shore Film Festival

    Best Comedy
  • East Hampton TV Festival
    East Hampton, NY
    Winner: Best Comedy, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress
  • Woodstock Museum Film Festival
    Saugerties, NY
    Official Nomination
  • NYC TV FESTIVAL
    New York
    Best Director, Best Actor
  • Austin Comedy Film Festival
    Austin
    United States
    Best Comedy Epsiode
Director Biography - Jay Zellman

As Executive Producer and Director for Corporate Video Concepts (CVC), a New York City-based production agency, Jay Zellman has produced hundreds of videos in the areas of Corporate Communications, Marketing and Learning for some of the world’s most iconic brands.

In additional to his corporate productions, Jay has sold a reality TV Pilot to TruTV called, The Hitch Kings, and he has won several awards for his scripted TV Pilot, Ranting & Raving. Awards include: Best Comedy, Jersey Shore Film Festival 2019; Best Director, Hampton's TV Festival, 2019; Best Comedy, Hampton's TV Festival, 2019; Best Director, New York City TV Festival, 2019.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Ranting & Raving is a commentary on the humor found in life’s absurdities, seen through the lens of Cliff Matthews.  Cliff represents every man who feels like life is constantly throwing him curve balls - his wife nags him, his career sucks and nothing ever goes his way.  Cliff’s life is a slow train wreck developing before our eyes.  

This show breaks the norms for a modern-day comedy. Although filmed single camera, the show has a studio feel, with laugh track, and straddles the line between drama and comedy.

Inspired by the likes of: Modern Family, Married with Children, King of Queens, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, this physical comedy brings back old school humor with a twist of modern-day reality.