Riz Story Biography

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Riz Story is an American musician, composer, and film director.

Early life

Riz Story was born in California. In his early teens he began to study symphonic orchestration. 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.

Career

Music

Story formed the group Sylvia with Taylor Hawkins (later of Foo Fighters) and Jon (Juano) Davison (later of Yes and Sky Cries Mary). Sylvia changed its name to Anyone and continued on with various members. Anyone are given credit for developing the sound known as "maximum acid," a blend of heavy, psychedelic, and alternative influences. In 1999 Anyone released Live Acid, a live full-length album. The album was a companion piece to the film Togetherment which story was making during that year. The album was well received and led to several labels offering the band recording contracts, one of which was Korn's Elementary label.

Anyone signed to Roadrunner Records in 2000 and recorded their eponymous major label debut, which was co-produced by Story and Rick Parashar. The album received unanimously favorable reviews, and the album Anyone earned the #9 spot on Metal Hammer magazine's Metal Hammer Albums Of 2001 list. Other awards include "best band" Los Angeles Music Awards, 1999.

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".. Anyone also toured the America's extensively starting in 2000 through 2004.

Story co-wrote, with Paula Abdul, the theme for Abdul's short-lived NBC show Live to Dance.

On January 30, 2012 Story's new band, INFINIKA was launched via a viral promotional clip on YouTube. INFINIKA features Story and David Silveria (ex-Korn drummer). The promotional clip featured 6 tracks from an upcoming full-length album which was rumored to be titled Echoes and Traces. The partial songs included in the promotional clip were "Beautiful World", "Runaways", "Over Before it Begins", "Yesterdays Gone", "Crash" and "Traces". INFINIKA released a music video for its track entitled "Beautiful World" on April 2 of 2012.

INFINIKA was dissolved by Story after a clash of political ideology with David Silveria. Story stated on the bands FaceBook page that he was embarrassed by Silveria's being a supporter of Donald Trump. The resulting internet feud climaxed when Story announced that Silveria had not taken part in the recording of the INFINIKA record "Echoes and Traces" and that Story himself had performed all of the drumming and all of the instrumentation. Silveria did not contest this revelation.

Film

Story is founder of Togetherment Films and Music. The Hollywood-based production company was founded in 1999 as a vehicle for Story's films and musical projects and later grew into a commercial production house. During its 15 years, TogethermenT has produced and/or contributed to a long list of motion pictures, music videos, commercial productions and music productions.

Story began his film directorial career with Togetherment in 2000. Part documentary, part art film, part concert film, Togetherment features interviews with many Orange County bands (Korn, Social Distortion, Foo Fighters, Orgy, Lit, etc.).

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 its 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. Story is rumored to have produced at least one (possibly two) other full-length features which he subsequently shelved.

A Winter Rose

See A Winter Rose (film) for more information Story's debut feature film "A WINTER ROSE" world premiered on May 29, 2014 at Hollywood's Chinese Theater. The film received "Opening Night Film" honors for the 17th annual DANCES WITH FILMS film festival. Variety featured a piece in which they stated that "Riz Story embodies the indie spirit" referring to his multiple roles in the production of A WINTER ROSE. Story covered every major position on the production including writer, director, producer, cinematographer (including aerial), editor, composer and mixer. During the Q&A which took place after the world premiere producers Gary Alan Kauffman and Robert Miano revealed that Story had performed all of the instrumentation on the films 20 original songs. The film features an ensemble cast including such names as Paul Sorvino, Theresa Russell, Billy Zane, Taryn Manning, Robert Miano, George Lazenby, Edward Furlong as well as newcomer Kimberly Whalen as Winter Rose. A Winter Rose was subsequently picked up by THUNDER INDEPENDENT for worldwide theatrical distribution.

Writing

As a writer, Story has completed several volumes of poetry including a collection entitled Love Letters to Humanity. In addition he has penned numerous screenplays including Sip the Pleasure of Days, which he co-wrote with Steven E. de Souza and "A Winter Rose". Other screenwriting credits include Marcin Teodoru's 2010 film Closure.