Farm Girl in New York:
I just completed Directing/Producing/Writing/Starring in my first Feature Film, entitled "Farm Girl in New York." It’s about two guys who have no luck with women, so they hold a fake audition in New York City to meet hot chicks. It’s Wedding Crashers meets Waiting for Guffman.

Now, I had already Directed several short films of my own before...AND acted in the Festival winning Independent Feature NIGHT OF THE DOG with my buddies “THE SIX”...but I myself had never directed a Full Length Feature.  I knew it was time, I knew I had to Direct it, and I also knew that if I didn’t take matters into my own hands and do it myself...this film was never gonna get done.  And I wanted to make sure it got done...and more importantly...that it got done right!

Here’s the story... A week after the Tony Awards I called a gentleman who I had gotten to know through Jersey Boys.  I just said to him flat out, “I have a comedy I wrote with my friends, (Jeff Schecter, Joshua Wade), and we want to shoot it, and I wanna direct it, and I need funding.” Long story short, he read it, thought it was hilarious, and gave us the financing that we needed.  That was it...I had talked the talked and now it was time to walk the walk.  And walk it we did.

I would get on the set in the morning at 6 a.m., shoot till 6 p.m. and still do Jersey Boys at night.  Crazy I know, but I wanted to get it done ASAP.  I wanted to get it done before the holidays and before my son was born.  It worked out great. 

With handling pre-production a couple months before, putting together a great team of talents in every department, everyone working for peanuts and passion...the experience changed mine and I think everyone else’s life.

We wrapped in 23 days, a little under budget, and just before Thanksgiving of 2006.

What a wonderfully, challenging, strenuous, fulfilling, eventful, gratifying time.  I love directing film...Especially this comedy. 
We are just beginning to edit and it looks great.  The movie even has a MySpace page! Click HERE to visit!

I can’t wait for you all to see it!  In the meantime, take a look at the photo gallery to view some oictures from the set and this little blooper reel below. Just click the play button to view! Thanks to my cast, crew, and our Executive Producer for trusting me and allowing me Total Creative Control. Peace everyone...and I’ll keep you posted on the progress of
FARM GIRL IN NEW YORK.

Independent Films:

The following independent films were written, produced, and directed, by J. Robert Spencer, and he also performed lead role in each of them.  Here is a synopsis of the results from the film festivals to which they were submitted:

Feature Indie, "Night of the Dog"
Official Selection and winner of the Golden Vision Award for Breakthrough Filmmakers at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, February 2006.  Won The Audience Award at the Palm Beach Film Festival. The feature also won the Audience Award, Best Screenplay, and received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for J. Robert Spencer at the SMMASH Film Festival!

"To Be Or Not.."
Official Selection for the Forest Grove Film Festival, and Coney Island Film Festival

"High Expectations"
Official selection for the Los Angeles International Film Festival, and Filmmaker's Alliance Film Festival in 2004.

"Seven Years Gone"
Official selection for the Pelagia Film Festival and the Forest Grove Film Festival in 2003.

What Bobby has to say about his films:

"When you wrap production of an independent film, the first thing you want to do is submit it to every film festival you can find. But when you break it down, these festivals cost money and it takes a huge amount of time to put submission packages together. You have to be selective. And since the only festivals my films have ever been submitted to are the ones you see listed above (because of time and money), you might say to yourself, 'Sooooo, these are the only festivals he sent his films to? And he got into every one?! Pretty good statistics if you ask me!'  My Reel is a compilation of Night of The Dog and To Be Or Not..."

J. Robert Spencer's Reel:
Please click an image below to view Bobby's reel!  It is 3 minutes and 45 seconds in duration and includes clips from his independent films "To Be or Not..." and "Night of the Dog."  The reel will open in a new window and may take 15 to 45 seconds to load.  It is in wmv format, which is playable by RealPlayer and Windows Media Player.  Enjoy!

Bobby provided the voice for the lead character in "Grave of the Fireflies," an animated film directed by Isao Takahata.  To learn more about the film, please click on the image below to visit the film's web site:

"...elegiac and riveting..."
-New York Times
"...probably one of the most compelling dramas ever put to film."
 -Video Business
"...the most profound, moving, tragic, and uplifting program I have yet reviewed."
-Video Rating Guide for Libraries