Tom Stern

Tom Stern Stern attended film school at New York University from 1983-1987, where he met Alex Winter. The two collaborated on a number of 16 mm short films including "Squeal of Death", which was noticed by an executive at Columbia Pictures in 1986. Squeal of Death was a fast paced absurd cartoon style live action comedy chronicling the adventures of a paranoid nerd (AKA PARANERD) named Weird Howie, who was played by Winter. The film attempted to ... more

Tom Stern Stern attended film school at New York University from 1983-1987, where he met Alex Winter. The two collaborated on a number of 16 mm short films including "Squeal of Death", which was noticed by an executive at Columbia Pictures in 1986. Squeal of Death was a fast paced absurd cartoon style live action comedy chronicling the adventures of a paranoid nerd (AKA PARANERD) named Weird Howie, who was played by Winter. The film attempted to bring the Tex Avery cartoon aesthetic to live action, several years before The Mask did it. It also reflected Stern and Winter's other eclectic influences- including Film Noir, the Fleisher Brothers, Bob Clampett, Buster Keaton and R Crumb. Weird Howie was partially based on Bernard Goetz, but was performed in a uniquely cartoonish style by Winter, whose acting pushed the boundaries of stylized physical comedy. Squeal of Death was a hit with many of Stern and Winter's class mates but it was poorly scheduled at the NYU Film festival and passed... less