Tanya Ryno

I own a signed, original Paul McCartney 'Flaming Pie' promo album & letter (only 200 pressed), once picked Courtney Love up off the ground at a party, was flashed by Drew Barrymore (during her flashing years), worked with (and partied with) Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, Tupac, among others... and was asked out by Alec Baldwin (in front of my husband -- which is ok as Elle McPherson took a liking to him in front of me), I was the assistant producer for The Best of Chris Farley and The Best of Phil Hartman (RIP) and weekly laughed my ass off producing one of the funniest cartoons, TV FUNHOUSE (see slide show below) -- written by one of the funniest men in the world, Robert Smigel for Saturday Night Live... was told to go screw myself once by Marci Klein (yes, Calvin's daughter and SNL Producer), probably even by Jim Signorelli a time or two, who I worked diligently for producing the commercial parodies (which BTW is the best part of SNL aside from the cartoons)... and even saw Tina Turner sing Proud Mary to an audience of five (giving the same performance she would have given to a stadium filled with 100,000 people!). Perks... I had a parking space in Rockefellar Center (beside Stone Phillips) and a car (with driver) to take me anywhere, oh and a hotel room at the Paramount whenever needed! I've sat in the 2nd row of the New York Knicks (on more than one occassion) as guests of Ernie & Nancy Grundfeld, I've smoked a cigar at The Grand Havana Room at a party for Rudy Giuliani and introduced my mother-in-law to Garth Brooks and my mother got to meet too many people to mention. Those are some of my memories (one's that I can tell anyway) all of which came to a quick halt because Jim and I wanted to start a family! -- Actually that's not true, I had two wonderful boys and didn't let that stop me... it slowed me down but it didn't stop me as I then went with child and pregnant on to produce my first feature. Yes, I travelled to Ireland with a 16-month old in tow and 3-months pregnant (sick as a dog)to produce a romantic comedy. -- But how could I complain? I was headed there with award winning director/producer Amy Hobby and one of Hollywood's most sought after Cinematographers, Peter Deming. And, I couldn't have done it without one of my best friends, Bice Berry. Not to mention... you can now see the results of that trip to Ireland on The Sundance Channel!Yes, my first feature "Coney Island Baby" has made it's way to The Sundance Channel. It will be playing over the next 18-months... so try and catch it!
Not too bad a start for a small town girl. And, I do mean SMALL TOWN! And, now I'm working on a project about that small town.
Get Your Own! | View Slideshow
I now live outside New York City (in Jersey) with my husband for over a decade - this year was our 10-year anniversary. Born and raised in Maine (yes I can shoot a gun and fish). My family still lives in Maine. Speaking of guns... I support our troops and I am an Army brat myself. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here writing about these really non-important things that are so much fun! I moved when I was 18 to Florida (headed to art school). While going to school, I worked in South Beach as a photographer and writer for a local magazine and a bartender at night to pay the bills, and later ended up in Jersey (because I met my husband), finished school, worked as a P.A. (with no connections) and put in my dues. I've had a lot of struggles (that I haven't mentioned - and you'd be surprised) but I don't dwell on them. I was an only child and I think that has a lot to do with who I've become and I guess with all that said, the rest is history.
I've published a book and as a hobby I shoot commercial and stock photography (see examples of my work to the left). My husband is a celebrity fitness guru and together (because we are married - which means...mainly it's his) we own LIFT? -- which is health clubs, clothing, videos and just about anything to do with fitness. He just opened his newest studio in Ramsey, New Jersey and we are working on opening one in Los Angeles right now! Hey, you have to stay fit to be able to survive, work and play around the clock! His motto: Think Fit! My motto: Life is Good. It's not always great... and at times it can even be bad. But if you work hard and play harder life will be good.
Here are a few examples of some of my published photography!