Filmmaker Bio: Ryan O'Toole has a degree in film production from University of Colorado at Boulder (CU, 1998) and a Master's Degree in Film Editing from the American Film Institute (AFI, 2004). Ryan, also known as ŁIC RYNØ, was accepted to the San Francisco Art Institute based on his high school photography, but chose to attend CU. UC at Boulder is well known as the film school beginning of Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park fame, but for filmmakers, it undoubtedly holds the keys to the legacy of Stan Brakhage (RIP) and his contribution to the experimental cinema. ŁICRYNØ was lucky enough to study under the tutelage of Phil Solomon (RIP) and Brakhage, as well as absorb film history from Professor Melinda Barlow. It was during this time RYNØ was introduced to the Oxberry Animation Stand, traditional 16mm film techniques, as well as experimental. 

Following his passion for film, RYNØ, and 13 others, were selected to pursue a Masters Degree program at the American Film Institute. At the time, AFI was the only institution offering a masters degree specifically for Film Editing. AFI was (and is) known to have film editors with ridiculous film credits working as professors. Fellows were required to learn how to deal with 35mm & digital intermediate workflows. RYNØ's mentors included: Howard E. Smith (The Abyss, Point Break, Near Dark, Snakes On A Plane), Stan Salfas (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes), Danford B Greene (RIP) (MASH, Blazing Saddles, Rocky II), Donn Cambern (Easy Rider, The Bodyguard, Twins), and Phillip Linson (Tombstone, Hot Shots!, The Indian Runner). Ryan moonlighted as an assistant editor on a couple AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards programs - Meryl Streep (2004) & Robert De Niro (2003). RYNØ was the editor  on Franklin Jin Rho's thesis film, A Distant Shore (2005). 

Professional Work to Date: Following AFI, ŁIC RYNØ was lucky enough to land a job working in Television for the BBC in London. He worked as an assistant editor on the show [spooks] (MI-5 in the USA), A for Andromeda (2006), and a few other credits. He served as Patrick Moore's (RIP) right hand man in the editorial room for 3 years. Patrick worked on David Lynch's Elephant Man and was a great friend. He was assistant to editor Anne V. Coates, RIP (Lawrence of Arabia,  Erin Brockovich, Chaplin) for many years. RYNØ was in London for the July 7th, 2005 bombings, actually working on an episode of [spooks] that had a mirror image plot-line! Needless to say, that show's air-date become wildly important. 

Ryan continues to work in film and post-production. He lives in Long Island City, NY. since 2007, working as a skilled editor, sound designer, and production sound recordist. Ryan's film 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' (2008) combined his experimental filmmaking skills from CU with his AFI and BBC experiences. Please find more about it on this page. RYNO also makes music for his band 'Amateur Blonde'. His songs have been in TV Shows including, CBS Extant (2014), FOX Minority Report (2015), and AMC The Walking Dead (2021, S10 Ep21).