Private Project

A Goldfish Contemplates Life

LOGLINE:
A sad and lonely goldfish dreams of escaping his fish bowl so that he can fight zombies, halt global warming, and meet Justin Bieber.

THE SYNOPSIS:
Goldfish, while endlessly entertained by television programming, laments his life, waxes philosophical, and plots his escape from a gilded cage. He might just get an opportunity at freedom when an unexpected encounter with a common housefly intrudes upon his daily ennui...

THE BACKGROUND:
Jason K. Allen's masterfully written story of a sad and lonely goldfish jumped into my heart. There was an immediate connection with Goldfish's plight and clear parallels with the current human condition so many of us have been experiencing during the global pandemic.

There's a little bit of Goldfish in each one of us right now; pining for freedom, adventure, and most importantly, connecting in person with those in and out of our social circles.

Playing opposite to Goldfish, The Fly, is someone that we all might be a little envious of. On the surface he appears to have "the life"; the freedom to roam as he pleases, visit whomever and wherever he chooses, all with complete abandon. However, life's situation is far too frequently a matter of perspective and sometimes it's difficult to see beyond the edges of our own bowl.

My inspiration to produce and direct A Goldfish Contemplates Life came as a direct result of the isolation and view of the world I believe most of us are experiencing during the pandemic. We may not always be able to change our situations as quickly as we would like but we can change how we perceive our lot. I sincerely hope to connect with my audience and perhaps help out by giving a little nudge in the right direction.

  • Robert Sebastian Webb
    Director
  • Jason K. Allen
    Writer
    "You Destroy Me", "American Sock", "That Smell", "Black Friday Man"
  • Robert Sebastian Webb
    Producer
  • Colin W D McLean
    Key Cast
    "Goldfish "
  • Robert Sebastian Webb
    Key Cast
    "Fly"
  • Frank Gallagher
    Cinematography
    "Per Ardua", "My Brothers Keeper"
  • Daryl Bennett
    Composer
    "BISPING", "I AM MLK Jr.", "The Murders", "I Am Paul Walker", "Deadfall Saloon", "The Connected Universe"
  • Erin Waters
    Editor
    "The Flower Shuttle", "Family History", "Say Yes to the Dress", "7 Little Johnstons ", "Pokémon 3 the Movie: Spell of the Unown",
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, Animal, Fantasy
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 15, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    BM Ursa Mini Pro 4.6k G1
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Robert Sebastian Webb

Robert Sebastian Webb is a fledgling filmmaker who enjoys discovering new and engaging short scripts to produce and direct. "A Goldfish Contemplates Life" is Robert’s first collaboration with the creative team of cinematographer Frank Gallagher, editor Erin Waters, composer Daryl Bennett, and actor Colin W.D. McLean.

Robert studied the Barrish method of acting, working with actors and teachers Christine M. Campbell, Edward Stanley and Sidse Ploug of New York City's The Barrow Group (TBG); home to Anne Hathaway and Mike Birbiglia. He continued his studies in film and theater production under T. Schreiber’s associate and casting director Jeff Dreisbach. Expect to see Robert in several indie productions from up-and-coming filmmakers; including as Harrold in the TV Pilot "On-Air", Eli in the feature film "The Swan Way", and Professor Albus Gunt in the comedy short "James Joyce: A Parody"

Among his many talents Robert is also a champion tournament poker player, an ongoing student of gourmet cooking, and Advanced Certified PADI SCUBA diver.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I believe some of the greatest stories ever told are, essentially, just "two people on a bench" aspiring to make a connection. I hope my films help people in making their own positive connections.