Private Project

Binary

A new college grad explores gender and identity under pressure to succeed in a near future world.

2023 Student Academy Awards Semi-Finalist

  • Riley Thomas Stewart
    Writer
    Acting credits include films The Beaver, The Lucky One and Straight A's and TV shows Grey's Anatomy, CSI, How I Met Your Mother and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Directing credits include Here Lies Amy; Writer/Director credits include Dyad, The Complex and Cordloose
  • Caden Thomas McQueen
    Writer
  • Riley Thomas Stewart
    Director
  • Jacy Sagun
    Producer
  • Brandon Halvorsen
    Key Cast
    "Hollis Stooly"
  • Chuck Redman
    Key Cast
    "Spurgeon Stooly"
  • Ian Schuelke
    Key Cast
    "Prichard"
  • Sydney Kaplan
    Director of Photography
  • Eve Gershon
    Editor
  • Gwendolyn Allison
    Production Designer
  • Jake Needham
    Sound Designer
  • Kendra Olson
    Costume Designer
  • Project Type:
    Student
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Dark Comedy
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 5, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    18,809 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
Director Biography

Riley Thomas Stewart (they/them) grew up in front of the camera, working in film and television with award winning actors and directors before deciding to make the move behind the camera to tell the stories that matter to them. They will graduate with a BFA in Film Production from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in Spring 2023. As a queer writer and director, they are committed to giving voice to diverse stories that are a departure from the remakes, reboots and sequels that overwhelm the media landscape. They want to show that these stories can resonate with a variety of people by wrapping a universal kernel of relatable truth in a specific shell, whether that shell is a quirky dark comedy or a surrealist sci-fi world, the goal is to hold a meaningful message for a wide audience.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Binary is a very personal story written by two non binary members of Gen Z who have lived their lives with the bombardment of constant noise screaming the world is on the brink of collapse. This story speaks to the question, if there is little hope of a lengthy future, where do we best put our efforts; and how do we discover ourselves and connect meaningfully in a world where more and more of our time is spend in a virtual landscape?