Private Project

BoundLess (2021) - Short Film

“Bound.Less” is an experimental documentary-style, albeit fictionalized, drama romance in which two artists collaborate using multiple disciplines and communicate with one another over distance, time, media, and mediums. It focuses on mental illness, therapy, and continued attempts to understand and be with the other as lovers, strangers, collaborators, estranged - all or none of the above.

  • tb MERRITT
    Director
  • tb MERRITT
    Writer
  • tb MERRITT
    Producer
  • tb MERRITT
    Key Cast
    "As Himself"
  • Brittany Stephenson
    Key Cast
    "As Herself"
  • Nate Fowler
    Key Cast
    "As Himself"
  • Ryan Frederick
    Key Cast
    "As Himself"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 1 second
  • Completion Date:
    August 18, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 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:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Rogers Short Film Festival
    Rogers, Arkansas
    United States
    August 21, 2021
    Premier
    Official Selection
Director Biography - tb MERRITT

Thomas, a native Arkansan, published author, and award-winning artist has run his own Art Gallery, Architecture + Design Studios, and even worked as a production assistant for the ESPN X-games. He brings a broad scope of experience, empathy, and insight to every media he pursues. When people engage with his work, he likes them to feel that moment of shared emotion, experience, and authorship. He is a seeker, a traveler, a gatherer - a sharer of moments and perspectives.

A former US Navy brat, traveling is in his blood. Thomas is a traveler, photographer, and writer. His process builds upon his past education and vocations working as a licensed architect, designer, documentarian, professional photographer, graphic artist. His work and experiences range from the rural to the metropolitan working from coast to coast and all destinations in between.

He lived in a VW camper van from 2000-2003 bankrolling his nomadic lifestyle by taking odd jobs, selling photos, and art postcards from his travels finding himself in NYC and only two blocks away from the falling towers on September 11, 2001. Growing up in and calling Arkansas home, he returned in 2003 and has been focused on community-minded projects locally in Northwest Arkansas combining these endeavors with commissioned projects and driving expeditions navigating the highways and byways of the United States.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I believe a “successful” work is one that expresses in an introspective way, something you see every day or something you’ve never noticed before and does so in a way that resonates emotionally with something deep inside us - humanity, religion, social climate, or situation.

Being bipolar I experience the “highs and lows” of emotion and reality. As a Libra, I see “both sides of the coin”. My name, Thomas, means “twin”. I seek balance in all things. Ordinary, if possible. Mediocre, if allowed.

I see irony and hypocrisy and find it humorous. Opposite ends of the spectrum fascinate me. Nothing is either/or. Everything is both/and. However, I want to also allow the viewer to internalize the information for their own use, through their own lens. The hope is to present the subject matter that typically is pedestrian and bring it to our collective attention, add artistic commentary, and stir thought emotion and conversation.