Dance Robert, Dance

An off-kilter man wants to enter his life-sized doll into a talent show, but society's cruel treatment towards him leaves his life tearing apart at the seams…

  • Dylan Hunter Cole
    Director
  • Dylan Hunter Cole
    Writer
  • Sean Rivera
    Producer
  • Tom Martin
    Key Cast
    "Dave"
  • Jayden Bargos
    Key Cast
    "Robert"
  • Kenny Barrett
    Key Cast
    "Bully #2"
  • Garrett Molinari
    Key Cast
    "Bully #1"
  • Steve Autore
    Director of Photography
  • Joseph Genua
    Assistant Director
  • Carly Julius
    Gaffer
  • Maddie Robbins
    1st Assistant Camera
  • Quinlan Sullivan
    Sound Recordist
  • Mike Griggs
    Boom Operator
  • Ashley Gerckens
    Script Supervisor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 25, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Sacred Heart University
Director Biography - Dylan Hunter Cole

Dylan Hunter Cole is a writer and director who grew up in Dalton, Georgia before moving to Connecticut at 19. Cole’s love for film sprouted from his father, who curated movie marathons for the two to watch each summer during his childhood. Originally acting in many religious and school plays at a young age, he soon began progressing towards online skits and school project short films. Using his diverse background and an infatuation with the human condition, Cole formulates gripping stories that not only engage the audience's heads but also their heart. In 2023, Cole made his directorial debut with his drama short film, Dance Robert, Dance.

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Director Statement

We personify our problems into something comforting so they don't seem real. We struggle to accept the truth. We can't move on from the past. All of these things were on my mind during this film's writing and production phases. Dance Robert, Dance is a story about someone who is taken at face value, and whose true story is deeper than anyone would ever imagine. As someone who moved far from home to chase their dreams, I often feel stuck in the past. There are subtle reminders of the things and places I used to know scattered throughout my everyday life. Painful yet worthwhile catalysts that usually leave me wondering if I made the right decision. Our society loves to judge others, and we seldom stop and think about what someone else might be going through or dealing with. On the surface of every single person lies a story that we all perceive, but underneath all that there is a deep and complicated situation that has crafted that person into who they are today.