Exhibit C

  • David S. Cooper
    Director
  • David S. Cooper
    Writer
  • David S. Cooper
    Producer
  • Brooke Benyon
    Producer
  • Parmita Yenikapati
    Cinematographer
  • Keziah Marshall
    Assistant Director / Script Supervisor
  • Jayden Gronau
    Key Cast
    "Staurt "
    What it Means to Live (short, 2023), Through Our Eyes (short, 2022), Autonomous Cycles (short, 2022)
  • Brooke Benyon
    Key Cast
    "Ellie"
    Through Our Eyes (short, 2022)
  • Manny Katts
    Key Cast
    "Mr Murdock"
    No More (short, 2004), Richmond Hill (TV, 1988), Heartbreak High (TV, 1994)
  • Mietta Pipes
    Key Cast
    "Host"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Thriller
  • Production Budget:
    500 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - UNSW
Director Biography - David S. Cooper

David S. Cooper is a 20-year-old writer-director passionate about innovation and blurring the lines between reality and fiction. While studying engineering, he has embraced filmmaking as a creative outlet, using his analytical approach to storytelling to craft bold, unconventional narratives. This unique blend of technical precision and creative vision shapes his work, driving him to experiment with new forms of storytelling.

His directorial debut, Exhibit C, exemplifies this vision. Shot entirely on a phone camera, the film combines genres and adopts a raw, unfiltered aesthetic, challenging audience perceptions of truth and justice. David’s commitment to authenticity and his belief that storytelling should transcend budgetary constraints are central to his approach, turning limitations into strengths.

Driven by a desire to create immersive, thought-provoking films, David is dedicated to pushing boundaries and continuing to explore new approaches that engage audiences as active participants, inviting them to question, reflect, and engage with the complexities of the world and the stories told on screen.

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Director Statement

Exhibit C was born from a desire to innovate through the lens of a student film competing against projects with far greater resources. To embrace this challenge, I shot the film on a phone camera, contextualizing this choice within the narrative. The footage is presented as real evidence in an assault case between Mr. Perkins and Mr. Murdock, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

This raw, unfiltered approach is not just stylistic—it enhances authenticity, transforming resource limitations into a defining strength. The audience becomes the jury, tasked with determining who is at fault: the hacky comedian, clinging to old stories in an attempt to gain power, despite their questionable truth? Or is it the out-of-touch teacher, spiralling into personal turmoil, trapped by his own misguided actions? Both men are deeply flawed— forcing the viewer to grapple with who truly bears responsibility.

The film begins as light-hearted comedy but soon shifts into unnerving drama, mirroring the volatile nature of its characters. By blending genres, I aim to unsettle the audience, reflecting the unpredictable chaos of the central conflict, compelling viewers to confront the complexities of truth, justice, and the fragile nature of perception.