My Dad Gets a Smart Phone

A short documentary about my dad getting a smart phone for the first time.

  • Sarah Wells
    Director
  • Sarah Wells
    Writer
  • Sarah Wells
    Producer
  • Jim Wells
    Key Cast
  • Collin Davis
    Editor
  • Anna Barsukova
    Color
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 3, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Canon
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Eastern Oregon Film Festival
    La Grande
    United States
    October 20, 2022
    Programmer's Choice / Filmmaker to Watch
  • Oregon Short Film Festival
    Portland
    United States
    October 14, 2022
    Best Micro Documentary
  • Oregon Short Documentary Film Festival
    Portland
    United States
    November 13, 2022
    Finalist
  • City Shorts Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    May 7, 2022
    Premiere
    Best Documentary
Director Biography - Sarah Wells

Born and raised in the woods outside of Portland, OR, Sarah Wells is a cinematographer and documentary filmmaker working in the Bay Area and Portland.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My dad lives in the woods outside of Portland, OR. He's never used Google Maps or Facebook or sent a text message. We talk every so often (on his landline), so when he told me he was finally getting a smartphone, I decided to make a documentary about his experience.

I could use more time away from my smartphone - making this documentary helped remind me why.

We are in talks to create a follow-up film, My Dad Gets a Laptop.