Shark Man

Anxious millennial Gary struggles to provide for his growing family. His secret weapon? A therapy hand puppet shark that he believes turns him into fearless superhero Shark Man.

  • Carson Kelley
    Director
  • Carson Kelley
    Writer
  • Erin Richards
    Producer
    Gotham, God Friended Me, The Crown
  • Robbie Sherrard
    Key Cast
    "Gary"
  • Morgan Siobhan Green
    Key Cast
    "Sheena"
    Hadestown National Tour, Be More Chill (Broadway)
  • Robert G. McKay
    Key Cast
    "Mr. Warren"
    Only Murders in the Building, Ocean's Eight, The Wire
  • Doug Larsen
    Editor
  • Daniel Tenney Lewis
    Composer
  • Learan Kahanov
    Cinematographer
    Clerks III, Madam Secretary
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, superhero, mental health
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 13, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    1,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Maryland International Film Festival
    Hagerstown, MD
    United States
    March 25, 2022
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Wales International Film Festival
    Online
    United Kingdom
    September 15, 2022
    United Kingdom
    Juror's Prize for Best Comedy
  • Big Apple Film Festival
    New York City
    United States
    June 1, 2022
    N/A
    Honorable Mention
  • Hollywood New Directors
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    June 1, 2022
    N/A
    Honorable Mention
Director Biography - Carson Kelley

Carson Kelley is an American filmmaker and playwright based in New York City.

Kelley spent years as a musician, fronting the underground darling STRNGRS, awarded "Best Alt Rock Act in NYC" by The Deli Magazine in 2014. He left music to pursue writing and directing for film and stage.

His debut stage play Sweet Greens will premiere at the New York Theater Festival in October 2022.

Shark Man marks Kelley's filmmaking debut.

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Director Statement

2021, year 2 of Covid, things were bleak. New York kept opening back up and closing down again. Mask mandates came and went and came again. Everyone was exhausted from the previous year of isolation or protesting with BLM or an overwhelming combination of both.

Enter Shark Man. A silly story, on the surface. A fun story, through and through. Everyone I sent the script to (to try convince them to work for free, mostly) seemed to respond with relief. Yes! I would love to work on this! I need a story like this right now!

Thank goodness, because with very little paid work in the previous year, I had a few hundred dollars that needed to stretch a long way.

Shark Man is based on a technique often used in therapy, and more specifically, a technique used on a friend of mine by his parents when he was 5. I’d be happy to tell that heart-warming and inspiring story at a TalkBack if you select Shark Man for your festival, but I’ll leave it here for now. I hope Shark Man inspires all to become the superhero of their own lives, to ask for what they need, to stand up for themselves, and to go forth with a renewed sense of confidence. And I hope to see you soon! -Carson