Simpleman
An alienated toymaker struggles to come to terms with his life and self worth through a long night full of strange encounters.
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Dawson BryantDirectorThe Anomaly (2021)
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Dawson BryantWriterThe Anomaly (2021), Word Association (2020)
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Joshua OverbayProducer
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Brenda LillyProducer
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Mackensie McDonoughProducer
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Colin WasmundKey Cast"Simeon Plemans"Bruiser
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James JohnstonKey Cast"The Strange Man"
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Project Type:Short, Student
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Genres:Absurd, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Drama, Student, Indie, Absurdist, Absurdist Comedy
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Runtime:14 minutes 55 seconds
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes - Western Carolina University
As someone who has always loved independent creativity, I lived as a loner for the better part of my childhood, with only a few good friends growing up.
At a young age, I started taking ADHD medication and was diagnosed with dermatitis, a dry skin condition. Other kids kept their distance from me because of those two reasons. However, the few that stuck by me made me realize that I had the capability to make friends while still being who I wanted to be, which kept me going and thought me to be the open-mind and the open-arms person that I am today.
This social blockade blossomed into a love for independence and self-expressive creation. In high school, the lack of sociability due to the medication made for a feeling of emptiness, so I picked up an interest in cameras and directed music videos as English class projects before my senior year. This not only helped me make more friends but also gave me a creative avenue to hone in on and overcome my need for medication.
In college, I studied film and television production with an interest in post-production. I graduated in the Spring of 2022 and immediately moved to Atlanta, where I currently reside to pursue film and make much-needed connections.
Simpleman is a comical take on self-worth and the journey we all need to go on to discover it. A lot of people, including myself have struggled with identity issues. Sometimes it takes a miraculous trip of odds and ends to find out what we need in life.