Stargazer

Conspiracy theorist and radio host Rick Romero attempts to investigate and reach out to a mysterious cosmic signal while trying to convince the world of his findings and repair his relationship with his estranged daughter.

  • William Thomas
    Director
  • Alex K. I. Nielsen
    Writer
  • William Thomas
    Writer
  • Rachel Hendrix
    Producer
  • Sam Kozlowski
    Production Designer
  • Anthony Rodriguez
    Editor
  • Nick "Furioustylz" Meyers
    Key Cast
  • Cole Brewer
    Director of Photography
    Jericho Jones
  • Nephele Jackson
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 17, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    350 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED, Lumix GH4
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • IFDM Cohort 7 Presents: Advent
    Albuquerque, New Mexico
    United States
    May 13, 2017
    North American Premiere
  • Gallup Film Festival
    Gallup, New Mexico
    United States
    September 16, 2017
Director Biography - William Thomas

Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in June 1995, William Thomas is a student of Film Production and History at the University of New Mexico. Having been raised on the classic science-fiction films of the 1970s and 80s, William has always been fascinated by the filmmaking process and has been exploring the world of cinema ever since he was a child. Since entering college, William has written, produced, and directed a variety of independent low-budget short films of different lengths, genres, and attitudes. Learning from each of his previous endeavors, William plans to take his passion for independent film well beyond college and hopes to continue exploring the cinematic potential of the colorful, dangerous, and mysterious land of enchantment that is his home state.

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Director Statement

At a first glance, Stargazer is about many things. It’s about self-made science and the personal curiosity of the individual. It’s about the stories we tell ourselves and how said stories affect our interactions with others. It’s about creating connections, tying every little thought, no matter how insignificant, to some sort of cause or effect. For me, the tale of Rick Romero is ultimately about understanding (or lack thereof). It’s about clearing away the noise and trying to communicate our intentions clearly. It’s about learning to articulate ourselves and learning to avoid superficiality and false appearances. I made Stargazer for many different reasons, but for me, personally, the project was about challenging myself to create a narrative that suggested that maybe sometimes our strengths and our weaknesses arise from the same place: the simple desire to understand.