Private Project

The Brightons

A parody of the family sitcom. A nuclear family deals with dark developments as a laugh track plays on incessantly.

  • E. K. M. Watson
    Director
  • E. K. M. Watson
    Writer
  • E. K. M. Watson
    Producer
  • Jake Casper
    Key Cast
    "Benjamin Brighton"
  • James Malcolm
    Key Cast
    "Bobby Brighton"
  • Laura Jacobson
    Key Cast
    "Brenda Brighton"
  • David Callanan
    Key Cast
    "Bill Brighton"
  • Jessica J. Ott
    Key Cast
    "Sandra"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student, Television
  • Genres:
    Parody, Satire, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Sitcom, Family Sitcom
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • MassArt Senior Thesis Screenings
    Boston
    United States
    May 18, 2019
    MassArt
Director Biography - E. K. M. Watson

E. K. M. Watson was born in Perm, Russia in 1998. She has lived most of her life in Bristol, Rhode Island. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2019 with a major in Film/Video. She has interned at WGBH and often volunteers with the Massachusetts Production Coalition. Recently, she has won an honorable mention for the Stephen D. Paine Scholarship through the Boston Art Dealers Association. Her piece, "Heads, Hands, and Feet" was on display in the Distillery in South Boston in April 2019. Aside from short films, Watson enjoys sculpture, painting, and memes.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This short film (or television episode) was originally part of a large-scale installation at MassArt titled "Emma's Place." "The Brightons" calls into question whether situational comedies are an appropriate venue for discussing societal issues. Sure, there is "All In The Family" and the original run of "Roseanne," but these shows came out at radically different times. Can corporate television still portray real issues when "Big Bang Theory" is the highest-rated sitcom?