Experiencing Interruptions?

The Duelist

JAMES MIDDLEFIELD, a petulant young lord, is thrust into a world of danger and intrigue when his father is murdered. Driven by a thirst for revenge, James follows the trail of clues to LORD EZRA GREY, the enigmatic and feared leader of the Duelists—an elite organization shrouded in secrecy and bound by deadly tradition.

To uncover the truth and claim justice, James must confront his fears and apprentice himself to Lord Grey, learning the ancient and dangerous ways of the Duelists. But as James hones his newfound powers, he is drawn deeper into a world where loyalty and betrayal blur, and the cost of vengeance may be more than he can bear.

Will James rise to a destiny of honor, or will his quest for revenge drag him into infamy and ruin?

  • Matt King
    Director
    The Life and Death of Ernest P. Fantastic, Freedom House
  • Matt Yang King
    Writer
    The Life and Death of Ernest P Fantastic, Freedom House
  • Matt Yang King
    Producer
    Avatar: The Last Airbender, Elemental, Garbage Day
  • Tommy Aagaard
    Producer
    Avengers
  • Richie Metcalfe
    Producer
    Seal Team 6
  • Steve Preeg
    Producer
    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Oscar winner), Tron 2.0
  • Peyton Skelton
    Producer
    Greys Anatomy
  • Christopher King
    Producer
    Mother in My Head, 30 Kinds of Love
  • Julian Curtis
    Key Cast
    "James Middlefield"
    Love, Courage and the Battle of Bushy Run
  • Robin Atkin Downes
    Key Cast
    "Lord Ezra Grey"
    TF2, Arcane
  • Alastair Duncan
    Key Cast
    "Bennington"
    God of War, NCIS
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, historical, steampunk, alternate history, action, swashbuckling, fun
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    175,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Dragon
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Matt King

As an Asian American actor in Los Angeles, I spent 15 years feeling like part of the set—moved around, told where to stand, how to look, and what to be. More caricature than character. I got good at it, made a living at it, but eventually, I got tired of being furniture. So, I stopped reading other people’s words and started writing my own.

My journey as a storyteller began with recognition: I won the CAPE/Hollywood Foreign Press Young Screenwriter’s Award, became a two-time Nicholl Fellowship semi-finalist, and was a finalist for Scriptapalooza and Page. Projects started getting picked up, and I transitioned into ghostwriting. Yet, despite the accolades, I realized I had only traded being a couch for being a credenza—I still wasn’t the architect of my own work.

That changed when I decided to create my own path. I launched a Kickstarter campaign for The World of Steam, which became the highest-funded pilot on the platform in 2012. It was an ambitious, audacious project that challenged me to wear every hat imaginable. Along the way, I found innovative ways to tell stories—from creating motion comics like The Secret Language of Flowers to producing animated works with the cast of Futurama for Goblins.

Now, I’m not just part of the furniture; I’m designing the whole space. I create, direct, and build worlds where stories come alive. And it’s been the most rewarding journey of my life.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I am a bat. As someone who is mixed race, I’ve always existed between worlds—neither fully bird nor mammal, never quite belonging to either. For a long time, I felt the sting of rejection from both sides, trying to find my place. But eventually, I realized I didn’t have to choose. Instead of fitting into one world, I could exist as both: a translator, a bridge, a doorway.

This duality shapes everything I write and direct. I’m drawn to stories that echo my own experience, where universes have secret sides waiting to be discovered. I’m fascinated by the places just beyond the threshold—on the other side of the door, where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. Whether it’s a genre piece or an intimate conversation, I’m compelled by what exists in between.

I believe the most compelling characters are the ones who walk that edge, inhabiting liminal spaces, never entirely here or there. These are the characters that stay with us, burrowing into our minds and refusing to let go until we create something new to understand them. My work is about giving life to those spaces and voices—finding the magic in the middle and making it impossible to look away.