Experiencing Interruptions?

Unto the Apparition of Phantoms

Two Cowboys; Millsy, brilliant but mute, and Otis, rambling and stupid, set off to rob a bank. On the way, they stop to see their boss, only to discover he has been murdered by another Cowboy, who claims to be a ghost.

  • Matthew Smitley
    Director
  • Matthew Smitley
    Writer
  • Jake Richardson
    Writer
  • Matthew Smitley
    Producer
  • Brianna Bronger
    Producer
  • Andrew Riley Stephens
    Producer
  • Jackson Wilhelmi
    Producer
  • Andrew Riley Stephens
    Key Cast
    "Millsy"
  • Jake Richardson
    Key Cast
    "Otis"
  • Jackson Wilhelmi
    Key Cast
    "Phantom / Old Man"
  • Eric Barker
    Key Cast
    "Freak"
  • Nate Spicer
    Cinematography
  • Matthew Smitley
    Editors
  • Gracie Strunk
    Editors
  • Shelby Watson
    Sound
  • Joe Stockton
    Sound Design / Editing
  • Jacob Chitwood
    Composer
  • Gracie Strunk
    Production Design
  • Eli White
    Art Director
  • Brianna Bronger
    First Assistant Director/Unit Production Manager
  • Paige Landers
    Second Assistant Director/Script Supervisor
  • Forrest Jamison
    Gaffer
  • Gavin Reed
    First Assistant Camera
  • Jacob Tucker
    Boom Operator
  • Isaac Matlock
    Key Grip
  • Duncan Salot
    Color/VFX
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Western, Comedy, Adventure
  • Runtime:
    34 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 9, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital / 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Matthew Smitley

Born in Corbin, Kentucky. Matthew Smitley is a director, writer, producer, editor, and actor. He graduated from Asbury University with a Cinema Studies degree, and resides in southeast Kentucky.

Smitley's first short film 'The Arbors' has received honors from international film festivals such as Rhode Island International and Montreal Independent, and many more. His most recent film 'That Groovy Rotten Smell' was an official selection of the Twelve Lions Film Festival and has amassed over 200,000 views online.

Smitley is the co-founder and president of Midnight Centennial, a Kentucky based indie film collective that produces and distributes films.

You can also see Smitley as 'Hartman' in FX's upcoming TV show "English Teacher" later this year.

Smitley is represented by Joy Kirk of Screen Artists Talent in Asheville, North Carolina.

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Director Statement

“You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on.”
― Samuel Beckett, The Unnamable