You're A Dead Man

In this dark comedy, a patient attempts to keep his sanity after being diagnosed with being dead.

  • Alex Pont
    Director
  • Alex Pont
    Writer
  • Tim Barry
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 3 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    1,200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Alex Pont

Alex Pont is a writer, director, and actor based in Los Angeles. Originally from Chicago, Alex began experimenting with film in junior high, creating absurd, silly skits much akin to Monty Python. Straight out of high school, he worked at the Wachowski’s studio as a PA, coordinator, grip, gaffer, and even camera operator, leading to him direct a single shot in Jupiter Ascending. In 2018, he was accepted to the University of Southern California, not for cinema, but for English Literature and Writing. USC’s film school had rejected him due to them misplacing a part of his application. Observing the absurdity of that situation, Alex continued his life long pursuit of filmmaking sans film school by writing, directing, and acting in ‘You’re A Dead Man.’ Shortly after, he worked as an assistant coordinator at Warner Brothers on the fourth Matrix film. When not in classes, he spends the bulk of his time writing his own scripts, editing scripts for others, and composing music for his band along with his brother.

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Director Statement

I wrote this short film ‘You’re A Dead Man’ as an emotional response to having been rejected by The School Of Cinematic Arts at USC. They had misplaced a piece of my application and failed to notify me, later placing the blame upon me for not following up. I found the entire situation absurd, exhausting and filled with lunacy, leading me to pen a short over the weekend that exemplified those feelings. I was attracted to using a doctor holding a man’s life over him as a perfect way to illustrate the power dynamic of school versus applicant. As I began editing, however, it became clear to me that this short was more of a commentary on the current healthcare system of the United States than on my personal feelings toward the school’s rejection. Thus, the final product is a darkly comic and surreal take on dysfunctional practitioners treating a man’s life in the same regard as a child does with their toy soldiers: carelessly with a sinister grin.