Soul Man

SOUL MAN is a story inspired by the many men and women who were part of the soul music boom in Memphis during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many of these artists, often underappreciated legends, have long since returned to normal, practically anonymous lives here in Memphis. You might find them playing as a backup musician on Beale Street one night and working the register at the local grocery store the next. I have met and spent time with a handful of these incredible folks and am always touched by their grit, humility, and warmth. This short is a fictionalized attempt to represent many of their stories as they exist today. In the film, the main character, Ben, has spent decades shutting the music out of his life after the demise of his once successful singing/songwriting partnership. Dogged by memories of the glory days and the unprocessed trauma of the fallout with his childhood best friend and former partner, Ben wants nothing to do with his legendary past. Try as he might, however, Ben can’t quite get away from the music or the memories, and he’ll have to face them both sooner or later. Among other things, this is a film about the loss of friendship, the consequences of selfishness and impulsivity, and the resiliency of the human soul. This short is a prologue, of sorts, to the feature I am currently developing around this same character. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it moves you in some way. - Kyle T.