A Short Film by Jeremy Merrifield
Starring Jonah Beres, Paul Sheer, Jaylin Ogle, Carson Severson
Executive Produced By Michael James Scott
FULL SHORT AVAILABLE HERE: Youtube
Running Time: 17 Minutes Country: USA Language: English
Synopsis
A modern fairytale exploring gender through the lens of the superhero myth, BALLOON questions how we raise boys when our concept of masculinity is toxic. For fourteen-year-old Sam, surviving junior high means staying below radar. But that becomes impossible after he becomes the target of the school’s next viral video. He’s pressured to “hit back,” but Sam isn’t so sure-even if he does have super powers.
Upcoming Screenings
NEW ORLEANS FILM FESTIVAL
Friday, October 19th at 5:00 PM
Prytania Theater (5339 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70115)
BALLOON will precede the screening of TROOP ZERO
Director’s Statement
In 2018, there were 94 incidents of guns at schools, 23 of which resulted in deaths or injury. 113 people killed or injured. What do all these incidents have in common? Guns, to be sure-but also, boys. Its boys pulling the trigger, not girls. Our boys are in crisis. The age-old model of manhood is disappearing. From the moment they’re born, our boys are trapped by an outdated construct of masculinity.
I made BALLOON for my nephew, who at twelve I see already trying to reconcile who he is with what our culture expects of the masculine. I also made it for the women in my life – some of whom collaborated on this project with me. They have too long had to stomach the toxicity of our culture’s dated concept of masculinity. With BALLOON I give my nephew the superpowers he always wanted, and hopefully hint at the kind of hero I hope he still can become.
