Filmmaker Statement

Boys, especially in small communities like my mid-Michigan hometown, are taught to hold it all in, suppressing vulnerability and sensitivity from a very young age. Thanks to my outlier parents, I had the support to pursue a dream of expressing myself through art, but l'm the rare case. With The Singers, I was inspired to tell a story about the complexities of masculinity and the power of connection through art. I’ve spent most of my career directing, shooting and editing documentaries, and I saw in this project an opportunity to apply my documentary background to a narrative, creating something uniquely hybrid. We curated a cast of viral video singing sensations and other one-of-a-kind personalities from all around the country using street casting, TikTok, and YouTube, locked ourselves in a seedy bar without a script, and a few days later emerged with a movie. I’m proud to say that I don’t think I've ever seen anything quite like our little film.