{{Infobox film | name = I Am Syd Stone | image = | caption = | director = Denis Theriault | producer = Colin Davis | writer = Denis Theriault | starring = Gharrett Patrick Paon<br>Michael Gaty | music = Ari Posner | cinematography = Kevin A. Fraser | editing = Shawn Beckwith | studio = | distributor = | runtime = 10 minutes | released = {{film date|2014|09|14|AFF}} | country = Canada | language = English | budget = }} '''''I Am Syd Stone''''' is a Canadian short drama film, directed by Denis Theriault and released in 2014.<ref name=coast>Sam Fraser, [https://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/syd-stone-rolls-on-with-new-web-series/Content?oid=23109977 "Syd Stone rolls on with new web series"]. ''The Coast'', December 26, 2019.</ref>
==Plot synopsis== <!-- This is the synopsis of the original 2013 short film, not the years-later web series sequel addressed below. Do not change the cast names here to Travis Nelson or Benjamin Charles Watson; they were in the web series, not the film.--> The film centres on Syd Stone (Gharrett Patrick Paon), a closeted gay movie star filming a made-for-TV film called Soccer Dad, while worrying about his high school reunion. While there, he tries to mentor his young co-star, who has an emotionally abusive father. At his hotel near the movie set, Syd meets a handsome, young lawyer in town representing a defendant in a murder trial, Brent (Michael Gaty) who awakens his repressed sexuality. Matters are further complicated when his trophy girlfriend shows up unexpectedly.<ref name=trailer>Tim Isaac, [https://www.biggaypictureshow.com/bgps/2014/08/syd-stone-trailer-take-look-iris-prize-nominated-gay-themed-short-film/ "I Am Syd Stone Trailer – Take a look at the Iris Prize nominated gay-themed short film"]. ''Big Gay Picture Show'', August 13, 2014.</ref>
==Release== The film was an entrant in the 2014 Iris Prize festival,<ref name=trailer/> and was included in Volume 12 of the ''Boys on Film'' series of LGBTQ-themed short film DVDs.<ref>Tim Isaac, [https://www.biggaypictureshow.com/bgps/2014/11/boys-film-12-confession-dvd-review/ "Boys On Film 12: Confession (DVD Review)"]. ''Big Gay Picture Show'', November 24, 2014.</ref>
==Reinvention as serial== In 2019 Theriault expanded the original short film into a six-part web series.<ref name=coast/> Although Paon remained associated as a producer, he and Theriault agreed to recast the lead role, which was played by Travis Nelson. In the web series, Syd Stone's career as an actor has faded; he is now on location in a small town to film a B-movie, and meets and falls for lawyer Matt (Benjamin Charles Watson) but must confront the emotional consequences of having remained closeted for the sake of his career.<ref name=coast/> The series is set in the present day, and alludes to the events of the original film;<ref name=coast/> however, it reportedly gives Stone a happier ending.<ref name=coast/> The web series was screened at the 2020 Inside Out Film and Video Festival,<ref>Dino-Ray Ramos, [https://deadline.com/2020/09/inside-out-lgbt-film-festival-the-boys-in-the-band-panel-the-obituary-of-tunde-johnson-cowboys-virtual-edition-1234573324/ "Inside Out LGBT Film Festival To Feature ‘The Boys In The Band’, ‘The Obituary Of Tunde Johnson’, ‘Cowboys’ And More For Virtual Edition"]. ''Deadline Hollywood'', September 9, 2020.</ref> in advance of its public web premiere.
Watson received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.<ref>Brent Furdyk, [https://web.archive.org/web/20220215130202/https://etcanada.com/news/867531/2022-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-announced/ "2022 Canadian Screen Award Nominees Announced, ‘Sort Of’ & ‘Scarborough’ Lead The Pack"]. ''ET Canada'', February 15, 2022.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|3493688|title=I Am Syd Stone (2014 film)}} *{{IMDb title|10487858|title=I Am Syd Stone (web series)}}
Category:2014 films Category:2014 LGBTQ-related films Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related short films Category:2010s LGBTQ-related drama films Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related web series Category:Canadian drama web series Category:2014 English-language films Category:Canadian drama short films Category:2014 Canadian films