Mr. Cynic is a unique comedic short film that mixes live action and animated sequences to tell the story of a frustrated comic artist.
Fed up with life and his domineering mom, Paul channels his frustrations into the creation of his newest comic character, Mr. Cynic; a disillusioned superhero who no longer feels that humanity is worth protecting from the forces of evil. After another failed pitch, Paul quits art only to discover that Mr. Cynic has materialized in his studio apartment. Caught in the crossfire between his mom and his muse, both of whom claim to know what is in his best interest, Paul’s life comes to a crumbling halt as he is forced to choose between disowning his mother or destroying his greatest creation.
It was shot on super 16mm film and completed as part of the senior thesis program at Chapman University. TRT 23 mins.
Directed by: Michael Campbell
Written by: Michael Campbell, Robert Campbell, Christian Polsinelli
Produced by: Christian Polsinelli
