SYNTAX

On the eve of a life-changing promotion, an ambitious news anchor’s career is thrown into disarray as he discovers how thin the line between loyalty and integrity really is.

  • Sean Furey
    Director
  • Sean Furey
    Writer
  • Sabrina Cortez
    Producer
  • Sean Furey
    Producer
  • Garrison Kuykendall
    Producer
  • Brenna Rinehart
    Producer
  • Tyler Slawson
    Key Cast
    "John Reilly"
  • Deane Marshall
    Key Cast
    "Russell Prescott"
  • Greg Gerber
    Key Cast
    "Douglas Crawford"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes
  • Production Budget:
    250 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of North Texas
Director Biography - Sean Furey

Sean is a director and an award-winning screenwriter living in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife and two dogs. He recently graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Media Arts and actually intends to hang that degree on the wall of his office, unlike his Masters in Accounting degree which he swears is "around here somewhere."

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Director Statement

The inspiration for SYNTAX came simultaneously on two different fronts. First, I had been spending an inordinate amount of time in the television studios of the University of North Texas, learning, for the first time, the chaotic ins and outs of broadcasting live news. I quickly discovered that, even on a good day, the final moments leading up to a broadcast can make for an excellent source of drama.

At the same time, while working on another film, I came across the story of the suspicious death of a Hollywood film producer aboard a media tycoon’s yacht. While initially reported as a murder (witnesses reported a gunshot to the head), the narrative quickly changed to death by indigestion, largely prompted by the tycoon’s own newspapers. Even today, an accurate account of his demise isn’t readily available.

Although inspired by an event that occurred almost 100 years ago, the idea of a media company using its position to manipulate its viewers for profit and power has never been more relevant than it is today. It’s an era of media frenzy, a no-holds-barred inundation of content, that strives to alter the way we perceive our world. I hope that by watching SYNTAX, viewers will be better prepared to battle this inundation - to more carefully scrutinize the news they consume and the outlet from which it comes. Our two greatest weapons against “fake news” and “sound bite stories” are awareness and critical thinking. It is my hope that audiences not only enjoy SYNTAX, but that the film encourages them to foster and strengthen these traits in themselves.