Céline Roustan

Sometimes weird but seemingly harmless things happen in life, and just out of curiosity we want to follow through and see what they’re all about. This is exactly what happens to Sam, the main character in today’s pick Cuxball, when they find a cassette tape buried in the dirt. Writer/director Dave Paige transforms this mundane discovery into a surprising and intriguing narrative, creating a uniquely comedic situation where we experience events through a protagonist who is just as clueless about the situation as we are.

“There’s something called the Alt Right and they’re all over the internet calling everybody a cuck”

The starting point of the film feels so original, that we were excited to ask Paige if this scenario was the origin for his narrative. “One day when I was young I had this image flash through my head of a gardener pulling a cassette tape out of the earth”, he quickly confessed. Despite already having an extensive resume, Paige admits that over 20-years he never found a way to work it into one of his projects. Until recently, when he realized that “there’s something called the Alt Right and they’re all over the internet calling everybody a cuck”, and he took this insult and merged it with this image of the gardener to create Cuxball. 

What struck me about the film was its distinct tone – it’s all a bit nonsensical, yet the narrative makes complete sense. It immerses viewers deeply into Sam’s perspective, enhancing the film’s appeal and the audience’s engagement. “We set out to craft a tone that – while teetering on surreal – is grounded and character-forward”, Paige explained. Having Sam’s character gives the viewer an emotional anchor and allows the film to let loose and go wild as its narrative evolves. As Cuxball’s central character carries us through this roller coaster of weirdness, there is a compelling self awareness in the film that makes it all the more delightful. 

River L. Ramirez’s portrayal of Sam is vital in the short’s success.

Following Sam on their journey of discovery, after unearthing that aforementioned cassette tape, Paige recreates their headspace with the score and the cinematography of the short. “To highlight the character’s unease we leaned on voyeuristic zooms and a good old fashioned wide-angle lens right in front of their face”, the director explains. And it’s that sense of unease that significantly enhances the film’s fascination; as it grips us we can’t look away and feel compelled to anticipate what will happen next. The score further amplifies this suspenseful atmosphere, subtly yet powerfully contributing to the film’s thriller-like quality.

While you can see in the different aspects of the production that Paige surrounded himself with a team that understood his vision and brand of humor, it’s River L. Ramirez’s portrayal of Sam that elevates the film and makes it such a fun watch. Nailing the tone and delivery of both the comedy and the weirdness flawlessly, they instantly make their character endearing and easy to root for. 

With Cuxball fresh from the festival circuit, we’re excited to host its online premiere on Short of the Week. With Paige now working on a new short, Deep Tish, which begins its festival run this year, the filmmaker is also currently developing various TV projects and a feature.