Hello. I hope you enjoy viewing my first film, "Billy Makes the Cut" as much as I enjoyed making it (some days notwithstanding). I had the best crew that money couldn't buy; they fully embraced the spirit of this film and of independent (i.e. absolutely no budget) filmmaking. Even with a Cameron-esque budget, I could not have assembled a more talented group of filmmakers.

When the idea for this film began germinating in my head, I decided to set out and see if I could write a feature-length "story," but, somehow, condense it into a film comprising less than thirty minutes in duration. Many people believe that a short film cannot effectively relay a story with a true beginning, middle, and end. I took this as a challenge and it was this experiment in screenwriting from which ultimately sprung “Billy Makes the Cut.”

Always a lover of the coming-of-age genre, I knew that I had to make my film about a boy, who at a critical point in his post-collegiate years, becomes an adult. In a world of movie stars and US Magazine, today’s youth often thirst for celebrity and all its perks, feeling like the good life is only one backstage pass away. However, in my opinion, only by finding greatness in ourselves, as real people who only need be famous to our family and friends, can we get that which we desire the most, happiness; and only then can we call ourselves adults. Please enjoy sharing “Billy’s” journey from boy to adult in twenty-three short minutes.

All the Best,
Justin Simons