Success or the potential for success can be a harrowing prospect for any artist, especially when they’re faced with the specter of impostor syndrome. Told through a unique avenue, “Chromakey Man” is a pretty insightful look in to a man facing inevitable success in a field he’s been struggling in for years. The problem is he has to face whether or not he’s ready for that success, and that becomes an inner conflict for him.
Dan always wanted to be an actor, but instead of achieving his dreams, he ends up a chromakey technician on movie sets. Covered in a bright green suit from head to toe, he is stuck in a rut until he gets offered an audition and the possibility to step into the limelight. The opportunity is potentially life-changing, and this absolutely terrifies him. “The Chromakey Man” is set during the making of another superhero picture, and Dan is draped in a green body suit tasked with the thankless job of propping special effects.
With mere eye holes, he’s basically given all the heavy lifting while the film’s star is able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of the filmmaking process. He has only one friend in the production department and she offers him a chance to read for a part in the movie. With this revelation, he is certain he just might get the part. But there is that inherent self doubt that begins to loom in the development of this big role. The viewer is able to picture a lot of scenarios in Dan’s mind involving his big role in a major blockbuster, and he grapples not so much with the character, but standing in his own way.
Is it fear of success or fear of failure that’s hindering his work on perfecting this character? That becomes the bigger question, especially as he finds more and more frustration with his work as a chromakey man. Despite the silly aesthetic, “The Chromakey Man” is a meaningful look at the struggling artist and how they can often stand in their way, if they’re not careful. The movie Dan is involved in concerns fictional villains, but he has to defeat his own inner antagonists: self doubt. “The Chromakey Man” makes an important statement and it’s a worthwhile short worth looking out for.
CINEJOY featuring CINEQUEST Artists is held from March 1st through March 12th.