I Am Syd Stone

I Am Syd Stone is a Canadian short drama film, directed by Denis Theriault and released in 2014.[1] The film centres on Syd Stone (Gharrett Patrick Paon), a closeted gay movie star returning to his hometown for his high school reunion, who unsuccessfully attempts to rekindle his relationship with his former boyfriend Brent (Michael Gaty).[2]

The film was an entrant in the 2014 Iris Prize festival,[2] and was included in Volume 12 of the Boys on Film series of LGBTQ-themed short film DVDs.[3]

In 2019 Theriault expanded the original short film into a six-part web series.[1] Although Paon remained associated as a producer, he and Theriault agreed to recast the lead role, which will be played by Travis Nelson. In the web series, Syd Stone's career as an actor has faded; he is now on location in a small town to film a B-movie, and meets and falls for lawyer Matt (Benjamin Charles Watson) but must confront the emotional consequences of having remained closeted for the sake of his career.[1] The series is set in the present day, and alludes to the events of the original film;[1] however, it reportedly gives Stone a happier ending.[1] The web series was screened at the 2020 Inside Out Film and Video Festival,[4] in advance of its public web premiere.