#FIRSTLOOK: “I AM SYD STONE”

After having screened at the 2020 Inside Out LGBTQ Film Festival, I AM SYD STONE arrives this weekend on OutTV. The six-part Series based on Denis Theriault‘s 2014 Short Film of the same name expands on some ideas seen in the original. The Series is set on its titular character, played by Vancouver’s Travis Nelson, who is films a movie in a small town. This is where he meets a lawyer named Matt (Toronto’s Benjamin Charles Watson) and the two develop a relationship.

Syd has remained in the closet for many years, having to conceal his sexuality for the sake of his career. Falling for Matt puts his career in jeopardy and he must balance finding himself and understanding his sexuality, with the person everyone else seems him as, being a former A-List Actor.

Visually, the Series looks great and Kevin A. Fraser’s stylish Cinematography has a way of taking us inside Syd‘s gray psyche. While we found the chemistry between our two leads lacking a bit of that fire that would have glued this together a bit better, stories like this need to be told and seen. While there isn’t particularly new or compelling being brought to the table here, there is a great need for stories that challenge and question the ideals of masculinity and how this is a struggle that comes with costs. In that regard, the quickly-digestable story told in 10-15 increments, should strike a chord with more than just a community.

I AM SYD STONE airs on OUTtv Thursday, April 22 at 8:30 PM with the first two episodes and one new one each week following. It will be available on OUTtv Go beginning April 21, 2021.