Blue Boy

It’s hard to create a proof-of-concept short film that does what it’s supposed to do. They don’t always succeed as complete, standalone works and can instead feel like an extra-long trailer for a movie that doesn’t exist and maybe never will. Many fall victim to fundamental flaws – relying on twists that doesn’t quite hit the spot, or centering on characters who feel underdeveloped and one-dimensional. Some – particularly those that rely on heavy VFX – may dazzle visually but ultimately come across as little more than technical showcases.

But every so often, a proof-of-concept short comes along that catches your attention, has well-written characters, a compelling plot, and most importantly, seems like it has a very real shot of being made – and being made well. This is exactly how I felt when I first watched Tyler Riggs’ Blue Boy – a (very good!) proof-of-concept film about an insecure competitive bodybuilder who finds himself drowning in self-doubt while training for an upcoming competition.

“Matt was so fired up about the project that he started training with his old bodybuilding coach—who actually appears in the film.” – Riggs discussing the commitment of his lead actor Matthew Leone.

Joey Muscles – played by Matthew Leone – is a deeply vain motormouth with an inferiority complex, but his quest for small scale greatness is never trivialized. He’s an Italian-American thirty-something from New Jersey who doesn’t want to give up on his dream, even when the little voice in his head tells him he may never make it to the big leagues. He’s a mama’s boy with daddy issues. And even if you’re deeply uninterested in the bizarre, pageant-like world of bodybuilding, this film might still strike a chord with you – because anyone who’s spent a little too long living at their parents house knows the cost of delaying the practical pressures of the real world in order to chase down a dream.

Ultimately, the film works so well because Leone and Riggs turn Joey Muscles into a believable character – and in a film that uses real people to fill out the rest of the cast, this matters. Blurring the line between fiction and documentary, the film blends actors with non-actors and places them in a real bodybuilding competition for the bulk of the short. The result? A production that punches far above its weight, capturing a level of realism and scale that would be nearly impossible to stage for a short film with a limited budget.

“We had zero control over the live environment of the bodybuilding show”

Anyone who’s ever been on set knows that even a well planned film shoot can quickly turn into a logistical nightmare (especially in New York and New Jersey), so choosing to film the majority of the short at a real-life bodybuilding competition was a bold move, but one that absolutely pays off. According to Riggs, they had “zero control over” the live bodybuilding show, and being able to successfully shoot part of a short film in a busy location during an event like that deserves some serious kudos. There’s an authenticity there that’s hard to recreate without spending a ton of money on locations and special ability background actors. Despite the chaos of the live event, Riggs and his team did a great job of capturing what they needed for the film, without it feeling fake, forced or cheap.

Leone’s performance as Joey Muscles is what I’ll remember most, though – as he drives the film forward in a way that’s almost manic and kinetic, making every moment feel urgent. The rest of Blue Boy’s cast pull their weight too, but, I found myself unable to look away from this deeply anxious character. Paired with director Riggs’ vision (who also wrote the script, operated the camera, and edited the whole thing), you can’t help but wonder what this pair could do with a bigger budget and a longer, more in depth story.

“We found a raw, spontaneous style of performance that I totally love—and hope to keep using” – Riggs explaining how he worked with a mix of actors & non-actors for the short.

Thankfully, the Blue Boy team are no strangers to the feature film landscape – producer Rob Cristiano (Melon Head) has worked on some festival favorites like The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Riggs has directed two features already – but I’d love to see this one turned into something longer. We’re happy to report things are already progressing in this department, with Riggs and co now in the process of developing this one now with the help of Hungry Man. So keep an eye out for more news about that, but in the meantime, I wish them success with the short, which is finally coming online after a premiere at Clermont-Ferrand and a festival run across the States.

Ultimately, Blue Boy has something fresh to say about the fragile veneer of stereotypical masculinity, and the hard work that goes into making a dream come true. The film examines the contrast between the smiling, confident face we show the world vs. the nervous, vulnerable face we let ourselves have when we’re in private. It explores the vulnerability of a very particular kind of man – one who has been reduced to a stereotype in a post Jersey Shore world – reminding us that there’s a human being lying beneath all those layers of spray tan. And it’s also another great example of a proof-of-concept short film that can stand on its own two feet, and perhaps that’s the key to making something that someone might want to adapt someday. Without a good foundation, you’re on shaky ground, you know? Never skip leg day.