Funky Guy

Fun, quirky, unique character Driven drama/ Comedy

Produced by
Ranger Leary

Witten and Directed by
Alyssa Murphy

Creative, extravagant guy changes himself to win the love of a girl and the approval of his parents, however when he breaks his artist grandmother’s heart, he realises he’s losing himself. Determined to reclaim his identity, he abandons expectations, leaving his family and romance behind to rediscover his confidence and make amends.

Cinematography by
Anh Nham

Starring:

Marco Leighs Rios

Jennifer Gurthie

Catherine Manchester

Andrea Williams

Jonathan McDowell

words from the director

This story is very close to my heart as there are a lot of personal aspects of myself in the story. This has truly been a journey to create, starting with when I created the idea for the story very early in the summer of 2025, and choosing to direct this project as my first go at directing, and I am beyond happy I did. Since then, the story has changed so much in parallel with me changing and learning throughout this year, too. I am proud of where the story is now, thanks to the help of an incredible cast and crew. I absolutely loved seeing the characters come alive, and seeing so many different passionate people able to add their own ideas and creativity into this project, too. I am really lucky to have had so many great people helping me. I hope the film can relate to a lot of people with the struggles of being a creative person. I know a lot of my teachers and friends did not always encourage that side of me when I needed it. I also hope this is a fun, uplifting, quirky story for people to connect with, or laugh with and appreciate maybe our own experiences of identity exploration and confidence through the character of Marcellus, or Dad.

- Alyssa

words from the dop

As a cinematographer for Funky Guy, I enjoyed most the opportunity to use my creativity. I love how our major crew always emphasises each other’s ideas. For Ranger, as a producer, he tried to give me as much time on set as possible so I could capture the best shots for the film, despite the pressure of time chasing him. About Alyssa, during the process of making Funky Guy, from pre-production to post-production, she always listens to my ideas and stays objective, so she can take other crew members’ feedback and improve the short film.

Working for Funky Guy under D.O.P. has been a fantastic opportunity for me, as I have gained valuable lessons that have enhanced my skills. One key skill I developed is focusing on lighting and camera composition to visually convey the story. Funky Guy is a vibrant film, and as the story unfolds, the colours will fade and then regain their vibrancy when the protagonist, Marsalis, finds his spark again. Consequently, I had to carefully calculate different camera movements and angles to help convey the characters’ motives to the audience, even if they might not consciously notice them. This journey has been a meaningful experience, and I am grateful to be part of bringing Funky Guy to life alongside Ranger and Alyssa.

- Anh

Art Department

One of the most important parts about Funky Guy was that he looked funky! Our set, costumes and makeup were all very important to this film, all three roles taken on by Holly Taylor, who did an amazing job at bringing Marcellus to life through completely transforming his bedroom, and dressing him in whacky outfits and makeup.