The Case of Conrad Cooper
The Case of Conrad Cooper is a 2014 short film based on an idea from Wendy J. Menara and Mike Fuhrmann AbOUT the invisible homeless and the vanishing middle class. It contains no spoken dialogue. In 2014, the film was chosen as Best Experimental Short at the California International Shorts Festival, and received honorable mention in the 2015 lafr awards.
Storyline
The film follows a day in the life of Conrad Cooper who is a once successful familyman who has lost almost everything. Conrad Cooper lives in the past...stuck in today, afraid of tomorrow. Like most days, Conrad is on his way somewhere and he has to be on time. If anyone happens to notice, he’s just another man, wearing a suit and tie, carrying a briefcase, blending in. But Conrad’s fear of the future follows him like an ever present ghost. Finally, in his darkest hour, something catches his eye – something so simple, so innocent that he’d completely forgotten, had barely even noticed – at the time. At least for now, he believes there’s hope for tomorrow.
Cast
- Adam Venker as Conrad Cooper
- Paul Louis Harrell as Street Punk / Shadow Man
- Sean Burgos as Harmonica Man
- Melissa Biethan as Stylish Lady
- Pili Valdés as Mother at Bus Stop (as Pili Valdes)
- Ava Harris as Girl at Bus Stop
- Willow Hale as Old Lady on Porch
- Alec VanOwen as Newspaper Boy (as Alec VanOwen Nance)
- Terroon Kibwe as Mr. Big Shot
- Natalie Gelman as Street Guitarist
- Ron McPherson as Door Man
Soundtrack
- Theme song of "The Case of Conrad Cooper“
- "No One’s Listening" by Charles Simmons & Deborah Lee
There is also an Ibiza House Remix, of the theme song.
Production
The film was completed despite an unsuccessful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.