I Am Norman

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I Am Norman

I Am Norman is a 2020 British short film described as a docu-fiction. It was created by Arron Blake and Darius Shu, with Blake starring as Norman and Shu serving as cinematographer and co-director.

Synopsis
A filmmaker takes a man who lives in a car into the woods to share a dark secret. The film aims to raise awareness about the harms of gay conversion therapy and the mental health struggles that can follow.

Cast
- Arron Blake as Norman

Production
The film was shot in August 2020 over three days during the United Kingdom’s first COVID-19 lockdown. Blake and Shu worked with a small two-person crew. Shu acted as cinematographer and co-director, while Blake starred as Norman. It was produced by Silverprince Pictures in association with Little Deer Films.

Style and themes
I Am Norman uses a faux documentary approach, with Norman speaking directly to the camera. The story tackles serious issues in the LGBTQ+ community, including mental health, suicide, family rejection, and the impact of conversion therapy. Critics note its intimate, naturalistic feel and its provocative, boundary-pushing storytelling.

Music
The soundtrack features an original song, A Peaceful Killing, by Matthew Barton, written with Darius Shu and produced by Barton. The music is described as capturing a tension between beauty and brutality and helps underline the film’s emotional impact.

Reception
The short film received generally positive reviews from critics:
- Film Threat praised it as a refined piece with a strong voice and message.
- HeyUGuys gave it high marks for power and emotional impact.
- Indie Reviews lauded Blake’s performance and Shu’s cinematography.
- Culture Fix rated it highly for its precise, claustrophobic direction.
- Voice Magazine commended Blake’s silent, powerful performance and the film’s disturbing take on conversion therapy.
- Indie Shorts Mag honored it with a perfect score and inducted it into their Hall of Fame.

Overall
I Am Norman is a compact, provocative film that uses a simple two-person production to explore heavy themes with a strong, intimate style and powerful performances.