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The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it.”

– Henry David Thoreau

PREMISE

Coming out of the pandemic, an indecisive young man (Nick) makes a series of radical choices to get himself out of debt without telling his girlfriend-practically-fiancée (Marie) that he’s going to be homeless and living off the grid.

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SYNOPSIS

Nick Allander is a creative soul - a thoughtful, but indecisive, young man with a Marketing job, a serious relationship, and a problem... he’s drowning in debt. Coming out of the pandemic, he and his partner, Marie, are looking to take the next step in their relationship, but when Nick’s mother, a hoarder in poor health, suddenly passes, he snaps, abandoning his career, leaving his apartment, and selling all his possessions to secretly squat in the garage of her foreclosed home. 

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Without telling Marie, Nick commits to a strategy of extreme frugality. After taking advice from a bike mechanic who lives out of a tent, Nick successfully fixes up an old bike using Goodwill parts and tools and begins commuting to find a new job. Freed from costs and expectations, Nick discovers a sense of purpose and self-reliance as his debt drastically begins to shrink. 

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But Nick’s erratic behavior sets off suspicions for Marie, prompting him to double down on a scheme to win her back and face a difficult choice between committing to the woman he loves or devoting himself to a simpler existence.

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GENRE

A Simple Machine is a dramedy - an uplifting story of downward mobility - driven by grounded humor, charming yet sometimes flawed characters, and subtle social commentary. It’s the story of a reluctant hero finally choosing to do the opposite of what the world wants him to do, setting the stage for conflict but also personal growth. 

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STARRING
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SETTING

Set in Portland, Oregon, A Simple Machine is a testament to the honesty and gritty charm of NW independent film-making in the vein of Gus Van Sandt and Kelly Reichardt. Nick's journeys take him past middle-class neighborhoods, upscale urban areas, and make-shift tent cities. In the years since the pandemic, Portland has undergone immense change - from turbulent protests to massive homelessness - where the monumental scale and pace of change is heightening economic and cultural divides. 

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THEME

For many, the pandemic was a reflective reset. It shifted priorities and set the stage for change. In an age where we are all hyper-focused on ourselves, it's actually very hard to live up to being yourself. Maybe then it's worth telling a story about someone searching for personal and economic freedom in wanting less?

CREDITS
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INFO

For inquiries please send email.

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