As a pool owner myself, director Derek Frey’s The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry hits a bit too close to home. Written by David Amadio, Gil Damon, and Steve Kuzmick, the short comedy with Henry Osgood (Gil Damon) standing beside his backyard pool with his pool guy, Rick (Steve Kuzmick). Rick gives the owner the bad news that his pool liner is shredded, and it will cost $12,000 to fix. With the economy the way it is, Henry needs to make a decision fast. His wife says absolutely not, and his two kids probably forgot they even had a pool.
Henry decides he’ll sleep on it and give Rick an answer in the morning. After a tense night’s sleep, Henry is awakened by the sound of someone in his pool. The stranger is Willy Chamieux (David Amadio), a whimsical character who coaxes — no, yanks — Henry into the pool. Instantly, a flood of memories literally washes over the man. Henry’s euphoria is interrupted by the judgmental stares of his family, watching from the edge of the pool.
“…Willy Chamieux, a whimsical character who coaxes — no, yanks — Henry into the pool.”
Frey says the inspiration for The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry comes from the rituals of suburban life through the lens of middle-aged masculinity. “It is a story about men trying to stay afloat not just in a backyard pool, but in their lives, careers, and relationships. It is the test of remaining relevant in a world that has stopped paying attention to you.”
The director made the film with his comedy troupe, The Minor Prophets, who have been making films for the last two decades. They bring a subtle humor to The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry. This isn’t a constant string of jokes and one-liners, but a satirical look at being middle-aged. In Fellini-esque fashion, we open grounded in reality, and over time reality and fantasy blur together. Frey brings out the playfulness Henry once felt when his kids were young and reminds this middle-aged man what life is all about…or what it was once all about. And then comes the punch line at the end. Beautiful.
What I love about The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry is Frey’s discipline in telling an emotional comedy without falling into the temptation to go full silly (though it gets silly). Instead, he actually has something to say—and he says it with humor.
For more information, visit the The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry official website.
"…hits a bit too close to home."
