Clonely
a down-on-his-luck man joins a shady cloning trial to fix his finances, only for his childlike clone to drag him on a bizarre journey of self-discovery, all captured by a documentary crew.
Genre:
Comedy
Runtime:
15:30
Cast:
Miguel Gonzalez-Floyd
Jordan Nelson
Tywayne Wheatt
Rebecca Koon
Pat Yeary
Crew:
Writer/Director: McKinley Benson
Producers: Rhodes Farrell, Brad Jayne, Rocco Shapiro, Sean Valdivieso, Emily Reach White
Executive Producers: Matt Storm, Glenn Seale, Cristian Bernal
Director of Photography: Tré Loren
Production Designer: Annice Hong
Editors: Robert Sykes, Rocco Shapiro
Composers: Zach Pelham, Mason Palanti
Sound Designer: Spencer Poole
Colorist: Justin White
Director’s Statement:
"As someone deeply passionate about both narrative and documentary filmmaking, blending these two forms into a mockumentary has been a long-held goal of mine. During my final year of film school in 2020, I began writing the first draft of CLONELY, inspired by my own questions about identity and the search for acceptance.
Now, several years later, it feels like the right time to bring this story to the screen. The universal longing for genuine connection is more relevant than ever, and CLONELY taps into that shared experience. Through absurdity and satire, the film explores the comedic yet meaningful journey of finding one’s place in an increasingly disconnected world.
At its core, CLONELY is about fundamental human experiences—loneliness, longing, and the quest for meaning. I believe storytelling has the power to inspire empathy and reflection, and this film offers a chance to explore these themes with both humor and heart."
- McKinley Benson