Crop Farmer (2022): The surreal textures of a digital storybook adventure

One of the keys to effective image-making that can often feel overlooked in the current cinematic landscape is the attention paid to texture. An image’s texture-whether crafted through film or digital-plays a great role in the viewer’s tangible relationship with the content of what they are watching. In Tanner Simon’s delightful short film, Crop Farmer, a simple narrative is set against the surreal backdrop of digitally rendered images that at times look like they were ripped straight out of a PS2 game or Microsoft Paint. The film takes joy in stringing the viewer along a goofy adventure in which the jagged, fuzzy texture of the characters’ surroundings feels perfectly at home. Between the incorporation of both geometric 3D designs and poppy 2D illustrations, each setting that Farmer Steve encounters brings a refreshing vibrancy that could only be achieved on this level of microbudget-DIY filmmaking. When the story takes a darker turn during Farmer Steve’s encounter with the Devil, Simon shows off his skill for shooting more classically attractive images. The texture here is sharp, smooth, and clean, which at this point in the film almost feels more surreal than all the artificial environments that have come before it. A striking contrast is achieved here which proves Simon’s ability to play with digital artifice in consistently surprising ways. The eclectic combination of visual styles, original songs, and memorable performances make Crop Farmer a joy to experience - both in its narrative thread and formal techniques.

Check out more of Tanner Simon’s work here!