Mit Out Sound

Emily Bennett becomes obsessed with tracking down a reclusive film editor who may possess the original negative of Showdown, a 1950s Western rumored to star John Wayne and James Dean. What begins as skepticism transforms into determination to complete the lost film. Emily assembles an unconventional crew: two celebrity impersonators, a demanding director, and her estranged brother, a struggling actor. Each carries emotional damage from their past, particularly Emily, who remains affected by her father's rejection. Production takes place in Arizona's remote landscapes, where unexpected parallels emerge between the film's narrative and the crew's personal dynamics. Tensions rise, alliances shift, and a love triangle surfaces, revealing long-buried secrets. As cameras roll and conflict intensifies, the project evolves from an ambitious filmmaking venture into a potential turning point—one that could lead either to healing or to complete breakdown. Mit Out Sound won the Pacific Book Award for Best Fiction and was a finalist for both the National Indie Excellence Award and the Eric Hoffer Award.