2026
Short Documentary
Stone Dead
Rex, a gifted marble sculptor, lives in a small mountain town in Colorado on a property littered with half-finished headstones, a faithful dog, and a family of scrap metal minions. It’s hard to fully know Rex, a man who chooses to live life on the fringes of society. It’s here, in the outskirts, that he revels in a life that defies convention.
In this short documentary, we journey into the enigmatic world of Rex, a self-made sculptor who engages in philosophical musings about mortality — verbalizing his abandonment of fear to his headstones. Despite his eccentricities, Rex is forced to continually reconnect with the outside world to scrap together a living by delivering his meticulously crafted commissions.
Amidst a backdrop of scattered beer cans and awe-inspiring marble sculptures, ‘Stone Dead’ invites viewers to delve deep into a sequestered artist’s unconventional existence. This thought-provoking short film navigates the intriguing intersection of life and death, weaving a compelling narrative that challenges our perceptions of what it means to be near the end.
Directors Statement
Fascinated by the unknown that lies beyond life, I found solace in an individual who confronts their mortality through the death of others. I had heard stories of marble sculptors who hid in the quaint mountains of Marble, Colorado, escaping the rat race of the outside world. These artists seemed elusive and Rex, the character of one of these tales, was just that. I set out to try and find him, Rex was off the grid with no phone or email but the trails of marble dust and sculptures were a giveaway.
I spent many hours with Rex, not to make a film, but to gain insight into his unique character. He was so friendly, curious, and deeply engulfed in his work. In the fall of 2023, I decided to bring a small team up to Rex’s property to embark on a short documentary. Rex had no clue what the film would entail, but he was open and trusting. The rewarding aspect of this project was what happened off-camera. We found in Rex a dear friend, a kind soul, and a unique curiosity to understand life and death.
Credits
Directors Freddie Gluck
Directors of Photography Matteo Moretti
Editors Freddie Gluck, Matteo Moretti
Composer Jeff Melanson
Sound Design/Mix/Master Jared Blizzard
Color Stephen Derluguian
DCP Dillon Brown