“Young Phil” is an absurd origin story of a young Dr. Phil, as he navigates his life as a dejected teen with a passion for musicals. Troubled by his family life and the problematic counseling of his best friend Walter, he runs away from home, traveling to Hollywood and meeting the love of his life, Robin. This is James Thomer's first short film and was an experimental thesis project for his MFA at California Institute of the Arts.