Give as a gift
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Synopsis
A snappy absurdist comedy set in a world where everyone brings their Baggage to their first date in the form of actual suitcases.
Director's Statement
This short is in large part about my experiences dating as an Autistic person, even though autism isn't explicitly mentioned in it. I've had the first few dates go great, then get ghosted after I bring up my disability for the first time. I've had people insist they're fine dating a disabled person, then leave the second they're confronted with the reality that they may have to compromise aspects of their lifestyle on account of my brain.
I'm scared that nobody's ever gonna grasp the full spectrum of who I am and still accept me. But I didn't make this short explicitly about Autism, because I don't believe this experience is unique to autistic people.
Neurotypical or not, disabled or not, we all have limits, problems, history, and scars. At the risk of sounding trite, we all have baggage. And I think what we so often miss, and what I always try to remember, is that our baggage can define who we are in good ways.
I believe that love is less about what we've already overcome, and more about what we're still overcoming. I believe the partner that helps you heal is the one who's been hurt before too. And I believe dating isn't about finding someone with no Baggage - It's about finding someone with compatible Baggage.
And this is the idea I've tried to express in this short. Which features a dildo the size of a watermelon impaling a wedding cake.
Crew & Cast
Tim Hendrix (Director) I'm Tim! I grew up in Richardson, Texas (King of The Hill is based on it!) and have an autism spectrum disorder called Hyperlexia. I survived that combination of things long enough to move out to LA, where I make commercials, music videos, and move pixels around.
In 2015, I was the youngest working director to ever screen in SXSW's Music Video section. Today, I am the oldest working director to still regularly struggle to tie his shoes. Win some, lose some!
I like making VFX-heavy and highly art directed absurd comedy - Using surreal images and emerging technology to find new ways to tell human stories.
Behind the Scenes
- Runtime13:27
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
Stream the curated UCLAxFilmFest 2026 Official Selections here!
Synopsis
A snappy absurdist comedy set in a world where everyone brings their Baggage to their first date in the form of actual suitcases.
Director's Statement
This short is in large part about my experiences dating as an Autistic person, even though autism isn't explicitly mentioned in it. I've had the first few dates go great, then get ghosted after I bring up my disability for the first time. I've had people insist they're fine dating a disabled person, then leave the second they're confronted with the reality that they may have to compromise aspects of their lifestyle on account of my brain.
I'm scared that nobody's ever gonna grasp the full spectrum of who I am and still accept me. But I didn't make this short explicitly about Autism, because I don't believe this experience is unique to autistic people.
Neurotypical or not, disabled or not, we all have limits, problems, history, and scars. At the risk of sounding trite, we all have baggage. And I think what we so often miss, and what I always try to remember, is that our baggage can define who we are in good ways.
I believe that love is less about what we've already overcome, and more about what we're still overcoming. I believe the partner that helps you heal is the one who's been hurt before too. And I believe dating isn't about finding someone with no Baggage - It's about finding someone with compatible Baggage.
And this is the idea I've tried to express in this short. Which features a dildo the size of a watermelon impaling a wedding cake.
Crew & Cast
Tim Hendrix (Director) I'm Tim! I grew up in Richardson, Texas (King of The Hill is based on it!) and have an autism spectrum disorder called Hyperlexia. I survived that combination of things long enough to move out to LA, where I make commercials, music videos, and move pixels around.
In 2015, I was the youngest working director to ever screen in SXSW's Music Video section. Today, I am the oldest working director to still regularly struggle to tie his shoes. Win some, lose some!
I like making VFX-heavy and highly art directed absurd comedy - Using surreal images and emerging technology to find new ways to tell human stories.
Behind the Scenes
- Runtime13:27
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
