The Relentless Disappointment of Richard Boot
Narrative Feature
Project Type: Narrative Feature
Project Status: Pre-Production
Director: Eric Wang Schwager
Producer: Gus Murray
Writer: Cyrus Yalda
LOGLINE
The lines of reality blur when a career loser is given his chance at the American Dream by a man who has it all.
SYNOPSIS
Richard Boot, a recovering alcoholic in his 20s, chauffeurs the older and erratic Tucker Frank through a rainstorm to a courthouse. After Tucker’s hearing, he insists they visit The Mint, a seedy karaoke bar. Tucker disappears into a private section, leaving Richard behind. There, Richard meets Mrs. Frank, who later mysteriously floats above a man-made river before vanishing. Richard wakes alone, unsettled.
Six months later, Tucker again drags Richard to The Mint, this time into the surreal “Private” area—a trailer park where wealthy men role-play as the poor. Richard is confronted by his abusive ex-boss and a pregnant woman claiming he’s the father. Though he denies it, he briefly falls into the fantasy before fleeing. Tucker, meanwhile, is performing as a loving father in a bizarre competition. Richard is crowned runner-up. On the ride home, Richard calls Tucker a friend—Tucker fires him.
Five years later, Richard, now successful, meets Tucker at The Mint. Tension brews as they reminisce and argue. Tucker drunkenly offers his new wife to Richard, then violently assaults him. Richard is thrown out, stripped of dignity, and walks home in silence.
Ten years later, Richard, now older and alone, waits at The Mint for Tucker—only to learn Tucker died years ago. Devastated, he lashes out and is ejected. He wanders to the now-dry man-made river and finds a corpse that mocks him. At home, he’s haunted by the familiar stomping from upstairs. He storms into the identical apartment above, finds pristine white cowboy boots, and begins to tap dance as characters from his past watch. The dance spirals into chaos.
In the final scene, Richard walks a tightrope over the river. He hesitates, tries to turn back, and begins to fall.
Epilogue: The bartender sings alone in The Mint, older and weary, but still performing.
REFERENCES
DIRECTOR STATEMENT ABOUT THE PROJECT
The American Dream has long stood as a beacon of hope—a promise that through hard work and determination, anyone can achieve success and fulfillment. But for many, that dream has curdled into something far more elusive, even punishing. This film is my response to that transformation.
I believe it’s vital—now more than ever—to confront the widening gap between the ideal and the reality. We live in a time when economic inequality, systemic injustice, and cultural disillusionment are no longer hidden under the surface. They are the surface. The myth of upward mobility has become a burden, especially for those who were never truly invited to the table in the first place.
This story is personal. It’s born from witnessing friends, family, and communities chase a dream that keeps moving the goalposts. It’s about the quiet heartbreak of doing everything “right” and still falling short—not because of individual failure, but because the system was never built to catch everyone.
Through this film, I want to hold a mirror to that reality—not to extinguish hope, but to spark conversation, empathy, and maybe even change. I want audiences to feel seen, to feel challenged, and to feel less alone in their disillusionment. Because only by acknowledging the nightmare can we begin to reimagine the dream.
Meet The Filmmakers
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Cyrus Yalda
Writer
Cyrus Yalda is a queer, Assyrian screenwriter and Los Angeles native. His AFI thesis film, Carcass, premiered at the LA Shorts International Film Festival, was chosen for the CAA Moebius Showcase, and won Best Student Film at the Hamilton Film Festival. Since graduating, Cyrus has worked in script development for Netflix, HBO Max, and various independent producers.
Cyrus is currently a finalist for the NBCUniversal Global Talent Development & Inclusion program, with his feature length script, SUNLAND, and was a semifinalist for the Sundance Feature Film Program Development Track in 2023.Cyrus is nationally ranked, HEMA longsword fencer, works on skid row as an organizer for FoodNotBombs, and a volunteer with Tree-People. Cyrus is an existentialist, and his stories often focus on characters trying to survive in a world that is not made for them. Through horror and dark comedy, Cyrus wraps his stories around the “others” with the intention to authentically give a home to fellow outsiders.
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Eric Wang Schwager
Director
Eric Wang Schwager is a multi-ethnic Director based in Los Angeles. He is currently in post-production on his first feature film, Dirty Little Secrets. While at AFI, Eric was the recipient of the prestigious Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award and directed two thesis films, Carcass and Lucky Market. Both films premiered at the LA Shorts International Film Festival. Carcass was also chosen for the CAA Moebius Showcase and won Best Student Film at the Hamilton Film Festival, while Lucky Market won a Golden Angel at the Chinese American Film Festival and was a nominee for the ASC Heritage Award. He has also directed several Vertical Dramas for platforms such as ReelShorts, DramaBox, PocketFM, and more.
Eric’s half-hour pilot, Bad Beat, was a Cinequest and Screencraft semifinalist and a top-ten finalist at the Nantucket Film Festival. In the commercial world, Eric was recognized with a Silver Telly Award in the "Craft" category for Roborock’s "Revel in the Mess" and also had pieces for Bank of America and Advance Auto Parts spotlighted for AAPI month. He is also an alum of the AICP Commercial Mentorship Program, working alongside Oliver Fuselier and Great Guns USA. A New Jersey native, Eric holds a BFA from Dartmouth College where he worked as an art gallery attendant and snowboarding instructor.
His films often grapple with themes of systemic disadvantage and exclusion. By distilling each story to its most visual and powerful core, Eric hopes to connect with viewers on a visceral level and encourage them to see themselves and the world around them differently. -
Gus Murray
Producer
Gus Murray is a producer whose award-winning short films have screened at over 50 international festivals, including the premiere of his short film “When Big People Lie” at the 51st Telluride Film Festival. Before that he worked on the pilot for the Showtime series WORK IN PROGRESS. His debut feature "Dirty Little Secrets" is set for completion in early 2025.
After earning his MFA from the AFI Conservatory in Producing,, Murray quickly established himself in narrative filmmaking while leveraging his extensive commercial production background. As the former on-staff coordinator and stage manager at Chicago's One at Optimus, he managed numerous high-profile advertising campaigns.
A Los Angeles native, Murray spent over a decade in Chicago, where he graduated from Loyola University Chicago and immersed himself in the city's renowned comedy scene. His unique background spanning two major film markets, combined with experience in commercial production, comedy, and narrative storytelling, shapes his dynamic approach to filmmaking and talent development. Murray's versatility as a producer, demonstrated through successful projects across multiple formats, makes him adept at executing complex creative visions while maintaining commercial viability -
Abbie Vance
Production Designer
Abbie Vance is a Production Designer with 10 years of experience in film, television, and visual storytelling. A graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory’s MFA in Production Design (class of 2022), her film credits include For Worse (2025), The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020), and Nine Days (2020). Her work on the short film Gather (2018) was awarded “Best Production Design” at Final Cut Film Festival 2018. She is known for large-scale set builds on small-scale projects, including medieval-period rural France (Carcass, 2022) and comedic 1st-century Nazareth (Teen Mary, 2025).
Raised in rural Montana without a traditional education, she built her career by determination– painting, constructing, dressing, and fabricating her way into the art department. Her hands-on below-theline background and diverse indie film body of experience have given her unique skills, versatility and problem-solving as a department head with the ability to combine creativity with practicality to maximize every frame of every project.
She has an immense passion for film history and theory, and specializes in high-concept and genre pictures that prioritize the medium of film for its unique potential. Her work has premiered at SXSW, Sundance, and occasionally a regular movie theater. -
Sam Grant
Cinematographer
Samuel Grant is a British Cinematographer currently residing in Los Angeles. Samuels first TV feature was nominated for a GLAAD Award for OUTSTANDING FILM - STREAMING OR TV. His first short film that he wrote and was DOP for - MINE was selected for the RAINDANCE festival in the UK.
Sam obtained his master of fine arts at AFI. He recently was Segundo DOP for HBO, mexico number one documentary & top 10 in the US - ‘Battle of Culiacán - Heirs of the Cartel’. Sam has shot commercials for YSL, ELLE, Johnson & Johnson, documentaries for HBO & PBS, TV features for Lifetime & Tubi & a music video for OVO records.
Recently Sam was accepted on to the BAFTA CONNECT and BSC Mentee program whilst also being a SOC Associate member. Pre Sam moving to the US he worked on Bafta & Emmy winning shows such as PEAKY BLINDERS, SHERLOCK & HAPPY VALLEY. Outside of tv and film Sam won gold at the junior Olympics for team GB inline hockey tournament in Philadelphia 2008.
Post this win Sam played professionally in the Spanish league. A husband, father who loves to take advantage of local beaches and great weather.
Your Help
THE RELENTLESS DISAPPOINTMENT OF RICHARD BOOT is a fiscally sponsored project of Cinematography for Actors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation will be tax-deductible!