SIFF 2023 Interview with Mike Simses The Director of The Unusualist

The Wrath of the iOtians

The 2023 Seattle International Film Festival was held on May 11-21. Ron was able to receive press credentials and had the opportunity to check out several short films and a few features. One of the films that was a stand-out was The Unusualist directed by Mike Simses and starring Matt Gourley. Mike not only directed the film, but was also the cinematographer, editor and composer of the score! Matt Gourely researched script ideas and improvised much of his dialogue.
The Unusualist is a humorous and light-hearted take on the classic 1970s TV show In Search Of....with Leonard Nimoy as the host. We hope that it somehow finds a way to have a home at the SyFy Channel as a series!
A huge thanks to the SIFF Press team (Amie, Dana, Madison, Victoria, Jesse and Jordan) for handling all the logistics and communications to setup this interview! They even booked a Press Suite at the Grand Hyatt Seattle for Mike and myself! Thank you!
Post interview corrections from Mike Simses:
The Unusualist monologues (incuding th one heard in this episode) were written, rather than improvised, by Mike Simses. The dialogue was among the post production elements written by Mike (e.g. the re-enactments in the film).
Other corrections: It’s the EMS Synthi, not OMS; and the DX7 came out in ‘83, not ‘84.

The 2023 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)
https://www.siff.net/festival
The Unusualist (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27663106/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
https://www.siff.net/festival/the-unusualist
Michael Simses
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3205976/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2
https://www.instagram.com/mikesimses/
Matt Gourley
https://www.mattgourley.com
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13713693/?ref_=tt_cl_i_4
Moxie Pictures
https://moxiepictures.com/
In Search Of....(TV series 1977-1982)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074007/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
During the interview Mike Simses references "Rinder and Lewis" who are the composers of the famous (or infamous!) In Search Of....theme music.
In Search Of.....Bigfoot episode Leonard Nimoy host (YouTube channel ZVJ1216)
https://youtu.be/qMGdZoMBfPA
In Search of Ancient Astronauts (1973 Rod Serling film)
https://youtu.be/X9KKLZmk5Uo
Music
Courtesy of Mike Simses....thanks Mike!
The Theme from The Unusalist (opening and closing music of episode) composed and performed by Mike Simses
The Unusualist Journey (closing music of the interview) composed and performed by Mike Simses
The Wrath of the iOtians
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