A poem for class becomes a reflection of a young boy’s tormented soul.

Simmer is a 15-minute narrative drama concerning a young, black high school student named Carter Williams. The film weaves us in and out of a subconscious space where Carter processes suppressed emotions triggered by events and relationships in the real world. Although his English teacher pushes him to get involved in a poetry showcase and develop his talents, a racist bully and avoidant father operates against him. Over the course of the story, the conflict blends both real and imagined spaces parallel to Carter’s evolution from repression to expression.