KC filmmaker sees pleasure as a prequel to dystopia hiding ‘In Plain Sight’; His brave new wake-up call

Thomas Rex’s new proof-of-concept film project envisions a near-future world where society is on the verge of totalitarian control, he said, describing a cautionary tale about being unknowingly controlled by a culture of escapism through pleasure and pharmaceuticals.  

“In Plain Sight” serves as a prelude to Aldous Huxley’s novel “Brave New World,” an acclaimed but frequently banned 1932 science fiction book that explores the concept of a dystopian society built on conformity. Rex crafted “In Plain Sight” as a short film, with a screenplay that could a later be adapted into a feature-length film if the project is well-received.

“I want people to think critically about what’s going on around them,” said Rex. “We’re all responsible for the world we live in, and that starts with having difficult conversations. If we keep ignoring what’s happening right in front of us, we could end up in a reality that looks a lot like ‘ Brave New World.’”

Rex, the director, producer, and writer of “In Plain Sight,” has been captivated by such themes since his time at Olathe Northwest High School.

“I’ve always been fascinated by dystopias,” the serial entrepreneur said. “But ‘Brave New World’ struck me differently. It’s not driven by fear like ‘1984’ or ‘Fahrenheit 451’; it’s driven by pleasure, by a society that believes it’s free when, in reality, they’re trapped by their own comfort.”

Click here to follow the project’s progress on Instagram.

Concept art for Thomas Rex's short film "In Plain Sight"

Concept art for Thomas Rex's short film "In Plain Sight"

Blissfully controlled

Unlike direct adaptations of Huxley’s novel, “In Plain Sight” takes viewers to the moments before dystopia fully takes hold.

The proof-of-concept film project centers around pharmaceutical scientist Henry Foster who begins to uncover the truth about a drug being developed — a drug that will eventually become the “soma,” the pleasure-inducing substance that keeps the citizens of “Brave New World” in a state of blissful conformity.

“It’s about one man seeing things he’s not supposed to see,” said Rex. “He starts to piece together how the pharmaceutical industry, driven by the government, is setting up a system that will ultimately take away people’s freedom, but they won’t even realize it because they’ll think they’re happy.”

While Rex’s film is set in the 1960s, he sees many parallels to today’s world, particularly with the rise of social media and instant gratification. 

“Our society now is more like Brave New World than we realize,” he said, “Social media has trained us to expect instant happiness and to show only the best parts of our lives. That’s how people become controlled — by the pursuit of constant pleasure, and ignoring the negative.”

Actors Stewart Johnson and Rixie Ray engage with filmmaker Thomas Rex during a table read session for “In Plain Sight”; photo courtesy of Thomas Rex

Fueling the vision

To make In Plain Sight a reality, Rex launched a fundraiser with a $20,000 goal toward the film’s overall $50,000 budget. The money is expected to be used for production costs, including equipment, set design, and post-production work. 

Thomas Rex laughs during a table read session for “In Plain Sight”; photo courtesy of Thomas Rex

The support so far has been encouraging, said Rex, but there’s still a long way to go.

It had raised $17,000 by Tuesday, the date the campaign was initially expected to wrap.

“We’ve had amazing feedback and contributions, and that’s given us the confidence to push forward. But we need more help from anyone who believes in art and storytelling,” he said. “This film won’t happen without community backing.”

Filming is planned in Kansas City using local actors. For those who contribute, exclusive perks are offered: ranging from social media shoutouts to behind-the-scenes access during production. 

Rex hopes “In Plain Sight” will prompt viewers to question the direction society is heading. With themes of corporate greed, government control, and the manipulation of pleasure, the film is intended as a wake-up call,” he said.