The Big Pelvis

The Big Pelvis is a 2023 American comedy short film directed and produced by Joseph Jeavons about three fishermen who will do whatever it takes to catch the elusive Big Pelvis before their rival does. The film was co-written by Jeavons and Owen Swift. It stars Joseph Jeavons alongside Jordan Mook, Howard May, and Beckett Nichols.

The Big Pelvis premiered in Dallas, Texas on March 5, 2023.

Plot
Three fishermen, Cast Master, Knot Master, and Brad/Bait Master set out to catch The Big Pelvis, a fish that only emerges once a month. Soon after arriving, it is revealed that Brad has neglected to bring any fishing bait to their outing, so he and Cast Master assign Knot Master to worm duty. Eventually, their rival, Other Brad, arrives at the lake and runs into the three fishermen. Cast Master decides that they must sabotage Other Brad so that they can catch The Big Pelvis before he does. They send Knot Master to spy on him.

Knot Master befriends Other Brad and the two meet up with Cast Master and Brad. Cast Master throws a fit at the thought of including Other Brad in their activities but gets cut off when The Big Pelvis makes a splash nearby. After reeling in the legendary fish, Cast Master decides to release it back into the lake to keep their monthly tradition alive.

Cast

 * Joseph Jeavons as Cast Master
 * Jordan Mook as Brad/Bait Master
 * Howard May as Knot Master
 * Beckett Nichols as Other Brad

Development and filming
The film began development in January 2023, with the script being written by Owen Swift and Joseph Jeavons after wrapping production on Parasocial. The project was filmed on February 4, 2023, in one eight-hour shoot, and was shot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. The film was made by the same crew behind Parasocial, specifically the inclusion of Swift and Jeavons, in addition to Jordan Mook, Beckett Nichols, Howard May, Cathal Mayfield, Bellavia Giannoni, and Bala Brown.

Casting
Sam Teague was originally cast as Knot Master but had to drop out of the role because the filming schedule conflicted with his auditions for both CalArts and Juilliard. The role was then given to Calvin Lewis who also had to drop out of the role due to scheduling conflicts, but would later be cast as the oddball character Leg Hair Nelson in Jeavons' third short film, Wrists Tied. Finally, the role was given to Howard May who brought life to the character.

Reception
The Big Pelvis screened at the Student World Impact Film Festival on June 25, 2023, where it won a finalist award for the Best Super Short Film category. Later that year, The Big Pelvis won the Best Student Film Award at the Houston Comedy Film Festival on November 1, 2023, making this the second time that this particular crew has been awarded this accolade at this specific festival.

Chris Salce of Film Threat wrote, "Even with quirky characters, the comedy just wasn’t there." In contrast, Richard Propes of The Independent Critic wrote, "The jokes are quick and pleasing while the relationships here are relaxed and appealing. It's easy to believe this is a trio of friends."