They call them “Clusters”
Oysters don’t grow alone. They cluster — building on each other, surviving because of it.
In this short film, I spend a rainy afternoon at an oyster roast in Charleston, South Carolina, watching people gather around steaming trays of oysters. What starts as a simple meal slowly becomes something more — a reminder of how connection happens quietly, without ceremony, just by showing up.
From the docks of McClellanville to a table at the Charleston Poorhouse, this story follows Josh, an oysterman who loves seeing where his oysters end up and who gathers around them. Along the way, we explore the idea of “clusters” — not just as oysters growing together, but as a metaphor for how communities form, support each other, and stay resilient.
This isn’t about fine dining.It’s about hands getting wet.Shells cracking.People standing close.And the small, meaningful moments that bring us together.
Thanks for being here.– Duncan