Emerson thesis -- Media art

"Nomads (2021) is a cautionary tale that tackles subject matters such as human trafficking and homelessness. This exploration of the gritty landscape of the city at night highlights the importance of Social Darwinism when a homeless hustler meets traumatized sex worker. I hope this film also highlights the reality that people are still people. We all bleed red and have the same level of emotions; some people are just in extreme circumstances than others." -- Abstract

"NORO is a short narrative fiction film in the psychological horror genre. The film aims to subvert the stereotypically weak or helpless depictions of characters suffering from mental illness, create metaphysical representations of its symptoms, and emphasize the importance of professional help and speaking up." -- Abstract

"A thirty-minute crime/mystery radio drama revolving around three bandmembers whose upcoming performance in the finals of the 'Battle of the Bands' will determine their futures. When their conflicts escalate and the drummer is found dead in front of the band's rehearsing space, evidence leads the detective to one of the bandmembers as a leading suspect in the murder case. --Abstract.

"Otherisms is a website featuring short videos covering topics that don't receive widespread coverage from mainstream media. This website combines the power of storytelling and journalism to deliver content in a non-traditional format. "Otherisms" is an umbrella term denoting the various systemic processes, in conjunction with white supremacy, which contribute to the "othering" of Black/African Americans, leaving them at a social, economic and political disadvantage." --Abstract.

"Overcoming is a documentary in which Traumatic Brain Injury survivors delve into the experience after having sustained such an injury, supported by facts from medical professionals about TBI. The documentary explores how the TBI survivors cope with the consequences and what keeps them going." --Abstract.

"Oyate is an observational nonfiction film about life on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. The movie follows three families as they go about their daily activities over the course of a single summer. Meanwhile, the difficult realities of modern reservation life encroach upon them." --Abstract.

"Personal is a narrative short movie depicting an immanent crisis in the life of a young Iranian woman who carries on a secretive modeling career. The story, which takes place against the backdrop of Tehran, a dizzying modern day metropolis, portrays the struggles of women living under an Islamic theocracy." --Abstract.

"Reset is a short narrative that depicts the relationship between a couple that has already lost their love and passion to each other. It raises the discussion of the bonded relationship in marriage." -- Abstract

"Rituals is a two-channel installation utilizing direct animation on 16mm film and unsplit 8mm film projected onto a workspace covered in ink, tape, receipts, and love notes in order to explore the intricacies of the artist's romantic relationship." --Abstract.

"The Rub is a film following Nadia, a writer on tour to promote the film version of her coming out memoir, and her girlfriend, Josefina. On the last stop of the tour, Nadia flirts with her publishing handler, Stacey, leading all three women to ask what they want out of relationships. The Rub is about how people tell their stories to themselves and others, how they mediate their experiences, and how holding onto those experiences damages relationships." --Abstract.

"A trans man facing his alter ego in a fantastical mind-room and a woman escaping war in tunnels under the ground in the Middle East, this 2-film thesis project explores identity within social justice themes. This project aims to address gender, sexuality and ethnicity issues and connect the two films with the need for freedom and peace. These films investigate in ways of telling different stories through similar image strategies and experimental narratives." --Abstract.

"Still Waters is a short film exploring the ideas of mental health, unresolved childhood trauma, and the relationships we have with others and with ourselves. The story follows a distressed man when a mysterious boy appears in his home after a recent breakup triggers him to relive memories of the past. In order to save the boy, the man must find a way to confront his inner demons before they consume him." -- Abstract

"TaiL is an 18 mins body horror-comedy about a wacky woman's journey to self-discovery with a penis stuck inside her vagina." -- Abstract