Short films

Overview

"Monsters Never Came is a 15-minute short film mockumentary sci-fi. In a slow and peaceful pace, the camera becomes an objective spectator to observe the life of the protagonist, Wang Yi. By capturing the process of the disappearance of Wang Yi's superpower and his attempts to keep the last bit of his powers, the short film reflects the various kind of gains and losses in the process of a person's growing up." -- Abstract

Overview "Nimueh is a hybrid 16mm and digital experimental film that explores the local folklore and mythology surrounding the death of Hallie Latham Illingworth, whose body was found floating in Washington state's Lake Crescent in 1937 about four years after her death, partially preserved by the lake's frigid water. The only documentation of Hallie's life is in a slim, self-published, and sensational true crime novel titled The Lady of the Lake; dissatisfied with this reduction of Hallie's life,...

Overview

"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

Overview

"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

Overview "Through a multi-layered narrative structure, "Promnesia" is a short film that explores the concept of how to confront reality better. Anchored by the concept of parallel universes, the protagonist Michelle, a stage actress, undergoes multiple lifetimes embodying the character Mary. Things that happened in Mary's life resonate with various aspects of Michelle's real life. As a result, the boundaries between fiction and reality in her life become increasingly blurred. After she attains...

Overview "Sandcastles is a short narrative drama set in a small town neighbouring Beirut, Lebanon. A young woman from a modest family, Samar, navigates her daily life through a patriarchal society whilst trying to find a better future for herself. One fateful night after trying to get back home from work, she takes a public cab home. The disturbing events of that night push her to take the decision to want to leave. But will she get to, amidst a heightened sensitive political climate? This original...

Overview "I found my way to my thesis topic by starting with a subject that constantly occupies space in my thoughts: impact. I was born with something I call "detrimental empathy." It is a condition in which I have so much empathy for the people and things around me that it impacts my ability to interact with the world. For example, I cannot read or watch the news because if I hear or see something sad, I will cry and obsess over it for days. When I'm driving, I brake for animals in the street no...

Overview

"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

Overview "Swimming with Stones is a narrative short film about the subject of grief. The story follows a woman's journey going through grief and reliving the memories on the anniversary of her daughter's death. She comes to a realization that unloading the weight doesn't mean leaving the memories behind. This film will have a heavy emphasis on cinematography. Through that, the goal of this film is to reach anyone who has or is currently experiencing the process of grief. It is to offer some insight...

Overview

"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

Overview "What is home after immigration and displacement? Family after loss? Memory after dementia? Using interviews with members of my family, this thesis is an attempt to answer those questions for my benefit as well as to prompt viewers to consider such questions for themselves. It is a personal documentary that centers immigrant experiences because it is a narrative that comes from my Jamaican family and uses their words in their voices. The experience exists entirely in virtual reality and so...

Overview

Story about three young women, each involved in a romantic relationship told through the use of interview and story segments. The first, Rebecca, who has decided to forgo a career and marry her fiancé and raise a family is having second thoughts. Shay is

Overview

"The Egg is a short narrative film based on the director's own experiences. It tells the story of an eight-year-old girl who is sent to her grandfather's house. Grandfather insists on making boiled eggs for the girl every morning, but the girl does not like to eat eggs. The girl's unwillingness to eat eggs causes a conflict between generations. This story aims to explore the impact of social issues such as inter-generational families and parental divorce." -- Abstract

Overview

Focuses on the problematic relationship between a Japanese woman and an American man. Shows the racism of both people in their interactions with one another. Presents realistic images of interracial relations that may cause viewers to examine their own at

Overview

"The Housekeeper is a short narrative drama, set in the marginal area of a mid-Atlantic city in The United States of America. Martha Desimone, a young woman who work as a cleaner in a hotel room finishes work and join her mother to do some grocery shopping before heading home and having dinner with her family. This film portrays aa day of the life Martha who suffers from a very toxic codependent family dynamic which she ultimately won't find a healthy way out of." -- Abstract

Overview "The Lesson is a short narrative film that theatrically shows the effects of toxic masculinity, the rigor of musical performance, and the reconciliation of the past to support the future. Elijah Peters is a teen whose father Dick pressures him to become a high school wrestler. Elijah acquiesces to his father while he secretly pursues his passion by taking piano lessons with the strict instructor Thomas Vikander. The intersection of all three men leads to a confrontation that will uncover...

Overview "'The New Tenant' is a short mystery-thriller film that tells a story of a young man's escape from a violent incident and, perhaps, from who he is. The whole story revolves around international characters who end up living together, knowing nothing about each other. As Nader, the protagonist, tries to keep a low profile, he finds himself in the middle of more violence between his roommates that resonates with what he was initially escaping from. The film meditates on themes of loneliness,...

Overview "'To Be Heard' follows an afro-latino poet as he stands at a crossroads between his artistic pursuits and his family. The film is meant to capture the struggle of growing up as the child of an immigrant, weighing the expectations of your family and the expectations one weighs onto oneself. The expectations of higher education pushes people to leave their communities, but this is more difficult to accomplish in a first generation family with no college graduates, especially being from a place...

Overview

"The following is a description of the proposed work including narrative summary and major themes of the work. It highlights Romein's project goals, citing the origins of the film and the phenomena that is cryptocurrency while addressing the social, cultural, and personal reasons for undertaking the work." -- Abstract

Overview "Turkey Town is a documentary short that examines the recent population explosion of wild turkeys in urban areas in and around Boston. The film covers the history of the wild turkey population in Massachusetts, from extirpation in the mid 19th century through the intentional repopulation effort made by a government agency in the 1970's, to today, as the birds encroach upon urban spaces. Turkey Town addresses deeper philosophical questions about humanity's responsibility towards other species...