Short Films
Here is a showcase of the various short films I have created as collaborative group projects during university, where everyone experiments with all aspects of filmmaking. While I enjoyed expanding my knowledge and understanding of cinematography, sound, editing, and more, I also took on specialist roles reflecting my career goals and interests where possible. These often included storyboarding, set design, costume design, makeup, and props.
Ravening (2024)
Subtly inspired by the concept of the rapture, Ravening delves into the tumultuous psyche of a troubled anti-heroine navigating a dystopian world on the brink of mass hysteria. Through her isolated and increasingly unstable perspective, the film explores themes of fear, paranoia, and the unraveling of society. As my final practical project, I played a key role as the special effects makeup artist, crafting the visual manifestations of the protagonist’s mental and physical deterioration. Additionally, I collaborated extensively as the cinematographer, shaping the film's stark and unsettling visual tone.
Blur (2023)
This experimental, multi-lingual short film delves into the complex emotions of an international student grappling with displacement, estrangement, and the challenges of language barriers. Drawing inspiration from Wong Kar-Wai's New Wave style, the film portrays an introverted and anxious protagonist. Jiahui finds herself in a surreal dreamscape that blurs the lines between reality and imagination. My role in this collaborative project extended to directing and art direction, where I helped shape the film’s distinct visual and emotional atmosphere.
Just Another Night Out (2023)
Just Another Night Out was an immensely rewarding project, developed by a group of six female students as a demo-documentary of an interactive virtual reality game. The concept arose naturally from our shared frustrations with male dominance in our course and the alarming rise of drink spiking in university towns. This reflexive piece of artistic protest allowed all of us to contribute across various aspects of production. A particularly unique experience for me was performing as not only an extra but also as the protagonist’s body while operating the camera to achieve a continuous POV technique, immersing viewers directly into the narrative.
Parallel (2022)
This project was part of one of my favourite university modules, Fantasy Film. With a straightforward brief to create a visually-driven, 1-minute short film set in a fantasy world, we began brainstorming ideas. Parallel emerged from our shared interest in motifs like mirrors and nature, which we used to explore a character’s inner world and psyche. Since the brief emphasised design over narrative, we decided to exclude dialogue, instead relying on subtle visual cues and a dramatic twist at the end—offering some context while leaving the audience intrigued. My primary contributions were during pre-production, while I also worked on lighting and continuity during production.
Belladonna (2022)
Belladonna was the final project of a module dedicated to the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, where my group and I aimed to reinterpret his signature style for a contemporary audience. Our short film blends classic Hitchcockian motifs with a modern narrative about a woman trapped in an abusive heterosexual marriage while secretly engaging in a homosexual affair. While I was confident in my roles as casting director, location scout, art director, and makeup artist, I was particularly impressed by how much my skills have advanced in areas like sound and lighting since this early collaboration.
How To Find Love (2021)
My first ever short film, How to Find Love, is a charming romantic comedy that captures a meet-cute moment between two students who unexpectedly cross paths. The hopeless romantic female lead’s imagination briefly takes centre stage in a montage sequence. This short film marked my acting debut as an extra, though my primary contributions were as casting director, sound recorder, and cinematographer.
