Milwaukee's Best After Effects & Premiere Pro - 2025 The innocence and excitement of new love bring to life Milwaukee's Best by The Wrecks in this fan-made music video. The mixed media approach conveys a whimsical, charmingly rough-around-the-edges narrative. MilwaukeesBest-storyboard.pdf This project was largely an exercise in working in 3D space in After Effects, creating a 2.5D environment with flat images and video. I also experimented with incorporating physical media, bringing a handmade touch to the visuals.
Written Between the Lines Avid Media Composer - 2026 With their identity reduced to a single life-altering decision, formerly incarcerated youth turn to creative writing as they navigate life post-incarceration and contend with the systemic injustices of the US justice system. This documentary looks in on a writing circle at InsideOUT Writers—an LA-based non-profit organization that offers creative writing classes to those in juvenile detention facilities, and works to reduce recidivism rates by providing services to alumni. Shot on Panasonic CX350. In researching and developing this film, I went through the process of first getting to know Jimmy Wu, the current Executive Director of InsideOUT Writers and a lecturer at UCLA in the Visual and Performing Arts Education Program (VAPAE). I sat in on one of his classes at UCLA, and initially created a one-minute short to document some of his most recent writing. This process helped me understand the heart of the organization's transformative work and what I wanted to focus on moving forward. In studying documentary, I also recorded two short exercises in class at UCLA. One, a video portrait of my classmate, to practice capturing people's likeness with available light. The other, an audio portrait of another classmate, to practice constructing a concise narrative from a much longer interview.
The Printmaker Premiere Pro - 2023 This documentary is on the life and work of Anna Kenar, a printmaker and studio professor at UNC Charlotte. It takes place as she prepares a body of work for her exhibition, “Carry this Splendor, this Chaos,” and examines her struggles with endometriosis in a society that does not prioritize women's health. Music: Poland Folk Music by Vivek Abhishek Best Film in UNCC's 2024 Gold Reel Film Festival. Best Documentary in UNCC's 2024 Gold Reel Film Festival. 3rd Place in UNCC's 2024 Juried Student Art Show.
Selfie Portrait After Effects & Premiere Pro - 2024 Selfie Portrait examines concepts of identity and digital presentation. With this project, I wanted to investigate the format of short-form video content that has gained rising popularity on social media while simultaneously critiquing that very format and environment. My research is interested in how our relationships become warped based on how we portray ourselves online and the disconnect generated with our offline selves. Model: Isabella Broccolo Music: Sahara by Hensonn
All Hung Up Premiere Pro - 2026 A discomforting late-night phone call urges a girl to contemplate her relationship with a past self and those she has left at a distance. This is a short film exercise on impressionist camera and editing techniques of 1920s cinema. It is inspired by films like A Page of Madness and Ménilmontant. AllHungUp-storyboard.pdf Filmed all in one day, all within my apartment, I relied fully on my rough storyboard to complete “in-camera editing,” rather than capturing coverage. This was a rewarding experiment with very minimal camera and lighting equipment.
Birds of a Feather Premiere Pro - 2023 With the goose now loose, one brave soldier must enter enemy airspace to save his brothers in arms. An exercise in editing trailers while incorporating archival footage. Music: Scars of War by Jessie Yun Exhibited in UNCC's 2022 Golden Reel Film Festival.
Blind Date After Effects, Premiere Pro, & Photoshop - 2024 This short animated film was made for my Senior Thesis project in Digital Media at UNC Charlotte. I completed everything from writing, concept art, and storyboards to asset creation, rigging, and animation. The story is centered around Medusa and her journey to find a partner. Featuring an assortment of monsters and cryptids at a local speed-dating event, the film explores relatable challenges of relationships—particularly for feminine-presenting individuals. I wanted to incorporate a sense of playfulness and humor into this mundane but daunting activity to reduce its intimidating appearance while representing a diverse range of characters. Music: Anyone by Anna Vtipil Exhibited in UNCC's 2024 Gold Reel Film Festival. BlindDateStoryboard.pdf AllHungUp-storyboard.pdf Animation involved preparing all assets in Photoshop in separate layers, then using Duik Bassel in After Effects to rig the characters. I wanted to stick with a 2D puppet-like appearance, both as a stylistic and time-conscious choice, without things looking overly stiff.
Home Sweet Home (Now Lie in it) After Effects - 2025 With this spooky experimental animation, I invite you down into this home. What makes a place a home, and what does it become when we are gone? Made using public domain/CC0 images. HomeSweetHome-storyboard.pdf This project was an introduction for me in using 3D space in After Effects, creating a 2.5D environment from 2D photos and videos. I learned a lot about working with digital lighting and camera movement in the software.
One Nightstand Photoshop & After Effects - 2024 One Nightstand continues my investigation of contemporary relationships coupled with technology, and how our devices impact us even at rest. With this project, I aim to create a fundamentally human narrative despite the absence of humans. Instead, the scene is centered around electronic/man-made objects within an intimate bedroom environment and the relationships that they insinuate. Made using public domain/CC0 images in combination with my own photography. Made using public domain/CC0 images in combination with my own photography.
Romantic 4.0 Diner After Effects & Photoshop - 2021 This apocalyptic "still life" photo animation is inspired by the Romanticism movement, twisting its aesthetics into a dystopia rather than idealizing the environment. The project was largely an exercise in animating 2D photos in After Effects. Made using public domain/CC0 images. Exhibited in UNCC's 2022 Juried Student Art Show.
Cattle Battle GameMaker & Photoshop - 2024 This project was made in collaboration with Grace Bishop for my Game Design studio at UNC Charlotte. Inspired by early 2000s co-op flash games such as Fireboy and Watergirl, we wanted to explore a playful multiplayer PC experience. Play as the alien to abduct cows, or play as the farmer to defend them! Music by Elvis Herod Co-coded with Chelsea Brtis. CattleBattle-sketches.pdf I designed and animated the farmer and UFO sprites, along with the various title cards for the game, and I handled most of the coding. Grace designed the background and animated the cow sprites. This was a great collaborative experience in which I learned a lot about frame-by-frame animation and preparing 2D assets for use in video games.
How to Summon a Ghost Website After Effects, Photoshop, & Dreamweaver - 2022 This mobile webpage was made as an exercise in interactive design. With my signature dark yet playful approach, the assignment involved providing viewers step-by-step instructions. I first mocked up my design in Photoshop, then animated the main visuals in After Effects, and coded everything using Adobe Dreamweaver.
The Synophones Illustrator - 2021 This project was originally made for my 4D studio but was expanded into a personal series. It is a conceptual poster design for a magical, musical product.
Worry Free TV Photoshop - 2021 This project was made for my 4D studio. It is a digital composition that explores the dangers of new technology that constantly demands our attention, juxtaposing more vintage aesthetics. Public domain/CC0 photos were used.
Breaking Antiquity Photoshop - 2021 This project was made for my 4D studio. It is a digital composition that explores the clashing aesthetics of modernity and antiquity. As technology advances, what traditions do we leave behind? How do we continue to see ourselves in an ever-changing digital world? Published in Nova's 2022 Literary-Arts Magazine at UNCC.
