About The Project

This project started out as a simple script for my final film project for my undergraduate degree at Rutgers-Camden. I wrote it in the summer of 2020, where despite the beautiful weather and time off, I stayed inside. Writing in my balcony every morning, I was inspired by the outdoors: the sounds, the colors. I loved how quiet it was, despite it being a written piece of work. I knew I had to create this film as soon as I finished the final draft.

Meeting at my creative paradise, Saxby’s in Haddonfield, my close friend and fellow writer (producer of the project) came to meet with me. He read the script and I talked to him about how I could make this film. By connecting me with Sean Crowley (DP, director of photography, of the project), this project slowly became a reality.

We had two problems: money and COVID. The boredom of the summer caused an obsession with Tik Tok, and despite much time wasted, the app did one great thing for me. I came across an NYU student who talked about the process of creating an online campaign off of IndieGoGo. After doing the research, I discussed with Matt, and we created a pitch video. Gathering friends and film students from Rutgers (that would later become my friends), I published the IndieGoGo campaign by November.

Published in November of 2020 and ending that December, we raised more money than our goal. Next, we had to face our biggest problem: COVID. With many last minute changes to the schedule, we finished shooting by March of 2021. This was a big deal for us, because although our schedule was delayed, we managed to keep everyone in the cast and crew completely safe. I mean, and even big budget movies like the new Batman couldn’t do that, so props to us, right?

Once I received the footage and edited together, I was unhappy with it. The risk of it being quiet felt like too much. But that all changed once coloring was added and the music! Believe me when I tell you, music changed this film dramatically. And I loved that about the project. Sam Paulson’s work (creator of the music and sound effects) and the work Sean did to make this film visually appealing made everything come together.

I was lucky to have such a tremendous cast and crew. I love this film so much and I am proud to say that it my first project. Directing was difficult to me and I was nervous about being put in that position (I am a naturally introverted and anxious person), but the people who worked with me understood the assignment and lifted it up to a whole other level, causing me to feel a lot more confident in my work.

I shared the script back in October to my Directing class and one of the biggest signs to know I was on the right path was another student who cried as she talked about how the script personally affected her. Her grandmother had passed away from COVID and was all the way across the country, so she was unable to see her. She said that she loved that the script talked about the risk of COVID and how difficult it was to sit with it. I thought about this throughout this whole process, so I’m hoping to connect with other people in that kind of way throughout all my future projects.