Trailer : A Million Smiles
Release Date: March 25, 2024
Description: This film tells the untold story of registered non-profit Baseball Without Borders Foundation, which has been donating equipment to children in over 50 countries since 1995. "A Million Smiles" brings you on a journey to BWB’s home of San Francisco, and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Our crowdfunded film focuses on the joy and hope BWB brings to children less fortunate around the world through baseball and softball. Baseball is America’s pastime, but a sport that creates change all over the world.
Trailer : Moms and Sons
Release Date: August 21, 2023
Description: I really enjoyed getting to edit a trailer for a short film that has a more experimental feel to it than most other shorts I have previously worked on. Getting to create tension through a structured sequence of key moments that artistically express the main emotions of the artpiece without giving away the surprise at the end is always a fascinating journey for me while cutting a trailer. As a capstone project, this short film did not lack the powerful plot elements and characters' arcs, pointed out in the trailer as well.
Trailer : Love in the Evening/Morning
Release Date: May 25, 2023
Description: I loved taking full ownership of my projects and editing a trailer for my thesis film Love in the Evening/Morning, for which I had the chance to do most of the post production work. The senior capstone movie, released in May 2023, is the product of great team work, artistic and strategic collaboration and passionate involvement from both the cast and crew. It also has a dedicated page on this website where you can learn more details about how it was produced, directed, and edited and also get more insight into the artists' background.
Trailer : Smile
Release Date: August 18, 2022
Description: I cut this trailer for the feature film Smile, a 2021 SMU Senior feature film that is the result of a long and strong collaboration among all film students in the film deparment. I enjoyed playing with the dramatism of the scenes and working on selecting the best shots to represent the appropriate tone of the film through the trailer.
Trailer : Boppie
Release Date: May 12, 2022
Description: I cut this concise trailer for the short film Boppie, a 2022 SMU Senior thesis film that gained several awards and recognition in the short time it entered the festival cycle. The senior capstone movie, directed by filmmaker Ethan Gueck, presents the story of a young man who tries to cope with the loss of his beloved grandpa. The goal of the movie is to open up conversations among people about life's unavoidable griefs.
Trailer : Mystique No. 4
Release Date: May 11, 2022
Description: As I became more and more dwelled into the editing world of promos and trailers, I cut this trailer for the short film Mystique No. 4, for which I had the chance to do most of the post production work. The senior capstone movie, directed by filmmaker Sydney Sagehorn, presents the story of a painting that is desired by various types of people for different reasons, some less noble than others. The meaning of art is questioned in the movie and the trailer aims to point at the overwhelming nature of consumers of art.
Trailer : Murphy's Law
Release Date: December 12, 2021
Description: This trailer gives a comedic insight into the adventures of a young boy trying to figure out an ideal date night. It's a summary of his experiences meeting new partners, with the lessons to be discovered. The short film Murphy's Law was written and directed by filmmaker Parker Watts in association with the SMU Film Program. The short film has recently finished post-production and is currently in the festival circuit. It can be available on demand.
Trailer : Rescuers
Release Date: May 19, 2021
Description: This trailer gives a sneak peek into the complex story of Rescuers, which is based on personal experiences. Although one of the first movies I have written, directed and co-produced, it represents a stepping stone into my production and directorial film experience, for which I am beyond grateful. The short film is currently in the festival circuit and it can be available on demand.
Music Video for Nadia Vaeh's pop song Let Go
Release Date: April 2024
Description: Nadia Vaeh is a popular poptimistic singer and songwriter based in Atlanta, with an incredible musical and artistic talent. She gained a lot of recognition through her unvonventional style of pop-rock and her eccentric music videos. Getting to edit the music video for her latest song has been a wonderful experience of carefully defying the editing laws and challenging the editing style for music videos. Here's more about Nadia!
Baseball Without Borders
Release Date: March 2024
Description: Baseball Without Borders represents the most ambitious and large-scale, high-stake documentary I have ever worked on as a solo editor. A film by the renowned director/cinematographer Cullen Blanchfield, the bilingual (English & Spanish) feature film explores and unveils the various dimensions the non-profit organization with the same title expands its mission across the world. Created in 1995 by Juan Bustos, the organization has sent out baseball equipment in more than 52 countries to poor communities of children. The goal is to empower those less fortunate by making possible their wish of professionally playing this expensive sport. Baseball Without Borders' efforts have been widely recognized and appreciated across the world, and now the organization is seeking more members, support, and attention than before. The documentary is released at an optimum time for informing the public about its message and mission. Film is available on demand as it is currently in the festival circuit.
The Seeds of Love
Release Date: January 16, 2023
Description: This represents an ambitious projects co-produced and co-directed by the two producers of the film Love in the Evening/Morning, Brianna Flores and myself. We created this prequel for the main film because of the characters' potential and original story that easily leads to an appealing past narrative. The audience's curiosity towards the past of such strong lovers also represented a reason for us to develop this project. Hope you enjoy our experimental nature led by human emotions portrayed on screen.
American Beauty Dinner Scene
Release Date: May 16, 2022
Description: I had the incredible opportunity to work with a professional, talented cast while performing a personal and experimental film direction on the dinner scene from the famous movie American Beauty. It was a learning experience collaborating with the actors and directing them using various techniques based on lectures about the art of talking to actors.
Buzen Suites
Release Date: December 14, 2021
Description: The short gangster film is entirely created by me, as I loved planning and performing the cinematography and I had an amazing time directing the talented actors. I am grateful for the Buzen Suites Motel in Dallas to have helped me on this project, as this is one of the reference works I've done so far.
Video on Smile
Release Date: June 13, 2021
Description: As the long month of production of the indie feature Smile has wrapped up, I created this video to offer an insight into the intense days of production for this highly engaging feature film, along with the SMU Film Department.
Promotional Video Edited for Residence Life and Student Housing at SMU
Release Date: December 2, 2020
Description: I edited the video for the advertisement of the new recruitment process of RAs taking place in fall 2020. The materials were shot by SMU alumni who gathered content for all the commons at SMU in order to create a descriptive video of the college atmosphere on campus.
Carpathian Travelogue
Release Date: November 12, 2020
Description: This film is a Carpathian Travelogue filmed in the Carpathian mountains of Romania during the summer of 2020. All the videos edited were shot on the spot, while hiking and mountain-climbing, in order to give the film a more authentic and personal look.
Dallas Farmers Market
Release Date: October 22, 2020
Description: This short film is a journalistic piece emphasizing the features of Dallas Farmers Market in full season, released in order to document on the events taking place in Downtown Dallas in October.
Sunset.
Release Date: October 7, 2020
Description: As I am always fascinated by the skyline of big American cities, I made a short film of the stunning view from the Trinity Skyline that appears everywhere in postcards from Dallas, Texas.
Memory
Release Date: July 29, 2020
Description: Stuck in the uncertainties that the first phase of quarantine brought about, I decided to escape the unprecedented times mood by experimenting and creating a black and white film with the few people who were around. It outlines the uncertainty of life and the lack of closure or understanding of people in different relationships.
Minneapolis
Release Date: June 7, 2020
Description: It is hard to describe how it feels to witness such a terrible event that changed the course of many people's lives. I made this short film as I felt the need to emphasize through visual content the emotional struggles a whole nation was going through after the murder of George Floyd. The beautiful city of Minneapolis before and after the tragedy.
The Bricks
Release Date: April 5, 2020
Description: For the 48hour competition for my film school, I created a film of maximum 5 minutes, shot inside, respecting specific lines of dialogue and being given a specific genre.
Tears in the Sky
Release Date: March 15, 2020
Description: This represents my first independently directed, written, and produced film in the United States. I have worked with some of my closest friends as actors and had a crew of about 3 people. I wanted to be in charge as much as possible during all stages of production, since the movie touches on a very personal matter and highlights my experiences as a foreigner in a country across the world from home. The movie's professional stage represents the level I was at at the beginning of my career, as a reminder that nobody starts from the top.
Mustang Band Documentary
Release Date: December 14, 2019
Description: I had the amazing opportunity to interview the SMU Mustang Band director, Don Hopkins and the dedicated band member, Natalie Igo, who helped me release this band documentary. The insights on the rehearsals, games and SMU spirit developed among band students are all accurate and aim to convey authentic and strong emotions.
Documentary of the SMU Debate Team
Release Date: November 26, 2019
Description: As part of the SMU Debate Team, I had the chance to make a documentary which substantially presents the life behind the scenes of these passionate and stubborn debaters, whose goal is not only to win, but also to learn the art of persuasiveness.
4 Poles 1 Line
Release Date: October 7, 2018
Description: This is a documentary of a famous tramway in Bucharest that showcases the authentic, unconventional atmosphere of the Eastern European capital. The documentary aims to visually explain how the tramway represents a specific mean of transportation for its travelers, thus emphasizing its aesthetic nature. I have released it during a documentary workshop, where equipment, technical and artistic instructions were provided.
PSA: The American Matrix
Release Date: February 2024
Crew position: Gaffer
Description of film/role: I loved having this unique experience of working on a PSA with a distinctive and dedicated cast and crew. I also loved handling everything regarding the lighting, while closely collaborating with the DP for the best strategic lighting and negative fills for the shots. I used ARRI lighting and several other smaller grip elements to enhance the overall look of the piece.
The Dinner
Release Date: May 2023
Crew position: Director of Photography
Description of film/role: This short film represents another peak of mine in cinematography, as I have used my cinematographic knowledge and skills in order to emphasis the characters' detrimental decisions and the plot twists through visual storytelling. I have dedicated a long portion of pre-production to constructing a strong shotlist and figuring out the best complex lighting for each room we shot. The senior thesis project is a well-written story of a mom who decides to give a mortal test to the guy her daughter fell in love with when she invited him for dinner at home. The merging of the low key lighting, high contrast, intense red and blue lighting, and strong shadows during the fight scenes reflect the struggle the characters are facing when figuring out what each of them truly wants from the other one. Betrayal is at the core of the story and the immense emotions provoked by it lead to fatal decisions that are best conveyed through handheld movement, telephoto close-ups and Dutch angles, all shot on RED. A look into the short film is available on demand, as it is currently in the postproduction process.
Mystique No. 4
Release Date: May 2022
Crew position: Editor, Sound Mixer, VFX Artist
Description of film/role: This senior capstone film project is a very professionally developed short movie written and directed by filmmaker Sydney Sagehorn. I had a wonderful time editing the film, cutting down several scenes out to make it as conscise and enjoyable as possible. The meaning of art is debated in unexpected and comedic ways throughout the film, as educated people are trying their hardest to buy a painting belonging to the granddaughter of the artist. After several fine cuts and feedback sessions between the director and I, the movie reached a glorious picture lock that allowed me to continue designing title sequences and performing sound mixing work. The movie is available on demand as it is currently in the festival circuit.
*If you want to watch the trailer I made for the short film, access this link.
The Author
Release Date: May 2022
Crew position: Director of Photography, Colorist
Description of film/role: This short film represents my peak in cinematography, as I have intensely prepared for executing all the technical and artisitc tasks in the camera department. The senior capstone project is a well-written story of a woman trapped in an unhappy and toxic marriage whose mean of escape is her imagination. Her ideas lead her to unexpected situations, some real, some not. The merging of the black&white cinematography and the colorful, contrasted scenes reflect the interior battle the characters are constantly experiencing. I loved shooting this project on the RED camera, using 6 types of unifocal lenses that I changed often in order to best convey the mood of the shot. Working with the 85-year-old writer and director, Marillyn Seeberger, is an accomplishment I will cheerish for the entirety of my film career. The movie is available on demand as it is currently in the festival circuit.
Welcome Home
Release Date: May 2022
Crew position: Director of Photography, Colorist
Description of film/role: This short film presents the story of a former military man who returns home after being deployed. As with most wars and griefs in life, people don't escape untouched. He gets back to his wife only to discover his personality will be forever affected by the PTSD symptoms developed during his time in the army. Although a very relatable story, the film does not fail to touch anyone who understands the struggle of overcoming life's challenges. The movie, written and directed by Zach Ruwitch along with the help of the SMU film department, is available on demand as it is currently in the festival circuit.
Jaws : a 3-minute sound mix
Release Date: December 2021
Crew position: Sound mixer/designer/editor & ADR/Foley recorder
Description of film/role: One of my favorite collaborative sound projects of all time was to build the post sound of a movie from scratch, with no audio bite given from it. I therefore learned the intricate details of sound design, sound mixing and editing, recording foley, doing ADR and better comprehending the technicals and mechanics of audio mixing in Pro Tools and on set.
The Long Con
Release Date: July 2022
Crew position: Sound mixer/designer/recorder/editor
Description of film/role: I loved working in sound post for this short film because the dramatic intensity the characters brought with their supernatural aspects gives a lot of opportunity for creative choices regarding sound. It was really exciting working with a very flexible and serious director, Lexie Shamir, for fulfilling the movie's goals. The post sound is ready and can be analyzed above as the film is still in the festival circuit.
Smile
Release Date: May 2022
Crew position: DIT and Assistant Editor
Description of film/role: The winner of the 2021 SMU Summer Feature Film Competition is Kelsey Hodge, a recent alumna film student, who has written and directed the film Smile, based on the story of a teenage Black girl who tries to mend her relationships with friends and family after a suicide attempt. I worked closely on set with the editor for fulfilling my job as a DIT: I did the necessary backups, created proxies, and synched the footage. I also cut dailies so the production team could know ahead of time when to do reshoots so that we had all the coverage needed. Currently, the film is in a big festival circuit, being the recipient for the Austin Film Society 2022 Grant, and the trailer I have cut for it is also available on demand.
*If you want to watch a short video that gives an insight into the production month of the indie feature, access this link.
Murphy's Law
Release Date: March 2022
Crew position: Editor
Description of film/role: This short comedy was a real pleasure to edit because of its quick editing style, detailed director-editor feedback, and stylistic elements. The movie presents the struggles a teenage guy faces when struggling to figure out an ideal date plan using multiple partners. The short movie is available on demand as it is currently in the festival circuit.
*If you want to watch the trailer I made for the short film, access this link.
Dear Jacob
Release Date: February 2022
Crew position: Director of Photography, Colorist
Description of film/role: This short tragedy touches the soul of the audience through its universal story: how do we copy with losing someone? I worked on this short film as a cinematographer, outlining a very detailed storyboard and shotlist months in advance along with the director, Brianna Flores, because of the vast artistic possibilities the script offered for cinematography. The contrast and saturation that the coloring needed also emphasized its dramatic nature. The movie is available on demand as it is currently in the festival circuit.
Leftovers
Release Date: July 2021
Crew position: Director of Photography
Description of film/role: This short comedy film contains one of the best cinematography works I have ever performed due to intense planning, improved strategies for camera movement and organization, and great attention to detail. The short film, written and directed by filmmaker Sydney Sagehorn along with the help of the SMU Film Department, tells the story of how acts of humanity gain negative connotations once the press gets involved. The outcome turned out amazing, and the short movie is available on demand as it is currently in the festival circuit.
Rescuers
Release Date: May 2021
Crew position: Writer, Director, Producer, Post Production Artist
Description of film/role: This short film represents my directorial debut in the professional filmmaking world, a journey when I learned a lot about working with actors, casting, and managing large crews. It is a thriller-drama piece about a broke man who is trying to pay the rent by kidnapping a girl and coming out as the one who rescued her to obtain the big reward from her rich parents. However, he encounters multiple obstacles on his way that might not let him achieve his endgoal, although the police does not seem to be on the right side of the law. The film turned out better than expected as we shot two endings to choose the option that fits best, and the short movie is available on demand as it is currently in the festival circuit.
Heart House Documentary
Release Date: February 2021
Crew position: Sound mixer, 1st Assistant Camera, Assistant Director, Gaffer, Grip
Description of film/role: I worked on Cullen Blanchfield’s thesis film, an independent project where he documented the emotional hardships of unprivileged people during the global pandemic. I set up the lighting for his interviews, worked on sound recording, and helped him with the camera and set design. I also contributed to the post-production phases of his documentary.
GRIT
Release Date: January 2021
Crew position: Editor
Description of film/role: I edited in Avid Media Composer a 10-minute short film directed by filmmaker Arnulfo Garza along with the support of the SMU Film Department. The movie portrays the struggles human face when having to decide between good and bad, especially when civilians’ lives are involved in military operations. The process of editing consisted of creating several rough cuts and fine cuts until achieving the desired picture lock, and assisting the director with the post-production processes of color correction and sound mixing.
Brunch
Release Date: December 2020
Crew position: Director of Photography
Description of film/role: I worked as the director of photography on a student short film that was shot in October 2020. I met with the director to refine the script, work through the lines of dialogue, decide the order and importance of events, and create a very detailed shot list for each scene. I worked with the FS7 and had 3 changeable lenses (25mm, 50mm, and 85 mm). The movie is about an unexpected outcome of a family brunch when the daughter brings home her supposed boyfriend.
Join the Mailing List
Sign up here for updates:
