In the medium of film, we are able to weave narratives that can involve everything from entire galaxies to the smallest passing thoughts in someone’s mind. As the storytellers, we have the privilege of bringing forth the part of the world that we want to share with everyone. The part that I’ve always been most compelled to share is the story of the underdog. Washed-up bakers, neurotic Romeos, shut-in Fates and bumbling book salesmen, these are my people. I want to tell the stories of the overlooked but important people, who carry the world on their shoulders without a whisper of thanks, who make meticulous plans that are never executed, who have the courage to gamble with the chips stacked against them.
In my time at MCAD, my technical skills have grown to nothing short of professional, but more importantly, I’ve found my niche creatively and have made films, animations and screenplays that tell the type of stories I want to tell for the rest of my life. I’ve learned how intimately and sensitively film can portray a hero, and the humanity it can even give to a villain. Films that have influenced me have mainly been the work that gives me the same feeling that I hope my films will evoke. Charlie Chaplin, Woody Allen, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Wes Anderson, Alexander Payne, Ricky Gervais and Charlie Kaufmann all tell the stories of misfits with heart and compassion, but also with an original and unique voice that makes their work their own.
I’m very proud of the work I’ve done here and know that these films are good stepping stones to the ones I will make in the future. I hope that the viewer will find these films themselves are underdogs, small and short, made with no money, but still touching and powerful on their own.