What Once Was
My Role
Director
Editor & Colorist
Platforms
Long Form Release
As part of the Suraj-Israni Fellowship program, I directed this narrative short film in my senior year at UC San Diego. The film captures the challenges and emotions that appear when Tristan, the lead character, returns home to pack his childhood home. The story was deeply inspired by watching my own family sell my grandmother’s home, channeling that shared feeling of disorientation into a film for anyone navigating major life crossroads.
13 minutes
Starring
Tommy Huebner, Keoki Trask, Max Bergstrand,
Assistant Director & Producer
Jen Valencia
Director of Photography
Lucas Reed
Production Design
Paris Blanco
ABOUT THE STORY
One recent, yet powerful memory that influenced this story was my grandmother's move from her large home to a smaller senior-style apartment, an event that brought together various generations of my family. While such an event was so simple and undramatic, sharing this experience with people I grew up with was a stark reminder of how often we take these moments for granted.
Grappling with the realization that a physical home no longer offers that same refuge of safety and security can be profoundly disorienting. Coupled together with my feelings upon graduating college, the emotional intensity of this inner-turmoil was something I wanted to capture in the film. From the writing to the directing and editing, my main goal was for the story to resonate with others navigating similar stages of life.
CONCEPTUALIZATION
Before cameras even rolled, I had to do some extensive pre-production not limited to but including shot visualizations on location, lighting maps, script revisions, and general production prep.
What was truly essential for the vision I was trying to make?
POST PRODUCTION
Over several months of post-production, I led the editorial process, collaborating closely with a sound mixer, colorist, and VFX student artist while hosting test screenings to refine the narrative arc. Through 15 iterative cuts, I continuously sharpened the pacing and emotional resonance to lock the definitive final film.
As part of the fellowship experience, the program concluded with a public screening of a variety of clips from the short along with the general cohort of artists, filmmakers, and creatives.
SCREENING
SHOOTING / DIRECTING
Over three packed shoot days, I directed the finalized script under tight time limits and constantly shifting lighting conditions. I made decisive, real-time adjustments to our setups on the fly, ensuring we captured every vital beat without falling behind schedule.
