Artist Statement
As an artist, I am inspired by many things including nature and intricate objects. My current works are inspired by dreams and nightmares due to their mysterious and strange qualities. I create artwork with the purpose of inspiring and entertaining others as well as to encourage them to think differently or more deeply about various topics. For instance, in one of my films, I explored the concept of time with the goal of influencing people to consider what time is and how it affects us. My current work is film-based, although I engage in sculpture, painting, photography, and graphic design as well. My process for filmmaking is labor-intensive as it involves scriptwriting, storyboarding, filming, directing, and editing. I am influenced by artists old and new including Salvador Dali and his surrealist films as well as Melanie Martinez and her music videos. Film is one of my favorite mediums to work in because I greatly enjoy the process. While it is certainly an intense process, I find it rewarding to see the final projects pieced together after weeks of hard work. Additionally, I enjoy the act of storytelling and being able to recreate scenarios in my films that would be impossible in real life.
When creating a nightmare film, I first begin by discussing nightmares with my friends and family members. From nightmares about werewolves and seeing a dead version of oneself to a giant shark in a swimming pool, there is certainly no limit to the possibilities when it comes to subject matter. After deciding on a storyline, I move on to writing a script and drawing out a storyboard, which involves drawing mini sketches of what I want each scene to look like. After that, I decide on all costumes, makeup, lighting, and props needed for the film before moving on to the filming stage. When filming, I am constantly keeping in mind framing as well as camera angles and movements that will best enhance the storyline. For instance, in my film “The Prelude,” the camera movements are very shaky, which adds to the suspense and mood of the film. Once filming is complete, I begin the editing process which involves re-watching every video clip that has been filmed, trimming the video clips to the parts I want in the film, and then piecing the clips together. I then spend a good amount of time searching for the best music to go along with the video clips. I always strive to find music that best enhances the theme and mood of the film.
To me, filmmaking has always been more than just an art form. As an introvert, it is an outlet and a voice for me to express ideas that simply cannot be expressed through words. I enjoy being able to explore various topics throughout my films and representing concepts in an artistic way. While I have enjoyed filming the nightmare series, I plan to venture out into more film genres including action, parody, documentary, and animation. As I continue my journey as a filmmaker, I strive to create at least one film in every genre.