‘Heavy Hitters’ Shorts

*CONTENT WARNING: Self-Harm and Sexual Abuse
Nakia, a young woman trapped in an abusive relationship, finds herself at a crossroads when she discovers she is pregnant with her boyfriend’s child. Filled with anger and a desperate need for justice, Nakia resorts to a forbidden path in her quest for revenge. However, her intentions unknowingly set in motion a series of events that spiral out of control.

Reconcile aims to capture male communication in the absence of a female presence, through the silent and failing relationship of a father and his son during a moment of grief. The ethereal awkward sensation that surrounds the narrative provides room for the audience to relate, empathize, and ultimately question themselves regarding their own relationship dynamics. In the same way that humans are subtle, indirect, and indicative – rather than explicit – of their struggles, so is this story.

*Content Warning: Sexual Abuse
The story of Skyler, a teen trafficking victim, is all too familiar, especially in areas of the Midwest, and scenarios depicted in “Loose Change” happen every day, right under our noses. Today is the day Skyler has decided to break free and they end up seeking help from an unlikely source. Sharing this story is important because regardless of how we identify, everyone can relate to finding the courage to ask for help, facing the unknown and standing up for oneself.

The Custodian finds himself stationed in a woodland shack, the gatekeeper to a mysterious conduit that sends those who walk through it from this life to the next. What is on the other side, no one knows. When an old friend visits, the careful balance that The Custodian has constructed for years threatens to put his faith in his choices to the test.

Rene gets far more than she expected when she accepts a last minute photography gig taking portraits for a young woman. Upon meeting her client, Jaz, the true nature of Rene’s job comes into focus.

I Don’t Fight the Dark as Well as I Used To explores the emotional isolation my Grandfather experienced while taking care of my ailing Grandmother.

I wanted to frame this isolation through the lens of the moon landing. Taking a community spectacle and grounding it in an evening of seclusion was my way of externalizing my grandfather’s internal psyche.

My grandmother passed away last fall after a long battle with Parkinsons disease. This film was my cathartic exploration into the complicated emotions surrounding their relationship in its final chapter.