What Was Mine follows Jayden, a talented high school basketball player whose life changes overnight after he gets caught up in a robbery that turns deadly. Even though he did not commit the crime, he is still charged and quickly loses all of his college scholarship offers. In an instant, everything he worked for is taken away.

He begins to realize that no one is going to fix this for him. With his future uncertain, he turns back to the only thing he can control, which is his work ethic and his dedication to basketball.

Determined to earn another chance, Jayden trains harder than ever and reaches out to new schools. When he finally gets an opportunity with a small Division III program, he must compete for the spot against Amir, the person connected to the incident.

I wrote, directed, and produced this short film as my senior thesis at LMU’s School of Film and Television.

The Drudge follows Sam, a young travel agent trapped in a monotonous office job. His workday is defined by repetitive noises, minor frustrations, and a growing sense of restlessness as he longs for the adventure advertised on the posters surrounding him. 

Throughout the day, Sam escapes into vivid daydreams triggered by these images, imagining waterfalls, volcanic eruptions, and tropical beaches. Each fantasy briefly relieves his boredom before reality pulls him back through phone calls, his boss, and routine tasks.

Sam eventually drifts into a dream where he reaches a peaceful beach, only to be called back to the office. He removes his name tag and quits.

I wrote, directed, and produced this short film as my junior thesis at LMU’s School of Film and Television.

Songwriting helps Riley express her thoughts and feelings. When she writes songs, it gives her a way to share what she is going through. She has struggled with her mental health, and music has helped her deal with those emotions. After writing songs, she often feels more connected to the world around her. 

She performs at an open mic every Monday, which is something she looks forward to each week. It pushes her to keep learning new music and stay involved with performing.  At the end, she performs one of her songs at the open mic.

I directed, produced, and operated one of two cameras for this short documentary during my sophomore year at LMU.

After losing his wife and daughter to a violent, unexplained transformation marked by black blood, Dennis takes refuge with his brother’s family, only to see the same signs appear in his young nephew. As cases spread, the town descends into fear and embraces the belief that the children are possessed.

Under the guidance of Father Reeves, the community turns to brutal religious rituals in the name of purification. Dennis and his family are torn between protecting a child they love and surrendering to a faith fueled by hysteria.

When his nephew’s condition worsens, the family prepares for a final “cleansing,” forcing Dennis to face whether escaping evil means becoming part of it.

This short documentary, which I made in high school, follows Viewpoint's esports team as they pushed for official recognition during the pandemic. When CIF began offering Rocket League, they approached the school and were surprisingly approved to compete in their first official season.

Although they were CIF-sanctioned, some people questioned whether esports counted as a “real” sport or deserved PE credit. The team explains how competitive gaming requires skill and fast reaction time, which produces the same adrenaline rush as traditional athletics.

Despite skepticism, the team stayed motivated. They went from being a small club to a school-sponsored program, and three of their five teams made playoffs, with Rocket League finishing top eight in the state.

A college student falls into a repetitive routine in his dorm, ordering the same takeout every day while struggling with a sense of depression. Each day feels the same as he repeats the same actions and remains stuck in the cycle.

Eventually, he decides to break the pattern and leave his dorm. He returns with groceries, cooks himself a warm homemade meal, and experiences a small but meaningful moment of change. 

I wrote, directed, and produced this short film during my sophomore year of college.

In high school, I produced and directed a ten-minute interview with one of the Ukrainian teachers at my school. She was a first-year teacher who had been born in Ukraine in 1989 and was adjusting to a new life just as Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine. In the interview, she reflected on her personal connection to the conflict, sharing her thoughts on the war and the long-standing tensions between Russia and Ukraine that had been building for decades. 

The interview was conducted by Barry Yao and filmed on March 22. My role as producer and director involved organizing the shoot, shaping the structure of the conversation, and guiding the storytelling.