amara somnia
“Amara Somnia” explores the psychological aftermath of unspoken trauma as it unfolds in increasingly sinister ways. The story follows a university student, haunted by recurring nightmares, clinging to caffeine in her desperate attempt to avoid the figure that plagues her dreams. As she descends into a caffeine-fueled mania, reality begins to unravel around her, revealing the hidden toll of unresolved stress and fear. Shot on a Sony A7 III and considered my directorial debut, this project hints at the quiet persistence of trauma and its haunting grip on the subconscious.
challenge
process
We were tasked with creating a short film with zero thematic guidelines or restrictions to be completed in a month. This would include pitching our idea for approval and scheduling our time accrediting to fit the duties of pre-production, filming, and post-production in the short allocated time. This would be my team's and my first taste in visual storytelling, with all of us having zero prior experience in the logistics of bringing a story to life from nothing but a lens.
This would be my first experience directing and leading the ideation process behind a project of this scale. I drew from a variety of sources, accumulating inspiration from personal experiences, my favorite genres, and the heart-pounding effects of caffeine and techno.
From the initial pitch to script development, this was a stand-out lesson in finding my creative process, alongside learning the many nuances of managing a team. Time management, passion, patience, and perseverance kept our team afloat and were able to keep us from turning into the subject matter of our film after the many sleepless nights dedicated to the project.
Shot on a Sony A7 III, edited and color-graded using Adobe PremierPro, this project shaped me as much as I did. I was able to expand my technical skills and leadership capabilities and use this experience as my gateway into the world of visual storytelling.
