As We Are

Two brothers must face an unspoken conflict in their relationship, while each coming to terms with their place in the Universe.

  • McKayla Cox
    Director
    Fun House, Water Wings Official Music Video, Sonder
  • McKayla Cox
    Writer
  • Jacob Klein
    Writer
  • McKayla Cox
    Producer
  • Jacob Klein
    Producer
    A Harmonious Life
  • Jacob Klein
    Key Cast
  • Julian Klein
    Key Cast
  • Jacob Klein
    Music and Sound
  • Badboxes
    Music and Sound
  • McKayla Cox
    Cinematography
  • McKayla Cox
    Editing
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Experimental, Drama, Spiritual
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 4, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    iPhone XS / Moment Anamorphic
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - McKayla Cox

I am a film and theatre student based in Los Angeles, CA—though, these days, I find myself in Pittsburgh, PA, where I grew up. Though I love the vibrant energy of LA, I am truly captivated by the magic of Western Pennsylvania.
I create work that aims to linger and revel in the space between our thoughts to show beauty in the mundane. I tend to lean into these moments, as it is often where the greatest meaning can arise.
I am captured by the mind during these moments in between the action, where we literally and theoretically are able to take a breath. There is such magic in our inner worlds and inexplicable emotions that arise in our lives each day, and film as a medium acts as a mirror in which we can reflect the intangible in our own soul.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

For this experimental short film, I wanted to explore the ability to tell a story from the perspective of a "presence" which is tuning into all the energy and information in the Universe. The Presence, for just a moment in time and space, focuses in on two brothers who are working through an interpersonal conflict. Playing with a cacophony of sound and ethereal music overlapping with the dialogue, we aimed to broaden the perspective of the conversation...if it even is a true conversation. The film has evolved so much since its original conception, as there was experimentation at all levels of the process. We began with the soundtrack, built upon that with the dialogue, and then the cinematography was born, until we circled back around to reworking the dialogue and sound in post-production. In this way, the entire process ended up reflecting the cyclical nature of the work itself, and it has been a truly impactful and heartfelt experience. This flow and unattached experimentation, I believe, elevated the final project to a level beyond what we could have imagined. I am so grateful for our incredible team and so proud of what we have accomplished.