BOOBA

BOOBA is a visually arresting and disconcerting narrative woven around Maestro, an aristocratic recluse wrestling with the rebellion of his man-dog, Booba. This domestic rebellion forces Maestro into a spiral of perceived betrayal and violent coercion. Set against the grand, decaying backdrop of his home, Maestro conducts a chilling spectacle, manipulating his captive guest, Joseph, into a macabre dance of control and intimidation. The seemingly insurmountable struggle pushes Maestro and Joseph to their existential brink, as their reality blurs with the madness of Maestro's delusions. In this surreal landscape, Maestro grapples with intimate questions of loyalty, torment, mortality, and the shifting dynamics of power in his relationship with Booba, highlighting the disturbing extremes that arise in times of despair and betrayal.

  • Gaoyang Ganjin
    Director
  • Hunter D'Ancona
    Writer
  • Joe Grode
    Producer
  • Gabby Fiszman
    Producer
  • Joseph Lopez
    Key Cast
    "Maestro"
  • Kyle Mcllelan
    Key Cast
    "Joseph"
  • Andrew Miller
    Key Cast
    "BOOBA"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Horror, drama
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 12, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    3:2
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Southern California
Director Biography - Gaoyang Ganjin

Gaoyang Ganjin is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, landscape photographer, and saxophonist studying Film & TV Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Born in China and raised in Singapore, Ganjin's international perspective informs his photography's stark and ethereal aesthetic (gaoyangphotography.com). His work has been featured in the Ischia Global Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, and the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

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Director Statement

We refer to dogs as 'Man's best friend', but the complexity of this relationship is often overlooked. Drawing from the shifting dynamics between my father and his dog—oscillating from owner to friend, and pet to companion—the lines between love, control, and punishment began to blur. "Booba" is the embodiment of this exploration, an introspective odyssey told through the distorted lens of Maestro and his man-dog, Booba. A dream woven in the fabric of a folkloric fairy-tale, I invite you on a journey with Maestro, where power and companionship dance in a ballet of emotion.