Experiencing Interruptions?

Dopamining

Dopamining is a sci-fi drama about depressed Marge who, in a last ditch effort to find happiness, goes for a brain massage but soon finds herself trapped in a bizarre political scandal.

  • Jyot Bhalla
    Director
  • Nelson Wong
    Producer
  • Riley Maguire
    Producer
  • Kieran Camejo
    Producer
  • Raechyl French
    Key Cast
    "Marge"
  • Aisling Delahunt
    Key Cast
    "Fiona"
  • Bryce Webster
    Key Cast
    "Brad"
  • Sel Hiew
    Key Cast
  • Natascha Borg
    Key Cast
  • Jyot Bhalla
    Writer
  • Quentin Baudenon
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Drama
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 27, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Black Magic BRAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Sydney
Director Biography - Jyot Bhalla

I am an emerging director based in Singapore and Sydney. As a Writer-Director, I want people to be better able to understand themselves. I think if we all understood ourselves better, the world would be a better place.

Since kickstarting my film career 6 years ago, I have worked in production houses, run my own creative agency and practiced independent filmmaking.

I graduated from the Masters in Moving
Image at the University of Sydney in June 2023, and
Dopamining is my thesis film. Feel my vibe at www.jyotbhalla.com

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

It breaks my heart when someone tells me how unhappy they are. Yet I create perpetual distraction for myself by scrolling through social media, binge-watching comfort shows and drowning myself in trance music.

Without wanting to admit it, I too am living in a soft pink hell.

As a sci-fi drama, Dopamining deals with posthumanism, conformity and the endless pursuit of something elusive. Personally, I don’t believe that happiness can be attained by looking outwards. It can only be found within you – and to discover it is an intentional choice that you must make.

Dopamining manifests a woman who has spent her entire life seeking external validation, that she simply does not know how to detangle herself from it. Like many of us in the “social media generation”, Marge has been let down by the instant, short-term perception of happiness that has been sold to her.

Since its inception in August 2022, this film has been the culmination of many breakthroughs, friendships and growth. I am grateful to my cast and crew for their faith in my vision, and their tireless efforts to breathe life into it.