ROT

"ROT" was created in autumn 2018 and inspired by my fascination with post-apocalyptic fiction and surrealism. I was also influenced by the 1984 film "Threads;" its depiction and portrayal of the end of the world as a result of a nuclear holocaust was so vividly real and disturbing that it remained cemented in my mind for some time. This project is one of my first films and was important to me as it would determine what kind of filmmaker I wanted to become and whether I had what it takes to be a creator.

The first cut of the film was mostly shot and edited in less than a day and surprisingly came together as smoothly as I had hoped, although it was just as stressful as any shoot could be. The original cut lacked a true ending, which was added later to make the film more succinct and complete.

To create a post-apocalyptic world with no budget, the interior scenes were shot in the dungeon-like basement of my 120-year-old house, while effects were added to the exterior scenes to create surreal imagery. This was one of my earlier experiences editing a film and I had to learn multiple yet somewhat basic techniques within a very short time span. Now, whenever I am stuck on ideas or have doubts about a project, I reflect on this project as proof that I can learn new things on the fly and create something visually interesting regardless of time, experience, or budget.