Shortsighted

At the local park, a teenager scrolls among a detached crowd of parents and kids whose minds are trapped within their cell phones. He finds himself breaking free from his cycle of scrolling when he is interrupted by a stray baseball. But what begins as a wholesome interaction, is not what it seems.

  • Austin Castanon
    Director
  • Austin Castanon
    Writer
  • Anderson Greer
    Key Cast
    "Main Teenager"
  • Cesar Lopez
    Key Cast
    "Main Adult"
  • Austin Castanon
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 21, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Super 35 (Sony a6700)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Franklin High School
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Austin Castanon

I’m Austin Castanon, a director who was born in Arizona, but I’m a local resident of El Paso. I’m a young creative who utilizes his ability to imagine many angles and stories to create films that showcase my feelings and aspirations. I’m specifically drawn to complex fiction tales that has the viewer put the puzzle pieces together, but I’m open to a variety of styles and genres.

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Director Statement

After quitting scrolling on social media, I felt this new sense of happiness and freedom, and "Shortsighted" allowed me to express this feeling with the people around me.