My Story

I chose to specialize in cinematography to practice an art anyone can understand regardless of background, education, or social status. I want to show the world as I see it and experience life through many identities, relationships, and power dynamics. My films can simultaneously reflect who I am and the lives of people and characters I empathize with. Life is complex; It contains a multitude of plot lines. Why, then should stories follow only one simple arc?

On my first day at film school, my professor asked me why I wanted to be there, and I couldn’t answer as there was no definite statement to neatly encapsulate the reason for pursuing this course of study. I tried to satisfy him by saying, “Well, making films is fun.” His response was to warn me that filmmaking is never fun, but it is rewarding and that each film will find a way to break your heart.

Now, eight years later, I understand that he was entirely right. Making films illuminates my true purpose–to tell stories. I promised myself that every story I tell will be worthy of the heartbreak it will inevitably cause me.