COUNTERPOLE

Completed in 2019, Counterpole was the first film I made after graduating from college and the first project I created outside of the classroom. At 54 minutes long, it was an ambitious step forward for me as a filmmaker and the first project I completely self-funded from start to finish. At this point I had only made a handful of short films, and I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could handle the pressure of directing and producing a much larger crew.

The story follows Erin, a young woman forced into a terrifying situation who must fight for her freedom. As she struggles to survive, she's also confronted with the unresolved trauma of her childhood. What begins as a fight to escape physical danger gradually becomes a journey toward healing, as Erin rediscovers her will to live and learns to overcome the weight of her past.

Looking back, I can see countless things I would do differently today, and that's part of growing as a filmmaker. Counterpole represents a very crucial chapter in my journey. Counterpole was my film school. It was a marathon of a production, which was filmed in only 4 days, but the lessons I learned are really invaluable. This video shows behind the scenes and my thoughts on the process.