Morning Light
Overview
Created an original narrative short film exploring grief, healing, and acceptance through visual storytelling. The film follows a lone individual mourning in a church and gradually finding peace through reflection and renewal. Through intentional cinematography, lighting, pacing, and sound design, the project creates an emotional experience with minimal dialogue and a focus on atmosphere.
Project Type: Narrative Film
Software & Equipment Used:
Canon DSLR, Rode Shotgun Microphone, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition
My Role
As the sole creator of this project, I managed the entire filmmaking process from concept development through final delivery. I was responsible for story development, location planning, cinematography, audio recording, editing, color grading, sound design, and final production. I made creative decisions throughout the process to ensure the visuals, pacing, and audio worked together to support the emotional direction of the film.
Project Goals & Results
The goal of this project was to create a cinematic short film that communicated emotion primarily through visuals, composition, and sound rather than dialogue.
Goals
- Develop an original narrative centered around emotion and visual storytelling
- Use cinematography and editing techniques to create a strong atmosphere
- Create a cohesive visual style through lighting, composition, and pacing
- Capture and edit professional-quality footage and audio
- Complete the full production process independently from concept to final export
Results
- Created a completed narrative short film from initial concept through final edit
- Developed experience managing an entire video production workflow independently
- Used cinematography, editing, and sound design to create an intentional emotional experience
- Produced a polished final piece demonstrating storytelling and technical production skills
Process
Brainstorm Ideas
The project began with developing a concept centered around grief, reflection, and personal growth. I chose to focus on visual storytelling rather than dialogue, allowing the emotions of the character and environment to drive the narrative.
Storyboarding
After establishing the concept, I created a detailed storyboard to plan the film’s key moments, camera angles, composition, and emotional progression. This helped guide production and ensure each shot contributed to the overall story
Location Scouting
I identified a church location that matched the atmosphere and themes of the film. I visited the space to evaluate lighting, architecture, and filming conditions, then presented a project proposal to obtain permission for production.
Shot List
Following location approval, I created a detailed shot list outlining the required footage, camera movements, and audio elements. This helped organize production and ensured all necessary visuals were captured efficiently.
Production
Filming took place over two days. The first day focused on capturing environmental footage and testing camera setups, while the second day focused on performance-based scenes and completing the remaining shots. I used intentional camera choices, lighting, and framing to reinforce the reflective tone of the film.
Post-Production & Sound Design
During post-production, I edited the film in Adobe Premiere Pro, refining pacing, transitions, color, and visual consistency to create a cohesive cinematic experience. I recorded and incorporated audio elements, including music and ambient sounds, to strengthen the emotional impact of the story and create a more immersive atmosphere.
Takeaways
One of the most valuable lessons learned from this project was how much planning and location scouting directly impact the success of a film. Being the first time working in video production, a large amount of time was spent learning how to structure a shoot properly, from developing a storyboard to creating a shot list and organizing production days. Careful preparation made the filming process more efficient and helped reduce issues on set, reinforcing the importance of pre-production in shaping the final outcome.
Successes
Despite being a first video project, the production successfully created a strong atmospheric and emotional tone through visual storytelling, lighting, and sound design. The focus on minimizing dialogue and relying on imagery and music helped establish a reflective mood, with the piano sequence standing out as a key emotional element. The use of a real location also strengthened the authenticity and overall aesthetic of the piece.
Changes
If revisiting the project, the beginning sequence would be shortened to allow the piano performance and emotional core of the film to begin earlier. Some transitions would also be refined to create a smoother visual flow between scenes. In addition, the decision to lower the frame rate would likely be reconsidered, as it did not enhance the aesthetic as effectively as originally intended and slightly reduced the natural feel of the footage in hindsight.
Contact
I’m always excited to connect and discuss new opportunities, projects, or collaborations. Whether you have a question, a project idea, or want to work together, feel free to reach out!