MORNING AFTER, 21min., USA
Directed by Elijah Chandler
“When a wild night ends rubbing shoulders with the LA mob, a directionless college grad has to get his friend out of danger, or it’ll be her blood on the streets next.”
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Get to know the filmmaker:
Morning After is my second short film I’ve written and directed after graduating from film school. Graduating from film school initially left me with a sense of defeat, as I felt I hadn’t created enough of my own stories due to imposter syndrome. While in film school, I mainly worked as a cinematographer for my peers’ projects, but I later realized that many of them wouldn’t pursue directing, let alone filmmaking entirely. Only a handful continued to pursue filmmaking and had a unique voice. Imposter syndrome can make us doubt ourselves, but it affects us all differently. Some overcompensate by appearing knowledgeable in film history and having complex visions for their films. Others, like me in film school, may run in the opposite direction due to self-doubt. The film industry’s competitiveness and comparison game, exacerbated by social media, are inherent challenges. However, most artists share the same insecurities, and we’re all trying to overcome them in our own ways.
I gained valuable experience as a cinematographer, enhancing my visual storytelling skills. I enjoyed helping directors with camera movement and actor blocking, as it allowed me to create on-screen dynamics during dialogues. This experience strengthened my passion for filmmaking and my desire to tell my own stories. Despite having fewer resources and fewer connections than in film school, my motivation to pursue filmmaking has never been stronger. My current motivation is to build my storytelling skills through continuous practice, like a workout, so that I’m prepared when opportunities with greater responsibilities arise.
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