Ezabel Youso

The Forest Seeks Death, 2026

The Forest Seeks Death is a short film that uses the supernatural to explore themes of ignorance and survival within the genre of horror.  

I created this work by directing, writing, and editing with the help of selected individuals to help with recording a few segments of video and audio.  Through the making of this video project I incorporated the use of special effect makeup as well as props through a mirrorless lens.  The process of shooting everything involved having to reach out to a Recreational Reserve for a permit which allowed me to film on two separate days.

This work engages with ideas related to how at the face of conflict, people will do anything they can to avoid it until the trouble finally concerns them.  This short film does so by following a stubborn man who is getting chased by a zombie, all while combatting a past which haunts him.  I am particularly interested in directing horror movies embracing the macabre because of how interesting the creative process is behind this sort of genre. 

This project was influenced by the art of zombie horror and how I believe a realistic approach to this setting would be.  Zombie media such as The Walking Dead series, and The Last of Us video games helped shape my approach to this project by showing me what has been done before, that way I can use different aspects of horror to shape my own creative approach to this genre.

Through this work I hope viewers can find my directing compelling in a way which really allows them to question if they have dismissed topics which didn’t directly concern them.  This piece invites the audience to enjoy a short film from the perspective of an arrogant man who prioritizes himself over others, all while seeing how one might handle the situations being thrown at him. 

About the Artist

I am a filmmaker whose work spans throughout short film projects, video editing, script writing, and directing.  I am drawn to topics that have to do with loss, betrayal, yearning, and real world issues by implementing these concepts into films whether that'd be horror or thrillers.  These films test my abilities to write stories and bring them to life onto the screen all while making a statement.  My work is for the people who are interested in the world of cinema and the messages I aim to create with my art. 

 As of now I use a mirrorless sony camera to record my videos, before shooting I write out scripts and work on the designs of my characters.  To edit I use adobe premiere pro by dragging and dropping video and audio clips from my from my SD card onto a hard drive, then into the editing software.  An old horror short film I limited myself with a 20 dollar budget to portray the process of betrayal while critiquing war and faith, this shows my consistency with using certain themes in my work without doing the same thing over and over again.  One of the many directors I am inspired by is David Lynch, and how his characters tend to haunt the narrative all while having his cinematic work feel ethereal and dream-like.

I produce cinematic videos because from a young age I've always enjoyed recording and creating my own stories for others to see.  I hope my work is able to spread awareness of different issues as well as allow viewers to see things through a different view point.