The Empathiser
short film (2023)
The Empathiser
short film (2023)
ROLES: co-producer; cinematographer (a segment)
Sabrina wakes up in a fantastical environment, unsure of how she got there. The realm plays like warped recollections, but are they really her own memories, or someone else's? And why does she feel like she’s being watched?
Director & Writer: Arlo Macmillan (lead, segments), with Fionn Bowler, Sarah Penny (segments)
Cast: Rebecca Lester, Will Thompson, Phoebe Smalley
Content notes:
Sense of unease; some flickery images.
An ambitious project, almost a portmanteau short film. Different scenes take place in different realms of memory, emulating different genres and moods. Each scene has its own writer/director and cinematographer. The crew remains the same core people, but shuffling through different roles.
I was cinematographer for the party scene and the early void scene. I also provided details of the cassette player, and some hospital B-roll.
With this project, our lead director, Arlo Macmillan, was a nominee for Best Director at the NZYFF 2023.
The Empathiser was produced as part of Massey's Bachelor of Screen Arts degree. Second year students each make an individual edit of a group film. This is my edit, which is not the definitive version.