Not too long ago, I shot a movie called Spooked. If you haven’t watched it yet, you can check it out on my YouTube channel.

When old friends and loved ones resurface just as a filmmaker is set to debut his film at a renowned European film festival, he must confront the true value of his past relationships and determine what he values most.

The idea behind Spooked was to challenge myself as a director. I’ve made movies in a few weeks, in a week, in a few days, and even in just one day. However, this challenge wasn’t just about making another movie in a single day – it was about shooting the entire film myself, playing a lead role with lots of dialogue, and editing the film on my own. Basically, I wanted to push myself not only as a filmmaker but also by stepping into the shoes of an actor to experience what it feels like to be in front of the camera.

You see, being behind the camera is easy in some ways – it really is. I’m not saying making a film is easy, but it’s easy to “hide” behind the camera while expressing your vision to the cast and crew. Being in front of the camera, however, is a completely different experience. That feeling of being watched and judged creates a lot of pressure on an actor. There’s always a voice in your head asking, “What if I’m not good enough?” or “I can do better!”

By playing the lead in this film, I learned that acting is both terrifying and beautiful. Bringing your character to life, experiencing their emotions, and inhabiting their thoughts – it’s incredibly freeing in a way.

Of course, as a director, I also live through my characters to some extent, but it’s on a much more superficial level. Once I understand who my characters are, I give my actors full control and freedom to embody them. I find this collaborative approach very interesting.

To conclude, I believe this experience has definitely helped me grow as a director. Naturally, I feel like I could have done better, but let’s not forget that the entire film was shot by just one person. At the end of the day, it was a challenge – a challenge I’m proud to have completed.