EIGHT

For one of my senior projects at Iowa State University, I created a short film documenting the impact of the 2008 flood in Charles City, Iowa, my hometown. With only a one-week turnaround from filming to final cut, the project explored the broader theme of climate change and its effects on small Midwestern communities. The film used a symbolic explosion midway through to represent how seemingly local issues can escalate into global crises. An additional challenge was creating and filming the explosion practically. Over 10 explosions were created in a controlled environment, with the tallest reaching over 15 feet. These were shot at high frame rates to make the final image appear larger and more detailed. Due to time and resource constraints, the second half of the piece was constructed with stock footage and voice-over narration, while all sound design was crafted entirely in post-production. The project was edited and color graded in DaVinci Resolve, chosen for its efficient workflow and advanced cinematic tools.