Shattered

Creating an Emotional Drama in Just 48 Hours

Some creative challenges test your technical skills. Others test your ability to trust your instincts.

Shattered was created for the Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project, one of filmmaking's most demanding competitions. Every participating team has just 48 hours to write an original screenplay, assemble a cast and crew, shoot the film, complete post-production, and deliver a finished project before the deadline.

With the clock already ticking, our team set out to tell an intimate story about grief, loss, and the quiet moments that define the end of a relationship.

The result was Shattered—a dramatic short film that invites viewers to believe they're witnessing the collapse of a marriage, only to discover that the truth is far more heartbreaking than it first appears. Rather than relying on spectacle or dialogue-heavy exposition, the film leans on visual storytelling, restrained performances, and careful pacing to build emotional tension before revealing its final twist.

As director, I was involved throughout the production process, co-writing the screenplay with Steve McMorrow, Roselyn Kasmire, and Elias Rafael Martinez, while also serving as producer, editor, cinematographer, colorist, and sound designer. Every creative decision had to be made quickly, often with little time for second-guessing, making collaboration and preparation essential to meeting the deadline.

Despite the compressed schedule, Shattered became one of my favorite filmmaking experiences. It reinforced the importance of trusting your team, making decisive creative choices, and focusing on emotion above everything else.

Projects like the Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project remind me that compelling stories don't require months of production—they require a clear vision, talented collaborators, and the willingness to create under pressure.