YMCA Bold and Gold

Director and Producer 

This project explores what community looks like in rural settings and how nature shapes confidence and leadership among youth. Through the BOLD & GOLD program, participants are immersed in backcountry living—learning collaboration, self-reliance, and empathy away from modern distractions. By blending documentary storytelling with immersive visuals, the film captures the transformative power of nature and the strength that emerges when young people work together to navigate and appreciate the wilderness.

Shorts

This short film experiments with pixilation—stop motion using a human subject—shot with a pinhole camera to create dreamlike imagery. The long exposures demand precise lighting for each frame, resulting in a striking visual process that continues to inspire my creative work and exploration of this unique aesthetic.

I’m drawn to the limitless possibilities of stop motion and love experimenting with new mediums. Using tape adds a distinct, eye-catching texture that transforms each frame into something uniquely engaging.

This project let me experience classic 16mm filmmaking in a rural setting while testing modern editing techniques. Blending old and new approaches deepened my appreciation for the history and artistry of cinema.