JAMES

Synopsis　　Thecity’slonelinessisimmenseforJames,anIndigenousteenagerfightingtopreservehishappinessandinnocenceamidsttheurbanvastness.Ashestrugglesnottofeelabandoned,hebeginstorealizethatforginghispathrequireshimtotrampleonothers.　　Director’sstatement　　TheshortfilmJamesexploresayoungman’stransitionfromchildhoodtoadulthoodashenavigatesamale-dominatedenvironment.Thenarrativedelvesintohissilenceandtheviolenceheturnstoinsearchofhappiness.Wecollaborativelydevelopedthedialoguestocreatearealisticcontextwithcasualconversationsthatrevealthecharacters’personalanecdotesandaspirations.Ipreferworkingwith“naturalactors”—peoplewithnoexperienceinfrontofthecamera,butwhobringalltheirknowledgeandexperiencestotheircharacters.JamesMaldonado,thefilm’slead,isuniqueasI’veknownhimsincehewassix.InJames,heperfectlyconveyshischaracter’sinternalstruggles,thefeelingsofhelplessnessandanger,andhisemergingunderstandingoftheworld.