Serious Play - Short

2023 // Co-Direct, Cinematography, Edit

Chicago-based comedian and juggler Payel Gupta finds herself unexpectedly pregnant after a one night stand with a mime. She has no time to panic – her hours are limited as she runs from massage work to fire juggling performances to stand-up gigs. When she’s confronted with this new discovery, she evaluates whether or not she has room in her life to be a mother and if she’d want to involve the father she’s never even heard speak. As she looks around the communities where she’s carved out a place, not an easy feat for an Indian-American woman from a traditional background, she wonders if they can provide the support she needs in return. Serious Play is a hybrid documentary that explores the communities of humor and play (with a fitting measure of comedy!) while navigating the fine line between sacrifice and surrender.

Serious Play - Feature Length

Coming 2024 / Co-Direct, Cinematography, Edit

Serious Play is a hybrid documentary about the exuberant world of the International Jugglers Association Festival. The IJA festival is a microcosm of the world juggling community where scientists, flow artists, and circus folks gather to learn new tricks with old friends. The film focuses on three real life jugglers and infuses fictional elements to their stories, playfully blending the line between reality and fiction.

My Name Is Marc, And You Can Count On It

2017 // Direct + Cinematography + Edit

Cult icon and minor Cleveland celebrity Marc Brown is known for his bizarre late-night TV commercials promoting his store, Norton Furniture. Meet the man behind the commercials and discover the method to his madness.

The Exceptionally Extraordinary Emporium

2015 // Direct + Cinematography + Edit

The Exceptionally Extraordinary Emporium is a documentary film about the cherished tradition of costuming during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Members of the city’s colorful costuming community share their unique traditions while gathering at the epicenter of all things costuming - the family-owned fabric store, Jefferson Variety. The film follows characters as they buy materials, create costumes, and prepare for the 2015 carnival season - giving a deeper look into the culture and significance of costuming in New Orleans.

Award for Best Louisiana Short - 2015 New Orleans Film Festival and Best Short Film - 2016 Three Rivers Film Festival

Rhythm’s Gonna Get Ya

2019 // Direct + Cinematography + Addit. Edit

Made for the UnionDocs 2019 CoLab Studio, this underground city symphony is a frenetic portrait of NYC that follows four groups of subway commuters. From long waits due to construction to inaccessible systems for wheelchair users, see how these obstacles throw off their daily rhythm and routines.

Welcome to the Music Box: a Roving Village Orchestra

2015 // Direct + Edit

This transmedia documentary captures a unique performance inside The Music Box Roving Village, a collection of musical architecture created by New Orleans Airlift and performed by artists and musicians, including composer Arto Lindsay, Animal Collective’s Deakin and Solange as well as jazz singers and New Orleans brass bands. Filmed in a variety of formats — including digital, 360 panoramic, 8mm and 16mm film — the film’s rich layers offer an immersive, multifaceted musical experience. The film brings into focus experimentation and exploration through music, from the collaboration of musicians and artists, the immersive experience of the performance, and the craftsmanship of the musical houses themselves.