Born and raised in Carlsbad, California–I’ve told stories for as long as I can remember. Whether it was creating whimsical stop-motion films with my younger sister or writing spinoffs of my favorite action movies. As I became aware of my affinity for telling stories I discovered the world of filmmaking.
My journey began in 2017 when I directed my first documentary short, "Change is in the Water," while affiliated with Canyon Crest Academy's after-school cinema conservatory. This film highlighted sustainable development goals, focusing on climate action and the importance of life above and below water. Notably, it became the first student film to premiere on an IMAX screen. This experience ignited my passion for using film to convey messages that resonate and connect with audiences.
During my time in the Cinema Conservatory program, I also directed several other shorts, including "Bee Conscious" (2017) and "XONR8" (2018) in collaboration with the California Innocence Project. In 2019, I helmed"Ascent," a documentary profiling Joshua Golden, an 18-year-old rock climber with autism. The film chronicles Joshua's journey from childhood, to his current life as a competitive climber. "Ascent" received acclaim from the autism community and was showcased at various events, including the San Diego International Film Festival and Indy Shorts International Film Festival.
Continuing my education at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts from 2019 to 2023, I studied Film and Television Production. During this time, I directed and edited a range of films, from documentaries to comedic shorts. My senior thesis project, "A Hand to Hold," (2022) is a 22-minute exploration of street medicine in Los Angeles, lauded for its uplifting narrative of resilience in the face of adversity. The film screened at prestigious documentary festivals such as the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival and the DaVinci International Film Festival. The film was crowned "Best Documentary" at USC's 2024 First Look Film Festival, a competition of all thesis films created at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Additionally, the film won the Documentary Award at the 2024 PBS SoCal Fine Cut Festival of Films and was broadcast on PBS SoCal in October 2024.
Outside of these projects, I've delved into sports content to hone my skills as a director and explore my personal interests. "Tahj Eaddy: Basketball's Nomad" (2022) "Nourse Twins: Beach Sisters" (2022), and "Miles Partain: Above the Net" (2024) have allowed me to explore diverse storytelling avenues and work alongside elite athletes, D1 NCAA Champions an Olympian, and other inspiring individuals.
Currently, I am working at a boutique creative studio, Shadow Lion, as an editor. In this role, I work on a variety of projects ranging from docuseries, commercials, podcasts, pitch decks and much more. In my spare time I'm building my own documentary focused production studio, Grandview Studios.
Filmmaking allows me to combine my passion for storytelling with a beautiful craft to produce emotionally compelling narratives.
In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, exercising, and reading.